OK, after we left Rocky Mountain NP, we headed up I-25 and turned east on WY 18/20 and pulled into a quaint old RV park in Lusk, WY, Sunday, June 30. I doubt you could find Lusk on any map. They do have three RV parks, but not much else.
This is where camped in Lusk. Not much, but they did have 50A service, and thank you, because it was about 90. So, ran all 3 A/C units for about an hour.
Right across the highway from the RV park was an interesting rest area. It just so happened to be the first rest area constructed in WY and all power is provided via solar panels.
Also, at this rest area, was a long time stage coach driver burial site. His marker is there I presume because he made countless runs by stage right on this trail/highway.
OK, we shook the dust of our tires and headed into downtown Lusk (crossroads) where US 85 crosses WY 20. We turned left and headed for Devil's Tower, to seek our close encounter of the third kind. Can you here the tune in your head yet. Up US 85 to WY 585, I-90 (Sundance) and on into the Tower.
Nancy took this pic out the front window. The view is looking north west.
Can you here the tune in your head yet? The aliens are waiting for me...patiently I hope.
(Nancy thinks I am an alien.)
This was on the southern side of the base of the Tower. We parked Miss Dip in parking lot from we took this pic. We had to disconnect Miss Jeepy and drive to the top. No room at the top, and it was crowded.
Ranger interpretive talk. All about geology. Boring really.
Check out this lady painting the Tower on canvas. She is good.
Miss Nancy absorbing knowledge.
Inside the Visitor's Center is a painting of the most common Indian legend surrounding the Tower:
One story, common to the Kiowa, Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne and Sioux tribes, concerns a group of seven small girls pursued by a giant bear. According to this legend, the girls were one day playing in the forest. A great bear came upon them and gave chase. The girls swiftly fled through the trees but the bear slowly gained on them. Recognizing the hopelessness of their situation, the girls jumped upon a low rock and prayed loudly to the Great Spirit to save them. Immediately the small rock began to grow upwards, lifting the seven girls higher and higher into the sky. The angry bear jumped up against the sides of the growing tower and left deep claw marks, which may be seen to this day upon the rock walls. The tower continued to soar towards the sky until the girls were pushed up into the heavens, where they became the seven stars of the Pleiades.
There were many Native Americans visiting this day, Sunday.
Storyboard explains the relationship the NAs had with the Tower.
And this is the view from the storyboard near the path start.
Miss Nancy blazing the trail. It was a gentle stroll.
And these folks are all trying to focus their cameras.
Another view of the red base...
Now for the feeble at heart: Are you believing these guys? There are four of these nuts. This pic has two of them.
The third guy is to the right of the two, and is in contact via voice & rope with guy on top of the column, above.
And the fourth idiot...I think he just said, "Can't catch me, ha ha ha".
Well, it was a fun afternoon at the Devil's Tower. I can't get that tune out of my head. "Do do do do do"! Got it!
Devils Tower and Circle of Sacred Smoke; just about 200 feet from where we parked the MH and had lunch.
We left here and headed for Buffalo, WY to spend the night at Indian Creek RV Park. We had us a sundae at the local ice cream parlor and retired for the evening. Westward Ho we go! RVing Beach Bums...
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