Devil's Tower and Gillette Wyoming

 Many times we have passed by the area of Devil's Tower.  Being on vacation, in the past, be "beelined" it from one point to the other and missed many things.  So this was on the Bucket list.  All the pictures I have seen of Devil's Tower were up close, like below.  It never hit what a mammoth miracle it was until you start driving and seeing it in the distance, and it's enormity shows up.  The Indians lore is that a bear was chasing them from one point to another and as it skid to a stop.
The huge upheaval of earth was formed.  Then as the Indians climbed to the top the bear clawed at the sides but never reached them.  That's how the tower was formed and the marks on the side became.  Well that's my shortened version of the lore.  We got the opportunity to walk the trail around the base (about 1mile).  It looks so different from each side.  There had also been a forest fire in the area so the burnt trees were also visible.  A definite must see and long awaited check off the Bucket List.
     We stayed just south of Devil's Tower in the city of Sundance.  Neat little western town.  Free museum about the west and the Sundance Kid (partner of Butch Cassidy.  They had the jail door and court room seats from his actual trial and incarceration.

  In Gillette Wyoming, we got the opportunity to tour a working

Bison Rancy.  65,000 acres and about 2500 bison.  We learned that buffalo is actual the water buffalo.  When the white guys moved west and saw the American Bison the only thing they could relate them too was the water buffalo so that is what they called them.  The true name for our American, unrelated version, is Bison.  All are raised for meat.  But many have been given or sold to zoos and other ranches.  Ted Turner (TV guy) bought many from the Durham Ranch.  They have filmed many Wild West movies (new versions) on the ranch also.



We attended an FMCA Rally in Gillette Wyoming.  This was the vendor area to shop for RV or travel type products.  We met up with out Beaver club (Our motorhome is a Beaver) and had a few Social Hours.  These consist of everyone bringing their own beverages and an appetizer to share.  There was about 60 of us and tons of food each night.  Who needs supper after tasting everyones appetizers. 

This is a air view of the last Rally, just to give you an idea of what 3000+ RV's look like all together.  The best part was meeting up with our Full Timers group and socializing with them.  They are a crazy, fun group.  We got to hand out Ice Cream Sandwiches one afternoon with them.  They made us wear aprons and birthday hats, but it was great fun.  We also volunteered Security duty.  We had 3 shifts of 3 hour assignments.  Randy and I enjoyed visiting with the people and our main job was making sure they had their Rally name tags on and then giving out lots and lots of directions.  I know where every bathroom in the entire complex is!!  Put THAT on my resume!

Forgot this picture.  Aladdin.  The oldest continuously running store in the West.  Used to be a railroad depot (end of the line) and a hotel, bar, and cafe for all the travelers in the late 1800's.  Still a store and upstairs in an antique shop.  Hard to imagine all the people that passed this way over 100 years ago.