By the time we got up Wednesday (July 6th) morning, Geoff was on a plane bound for St. Louis. We were in no rush to leave but wanted to make Sheridan, Wyoming by supper. The best thing about saying goodbye was knowing we'd see everyone again in August.It was a pretty stress-free trip north. We saw lots of pronghorn antelope and a huge herd of bison (very close to the giant bison that marks the border between Colorado and Wyoming). We stopped for lunch near Chugwater (population 212). The town was named for the sound bison made when they hit the ground after being driven off a buffalo jump (according to native legend). Who knew? The town's claim to fame is the bucking horse emblem on Wyoming licence plates, Steamboat, was born there.
We then motored on to the Hampton Inn in Sheridan, dining at Sanford's Grub and Pub. Again we enjoyed Bomber Mountain Ale in quart mason jars but we knew better and didn't order an appie. Instead, I had Yllihp. Yeah, I couldn't pronounce it either. Turns out is it Philly spelled backward. It was very good and the coleslaw was creamy heaven.
The next day, the plan was to stop at the Little Bighorn National Monument and find/plant a letter box. When we had visited the museum and cemetery back in 2010 (see Day Two-Where the Deer and the Antelope Play), we discovered the grave of Major Marcus Reno. We bought a pamphlet that told us the story of this much-maligned man. He was branded a coward for leading an organized retreat when his troops met the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians on the Little Bighorn River. Reno fought the accusations and was cleared of all charges but the public was against him. He probably suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and turned to drink. He died of cancer a poor man. His descendants and others interested in the man fought to have him re-buried at the Custer National Cemetery. This was done in 1967 and he is the only officer of the 7th Calvary buried there.
I had carved a stamp to honour this historic figure and we planted it in the cemetery. We then read the clues for the other letterbox and discovered it was also in the cemetery. Another box was down by an abandoned hotel so we headed there. Unfortunately, an elderly Crow woman and a puddle thwarted our efforts to find it. Next time we pass this way, we'll get it.
There is a lovely rest stop just west of Billings so we headed there for lunch. Unfortunately, it was undergoing renovations so we ate late near Bozeman. Due to the weather issues we had coming down (see Road Trip '16 -- There), we drove west along Interstate 90. It meets I-15 at Butte where we headed north. High on a hill overlooking the highway was a giant (90 ft) white statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Called Our Lady of the Rockies, it was built by a man who had prayed to Mary promising to build her a statue if his wife recovered from cancer. The project blossomed into a community effort, taking 6 years to complete.
In Helena, we stay at the Holiday Inn Express and eat at the restaurant next door, Buffalo Wild Wings. The wings there are large so we shared a medium plate of tradition wings, then added onion rings and celery/carrots sticks for a balanced meal (yeah, right). Beer was Lewis and Clarke Amber which we've had before and really enjoy. It is a Helena brewery that uses locally grown ingredients.
The next day, July 8th, we were homeward bound. We even played Paul Brandt's Alberta Bound on our stereo system (it always makes me tear up). We made good time and were at the border at noon so decided to have lunch in the Sweetgrass rest stop. Just as well as there was a long line up entering Canada and I'd have been starving had we waited. If there is a line taking longer than any other, we'll find it. So we sat for over 30 minutes waiting for our turn. Our border guard seemed very thorough so we wondered what he was asking people. When our turn came, he asked the usual questions about alcohol and cigarettes, then let us go. Took all of 3 minutes.
We arrived home, quickly unloaded the car, and headed to Scotsman's Well for supper. I had a buffalo chicken wrap with sweet potato fries and Glen ate spaghetti and meatballs, all washed down with Big Rock's Traditional Ale. It was good to be home!
See photos here.
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