BIKING ON THE PLATTE RIVER TRAIL IN CASPER, WY - Sunday, April 16, 2023

This morning the temperature was around 28 degrees and sunny, and quickly it warmed up to around 56 degrees. It was another wonderful day in Casper, WY. Mel rode his bike to Home Depot and Wal-Mart to pick up a few things we needed.

After lunch, Mel and I decided to go for a bike ride along the Platte River Trail -- which provided excellent access to the North Platte River. The legendary North Platte River meanders through Casper, creating a peaceful setting for those who want to be outside for a quiet moment. The Platte River Trail system follows the river for 11 miles through the Casper community, and is a virtual oasis with tall, old growth trees and breathtaking scenery. This trail offers views of the mountains, the river and the metropolitan skyline from just about anywhere.

(Information about the Platte River Trail & Map below)

Mel at the start of the trail getting ready to cross the bridge.

The Platte River along the bicycle trail. Below is one of the mile markers along the trail, where people or organizations can sponsor the trail.

More of the trail and the river as we biked along the trail.

Shirley and Mel on the Platte River Trail with the river and mountains in the background.

Shirley standing beside our e-bikes with the river and mountains behind. As we continued our bike ride, we ended up going up a very curvy and steep hill to the Wyoming Event Center.

There were several of these rock hearts on the way up that steep trail. I stopped when we were at the top and walked back down a few feet to take this picture.

View back down to the town of Casper from the top of the steep hill at the Wyoming Event Center.

Our bike ride today encompassed nine miles in about 2-1/2 hours including our one stop at Black Tooth Brewery for Mel to get a peanut butter-flavored porter craft beer named, "Be My Buttercup." 

Until our next adventure,

Shirley & Mel

UPDATE ON TRUCK & LAYOVER IN CASPER, WY FOR A WEEK - Thursday, April 13, 2023

Well here's the update on our current truck issue -- it turned out to be something pretty major. I won't go into all the specifics, but we are needing to replace the complete back axle. Robert, at Dayton Transmission, is very knowledgeable and already has that replacement part ordered, so now we are at the mercy of when it will arrive. They have told us that it will take anywhere from five to seven days to get here.  So in the meantime, we're going to be settled in at Casper East RV Park in Casper, WY for at least a week. (Cost for camping this week is $342.42 -- pay for six nights @$57.07 per night, and you get the seventh night free.)

The weather today again is beautiful with temps in the low to mid-60s, and of course sunshine. After breakfast, Mel and I decided to go for a bike ride on our electric bikes. 

We first ventured across the interstate (red dot is where our campground is located) and into the town of Casper -- "where wander meets wonder." And boy did we wander today!!!

The weather today again was beautiful with temps in the low to mid-60s, and of course sunshine. The path in town first took us by the Old Yellowstone District.

Next, we rode on a portion of the "Rail to Trail" or as they call it the Casper Rail Trail. Spanning just over 6 miles, the trail offers an east-west route across the charming Wyoming community of Casper. It loosely parallels US Highway 26, and partially follows the former Chicago and North Western Railway.

Mel riding through one of the trestle bridge replicas on the trail. 

We also found the Black Tooth Brewing Company on our bike ride. Who knows, but I bet Mel stops in there after his afternoon bike ride. 

It was a great bike ride this morning -- which ended up being around 12 miles and two hours in length. We're looking forward to several more bike rides while we are here in Casper, WY including the Platte River Trail.

Happy Trails,

Shirley & Mel

STILL WORKING OUT THE BUGS GOING FROM CHEYENNE, WY TO CASPER, WY - Tuesday, April 11, 2023

It started out as another beautiful day in Wyoming!  We left the Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne, WY at 8:10 a.m. and arrived at our destination for the day -- Casper, WY -- at 11:40 a.m. for a total of three hours and 40 minutes travel time today.  

