Travel With The Thayers: #5 Wyoming to Spearfish, SD

#5 Wyoming to Spearfish, SD

I-90 heads south from the Little Big Horn Battlefield to Sheridan Wyoming. Further south at Buffalo the highway turns east and proceeds to Gillette and then South Dakota. During our 700 mile trek across Montana, we only saw 1 live deer and some others who didn’t make it across the road.

About three miles over the Wyoming border, wild antelope begin to show up as a single or in a small group on the hillsides and down in the valleys. The antelope usually graze a long way from the road. They are tiny dots on the green landscape. Difficult to see, and difficult to photograph at 65 mph! This photo is the best I could do.

The untamed hills and gullies sometime support a few trees, or just grasses, or sometimes rocky faces.

Several times over the last week road construction has necessitated crossing over to the opposite side of the divided highway to get around the construction.

Every once in a while another ranch or farm house comes into view.

Interesting fact: From yet another rest stop reader board….Wyoming supplies one sixth of the nation’s energy needs.

Just before the state line red outcroppings stand by the highway.

Welcome South Dakota!

As we move away from the Rocky Mountains the highway begins to flatten out and sprawl.

We were surprised to see this buffalo jump right next to the highway. We have visited several jumps over the years. Most jumps sit high on a bluff where the natives can guide the herd to follow the female leader over the cliff. They take only enough meat that they need. This jump dropped into a huge hole that had been dug out of the ground. I guess whatever works.

Downtown Spearfish, South Dakota feels quaint with its old architect buildings and historical homes.

The area south of town, where we were camped, the buildings were of modern construction. We visited the Spearfish Walmart and I must say it is the cleanest Walmart we have ever been in! The floors were shiny clean. The display racks sat in perfect order. Nothing seemed out of place. We were impressed. I told a salesclerk that too.

Note: Apparently the only Costco in all of South Dakota resides in Sioux Falls.

Also at the southern part of town a very classy neighborhood sat on the hillside. Their size shouted “big bucks!”

Even the neighborhoods below them contained, less expensive but clean and tidy homes. If it weren’t for the winter snow and summer heat, we could retire here.