Wednesday, October 8th ~ Driving through Wyoming

Welcome to Wyoming

Wyoming is the 10th largest, but the least populated of all 50 states. It is also one of only three states that have straight latitudinal and longitudinal lines instead of natural landscape to define the borders. (Just FYI, Colorado and Utah are the other two.)

Wide open range land

With the low population density, that equates to miles and miles of nothing but grasslands, weeds, a smattering of trees, a few cows grazing, and some distant rock formations. We pass by the occasional small town, find deer in the front yard, or a two-headed car and not much more. 

Independence Rock

Independence Rock State Memorial Site

Located on the Oregon, California and Mormon Emigrant Trails, this landmark rock was the goal to be reached by wagon trains on or before July 4th, (Independence Day in the USA) so that they would be able to arrive at their destinations ahead of the first snowfalls.

Independence Rock

Many emigrant travelers scratched, carved or painted their names with axle grease onto the granite as they passed by, giving the rock the nickname, “Great Register of the Desert.”

We also crossed the Continental Divide at least three times passing through the Great Divide Basin.

The Continental Divide in the US runs primarily along the Rocky Mountains and is the dividing point that separates where water either flows East to the Atlantic or West to the Pacific Ocean.

The Great Divide Basin “is an area of land in Wyoming’s Red Desert where none of the water falling as rain to the ground drains into any ocean, directly or indirectly.” ~(Wikipedia)

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Wyoming is also home to my favorite National Park, Yellowstone, but we did not stop there this trip. Back a few years ago we spent 10 days exploring all corners of the park and I felt like we just got a taste of all there is to see there. Click here to see a post that shows a little about that trip.

You thought I was kidding about a two-headed car didn’t you???

Gratitude Moment: Today I am thankful for what ever whimsical thought brought about the creation of a two-headed car. It gave me pause, a laugh, and one more thing to write about…