Was it truly the Fountain of Youth?
Well good morning to you all! We are on the road early as we are going to make it to “California or Bust” today. Which will be roughly a 5 - 6 hour drive. Yes we have increased our hours spent on the road, just to get to some lower elevations. But before I write about that, let me take you from Sturgis to Thermopolis Wyoming.
Leaving behind the lush greens of the Black Hills of South Dakota, it almost seemed that we were back in southern Montana. Wyoming is very similar with its rolling hills of grass for miles. Far off in the west we could see some mountains, but it is like that in South Dakota also, but these mountains were more rocky in appearance then the ones covered in trees. I thought it was the Rocky Mountain Range that I was seeing, but a quick check on the map told me that we would be going through the Big Horn Mountain range. Taking highway 16 from Buffalo we had the most amazing drive yet. The road twisted like a snake through this range of mountains. The hills were long and steep as we wound our way upward. A river (not sure if it was the “Crazy Woman Creek” or “Clear Creek”) followed much of the highway. At times it even looked like it should have been flowing west instead of east. Our elevation was getting higher with each hill. We finally reached the summit which was an elevation of 9678 feet! (2950 meters) I know some of you may think I talk a lot about elevation, but that is because once I am over 4000 feet I can’t breathe very well. So I am very conscious of the fact that I may need some help with oxygen. I didn’t realize though that the elevation is also bothering Ray, until he mentioned how crappy he was also feeling a few days later when we were still at high elevation. Enough of that for now. Here are some photos of Cloud Peak which was at the top before we started heading down out of the mountains.
Prior to leaving Sturgis we had decided to stop for the night in a town called Thermopolis, simply because it was as far as we wanted to go that particular day. It was a tiny dot on the map so we really were not expecting much. When I was looking for campsites in this little town, I found one called the “Fountain of Youth”. Now who wouldn’t want to spend a night basking in the fountain of youth? Their photos of the site had shown there was a hot springs pool in the park. When we arrived at this RV park, I noticed that the park itself could do with some major TLC. The grass needed to be mowed between the campsites, picnic tables needed some repair and painting. Some of the electrical hookups appeared to have been hit by RV's as they were leaning over quite far. The air smelled like sewage, but was actually the minerals from the hot springs which was the attraction to begin with so after some doubts (more me then Ray) we stayed for the night. In fact we ended up spending two nights there! The RV park had three hot pools. Ranging from about 100-125 degrees. The top pool which was the hottest one, had a small geyser shooting the water into the pool/ You cannot see the geyser very well, which doesn't matter because that particular photo would not load in??? What the....
The town of Termopolis has a beautiful brand new pool complex with waterslides for the kids. There are three different waterslides, one of which is called the “Lil Dipper” and is a warm mineral slide which they say is great for “tots and grandparents”. LOL!! There is an indoor and outdoor pool. You are invited to enjoy a free 20 minute soak in the 104 degree pool which is in the State Bath house. There is also a Vapor Cave cut into the mountain with hot mineral water heating the “room” to 118 degrees, from a fountain in the middle of the room. In this complex is also a gym and tanning beds if you chose to use them.
In behind the buildings is a narrow road that snakes up into the Thermopolis State Park. On the advice of other campers we met while bathing in the Fountain of Youth hot springs at the RV park, we drove into the park. It winds through the hillside which is bare of trees other then some bushes and sage brush. We were on the lookout for the buffalo that roam through this park. We could only see one off in the distance. Ray spoke to one of the park rangers to find out where the buffalo were and he was invited to come the next morning to see the buffalos who come to a certain spot each day for their food. At 7:00 am….no we didn’t make it back there!
Another suggestion we were given was to visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center which is "one of the best in the world". But after being in Drumheller and seeing their displays, this one was sort of disappointing, simply because I think Drumhellers is THE best in the world. But for its size it was however, very well done. One of the attractions here is you are "invited" (for a fee) to "Dig for a Day". I think for budding archeology kids, that would be a fun way to learn about what roamed the earth billions of years ago.
The population of Thermopolis is a meer 3000 or so. Tourism is their largest economic source, with hundreds visiting the healing mineral rich hot springs every year. We are all seeking that fountain of youth, and just wanting to feel as healthy as we can! So did we find the fountain of youth? Well, I still have wrinkles and greying hair,,,,, but I do feel restful. But you will have to wait until we get home to see for yourself!
