Saturday, August 25, 2018, Cheyenne, WY

In our quest to see all of the state capitols we drove to Cheyenne today. Unfortunately, Wyoming's Capitol building was closed. I mean seriously closed for renovations and not reopening to the public until sometime in 2019. We managed a couple of quick shots from a street that was also closed, but since no one was working, I was able to squeeze by the barricades. It looked like the building had potential but there was really nothing to see this visit. We will just have to stop in next time we are in the area.

Really, the only other thing we had planned on seeing was the Train Depot. The stately old structure had been converted into a multi-use facility and the area around the building had a nice park-like feel that was a great starting point for our walking tour of the historic old buildings.

The station was the kind of building they don't build anymore and it was good to see it renovated and well maintained. Inside there was some kind of new-age swap meet in progress that we opted to ignore. Everywhere around town were painted boots - each with some theme that eluded me. Maybe there was a guide in the welcome center that would have explained the story behind their artwork. I think there was a total of 18 scattered around town paying tribute to Cheyenne's history and traditions.

On a nearby street, there was a lively, well attended, farmer's market in full swing. I guess I have mellowed in my old age - I have actually learned to enjoy some bagpipe music. Sam and I sat in some nearby shade and listened while Joani explored the market offerings.

We really appreciate the opportunity to study old architecture in historic cities and Cheyenne had plenty for us to see. Below is a sampling including the Plains Hotel and the original Wrangler Jeans factory. We didn't spend as much time as we would have liked in Cheyenne because we had a pretty long drive home and we knew we would be back again to see the capitol building in all its splendor when its restoration is complete. 

Thursday, August 23, 2018, Move to Wheatland, WY

Our drive today was 217.8 miles (89,856.9 total) but it was officially the most harried drive we have made in nearly 6 years of full-timing. Highway 85, south of Spearfish, SD, started as beautiful four-lane divided pavement but narrowed as it climbed steeply on the way to Deadwood. I was in 3rd gear chugging along at about 30 mph to the crest of the hill. Then I used exhaust break and 3rd gear back down the hill to maintain a reasonable speed. We saw Deadwood was setting up for something this weekend because several streets were closed. Just outside Deadwood, we started climbing another 7 percent grade for 3 miles and then back down.

I was pretty relieved to finally reach level ground again and actual shoulders so a momentary lapse in concentration wouldn't mean catastrophe.

We had the road to ourselves for the most part - very little traffic. What we did have were some stiff headwinds so nothing about today's drive was easy. 

When we made our last turn towards Wheatland, we heard a terrible knocking sound and quickly realized our patio awning had come loose. Actually, the wind broke our velcro safety straps and had unfurled the awning fabric. We were again on a road with absolutely no shoulder and a steep drainage ditch on each side so I stopped in the road and turned on the flashers.

It would have to have been somewhat comical to an onlooker to watch our panic as we tried to get the awning under control and retracted while a steady 60-70 mph wind continued to thwart our efforts. At one point, while Joani was holding the awning strap the wind lifted her off the ground! We finally got it back in and secured with four straps.

During the entire event, I think only a couple of pickup trucks passed by, probably having a good laugh at us foreigners struggling with the Wyoming breeze.

Saturday, July 14 through Sunday, July 25, FMCA Rally in Gillette, WY

Fulltime living on the road is great, but getting together with a group makes it even better. If everyone in the group has similar coaches it can also be a great learning experience. During our American Coach Chapter (of the FMCA) pre-rally we gathered each day around 4:00 in the afternoon for Happy Hour. Everyone brought snacks and their favorite libation as we caught up with old acquaintances and made new friends. Five years ago when the FMCA last held a rally in Gillette it was cold (it was a few weeks earlier - the end of June), but this year we were all happy to have full hook-ups including 50 amp electrical service to keep our homes cool.

One evening, we had a Pot Luck dinner. There was so much good food. We were all stuffed just trying a little of everything. There was such a variety - I don't believe there were any two dishes the same - and it was all delicious. I was kind and didn't snap any pictures of people with their mouths full. 

It was good we had an indoor room because outside it was storming like crazy. Wyoming has some wild weather. We were all just hoping not to see any of the hail or flooding we experienced here in 2013.

Our isolated location quickly changed as they parked more than 700 coaches on Tuesday and several hundred more on Wednesday. The rally attracted more than 1,700 RVs. 

Our little group of 10 coaches had the place to ourselves for the first few days.

I tried to take a picture showing us surrounded by all of the coaches, but when I took a panoramic shot we were just lost in an endless sea of campers. I even have a difficult time finding us and I was there.

