After a night in Buffalo we continued west into the Bighorn Mountains. Gorgeous. The absolute best time of year with the crisp air, bright fall colors, and blue skies. We crossed over a pass at just about 10,000 feet but really had no idea we had been climbing so far, the road was so smooth and sweeping. Perfect Porsche driving.
We stopped here to water the plants. The kids played and mooed as loud as they could at the big cow that was lowing non-stop. A few minutes later, like out of a movie, a cowboy came trotting out of the woods.
“I didn’t think that sounded like one of mine,” he called as he came our way.
Ouest took one look at him and ran back to the car, returning seconds later wearing her pink cowboy hat.
He was a cool guy—how could he not be, being a cowboy and all—who sat and talked to us a while about where he was driving his herd and why, but also about things like blackberry cobbler from a little restaurant in Newport, Oregon that he thinks about every day. His dad lives out near Portland where we’re heading and he misses the food—especially the clam chowder he says. For some of us, no matter where we are there is something calling us somewhere else.
He rode off back into the woods and sent the dogs in after the cows who had wandered off while we talked. Seconds later the cows were crashing through the woods full steam with the dogs yapping at their sides.
We eventually made our way out of the mountains and sped up across the prairie for Cody. We got checked in and had time for one more outing, so we went on over to Old Trail Town. It’s a collection of old frontier buildings from the area that were disassembled and brought back here to house a huge collection of all things Old West. I thought it was pretty cool, Ali was less impressed. I’ve always sort of held a wish that if I could be reincarnated it would be as a cowboy right around 1800. Hopefully the Hindus got it right.
15 Comments on “Cowboy Country”
hey if you’re looking to meet some travelers about to get back on the road look us up when you’re in Portland!
Pat, if you were a cowboy in 1800, would you make a name for yourself by starting the civil rights movement? That would be so cool.
I drove that road in the fall with a friend a few years ago. I thought it was one of the most beautiful places on earth. All she wanted to know was where do the people go to shop. Silly, silly friend.
Hi. If you are passing through Bozeman, we are a fellow traveling family who would love to meet up with you. We took a similar trip (in reverse) with our two kids in our VW Westfalia camper van a few years ago. It’s so fun to see similar photos from the places we visited as we drove out to the East Coast. Let me know if you’d like to get in touch.
Thanks Kirsten, but we are really shooting straight across this time. Two weeks living in hotels and eating at restaurants is about all we can take. Now if our bus was here…
You know, Pat. I can actually picture you as one of those cowboys in the wild west. This post really spoke to me. Talk to you soon, bro. 🙂
Thank you for posting every day now, and showing us our beautiful country! Much nicer to read your news than the B S jammed at us by the media at large.
Coming through Bend?
No Bend this time, we are hitting the Gorge to PDX for a change. Sorry we are going to miss you.
Snow Tires or Chains? Hopefully the East Entrance opened Friday and a safe trip continued.
How cool..you guys have good karma..a cowboy wanders out of the woods!!!! Who was more stoked you or the kids!!
I grew up in Cody and found it to be a wonderful, wholesome place to experience as a kid.. I hope you can also enjoy Yellowstone (Jellystone) Park and all the geothermal activity. It’s incredible. I’ve been following you and your family since Yoders Afloat mentioned you a couple years ago.. My husband and I are now from Tucson and have a condo in Puerto Penasco so it’s been interesting to follow a few sailing blogs. I stumbled upon your book and found it to be an awesome journey around the world. Enjoy my old stomping grounds… Karen Appel
Loved this entry, Pat. This seems like a really fun trip.
“For some of us, no matter where we are there is something calling us somewhere else.”
…T R U T H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, this sentence kinda hit me in the stomach as well. Well said, Pat, well said.
The lone ranger and Tonto, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill were my heroes! Long live the cowboys, and the wild wild west!