An early start on a Sunday morning meant open road.
The first leg, east on the 80 until I got to
the town of Rawlins, Wyoming.
I reached
Rawlins about 8AM and saw two local police officers pulling into the parking lot
of a convenience store (The Jug and Loaf).
I figured they would know the best place to get breakfast on a Sunday
Morning.
The one whose patch I took a picture of was loaded down with
tactical gear. His regular uniform plus
a tactical vest with six magazines (plus the two on his belt), a taser, and
pockets filled with stuff. Policing sure
has changed, when I started it was a revolver and a 30 inch piece of hickory
(the baton). Or, maybe Rawlins is super
dangerous on Sunday mornings. Anyway, we
chatted a while and they had two recommendations: Penny’s Café or Cappy’s Café. Their
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Masonic Temple in Rawlins Wyoming
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recommendations were tepid, at
best.
I then asked them, “Do you have a Masonic Lodge in town?” The non-tac vest officer quickly replied, “No
we have never had a Masonic Lodge.”
Before I could reply, Tac Vest Officer said, “That’s right, but there is
a Masonic Temple downtown.” I got
directions.
I had passed Cappy’s on the way into town so I drove back
there. If you live in San Dimas, the interior
looks like Roady’s. Same worn booths and
tables. The comparison ends there. I ordered
a Western Omelet. The server asked, “Would
you like toast?”
“Yes, may I have sour dough?”
“Sorry, we are out.”
She replied.
“Okay, Rye?”
“No. We ran out of
that this morning.” She said.
“Wheat?”
“No. We just ran out.”
“English muffin?” I
asked.
“We don’t carry that.”
“White?”
“Western omelet and white toast” She said as she scribbled
on her pad. I think they are missing an “R”in Cappy.
After
eating I stepped outside for the customery smoke.
I kept looking across the parking lot at this
parked car and trying to figure out what model it was.
It looked like a 1950s something.
I must be tired.
After a minute or so I could see why I couldn’t
determine the make or model.
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Wyoming Frontier Prison
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After looking at the Lodge, I drove three blocks north to
the Wyoming Frontier prison.
It’s now a museum,
with guided tours.
It was open,
but I
had missed the tour by 15 minutes and the next one wasn’t for about 45
minutes.
Although I didn’t hang out for
the tour, I did look through the three small, but packed exhibition rooms.
The exhibition were worth the stop and if I
had time, the tour would probably have been interesting.
If you are ever Rawlins, its thumbs down on
Cappy’s but thumbs up on the prison.
Out of Rawlins I drove north on the 220. Between Rawlins and Casper, there is Independence
Rock. It was considered the half-way
point for settlers traveling from Missouri to Oregon and California.
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Near Independence Rock Wyoming
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I made a 2 mile detour on the route and drove into Casper
Wyoming. I stopped along the road in town
to get a good look at the North Platte River.
If you asked people about American Rivers they might say the Mississippi
or the Colorado. But, I always wanted to
see (and cross) the North Platte. It is
over 500 miles long and winds through Montana, Colorado and Nebraska. If you have read more than two Westerns in
your life you have read about the Platte.
I continued north and east on various highways until I reached
my destination on the high plains – Wright Montana. The temperature hovered between 54 and 63 from
Rocky Springs until Wright (315
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High Plains in Wright Wyoming
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miles) and it rained, occasionally hard.
Wright is about 90 minutes or so from my next
stop (Mount Rushmore).
The Wright Hotel is the best place I have stayed thus
far. Very large, clean and quiet. Still has the muddy boots sign – must be a Wyoming
thing.
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