May 27, 2019 Monday Memorial Day, Day 9
Ate a very mediocre breakfast at the Days Inn, but it was filling. While we were eating we listened to warnings of sever storms on the Weather Channel, but they seemed to be further east. The car was charged up to 80%
As we drove east out of Casper on I-25 we saw glimpses of the "new" Casper, malls megaplexes and the same chain stores that are present throughout America. They came to an abrupt end and then we commenced a long drive through lots of seemingly empty land. I suspect that based on the exhibits we have seen that the land is not really empty, but rather there are lots of small mammals, snakes and birds hidden in the brush, along with the cattle that seem to dominate the ranching. However we did periodically see deer and buffalo I fenced in areas which I assumed were ranches.
About 50 miles east of Casper we turned off to see the Ayers Natural Bridge. This is a 100 ft long 50 ft high natural arch spanning the LaPrele Creek which over the many years carved out a canyon and the arch. The Native Americans of the region thought the bridge was a sinister place because a brave was struck by lighting in the canyon. The Mormon Trail passes two miles north of the site and travelers would flee to the site if they felt threatened by the Native Americans.
As we were hiking around the park, which had lots of well maintained picnic areas and trails we encountered a heavy-set woman. She was turning around as the trail to the top of the Bridge was too much for her. She had driven down with her three grandkids (she didn't look old enough) from Montana and had not planned to come to this site. Actually she said, that she had not planned anything and was just driving around and stopping at seemingly interesting sites during the three day holiday weekend. She said that she was largely raising the grandkids and had some not so nice things to say about her daughter. But she was very fond of Trump!
As we approached Cheyanne and passing the Warren AFB and golf club (I was told by a Navy veteran that the Air Force has more golf courses than any other service.), suddenly, without warning we experienced a ferocious hailstorm while on I-25. Within seconds we were being pelted by hailstones 1/2 inches in diameter that were pounding on the car and quickly covered the roadway in an inch of ice balls. It was noisier than being in the NYC subway and I was certain that the car would be pock marked. Surprisingly, it was unharmed. I pulled under an overpass, along with other cars and waited about 10 minutes for the hailstorm to pass. Most of the ice balls quickly melted. I was later told that this was not an uncommon occurrence in Wyoming.
In the excitement I missed the exit for our Airbnb so we entered Cheyanne closer to downtown. Another hailstorm arrived and I pulled into a gasoline station, both to purchase gasoline, but also to park under the awning to get out of the hail barrage. As I got out of the car the pelting from the hailstones was painful. I notice that the well between the windshield and the hood was filled with lots of the ice balls..
As the storm turned to rain we headed downtown. The place was a complete ghost town. I saw less than a handful of cars and only one pedestrian. Not one business or cultural attraction was open. After one more hail attack which we weathered under a pedestrian bridge, we headed out of downtown to check into our Airbnb. Although it is the largest city in Wyoming and the state capital, the town is pretty small and it was easy to navigate. We passed the airport and then found an open supermarket where we purchased some items for dinner and breakfast. No ice cream.
Our Airbnb was only a few minutes away from the market. We have the upper floor of a townhouse with a full kitchen and living room. Our host is an older, but vibrant woman. A kindergarten teacher. She said that she doesn't understand computers or how Airbnb works, her daughter-in-law who is the face of the lodging and lives in Gilette, set it up. We spoke at length about our lives and children and she facilitated an arrangement to charge up the car from an outlet in the garage.
After unpacking we took a walk through the residential neighborhood. It seemed solidly middle class with lots of small developments. We came upon a large pasture with a heard of cattle that seemed to mark an abrupt edge between residential and agriculture.
Made dinner and watched a bit of TV. Very slow news day with Trump out of the country and it being Memorial Day.
Ate a very mediocre breakfast at the Days Inn, but it was filling. While we were eating we listened to warnings of sever storms on the Weather Channel, but they seemed to be further east. The car was charged up to 80%
As we drove east out of Casper on I-25 we saw glimpses of the "new" Casper, malls megaplexes and the same chain stores that are present throughout America. They came to an abrupt end and then we commenced a long drive through lots of seemingly empty land. I suspect that based on the exhibits we have seen that the land is not really empty, but rather there are lots of small mammals, snakes and birds hidden in the brush, along with the cattle that seem to dominate the ranching. However we did periodically see deer and buffalo I fenced in areas which I assumed were ranches.
About 50 miles east of Casper we turned off to see the Ayers Natural Bridge. This is a 100 ft long 50 ft high natural arch spanning the LaPrele Creek which over the many years carved out a canyon and the arch. The Native Americans of the region thought the bridge was a sinister place because a brave was struck by lighting in the canyon. The Mormon Trail passes two miles north of the site and travelers would flee to the site if they felt threatened by the Native Americans.
As we approached Cheyanne and passing the Warren AFB and golf club (I was told by a Navy veteran that the Air Force has more golf courses than any other service.), suddenly, without warning we experienced a ferocious hailstorm while on I-25. Within seconds we were being pelted by hailstones 1/2 inches in diameter that were pounding on the car and quickly covered the roadway in an inch of ice balls. It was noisier than being in the NYC subway and I was certain that the car would be pock marked. Surprisingly, it was unharmed. I pulled under an overpass, along with other cars and waited about 10 minutes for the hailstorm to pass. Most of the ice balls quickly melted. I was later told that this was not an uncommon occurrence in Wyoming.
In the excitement I missed the exit for our Airbnb so we entered Cheyanne closer to downtown. Another hailstorm arrived and I pulled into a gasoline station, both to purchase gasoline, but also to park under the awning to get out of the hail barrage. As I got out of the car the pelting from the hailstones was painful. I notice that the well between the windshield and the hood was filled with lots of the ice balls..
As the storm turned to rain we headed downtown. The place was a complete ghost town. I saw less than a handful of cars and only one pedestrian. Not one business or cultural attraction was open. After one more hail attack which we weathered under a pedestrian bridge, we headed out of downtown to check into our Airbnb. Although it is the largest city in Wyoming and the state capital, the town is pretty small and it was easy to navigate. We passed the airport and then found an open supermarket where we purchased some items for dinner and breakfast. No ice cream.
Our Airbnb was only a few minutes away from the market. We have the upper floor of a townhouse with a full kitchen and living room. Our host is an older, but vibrant woman. A kindergarten teacher. She said that she doesn't understand computers or how Airbnb works, her daughter-in-law who is the face of the lodging and lives in Gilette, set it up. We spoke at length about our lives and children and she facilitated an arrangement to charge up the car from an outlet in the garage.
After unpacking we took a walk through the residential neighborhood. It seemed solidly middle class with lots of small developments. We came upon a large pasture with a heard of cattle that seemed to mark an abrupt edge between residential and agriculture.
Made dinner and watched a bit of TV. Very slow news day with Trump out of the country and it being Memorial Day.
Did the host receive a lot of AirBnB guests?
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