September 2, 2026
I’ve been busy with all sorts of little projects, some at the house we are trying to sell and some in our home. At the other house we removed the carpet on the front porch and the west side entry at the breezeway. It was the outdoor type of carpet and was glued down so some effort was involved getting it pulled up.
I had bought some new carpet in a 12-foot width and after some measuring, twice, I cut the new pieces, applied the adhesive, and down the new carpet went. (It was actually more effort than that). I think they turned out well.
I had enough material leftover to re-carpet the rear entryway in our house and the stairs to the basement. I had just enough to finish that job.
With that job behind me and nothing on the calendar until late-Thursday afternoon, I decided to head to Wyoming on this overnighter to check out Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site. A friend had told me about it a few weeks ago and talked about all the petroglyphs and pictographs that are on a sandstone wall there. My usual Wyoming getaway, Five Springs, is great but I was up for something new.
I went on the Wyoming state parks web site and made a reservation. There are quite few sites available for Wednesday night but Thursday through the Labor Day weekend looks to be solidly booked. I selected a site on the first loop which is where the paved road ends. I don’t really know one site from the other but the photo of Site #8 looked good and was set up for a tent. I paid the fee, about $28, and knew that I wouldn’t have to chance not getting one.
I went to the gym at my usual time, just before 7am, running the mile there and did my usual round of weights and floor exercises and then swam 500 yards. It’s always a good way to start the day.
After breakfast I took my time rounding up my gear and getting it packed. I am pretty much bringing the usual load but less food and clothes since it’s only one night out.
I had the bike loaded by 11:30 and was on the road at 11:45. The weather is warm and supposed to be hotter so I am just in my jeans with my mesh jacket over a short-sleeve shirt. I had Google Maps route me out of town and it took me down Shilo through all the roundabouts, over the freeway and looped back to the Frontage Road, before heading down Duck Creek and River Road to Laurel. I usually do the Buffalo Trail route on the way out of town and the River Road/Shilo on the way back (for no reason) so this changed my rut.
There is not much to say about the ride there. There was a pretty strong headwind until I left Bridger and headed to Lovell but every one in a while I’d get a blast. There was very little traffic. In the entire ride I was never passed a single time.
I stopped in Frannie for a photo opportunity.
In Lovell I stopped for gas. There were a half dozen motorcycles tanking up, mostly Harleys, and I chatted with one of them. They are all from Philadelphia, PA and headed to the Beartooths and Yellowstone Park. No, they didn’t ride all the way. They trailered their bikes to Rapid City, SD and rode from there. I didn’t ask but I assume they did Sturgis although it should be over by now.
I rode to Greybull and then through Basin, two small towns in Wyoming. That portion of the ride isn’t very scenic and just has to be done. South of Basin I turned and saw that I had 27 miles to go. Along the way I saw a nice rock formation and pulled over.
I found the campground and my site with no trouble. The site is nice. Plenty of room and right next to the small river so I have that for my white noise.
There is only one other occupied site in the loop of 9, a motor home, so it looks to be quiet. They have electricity in some sites so I shouldn’t be putting up with the noise pollution of a generator.
I got changed into shorts and went to see the archeological site. It was maybe a bit over a half mile to the site. Some views along the way.
I stopped and went in a small cabin that had exhibits explaining some of the history of the people who have lived here over the past 10,000 years. I hiked to the wall with the rock art and picked up a handout that explained some of what is known about each of the 10 areas they have marked. As is expected, some of the images ate are hard to make out but with the guide most of them were easy to discern.
I continued up the trail and visited two more cabins, one about the habitat and the animals it supports and one about elk.
Then I looped to the end of the trail to see Shiprock.
I took the nature trail most of the way back and saw a side trail, Bear Trail, that I want to come back a check out later.
It was pretty hot when I got back to my site and saw right away the downside of Site #8: it’s in the full sun. There are trees but for a bit in the afternoon, it the sun. If I camp here again I would do Site #9.
I did scout around the loop and looked at the others sites, specifically ones with electric in case we would like to come here with the Tesla. It’s about 170 miles to get here and the car could easily do that. I took a photo of the electric box and it appears to have the correct outlets to get a charge overnight.
I took a break, blew up my air mattress and read on my Kindle for a while. Then it was time to write this. There is no cell service so I’m writing off line and will put it all together when I returned to home.
As I was sitting here, another RV pulled in. It parked across the loop from me, eventually. It is a pickup with a cab-over camper and is pulling a trailer. It took them at least 10-minutes to get backed into their spot. Then it was all the leveling that had to be done. From the time they pulled in to when they shut their engine off was about 20 minutes. Then the rest of the set up took place. It seems like lots of work but I get it, it’s a hobby and they, actually he, is involved in the process so that is a good thing. They are in an electric spot so no generator racket.
It’s time for dinner and Butternut Dal Bhat (red lentils, chickpeas, rice, butternut squash in a curry) is on the menu with an Irish Death beer from a brewery in Ellensburg, WA. Yum. Note the entree is from Peak and quite good.
After dinner was settled, I went out for a hike. I’d passed a sign for “Bear Trail” and wanted to check it out. It goes up and bit and runs parallel to the property for 3/4 miles or so. There is a bit of a climb at first but then opens onto the sagebrush and juniper country and the view is pretty nice. I decided to hike up further, off the trail, and to see the Shiprock form the back side. I just followed a sort of path and headed up until I got to a small summit. The view was great and I did see Shiprock from the other side.
The hike back down was nice as it was getting cooler out as the sun had dropped behind the bluffs to the west. It was the end of the day and time to hunker down in the tent and read for a bit.
It was a 173 mile day.
