Wyoming: Rain, Clouds and a Blizzard!

My second morning after Yellowstone spit me out in Montana, I awoke to thick clouds and rain. Oh well. Rain is bound to happen in May! Unfortunately, I didn't think anything of it, checked the weather for my route, and continued east back to Wyoming through Livingston and Billings. Both Wyoming and South Dakota are showing warmer, drier weather. Livingston was a gorgeous little town with a wonderful health food store that included organic produce and an in-store bakery. Billings also had a health food store but mostly supplements with some packaged foods.

Back to the land of horses! As soon as I crossed the state line, the horses appeared in the next field. I arrived in Cody, Wyoming (finally!) to 30 degrees and snow. What? What about the 75 degree weather and sun I was promised a day ago? The locals kept saying, "You should have been here a day ago." Well, yeah! I dropped into the BLM office and the Chamber of Commerce, both very helpful. Checked out the Buffalo Bill Western Museum and planned to see it the next day. Then I found the BLM campground way out of town, up on a plateau, overlooking the gorgeous valley on three sides. Well, if I could see it. It was covered in low clouds, a windstorm rocked Big Blue, and freezing temperatures. I thought it best to get back into town and try the Walmart. Walmart manager was incredibly nice telling me Walmart camping is better than BLM outback as they have security cameras and are safer! Thanks! There were three RVs and one moving van already parked. I snuggled into my bed after securing the van and putting up all window covers.

At around midnight I awoke. Besides the wind beating the van, I had a strange foreboding...the Bluetti was down to 20% power! OMG! I should have been charging it as I drove through the clouds. No sun means no power! I panicked. At midnight during a storm I don't think well. I dug out my car adapter, also looked at the solar wiring. Panic. Suppose I detach the wrong wire? Nothing was working and I couldn't very well leave the van running all night or I might never awake. The Bluetti continued to dip in percentage. OMG. I was in a panic all night waiting for daybreak. It got down as low as 18% with a red warning light.

At daybreak with the ability to see better, I realized the car adapter was broken. I detached the refrigerator from the Bluetti, attached everything to the car battery via the cigarette lighters, and started driving. Forget the museum and Cody in general. I had to get the Bluetti's power up or it would implode (or something). I texted my incredibly road-savvy friend Susan. She called me and as usually gave me lots of patient advice. Keep driving. The longer the destination the better. I set Google Maps for eastern Wyoming.

On my route I stopped at Hyattville. Tiny little village out in the country. Quiet and lovely. The surrounding landscape was beautiful with rolling green grass.

I followed the suggestions of the BLM employee who may have had it out for me, but at the time seemed really nice. I took Highway 14...it climbed up, twisting and turning, with a drop off on one side while the snow blizzarded around me. I was terrified! The roads looked icy. The signs that said, "If the lights are flashing turn back." were not on, but I feared the next one might be flashing. Then what? Go all the way back? I came across one warning sign that said, "WARNING: FROST HEAVES." WTF is a frost heave? I persisted, cussing at the uphill climb, demanding aloud to know when the highway starts going down on the other side and this nightmare would be over. Every moose sign I saw I'd scream, "Where is the moose? If I must suffer this torment, I want to see moose!" I never saw moose. 

Finally at Buffalo, Wyoming that sported a gorgeous historic downtown, I arrived in the valley, it stopped snowing, and I stopped panicking. I continued on Interstate 90 - wonderful freeway, four lanes, well-maintained, free of semis, and, most importantly, free of snow and drop offs!

I was told at the Cody Chamber of Commerce to see the Devil's Tower. I turned off I-90 onto Highway 14 a little apprehensive, worried if the road would be closed, or at least snowing. Beautiful road, paved, and wide. Gorgeous green surroundings with rolling green hills, beautiful farms, and trees. In the distance I could see the Devil's Tower lording over the landscape. (It was still cloudy, but the clouds were high and no rain or snow!)

From what I've read it's molten lava. Scientists aren't sure how it was created. Maybe it was a volcano and the sides collapsed leaving the lava? It's quite majestic. It's in a National Monument park with free entrance if one has an America the Beautiful pass.

I asked about free camping and was given a map...LOTS of secret BLM land not on Campendium or in my BLM book. I drove toward Sundance and stayed up on Warren Peak. Again, paved roads all the way up the mountain. Wyoming sure knows how to do roads! My Bluetti was still low at 50% so I avoid using any electronics all night. I switched from battery to solar and although the clouds covered the sky, there was enough light to start charging at 395 watts! This was a great sign. I anticipated clear and warmer weather in my future! I was exhausted from such a stressful day. I went to bed early.

Sundance BLM Camping View

I see a sunrise! The town of Sundance is gorgeous, small, manicured lawns, beautiful with surrounding green valleys and forests. I went to the local cafe: Wild West Espresso for some internet and to prepare for my doctor's telehealth appointment.