It was 41 degrees and sunny, but as we got on the road the winds picked up tremendously -- and at one point the winds gusted in upwards of 60+ mph. We could feel the trailer moving a little bit behind us. The view from the Interstate was mainly dry, brown patches of grass or vegetation, with big patches of white snow caught by snow fences or trees, or some majestic mountain ranges also covered in snow. 

Below you will see the stats for our trip today from the Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne, WY to the Casper East RV Park in Casper, WY (a total of 186 miles).

When we stopped for fuel at Flying J in Cheyenne, WY, I got the deal of the day -- two free gallon jars of mild banana pepper rings! Woohoo!

And then while we were on the road again and about 45 miles from the Flying J in Casper, WY, the truck began to have some issues. Not knowing whether it was transmission issues or not, we knew we had to find someone to diagnosis the problem. 

Therefore our journey for the day ended in Casper, WY. After we got the trailer all set up at Casper East RV Park, Mel went to drop off the truck at Dayton Transmission.  

At the campground, we are in site 42, and can actually see snow-covered mountains from our campsite. 

We will be here at Casper East RV Park in Casper, WY until we get the truck fixed and are ready to roll again. 

Shirley & Mel

START OF OUR ALASKA JOURNEY FROM MATHESON, CO TO CHEYENNE, WY - Monday, April 10, 2023

We started our Alaska journey today at 8:30 a.m. and arrived at our destination at 12:30 p.m. -- a total of four hours later. What a beautiful day! Below you will see the stats for our trip from the Griffin Ranch in Matheson, CO to Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne, WY for a total of 194 miles.

Mel says the back of the truck has everything we will need on our Alaska trip -- and not a thing more will fit! 

Mel and Shirley are ready to go and decided to take a picture before they hit the road.

The journey was very smooth and we even saw Long's Peak from the Rocky Mountain Range on our way. What a beauty!

We stopped at the Wyoming border to eat lunchmeat sandwiches and cauliflower potato salad. And then we continued our journey for a few more miles to the Terry Bison Ranch and checked in (for one night of camping it was $31.64).

Checked in and set up at our campsite #53 and it is now 66 degrees!

Some sites to see around the Terry Bison Ranch. . . 

Interesting facts about the Terry Bison Ranch. . . 

Now we are off to happy hour at the Senator's Steakhouse for drinks and appetizers. 

Appetizers were $4.99 and drinks were buy one, get one free. Can't beat that. 

Interesting information about the start of the Terry Bison Ranch.

Menu and drink menu at Senator's Steakhouse. 

We shared two bucket of goodies appetizers. Mel had two different beers (a Saddle Bronc by Black Tooth Brewing Company and a Hefeweizen by WYOld West Brewing Company), while I had one Triple Threat (see above) and one Ranch Bronc (see below).

Our total bill was only $25.08. It was a great time at happy hour to top off our first day on the road to Alaska.  Happy travels!

Shirley & Mel

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY IN MATHESON, CO - Friday, April 7, 2023

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!

Boy was it ever a good Friday here in Matheson, CO. After enduring several nights that reached temperatures in low single digits, we finally have a beautiful Friday -- with the temperature reaching 66 degrees and wonderfully warm sunshine all day long!

We took this opportunity to make our last trip into town for groceries before we leave to head toward Canada and Alaska on Monday, April 10th. We even caught a fantastic view of the snow-covered Pikes Peak on the way into town.

And another delicious highlight of our final trip into town was that we got the chance to go to lunch at Whataburger (which is one of our favorite hamburger joints that we frequented often in Texas, and one in which we will really miss while we are in Alaska).

As we finalize putting the last-minute things into the smaller RV that we will be taking to Alaska, Mel will be winterizing our Grand Design Reflection fifth-wheel tomorrow. And then he will park it in its place on the Griffin Ranch for a year. And tomorrow night we will be sleeping in the Keystone Passport travel trailer. 

HAPPY EASTER to everyone on Sunday!

Shirley & Mel