The sign at the first rest area we come to in Wyoming welcomes visitors and suggests that we might want to slow down and enjoy the views that lie ahead.  The landscape, it suggests, is much the same as it was in the time of early settlers – an untamed mecca for wildlife.

Having never been in this part of the world before, I have no idea what to expect.  I keep my eyes peeled for wildlife, and jot down notes as we go along.

Here are my observations:

• dimpled rolling green hills
• herds of antelope grazing next to horses in endless pastures
• sage brush
• wide-open spaces
• prairie dogs in the field beside a parking area
• red rocks formations reminiscent of Sedona
• ascending and descending roads
• tall firs
• remnants of snow
• winds

We stop the first night in Rawlins at a Campground called the Red Desert Rose, where our hosts are so friendly and accommodating that they even have a loaner car to use if we don’t want to unhook our tow.

We are too tired from the day’s travel and plan to stay in, get an early start tomorrow. Ric’s weather app is warning of coming storms.  We want to keep ahead of it.

As we set out the next day, the winds pick up and after only a couple of hours, Ric wonders if we should abandon our plans and wait out the passing front.  We stop for gas and a light lunch and decide to push on.