If you ever visit my garage at home, you’ll notice a couple of things right away. Number one: it’s a mess. I have a habit of starting a project, getting interrupted, and piling all the parts / tools / fasteners, etc on the workbench. I know where almost everything is but to an outsider, it’s still just clutter. Number two is that the walls are covered with maps of the trails that helped shape this country. The maps include the Lewis and Clark Route; the Sante Fe, Oregon, Mormon, and Pony Express Trails; even the route of the Union Pacific Railroad. (There’s also one of Route 66 that still seems out of place but I love it anyway.) On days when I run out of projects or energy, I can sit and look at these maps and charts. I’ve covered a lot of the territory shown on these and it helps fire my wanderlust.

We drove past Teapot Rock on our way to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Teapot Rock is best know for being part of the Teapot Dome scandal which you may vaguely remember from your school days. Warren G. Harding and his “friends” sold off or leased the National Oil Reserves to his buddies and they all got rich. Don’t bother driving to look at the Teapot Rock which looks nothing like a Teapot. I didn’t take any pictures of it.

Earlier I mentioned the trails that hang on my garage wall. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, WY makes those trail maps come alive. If you are interested in the early exploration of the west and of the brave women and men that endured the trek west, you owe it to yourself to visit this site. There are even some interactive displays that will keep young people entertained. (PS: there is no admission charge.)

The rest of today’s travels were to cover the miles to Sidney, NE (400 miles total for the day). It rained / stormed the entire way. We were lucky to get into the motel during a break in the rain. I’m hoping it washes away a lot of the dust left over from the cabin in Montana.