Day 27: Still in Casper, WY

Had some minor repairs done on the bike this morning.  Guy in bike shop tried to convince me to ride to Rawlins by way of Medicine Bow through the mountains - two passes at or near 10,000 ft.  Not a chance.  My way, though lower, tops out around 7,200 I think, crosses the divide twice between here and Rawlins and a third time after Rawlins; the divide splits to go around the Great Divide Basin and the Red Desert. 

Some Casper color.

My route skirts the Laramie Range.  Note the stiff breeze.

The next series of photos are from the Fort Caspar museum, a really nice display of local history.  The replica of the fort was built in 1936 based on Caspar Collins' drawings.  He commanded this fort and also one at Devil's Gate on the Sweetwater which I hope to pass tomorrow or the next day.  He and 4 others were killed by Indians and another group of 20 were also killed later the same day.  The Indian raid was in reprisal for the Sand Creek massacre a few months earlier.  The museum has lots of information about the raid that killed Caspar but nothing, zero on Sand Creek.  However, their little book store has a copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee so I was able to reread Brown's treatment.  Recommend it - should be mandatory reading for kids. 

Blacksmith

Officers' quarters

Stable

Mess & enlisted quarters

Kitchen

Fort

 

Saloon - civilian concession on post

Next two photos show some of the 82 RV campers here belonging to migrant/transient workers.  This has been the case at every campground I've been in.  People traveling with families & kids, following the work - harvesting, oil & gas, coal, pipelines, .....  I wonder if they are counted in the census.  Do they have roots anywhere?  What about the kids' education.  I had no idea.

So long from Casper