September 8th

At this point, we'd been out for a week. Finally getting used to the truck, the space, packing and unpacking (sort of) and finding places to drink beer. Ben lost a few pounds from eating only pb&j and trail mix for a week, go figure.

We were heading across Wyoming and South Dakota to see Devon & Jess in Minneapolis. But first, Devil's Tower! and a few long days of driving and random campsites, which make for fun photo ops, thin journal entries, and breathtaking views. I rule at driving for ten hours. In the daytime anyway. We sang most of the way.

Last view of the Tetons.

Upon exiting Jackson, we took a look at the map and had to do some meandering to meet up with US-90 which heads straight across the top of the states. This drive lead us from Dubois, WY, home of the nefarious Jack-a-lope toward Thermopolis. He paid a dollar to the people in the market, and we were to help ourselves to the hilarity.

After getting over the giggles, we drove by the little metal skate park, ben pushed around, warmed up, an hopped back in the truck. I read more of East of Eden.

The drive through, what I remember being called Owl Canyon, was amazing. The rocks are marked from which period they are from, some ranging to several billion years old. There is a dino museum somewhere along that highway as well- this part of the state is rich with geologic history.

Thermopolis- largest natural hot spring.

We stopped for lunch in Lucern, spied these tiles on an old building. yow.

We wound through rolling hills, and eventually mountains to head over the pass, just in time for sunset, spotting some deer along the way, cautious not hit any that may've bound over the narrow highway.

On the other side of the range, we stopped at a drive through liquor store. No, we didn't drive through it. I was too indecisive for that kind of pressure. I bought some whisky and ginger ale and we found the most random in-town campsite ever in Gillette, WY. We drank, cooked risotto, and slept next to a construction site- withOUT a thousand layers of clothing!

The next morning we were bound for Devils Tower! After some weeeeird "breakfast sandwiches" and horrible coffee.