Friends and Casper WY

We stopped over in Casper Wyoming to visit friends originally from Fort Atkinson and then Upper Michigan.  Scott and Iryna took a huge adventure and traveled west to take root.  It is amazing how many people they have met in Casper that originated in Wisconsin.  Seems like a bigger suburb of Wisconsin then Illinois is.  They gave us the royal treatment and Iryna cooked up some wonderful food.  Even included Elk meat spagetti. Mmmmmm

Toured the area and saw some wonderful beauty and historic sites.  Independence Rock.  The goal of every traveling family in the late 1800's - early 1900's was to arrive at Independence Rock by Independence day.  That way they would know they could make it over the mountains before the snow hit. To see their carved names or initials in the rock and know they didn't get to travel in comfort like we do, blows my mind.  I am so thankful to be able to travel coast to coast on 8 wheels, comfy chair, refridgerator, and smooth (well somewhat) roads.

This is where the Sweetwater River has carved a narrow cleft in the Sweetwater Rocks that is about 370 feet deep and 1500 feet long. The cleft is 30 feet wide at the base but nearly 300 feet at its top.  This was the next landmark that the settlers looked for while traveling.  The Oregon and Morman Trails passed through these parts.  History!!   Why didn't I listen more in school??  Oh well, we are learning and experiencing it NOW.