Hot Springs & Volksmarch -- Sun., Aug. 19

Good-bye Cody and the Wild West Show. Hello, Thermopolis and Hot Springs. 

Here's some photos from Absaroka Bay Campground in Cody for those of you who like to know what a park looks like. Not much "it" factor, but $29/night worked for us. There was a nice, clean bathroom/shower/laundry facility. We did not make use of it.

Our site at Absaroka Bay--F3.

Ready to head out!

Yep, packed in like sardines--not as bad as Yellowstone, though.

Head 'em up, move' em out--south on WY 120 toward Thermopolis. My AAA Wyoming map shows this as a scenic route. Scenic if you like sagebrush and hills. As we went south, a few more geologic features livened up the sights. For the most part, I read Reader's Digest to Bob as we traveled the 82 miles. 

We stopped in Meeteetse, a small, Old West town. Main purpose: to have a treat from the Meeteetse Chocolatier. A small picnic area in town proclaimed Meeteetse as the black-footed ferret home. At one time, it was thought they were extinct, but then some were found. Now there are a few colonies. They live in the same areas as prairie dogs, as they live in prairie dog tunnels.

Statue devoted to ferrets.

Meeteetse.

Meeteetse.

Now we're talkin'!

A very nice stretch stop and treats to boot. Bob had a Peanut Butter Bar and I had a Chocolate Brownie Bar. His was better. Nice we shared a little so we could compare.

The rest of our drive to Thermopolis was uneventful. We checked into the cute Eagle RV Park on the south side of town. I like the large trees and space between sites. I will get pics tomorrow.

Once our 5er was set up and the cats petted and fed, we took off for Hot Springs State Park to do a 10K (6.2 miles) Volksmarch and then a free 20-minute soak in the hot pool. We arrived at the Bath House and started the walk at 2:45 p.m. The walk took us around the terraces, over the swinging bridge, past the original hot springs, into town, past some museums and back along the river walk. The total walk took us two hours and fifteen minutes. 

Terraces of travertine.

Big Horn River.

Bob making the bridge swing.

Old travertine formations from hot water flowing into river.

Water flowing down from the springs.

 

Double-click to read these signs.

 

Steps to White Sulphur Spring.

Bob exploring.

Where White Sulphur Spring comes out of the ground.

Safari Club at Days Inn, Thermopolis.

Safari Club in Days Inn, Thermopolis.

Record-setting eland.

Pretty flowers around town.

Thermopolis Court House...

...and Post Office.

Cool flowers!

History signs.

Walk along Big Horn River through a park.

More of the travertine formations below the springs.

Sunflowers along the Big Horn River.

Teepee Fountain in Hot Springs State Park.

At 5:00 p.m., we immersed ourselves into the natural, 104 degree mineral waters. Ahhhhh! What a great feeling. My legs and arms tingled. Even though it was 90 degrees outside, there was a breeze that blew over and the evaporation cooled us down a little. The pool closed at 5:30 p.m., so we just made it and enjoyed our soak.

After the  pool closed, we took a little drive along the Big Horn River. We saw mule deer, pronghorns, common nighthawks and sharp-tailed grouse.

Pronghorn.

We made it back to the 5er by 6:30 p.m. and spent the evening relaxing. 

Tomorrow, we plan to go back to the Hot Springs Bath House pool. Because of a treaty with the Shoshone and Arapahoe tribes, the Bath House hot springs pools are free to everyone for 20 minutes every two hours. What a nice treaty that is.

Also on the agenda tomorrow, Bob has some work to do. If I can manage an appointment on short notice, I'd love to get my hair cut! Bob also said to go for a mani and pedi, which I haven't had for months! Woo hoo. Looking forward to it.

Sure is nice to relax for a change.

Travel Bug out.