Saturday late afternoon we left a little early for Casper. Around 4:30pm. Elizabeth was flying in from Iowa and due to land at 7:40pm. I've always wanted to explore some of the winding gravel roads you can see from the Interstate or highways winding their way into Wyoming history. Being a country girl at heart, I miss the feeling of driving down a gravel road, with the dust rolling behind you and the music cranked up. Growing up Dad had a little run around two-seater red truck. I thought it was a Chevy but it might have been foreign made (gasp!). It had a stick shift with a musical horn installed in it. The three of us girls named it Red Bird. We flew down those gravel roads on our way to town for a bottle of pop or a gallon of milk. Of course we would also cruise main street playing the musical horn. Ha!
The gravel roads we took yesterday the speed limit is 30, which was plenty fast. Some turn into a skinny one lane, and you can meet a semi with water or oil tanks. There is also the cattle to watch out for as they roam free on the rancher's land. Wyoming is a fence out state for cattle, meaning that landowners who prefer not to have livestock on their property are responsible for fencing them out. New to me since moving here. I'm used to barbed wire fencing and square fields. Although those square fields I grew up with are now larger squares.
We made our way by the Pumpkin Buttes which have a rich, deep history. From "The Wonders of Wyoming"- The Indians called the buttes “wagamu paha”, meaning gourd hills. The Sioux used the site for tribal ceremonies, and put Pumpkin Buttes to good use as a perfect lookout during battles with settlers along the Bozeman Trail. There are hundreds of tipi rings on and around the buttes that prove that Native Americans lived and worshipped here for centuries. Pumpkin Buttes not only served as a welcome landmark along the Bloody Bozeman Trail, but it also became a hideout for famed outlaw “Big Nose” George Parrott. In the 1950′s, uranium was discovered near Pumpkin Buttes, which would generate alot of ill will between prospectors and stockmen. There were only a few small mines that worked the area.
It was a very interesting, beautiful drive.
We wound our way back to the highway and journeyed on to Casper. The flight from Denver with Elizabeth arrived and soon headed back to Gillette. It was one of those summer nights when the deer were out-a huge buck was standing alongside the road. Glad he stayed there and said a quick prayer for those traveling around us were safe as well. We had an impromptu greeting of a little fox in the middle of the highway as well. He scampered back to the side of the road and we made it back to Gillette by 10:30pm.
Had a little deck time hearing stories of when Harley Man was a mischievous little boy and had some good laughs.
Lights out at midnight for me. Elizabeth and her Dad stayed up for a while longer talking.
It was a good Saturday night.
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| One of the Pumpkin Buttes |
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| Pumpkin Buttes in the distance |
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| Add caption |
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| Taking his time. |
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| This old guy seemed to welcome us. Wish I had his long eyelashes. |
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The
Indians called the buttes “wagamu paha”, meaning gourd hills. The Sioux
used the site for tribal ceremonies, and put Pumpkin Buttes to good use
as a perfect lookout during battles with settlers along the Bozeman
Trail. There are hundreds of tipi rings on and around the buttes that
prove that Native Americans lived and worshipped here for centuries.
Pumpkin Buttes not only served as a welcome landmark along the Bloody
Bozeman Trail, but it also became a hideout for famed outlaw “Big Nose”
George Parrott. In the 1950′s, uranium was discovered near Pumpkin
Buttes, which would generate alot of ill will between prospectors and
stockmen. There were only a few small mines that worked the area.
Read More: Pumpkin Buttes | Wonders of Wyoming | http://wondersofwyoming.com/pumpkin-buttes/?trackback=tsmclip
The
Indians called the buttes “wagamu paha”, meaning gourd hills. The Sioux
used the site for tribal ceremonies, and put Pumpkin Buttes to good use
as a perfect lookout during battles with settlers along the Bozeman
Trail. There are hundreds of tipi rings on and around the buttes that
prove that Native Americans lived and worshipped here for centuries.
Pumpkin Buttes not only served as a welcome landmark along the Bloody
Bozeman Trail, but it also became a hideout for famed outlaw “Big Nose”
George Parrott. In the 1950′s, uranium was discovered near Pumpkin
Buttes, which would generate alot of ill will between prospectors and
stockmen. There were only a few small mines that worked the area.
Read More: Pumpkin Buttes | Wonders of Wyoming | http://wondersofwyoming.com/pumpkin-buttes/?trackback=tsmclip
The
Indians called the buttes “wagamu paha”, meaning gourd hills. The Sioux
used the site for tribal ceremonies, and put Pumpkin Buttes to good use
as a perfect lookout during battles with settlers along the Bozeman
Trail. There are hundreds of tipi rings on and around the buttes that
prove that Native Americans lived and worshipped here for centuries.
Pumpkin Buttes not only served as a welcome landmark along the Bloody
Bozeman Trail, but it also became a hideout for famed outlaw “Big Nose”
George Parrott. In the 1950′s, uranium was discovered near Pumpkin
Buttes, which would generate alot of ill will between prospectors and
stockmen. There were only a few small mines that worked the area.
Read More: Pumpkin Buttes | Wonders of Wyoming | http://wondersofwyoming.com/pumpkin-buttes/?trackback=tsmclip
It's a great day to be alive~make it a great day!
xoxo
Melody
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