We started today on the east side of Wyoming, and ended up in central Wyoming. The direct route would have taken us about 3 hours… but when have we been known to take the direct route on vacation 😉

We decided to drive along and through the BigHorn National Forest instead of the interstate because we want actually see part of Wyoming… and as our mantra says: when will we be back here?

We went through so many great little towns. I love when they show the population on the town sign (especially when it’s less than 1,000) Each town had these great downtown areas… Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Manderson, Worland.

This drive was beautiful!

And I love that Wyoming has signs along the Highway for “⬅️ Point of Interest” because you know that means there’s a plaque or a gorgeous view, or if you’re lucky – Both!

It got to the point that the boys just shouted “POI” when they saw one because they knew we had to stop 🤣

We also noticed more and more of these wooden structures beside the road. They are snow fences. They force the snow to accumulate in a specific location (instead of the road)

The topography changes so quickly here… from flat and dry to hilly and green in a matter of 30 miles

We passed through more little downtowns who proudly waved the American flag 🇺🇸

• 

• 

We arrived in Cody, Wyoming around 4pm, and stopped at the local Walmart for a few supplies – and cash back without an ATM fee 😉- since we are staying at a VRBO tonight with a kitchen. Walmarts are the same no matter where you go – 40 registers and only 4 are open 🤷🏻‍♀️. But Yea for a home cooked meal tonight!

We had heard from a few folks in our travels that the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming were seeing a huge influx of people from Oregon and California. The issue has been that these new folks didn’t want to adapt to the place they moved to, they wanted to change them… in other words, they brought the same problems they were running from to their new location… which made this sign hilarious to us 🤣🤣

Our VRBO tonight is the basement apartment of a house on a working farm. It couldn’t have been more perfect for us. Boys had a bedroom with their own beds. Mike and I had a room, washer & dryer and an outdoor area for boys including a trampoline!

• 

• 

• 

• 

The owners, Amy and Mark Law, have 2 boys, William (age 15) and Wesley (age 12). They actually bought the farm from a family who were moving to NC. They raise cattle and horses. We really enjoyed talking yo Amy and comparing farms tips. She stocked the fridge with yogurts for boys, fresh eggs, milk and cereal for us. We have had the best experiences with VRBO, and met the best people along the way.

We didn’t have to rush and started learning a new card game we picked up, Phase 10. It was so nice to have a minute to just sit while clothes washed.

We fixed sliders for dinner with the beef from Karen and David (at our little cabin in Montana) and used the fresh relish she’d given us too. It was delish!

Our primary reason for coming to Cody was to be a halfway point to Grand Teton. BUT THEN my friend, Cyndi, asked if we were going to the rodeo when we were here… well, we are now!

The Cody Nite Rodeo was started in 1938 and is the longest running and only nightly rodeo (June to August) in the whole world.

Oh my word, This was the best! And we ran into this sweet couple and their friends from Asheville that we met at Little BigHorn yesterday! (The boys said how do y’all already know people here?!? 🤣🤣)

The boys rode a mechanical bull!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

And Leo and I took a turn sitting on Mongo the bull. Yes, he was real and he was gigantic!!

We headed into the arena, and stood while they prayed and then sang the Star Spangled Banner 🇺🇸 It was so old fashioned and so patriotic! ♥️

The bucking Broncos were crazy! Some of the riders went flying in the air!

Next up was calf roping… Michael and I were a little more worried about the little calf than the time it took to rope them.

There was also an appearance from Nevada Jane. She is from Roanoke, Virginia and does tricks on her horse (I’m not sure why a cowgirl from Virginia is named Nevada but whatever)

Then they played Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” and everyone sang and used their phone flashlights. It was really cool to see! 🇺🇸

The littlest riders came next and they were awesome!

Then there was this little girl. We think she was somewhere between 6 and 8 years old and was the youngest sibling in a family of cowboys. She was the cutest ♥️

These two had an absolutely ball and screamed their heads off. They were also amazed to learn that the University of Wyoming has rodeo scholarships! Who knew that was a thing?

Last event of the night was the BIG bulls. These things were monsters, and I think only one Cowboy made it the required 8 seconds to score.

You have to be a special kind of something to get on one of these big ol’ bulls!

It was just the best time together!

Thanks Cody! It was awesome 🏇🐂🇺🇸

We went back to our little place, played a little more Phase 10 and snacked a bit before bed.

Tomorrow we’re heading into downtown Cody before venturing through the East side of Yellowstone down into Grand Teton National Park.