Tofurkey Day Vacay - Day 5 & 6

My last day in Casper, and we went for a walk around the Platte River Commons, a former AMOCO oil refinery site right downtown which was turned into a park after a big cleanup

The geese sure liked the golf course (Natrona Co High School in the background)

 A display in the park showing the oil refinery then, and the golf course today

 Some left over equipment... 

 ...that Eeyore enjoyed hanging out on

Then it was time to head back to Denver to visit friends...one being an old walking buddy

Luckily I've been to this Capitol before, since it was being renovated when I was there this time

 I also took the tour of the U.S. Mint, something I have always wanted to do in Denver but it never worked out...got to see them making the new state quarters (a National Park/Historic Site for each state...in the order they became parks)

Tofurkey Day Vacay - Day 4

We stayed in town on Saturday, and visited the Casper Museum/Fort Caspar and went shopping downtown (got a few xmas gifts while I was at it)

The only pic I took in the museum was of some old Water Bonds (of course!)

Here is the replica of the fort, they at least built it on the original foundations

Inside some of the buildings at the fort, through the dirty windows...kinda gave the pics a cool effect, I think

A mormon wagon on display outside. Most trails out west passed through Casper (Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, California Trail...)

Quaint downtown Casper

Anyone want some boots? This was just one wall of many at the infamous Lou Taubert's...

We rounded out the evening with Thai food and a concert

Tofurkey Day Vacay - Day 3

We took a day trip on Friday after Tofurkey Day...headed west of Casper.

Castle Gardens (not a park or anything, just BLM land)

 There were a bunch of petroglyphs carved into the formations.

 And cool scenery...

 (only picture Dad willingly let me take of him...and it was him taking a picture of me)

Wyoming's highpoint, Gannett Peak (13,809 ft) - check!  This is one of those states where just seeing it counts...because it's a four day backpacking trip just to get to the hike to the top.

 And more scenery...

 Saw an eagle's nest.

  But no real eagles, only this one.

 And of course antelope!  Scared a big herd driving out of Castle Gardens, they crossed the road in front of us and ran up the hill.

Next stop, Thermopolis...the world's largest mineral hot springs (as you'll soon see painted on the side of a hill...so it's gotta be true)

But first, we drove by Boysen Dam on the Wind River, to add to my dam tour of Wyoming.

 Wind River, with mineral deposits from the hot springs in background.

 The water was so hot (imagine that) you could see it steaming.

 Close-up of mineral deposits, with some ice.

 Dad telling me I should see the overhang I was standing on...but he was one to talk.

 Wildlife!

 In case you didn't believe them...it was painted on the hill.

 The deer even liked the warm pools of mineral water.

 Newer modern Park Service bath house...versus tacky looking older domed bathhouse. 

 The park also has a state maintained bison herd.

 And while we were in the park, we wondered why there was so much "evidence" of deer (aka poop). But at dusk we found out why, tons of deer descended on the park and the town of Thermopolis.

 Pretty sunset over Boysen Reservoir on the drive back to Casper.

Interesting to note, and put things in perspective - Thermopolis is the largest town in Hot Springs County, at a whopping 3,009 people! And just misses making the top 20 largest cities in Wyoming by 289 people.

Tofurkey Day Vacay - Day 2

 Tofurkey Day morning - we headed out for the traditional pre-meal exercise, this year a hike (which at 5,000 to 7,000 ft elevation was harder than any run I would have done!)

Here's the typical Wyoming scenery along the way.

 It was a beautiful day!

 We first hiked at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek, and fed the birds when we got back.

 Then found the elusive Garden Creek waterfall at Rotary Park (yes, Eeyore went along)

 Here's a view of Casper from the top of the waterfall.

 We then drove around Casper Mountain looking for evidence of the recent wildfire.

 And saw even more wildlife...common theme for this trip...well, any trip to WY really

While it was a bit chilly in Casper on this day (40's)...it surprised us how cold it got on top of the mountain!