August 7, 2007

On today’s adventure our first planned stop was Oregon Trail Ruts State Historical Site. We would never have found this place if not for the help of the person at the entrance of nearby Guernsey State Park. He was very helpful and told us that we needed to go further east to the North Platte River and turn onto this unmarked gravel road. We were to follow this road until we came to a sign directing us to the parking area for this historical site. We walked the uphill path until we came to the first set of Oregon Trial Ruts. We saw several places with the ruts cut into the stone. Here are a couple of pictures.





We then drove a short distance to the town of Guernsey and had lunch in their Town Park. It was a beautiful place with lots of tables under large pine trees. Here we had our usual lunch of peanut butter on rice cakes or celery, a piece of cheese, some fresh fruit (today it was cherries and grapes) and water.

After lunch we went to Register Cliff State Historical Site. This was a stopping point for the pioneers on the way from Fort Laramie to the west. It provided good water from the North Platte River and lots of grass for their livestock. While camped next to the cliff, they carved their names and cities in the sandstone. We were able to find names and dates from the mid 1800s.





Now it was time to move on so we reprogrammed the GPS and headed toward Fort Laramie National Historical Site. The view out the windows was magnificent and we hardly noticed the road changed from blacktop to gravel. We have been on gravel roads before so this didn’t bother us. The sky was getting darker a good indication of the approaching rain. As we ventured further into the rangelands of Wyoming we found a small stream of water running in our path and small hailstones beside the road. It must have hailed just prior to our passing. The further we went the worse the road became. Finally we all decided to turn around on this narrow road and find a better way to Fort Laramie. After backtracking for a few miles we came to a blacktop road that was supposed to get us to our destination. This road also turned to gravel and the rain stated coming down very hard. We were following a local resident on the road this time so we felt more comfortable driving. It was still raining lightly when we arrived at the Fort so we put on ponchos and headed out to learn some history. While on a tour of the fort, we told our guide about coming the back way. He informed us that we were lucky not to get stuck. It seems they have to rescue stranded travelers on those roads when it rains. When we left, we went the highway as he recommended. Here are a few of Vera’s pictures.

This is the hail we saw along the road.


This is the general area where we turned around on the first dirt road. You can see off in the distance the wonderful views we were enjoying.

The Cavalry barracks built in 1874.

The upstairs Cavalry dining room.

The bachelor officer’s quarters built in 1849. This is the oldest original building still standing in Wyoming.

Officer’s quarters ruins dating from 1855.

Below is the 1883 addition that housed the officers’ club and a bar for the enlisted men and civilians. Here Charlotte and Vera enjoyed a refreshing crème soda while I had a manly sarsaparilla. Because of his allergy to corn products in the drinks, Richard decided not to partake in this historical activity.


I think we have had enough gravel roads and rain to last us for a long time. From now on we will only travel blacktop highways when it rains.