July 10, 2015, Friday, Sundance, WY
Day 71

Departed Cheyenne and stopped to visit Fort Laramie National Historic Site.  The Fort was purchased by the U.S. in 1849 to establish a military presence along the Oregon Trail and quickly became the principal military outpost on the Northern Plains. Major army campaigns were launched from the Fort when conflict arose with the Northern Plains tribes because the U.S. did not live up to the treaties it entered into.  Can’t trust the government, what else is new! With the end of the Indian Wars, the Fort’s importance diminished and the U.S. Army abandoned it and sold it in 1890.  Eleven restored buildings among ruins of others was interesting but not a must see. We continued north on US Highway 85 a good part of which was very isolated. We passed several passing zones without another sole in sight, unusual given my slower cruising speed than most cars. After the day’s drive of 255 miles we checked into the Mountain View RV Park in Sundance, WY, population about 1200 but with an elevation of 4750 it made for a cool night. Sundance’s claim to fame is jailing a young horse thief for 18 months, Harry Longabaugh, who later became known as “The Sundance Kid”.

July 9, 2015, Thursday, Cheyenne, WY
Day 70

Departed Colorado and arrived Cheyenne, WY. Visited the State Capitol and found no security to enter and virtually no activity going on in the government.  Too bad Florida can’t be more like that.  I guess with only 560,000 people there is not much government action needed. Visited the Historic Governor’s Mansion, no longer the home of the governor since 1976. Did a walking tour and a driving tour of downtown.  Visited the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens. Walmart parking lot was smallish and packed.  Parked at the adjacent Sam’s Club with a few other RVers.

July 7 & 8, 2015, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aurora, CO
Day 68 and 69

Spent two nights parked in front of the house of cousins, Jeff & Sheila, in this suburb of Denver.  Tuesday supper at Monsoon Indian Restaurant with Jeff, Sheila and Eli.  Wednesday supper at White Chocolate Grill with cousins, Art & Cheryl and their 3 children, Leya, Ari & Aaron. Sampled lots of local brews including Yeti Imperial Stout (9.5%) and Hop Abomination (an IPA I actually liked). Very nice visit. It’s sad that family gets spread so far apart and years go by between visits. Just as sadly, I forgot to take pics.