The Wild Wild West indeed. You don't come here to see the Opera. The wide open spaces and big sky's, the many mountain ranges, the Continental Divide, sagebrush-covered mesas and endless horizons have been enjoyed by the Collins.The state is only a half-a million people (9th largest in size). Energy is Wyoming's largest export. Wind farms, drilling rigs and tarins laden with coal were familiar sights. We are talking world class wind here and the SUV felt it.
Experiencing the American West has been a blast for Buba...he still wants to stay at a dude ranch-ah the fantasy of a city slicker. The cowboy was born here and Buba wants to participate. The Western hospitality has been welcome, coupled with very little traffic and lots to see. We did not visit Yellowstone or Teton National Parks (2 of our favorites) so we could do some other fun things.
Buba and Pleep really enjoyed discovering the Wild Wild West spirit in Cody (and Greybull, Worland and Keith's favorite Tensleep- population 50). Our rubber and asphalt cruis
e through Wyoming was a blast.Pleep's favorite artwork is this patriotic Indian painting. We think it was done by a young Indian artist.
The drive in from Montana through Big Horn National Forest (Buba said it deserves to be a National Park)
was beautiful.BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER
This museum encompasses 5 museums in one: Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Draper Museum of Natural History and of course the Buffalo Bill Museum (Pleeps favorite). The Center explores the life of Buffalo Bill Cody
and his influence on developoing the nearly mythic tale of the American West. His traveling show brought Western culture to people across the US and Europe. Pleep was excited to meet Buffalo Bill & Annie 
Oakley. He took some shooting lessons and is ready to hunt bison now. MMMM..bison steaks, bison burgers, bison ribs. Maybe a buffalo robe from Bocahontas to wear around the ranch.
Old BB started out as a teenage rider for the Pony Express. He then served in the US Army as a scout during the Indian Wars. When the war ended he began supplying buffalo meet to workers of the transcontinental railroad earning himself the nickname Buffalo Bill. He parlayed his drive and personality to star in a spectacular circus in which historical scenes were acted out by cowboys and Indians-incl
uding such figures as Sitting Bull. In spite of his grand life and money made he ended up dying bankrupt in 1917 but was so loved they erected a museum in his honor 1 year later (now the visitor center).I must say we were really surprised how well done the museum is. We had planned to spend an hour or two and ended up spending all day there and could have stayed another. Pleep didn't want to leave and kept hiding. Buffalo Bill was chasing him about and nearly lassoed him a time or two.
Pleep thou
ght a pair of beaded moccasins would serve Pam nicely. Plus Buba thought he might be able to free u
p a ton of cargo space if she'd ditch all the high heels and just go with mocs.The sculpture garden was great. Pleep wants to climb on it. We had to make him get off before we got bounced out of here too.
We finally moved on to the Lewis & Clark exhibition. That was quite something as well. Pleep is going to be well versed in the
history of the American West.The unity sign promped Buba to teachPleep about the War Between the States & how to do a proper Rebel Yell.
Pleep enjoyed the covered wagons but said he preferes the John Deere.
We did miss the night Rodeo much to Pleeps dismay but had a deeeeelicious meal of Bison......
Back through the Big Horn National Forest to Gillete. No smog, no traffic, few people and wide open spaces and skies as far as the eye can see. Acres of public land, sagebrush-adorned plains and rolling hills allowed Pleep to run Wild- no one minded! Hee Haw.
