Day 23 Bozeman, MT to Sheridan, WY.

Today was one of those sunny days with lots of highways, snowcapped mountains in the background, and rolling hills lining valleys, for miles on end (249 to be precise).  The trip from Bozeman to Sheridan progressed north of Yellowstone park, along the Montana, Wyoming border, dropping down to Sheridan across the final resting place of General Custer.

Before we left Bozeman we took a quick trip around town and cruised by the University of Montana campus located there.  UM is home to the Rocky Mountain Museum which has a huge collection of fossils.  However, we were looking for a smaller Computer Museum which is reputed to be excellent.  We arrived on the UM campus too early, did several loops looking for the computer museum and never found it.  Twice Magellan directed us to drive into a church parking lot. Taking that as a bad omen, we fled town, but Bozeman is worth a day or two to explore if you are in the area.   

Along the way around the Rocky Mountains we stopped at a little family diner off the highway for a breakfast which was tasty and inexpensive. This was only the third “cash only” place we encountered since starting our trip.  One restaurant in Portland CT failed to disclose their lack of a credit card option sending Gloria scurrying across the street to a grocery store to get some cash.  One in Cody Wyoming was very clear up front about the policy and we could afford their 25 cent coffee. The diner in Big Timber Montana where we stopped today posted their cash only policy.  In all cases the food was excellent and cheap.  Makes you think about the impact of credit card companies, doesn’t it? They add a surcharge to everything.

Both the Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers are nearly at flood stage in this area where they are not stuck in deep gorges.  There is still plenty of snow in the mountains and the temperature is warming, accelerating the melt.  I saw another road closure sign for Beartooth Scenic Highway, which we have tried twice to access. Speaking of Bears, this statue is one of many that decorate the streets of Sheridan.  He too declined the gift of peanut butter.

The town of Sheridan has a quaint town center complete with several excellent craft shops selling high quality products made in America. The town also has excellent accommodations including a fine Holiday Inn where we stayed very comfortably.  

I have developed several more rules based on our experience.  1) There is no such thing as too many breaks – leave the highway often to stretch, hydrate, and explore.  2) Never store your toothbrush in the same compartment as a hair brush. 3) Use fast food chain restaurants the way dogs use fire hydrants (pit stops and local gossip). 4) With digital cameras there is no such thing as too many pictures, snap away. 5) Two hundred and fifty miles a day leaves enough time to explore the town you wake up in, one attraction along the way, and still arrive at your destination by supper.

Our calculations show Devils Tower to be about 200 miles along our route to Deadwood, down a short 25 mile detour.  The weather should be fine again, so we are planning the trip.  However, Deadwood is filled with so much history and color that we want to arrive early and take in the town.  We will tell you how it all turns out tomorrow.