Journey Day 412 | CDT Day 75

Hiking across a Wyoming meadow.

8/28/87

A day spent mostly in South Pass City, from 1869-1870, county seat of the Wyoming Territory. This refurbished ghost town consists of 12 assorted buildings put in some semblance of the order they'd had in the gold rush days. The usual list of notorious was headed by a Mrs. Morris, the first woman justice of the peace, controversially credited with having a heavy hand in getting Wyoming the first woman's vote. The jail's front room was sometimes the schoolhouse, as evidenced by the alphabet still visible on its front wall.

Awake in nice, though cow-pied spot in willows along Willow Creek. Others do their thing. I cook cereal with jelly, vodka and orange juice. Write letters, wait on Carl's return. When he does, with news of a laundry offer, I head into town, find Adkinses at the picnic area. Laundry alert unnecessary. Hang out and cook again, while Adkinses head up to laundry providers. Go up to Bill Lowe's store, sign historic register, eat hamburger, drink Coke, read the Casper newspaper. Talk with Lowe.

Back to historic site, more investigation of the town, talk with a nice lady running the store. Do more postcards, letters, mail out. Resting when Adkinses begin sightseeing. Hang out, call Gregory about my waistbelt. Hope it's in Jefferson City. Hike out about 4 p.m., into high desert, follow jeep roads down to Willow Creek, pitch in cattle driveway, hot and tired. Cook and pitch, darkness hits, so updating 8/29 in darkness.