As much fun as this summer has been…there comes a point every year when we are just ready to go home. Colorado Springs was a fantastic spot…but that time had arrived….so the north road beckoned.
We generally try to keep the hours driving low…….we do, after all, have nowhere to be and all summer to get there….
I always like to use BoonDockers Welcome when I can…it’s a great way to travel and meet fantastic people…..in the summer season tho’ and booking only a few days out…..I was struggling to find spots.
I eventually realized my problem was Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a huge annual rodeo event for the area.
I snagged the very last site at the KOA just outside Denver. At Fort Collins….(full because of the Cheyenne event)
It was just a stopover for us….the Rockies to the west gave us a sunset show…!!!
The next stop I booked…based purely on the distance on the map …was Douglas, Wyoming….which turns out to be a happening place as it’s the location of the Wyoming State Fair and home of the jackalope…
…and quite the jackalope he was too….!!!
We had a wander downtown…
Standing outside the White Wolf Saloon…..with the jackalope pawprints on the sidewalk outside….of course we had to go in for some refreshment.. (it was also 38°C ( 100°F) that day…!??) this little pub was an experience and a half….and as always the people were wonderful, friendly and curious. Where were you from, going to, where have you been and why stop here. They tend to take for granted the very genuine value of what they have and live with everyday.
I mean….alligators crawling across the tin tiled ceiling……!!! Thoroughly enjoyed the beer too (it was hotter than Hades that day…!!!)
The KOA in Douglas, where we stayed, is either new…or newly renovated…it was a lovely park..if a little exposed
..beautiful new swimming pool, new pickleball courts
Cornhole set up under shade……
new cabins…
and a row of custom built Airstreams on site as holiday cottage rentals.
Plus the absolute best staff in the front office..!! Yes we played some pickleball, swam…..and had a go at the Cornhole too….!!!
Scott found a local feature, Natural Bridge Park……sounded interesting…..so we headed up there for a peek. (Editor. You never really know what’s in an area until you get there, even the locals might not value something as they’ve grown up with it, but everywhere has something special as I’ve hope we’ve shown over our years on the road)
An absolutely amazing little park……
…and sure enough…this rather spectacular rock arch…..much like the ones in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky.
On that very hot day it was just a little cooler by the water in this fabulously lush green little slice of paradise hidden away in the middle of nowhere Wyoming
……the site was the perfect place for hydro electric….
….and campground…..although I’m not sure we could have safely taken the 30 ft Airstream down the very windy, very narrow access road.
The trails were cryptically signposted……
….and quite worryingly this one…..tho we did not see any …I am happy to report…
Natural Bridge park was one of those unexpected hidden gems that we immediately added to the list of places for return visits…
A couple of days of travel that turned into an adventure in itself….😁
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