Tag Archives: buffalo

Cross Country Vacation Sept./Oct. 2025

The Hubster and I set out on a cross country trip to visit with our daughter and her fam. They live on the east coast and we live on the west coast. We choose to drive so that we can take our time and visit places that we have never been.

In other words, we set out on a very long scenic drive.

The last time that we did this was in 2023, and we had so much fun!

September 14 was a long travel day. We left home in Washington state, traveled through Idaho and most of Montana.

A stop for gas in Montana was needed, and we stopped at Muralt’s Travel Plaza. Who would’ve thought that a truck stop would be so nice!

This mural is painted on an outside wall. It features places to visit.

Muralt's Truck Stop, Montana

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

Muralt's Truck Stop, Montana

This guy was right inside the front door. I had to snap a photo for the grandkids!

Muralt's Truck Stop, Montana

One can not only get fuel, but also visit restaurants, a deli, buy baked goods, snacks and gifts, play in the casino, do laundry, stay the night and more.

Sunflower, Montana

When the Hubster and I travel, sometimes we car camp and sometimes we stay in a hotel.

Our first night was spent at the Huntley Rest Area.

We had a brief storm followed by a fabulous sunset!

Huntley Rest Area, Montana

The next morning, we drove into Wyoming.

Wyoming

We stopped at Fort Phil Kearny and I will share that in another post. Afterwards, we drove into Buffalo, Wyoming. Unfortunately, the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum was closed.

However, I was fascinated with this sculpture that I spotted while driving through town.

It is called “After the Dust Settles” and was created by D. Michael Thomas.

D. Michael Thomas_Buffalo, Wyoming

D. Michael Thomas_Buffalo, Wyoming

Be sure to click on those links above to see more about this impressive sculpture!

D. Michael Thomas_Buffalo, Wyoming

From the website:

“Two war ponies, ravaged by the wreckage of war, have reached the end of their run. Their speed and their courage, sacrificed for the folly of man, have betrayed them and now only push at their hearts and their spirits. With their riders no longer driving them against one another they have found an escape, each becoming the refuge that the other seeks. Above them, an Indian arrow flies like a flag from a white man’s saddle, proclaiming a battle won and a battle lost. Behind them lies only dust and the terror that continues to pursue them. The frantic call of the bugle, the volleys of gunfire, and the screams of the wounded have thinned into a long, drawn out silence. All that remains are fear, comfort, and the sound of the wind in the sage.”

D. Michael Thomas_Buffalo, Wyoming

See the world around you!

More Travel Posts:

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota consists of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. You can learn about the geological formations (sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, claystones, limestones, volcanic ash, and shale) by visiting the U.S. Badlands National Park South Dakota site.

Temperatures can reach above 100 degrees in summer to below freezing in winter. It was too hot for me to hike any of the trails (I don’t do heat well…just ask the fam!) when the Hubster and I visited on our September road trip. Even so, we could enjoy the beauty from the scenic drive that we took. The scenic drive was enough since we were running short on vacation time by now.

Badlands National Park

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Norbeck Pass

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

White River Valley Overlook

Badlands National Park

December 24, 1890, Minneconjue Chief Big Foot (aka Spotted Elk) lay waiting while his people cleared a pass down the Badlands Wall. Several hours of hard work with axes and spades made the disused trail passable. The band of 350 men, women, and children continued their flight from units of the United States Armies.

Big Foot was ill, close to death, and disillusioned by the broken promises of Whites and by the lack of unity among Indians. His agony would last only five days. On December 29th, he, nearly 200 of his people, and 30 soldiers, would die in the massacre at Wounded Knee, 65 miles south.

Badlands National Park

For a brief history of the Native American presence in the Badlands, click here.

Badlands National Park - Bighorn Sheep

The Yellow Mounds get the mustardy color from a mineral called goethite.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park - Pronghorn Antelope

Badlands National Park - Prairie Dog

Badlands National Park - Prairie Dog

Badlands National Park - Bison

Badlands National Park - Bison

See the world around you!

Yellowstone National Park

Hubby and I recently took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. I took a whole lot of photos (editing and choosing what to post took some time), so this will be a picture heavy post. I am devoting this post to the animals.

Enjoy!

*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!

Yellowstone National Park
Moose

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park

Elk

Yellowstone National Park
Mountain Goat
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Antelope
Yellowstone National Park
Bison
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Swan
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park

To see more Yellowstone National Park photos, click here and scroll through the posts.

See the world around you!

Stay healthy!  Stay safe!