Our happy hours continued as the crowds filled in around us. Of course, they had their own happy hours, but we were always happy to chat with passers-by, especially if they were American Coach owners.

In the official FMCA photo of the event below we were in the upper left area - not that you would have a chance of picking us out among the nearly 2,000 RVs in the CAMPLEX.

We were able to meet several new folks at this rally. Bruce and Jasmine with a 2000 Eagle from Colorado, had been full-timing for about a year so far. They were able to join our group for Happy Hour once before leaving. Parked next to them, purely by coincidence, were Bob and Tracy in a 1999 Eagle also from Colorado looking forward to retirement in a few months. I didn't meet them until they were leaving, so we didn't get to talk much. Hopefully, Bruce and Jasmine and Bob and Tracy will join our chapter of the FMCA or the ACA (American Coach Association) and we will see them at future rallies.

We also met Ron and Tawnee in a 2005 Eagle just getting started with full-timing. After joined us for Happy Hour and pizza one evening, they decided to join our group and we look forward to seeing them at many more rallies in the future.

Our gatherings were just outside Ray and Pauline's coach, so their babies were aware of the activity and were always anxiously awaiting whenever the door opened. I believe their names are Duchess, Kate, Lucy and Abby. 

Of course, FMCA arranged for entertainment each night of the rally. Personally, I think I enjoyed the Thursday show 3 Guys and 30 Instruments the most. We had seen 3 Guys perform once before and they did another great show. Sadly, they announced they were breaking up the band after 40 years (quitters!) so we won't see them again.

There was a Ricky Nelson tribute on Friday night performed by his two sons, Gunnar and Matthew Nelson. Mixed with the music of Ricky Nelson were videos of home movies and personal anecdotes. Their show probably had the largest turnout of the rally.

We had a couple of coaches head out early on Saturday morning, Willie and Marilyn and Don and Pat, so they missed The Flashback Boyz. They played a lot of "oldies"- perfect for this crowd. Their music selections even moved a lot of folks to get up and dance.

Sunday morning the mass exodus started and by the end of the day our group was down to three coaches. Bob and Kathy, Ray and Pauline and us. Bob and Kathy left the next day and Ray and Pauline left the day after that leaving us by ourselves waiting for our service appointment at the Cummins shop.

I brazenly pulled out the pressure washer and cleaned the roof of our coach. It was in dire need of a thorough cleaning. I still need to add some kind of protectant to the fiberglass, but that will have to wait. I can see why folks are willing to pay big bucks to have their coach washed - just the roof was a lot of work.

Along with wild weather Wyoming certainly presented us with a lot of cloud drama and beautiful sunsets. The clouds below are now my laptop screensaver background.

I think the sunset below makes a nice closing for our Wyoming FMCA Rally - until next time!

Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14, 2018, Move to Gillette, WY

To avoid another marathon travel day, Joani planned a stop at a convenient campground with level, pull-through sites with 50 amp electric service located in Wasta, SD. That meant we only traveled 171.6 miles (88,656.0 total) before relaxing for the evening. We parked next to some nice folks from Virginia named Donna and Lowell. They sold it all and had been full-timing for 8 months. I always love to compare notes on places visited and things to see.

Wall Drug was only 13 miles before our destination. We stopped in 2013 and didn't feel the need to do it again. (Everyone should do it at least once!)

24 Express had 8 pull-thrus with 50 amp service (and a dump station) behind the Mobile Gas Station just off I-90 (exit 98). Drop $10 in the box and you are good to go.  No reservations, but sometimes we like to live on the edge!

Early Saturday morning we hit the road (around 9:00) and covered another 179.6 miles (88,835.6 total) to reach the Cam-Plex in Gillette, WY where we were scheduled to attend the 98th Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) National Rally. We were arriving early to join friends at the American Coach Chapter (ACC) of the FMCA. There are so many chapters in FMCA where RV'ers with common interests get together there is something for everyone!

I know we gained some altitude on the drive to Gillette, but I did not expect the engine would overheat. It was also the first time I ever noticed the transmission temperature much higher than normal. Fortunately, there was a very wide shoulder where we could stop and let everything cool down a bit. I checked the radiator - still full, and the fan - still turning. After 20 minutes or so we continued, keeping our fingers crossed, and made it to the Gillette Cam-Plex with no further issues.

After a wait in the will-call area for everyone in our ACC group to arrive, and of course, some confusion over just where they were going to park us we headed over to Lot B.

The American Coach Chapter only had 10 coaches attend our pre-rally, but what a fun group. We were located in a tight little knot which made it a short walk for gatherings. Almost as soon as we were settled in we gathered for our first "happy hour." I completely forgot to record our site so the pictures below were actually from the next day, after some overnight rain.