No Reservations...Part 3

In need of gas and a clean windshield we pulled out of the Rodeway Inn and jumped across the street to satisfy the needs of the car. Not having had breakfast yet, we decided that McDonald's was the place to go (nothing too good for my princess!). It was a quick reminder of why we avoid those places although the coffee wasn't too bad.

Down the road we went. First stop, Little Big Horn Battlefield. We pulled into the interpretive center and listened to one of the rangers give the descriptive talk of how the battle took place. You could almost see the combatants fighting as he told the story. His interpretation of the battles events differed from any that I had heard before. For one thing the odds weren't as stacked in the Indians favor as I had imagined. The other more glaring reason for Custer's defeat was that the ammunition the soldiers had didn't fire consistently and each soldier only carried half of his allotted amount while the remainder was on the pack horses. The Indians knowing this would kill the soldiers holding the horses which in turn would run away in the commotion.

 Markers litter the surrounding plains where soldiers had fallen in battle. Those that could be identified were buried in the cemetery next to the visitor center.

Those that couldn't be identified were buried in a mass grave atop the hill where many of the troops had retreated. Custer and most of the other fallen officers bodies were later claimed by their families and buried at other locations. In Custer's case he now lays in rest at West Point. As is the case with any battlefield, Little Big Horn is a very solemn place. It's hard to imagine the brutality of battle as you stand there looking out over the wind blown grasses of the prairie where so many lost their lives.

Now travelling east on I-90 we entered Wyoming.

Along the route we spotted miles of these snow fences erected beside the interstate. A reminder of how brutal conditions can get out here during the winter.

On a lark we decided to take the business route through the town of Buffalo, Wyoming and look for a lunch stop. Once downtown we spotted the Occidental Hotel complete with bar & restaurant. A neat old place which has been restored to it's former glory. The food was great followed up with a tour of the hotel. Turns out there was a bordello in the rear during it's heyday. (I knew I liked this place!)

Upon leaving Buffalo we started travelling south on I-25. We cruised through Casper and on into Douglas for our overnight stay. While in Douglas we checked out this old locomotive which was made in Burlington, Iowa.

We also found the elusive Wyoming Jackalope here in Douglas.