Completion of our Labor Day trip to the Big Horn Mountains above Sheridan, Wyoming and back home to Albert Lea, Minnesota staying at the Arrowhead Lodge 815 miles each way.
We do something every day as per the following:
Thursday, Sept. 7
To Bear Lodge for breakfast. (There are three lodges at the top – Bear Lodge, Elk View Lodge and Arrowhead Lodge.) Talked to Yuki (long time employee) and Jon _ (talk person alias and also long time employee).
Talked to mule deer hunters from Michigan, Arkansas, Washington, Texas, Montana, and Tennessee staying in the Rustic Log Cabins at Arrowhead with a big tent for cooking, card playing, etc. In total there are at least 10-20 coming every year for the last 20 years staying most of September bow and arrow mule deer hunting. The shoot only bigger male with 2x2 antlers. At this point they had 2 bucks. (Readers for your info:) Mule Deer are smaller than white tail deer. White tails are measured as 10 points, 8 point, etc. Mule deer are measured as 2x3, 3x4 etc. antlered points on each side of their heads).
Went sight-seeing, saw 9 moose, lost of mule deer, a hawk & light rain and then supper at Bear Lodge.
Friday, Sept. 8
Breakfast Buffet Bear Lodge. Went to Burgess Junction Tourist info center and watched movie of the area. Drove up steep grade to “Medicine Wheel,” a native ceremonial site. It feels just like a higher power is looking upon you. Unbelievable” is how I describe the feeling.
Saw a huge bull moose stare down a coyote. The coyote took off running with its tail between its legs. Ate super at Bear Lodge. Back to Arrowhead, a great day in the Big Horn Mountains.
Saturday, Sept. 9:
Breakfast at Arrowhead Lodge. Porch Day – reading, watching the world go by, visiting with hunters in camp. Genie’s kind of a day!
Sunday, Sept. 10, low of 27:
Breakfast buffet at Bear Lodge. Thanks to Tracy (Lead Lady) and head maintenance man for the free buffet breakfast to Genie and I. (Wow, Wyoming hospitality!!)
Monday, Sept 11, low of 29:
Last full day in mountains, so drive around after breakfast at Bear Lodge. Saw a herd of sheep with shepherd and his two sheep dogs, about 2 elk, lots of deer. Cow and calf moose by where we park car when staying nightly at Arrowhead after eating evening meal at Bear Lodge. Made reservation at Arrowhead Lodge for arriving Tuesday the next Tuesday of 2024.
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Left by 9 a.m. to Super 8 at Wall Drug. Julian was a most gracious lady in checking us in.
Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Breakfast at Super 8, Wall South Dakota. We met Pastor Armand and his family at breakfast. The obedient hubby of the manager of Super 8 did a good job of serving breakfast to the guests.
Home to Albert Lea at 7 p.m.
Things worth mentioning: A: This was our 50th anniversary of staying in the minutes above Sheridan, Wyoming,
B. Our wedding anniversary of September 28, 2023 is 60 years so this was also our anniversary celebration!!
C. Billboard on I-90 in South Dakota.
“Gas Now
Gas Can Later”
D. Billboard on I-90 at Jackson, MN
“Real Tractors
Are Green”
E. We counted Antelope.
100 Going to the mountains
136 coming back from the mountains
F. Three different flocks of sheep were loaded in trucks and taken down off mountain.
G. Cows were herded down the mountain by cowboys on horses.
H. Lot of Canadian smoke from forest fire all the way to the mountains – none coming home.
I. We tried to drive thru the clouds at the to of the mountain as we have done before but no clouds.
J. Gas was cheaper in South Dakota and Wyoming than Minnesota. Wyoming was the cheapest.
K. In looking for state car license plates – we didn’t see (Vermont, Hawaii and Rhode Island).
L. There is a Hanson Count in South Dakota!!
M. Based on the slogan of “Minnesota Nice” we met many eligible people to move to Minnesota; even a Wyoming highway patrolman who motioned a downward movement of his hand to slow down!!
N. In summary Genie and I know our trips of this nature are numbered. Even so, we made a reservation at Arrowhead Lodge for the same time in 2024.
O. Your higher power is always present especially in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming!!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.