Leaving behind the lush greens of the Black Hills of South Dakota, it almost seemed that we were back in southern Montana. Wyoming is very similar with its rolling hills of grass for miles. Far off in the west we could see some mountains, but it is like that in South Dakota also, but these mountains were more rocky in appearance then the ones covered in trees. I thought it was the Rocky Mountain Range that I was seeing, but a quick check on the map told me that we would be going through the Big Horn Mountain range. Taking highway 16 from Buffalo we had the most amazing drive yet. The road twisted like a snake through this range of mountains. The hills were long and steep as we wound our way upward. A river (not sure if it was the “Crazy Woman Creek” or “Clear Creek”) followed much of the highway. At times it even looked like it should have been flowing west instead of east. Our elevation was getting higher with each hill. We finally reached the summit which was an elevation of 9678 feet! (2950 meters) I know some of you may think I talk a lot about elevation, but that is because once I am over 4000 feet I can’t breathe very well. So I am very conscious of the fact that I may need some help with oxygen. I didn’t realize though that the elevation is also bothering Ray, until he mentioned how crappy he was also feeling a few days later when we were still at high elevation. Enough of that for now. Here are some photos of Cloud Peak which was at the top before we started heading down out of the mountains.
Prior to leaving Sturgis we had decided to stop for the night in a town called Thermopolis, simply because it was as far as we wanted to go that particular day. It was a tiny dot on the map so we really were not expecting much. When I was looking for campsites in this little town, I found one called the “Fountain of Youth”. Now who wouldn’t want to spend a night basking in the fountain of youth? Their photos of the site had shown there was a hot springs pool in the park. When we arrived at this RV park, I noticed that the park itself could do with some major TLC. The grass needed to be mowed between the campsites, picnic tables needed some repair and painting. Some of the electrical hookups appeared to have been hit by RV's as they were leaning over quite far. The air smelled like sewage, but was actually the minerals from the hot springs which was the attraction to begin with so after some doubts (more me then Ray) we stayed for the night. In fact we ended up spending two nights there! The RV park had three hot pools. Ranging from about 100-125 degrees. The top pool which was the hottest one, had a small geyser shooting the water into the pool/ You cannot see the geyser very well, which doesn't matter because that particular photo would not load in??? What the....
The town of Termopolis has a beautiful brand new pool complex with waterslides for the kids. There are three different waterslides, one of which is called the “Lil Dipper” and is a warm mineral slide which they say is great for “tots and grandparents”. LOL!! There is an indoor and outdoor pool. You are invited to enjoy a free 20 minute soak in the 104 degree pool which is in the State Bath house. There is also a Vapor Cave cut into the mountain with hot mineral water heating the “room” to 118 degrees, from a fountain in the middle of the room. In this complex is also a gym and tanning beds if you chose to use them.
In behind the buildings is a narrow road that snakes up into the Thermopolis State Park. On the advice of other campers we met while bathing in the Fountain of Youth hot springs at the RV park, we drove into the park. It winds through the hillside which is bare of trees other then some bushes and sage brush. We were on the lookout for the buffalo that roam through this park. We could only see one off in the distance. Ray spoke to one of the park rangers to find out where the buffalo were and he was invited to come the next morning to see the buffalos who come to a certain spot each day for their food. At 7:00 am….no we didn’t make it back there!
Another suggestion we were given was to visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center which is "one of the best in the world". But after being in Drumheller and seeing their displays, this one was sort of disappointing, simply because I think Drumhellers is THE best in the world. But for its size it was however, very well done. One of the attractions here is you are "invited" (for a fee) to "Dig for a Day". I think for budding archeology kids, that would be a fun way to learn about what roamed the earth billions of years ago.
The population of Thermopolis is a meer 3000 or so. Tourism is their largest economic source, with hundreds visiting the healing mineral rich hot springs every year. We are all seeking that fountain of youth, and just wanting to feel as healthy as we can! So did we find the fountain of youth? Well, I still have wrinkles and greying hair,,,,, but I do feel restful. But you will have to wait until we get home to see for yourself!
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