First Jedediah Smith Trail 1822 — 1824

Day 21: September 5th, 2009 Sheridan — Worland

Map Sheridan to Worland

Even without my ear plugs I am able to sleep until past seven in the morning. Around half past seven I am trying to get out of my bed, take a shower and get myself ready. Then I drive to Downtown to follow the recommendation. I am not able to find the Java Moon. But I am able to find the P.O. News & Flagstaff Cafe. There I look for a parking spot because I somehow remember that both restaurants are across to each other. But I am not able to find the Java Moon.

I walk back on the main street and ask someone on the street. I am almost there, it’s only two blocks down the road. Now I understand, the Java Moon is across of Sanford’s. With this information it is easy to find and I enter the restaurant. On a first glance, it looks really nice. But then I must realize that it is a self service restaurant. This is definitely not what I am looking for. Therefore I leave this place immediately. There is even a backdoor, which I use. Back there is even someone sitting in the parking lot and is playing on his guitar without any collection box, just playing,

Back on main street I walk back to the P.O. News. Hopefully this is one with full service. Also this restaurant is a real comfy local secret place. You are even allowed to seat yourself. My server immediately shows up and brings me some coffee. I order the Bighorn Breakfast, which is the usual American breakfast with egg, bacon and hashbrowns. The size of the hashbrowns is not as huge as usual, but the bacon is good! The service is also okay and just past ten I pay and walk back to my car.

I mount my camera again and drive over to the next gas station, whereas I miss the Holiday. But I am sure there is another one on this main street. And indeed, there is a Shell showing up. Only at the first pump the card reader is not working. I turn around and take the next one. In fact, this one is working. But it does not print a receipt. Great, what kind of place is this. Pretty much annoyed, I write down all the data from the pump. At least, they have water to clean the windows — and there is even some cleaning agent in the water!

S Gould St, Sheridan, WY

S Main St, Sheridan, WY

N Main St, Sheridan, WY

Then I continue on Highway 14 out of the city — and accidentally end up on the Interstate. There is no chance to exit soon.

Highway 339, WY

At the next exit I leave the Interstate and plan to get back on my original planned road. But I am not able to continue here, all is private property.

Highway 345, WY

So I try an alternative route. But I am also not able to continue here. Now I have again no other choice than to drive back to the Interstate and continue to the next exit.

Wolf Creek Rd, WY

From there I continue on backroads and drive through Ranchester first.

Wolf Creek Rd/Rd 67, WY

Dayton East Rd/Rd 102, WY

Finally I am forced to go back to Highway 14 and continue through Dayton.

Highway 14, WY

Highway 14, Big Horn National Forest, WY

Highway 14, WY

There is no backroad taking me up to Granite Pass. The incline is pretty tough and if I don’t want to be a big traffic obstacle, I must be hard on the pedal — which my old truck returns with pretty high temperatures. There even my fans and the additional cooler is not able to help out. I can only open up my window and turn on the heat. But even so I am not able to get the temperatures under control. Somewhere around 240 degrees things are ending up. And behind me are these idiots who permanently want to push me. Unfortunately, I am not able to exit everywhere to let them pass,

FR16/Black Mountain Rd, WY

FR26/Copper Creek Rd, WY

Eventually I am able to exit on a forest road. There I am able to go slower. But the truck is so tremendously heated up that it takes quite a while until the temperatures are going down. But slowly things are getting back to normal. Because of all these issues I am not able to really concentrate on taking my pictures. But it is still hot outside. I am up on 8500ft and we have still around 75 degrees! No wonder that everything is overheating…

Highway 14, WY

Highway 14, Granite Pass, WY

Highway 14, WY

Finally I arrive on Highway 14 where I drive the last leg up to Granite Pass. There is already way less traffic. Also there was not too much traffic on the forest road. Most of the people already have found their spot for the Labor Day Weekend with their RVs and mobile homes.

Highway 14, WY

Shell Canyon Falls, WY

On Highway 14 I continue to Shell Canyon Falls. There I am able to get some nice shots of the waterfall — and promptly forget to switch my camera back to semiautomatic.

Highway 14, WY

But sometime later I realize this.

Rd 28/Basins Garden Rd, WY

Deer, Rd 28/Basins Garden Rd, WY

Rd 28/Basins Garden Rd, WY

Just past Greybull I turn onto a County Road which I will not be able to drive through completely according to my software. But this time my printed map is correct.

Torchlight Rd, Bighorn River, WY

Highway 16/20/789/4th St, Basin, WY

Orchard Bench Rd, WY

So I am able to continue as planned to Basin, a small village where is absolutely nothing.

CR 28 1/2, WY

Co Ln 48, WY

Backroad, WY

88 S10 Blazer, Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Then I am driving a short distance on Highway 16/20/789 before I turn onto the next County Road. On gravel I turn once again in direction of the Bighorn River. Once more I drive through the courtyard of a ranch. But there is no blocking plate. Then I drive through a gate which only shows a “No Hunting” sign. Therefore I continue. Now I am continuing along the river. But this time you don’t have good views of the river. It’s only possible to get some nice shots from the mountain range in the distance.

When I have almost reached the paved road, a closed gate stops me. That’s really just about the limit. It’s not even half a mile to go and because of this gate I must drive all the way now back?!

Backroad, WY

But all swearing does not help, I must turn around. Also two further attempts to get back to the main road did not work out due to close gates. Therefore I must drive everything back until I am back on paved roads.

Highway 16/20/789, WY

Rd 31, WY

Dust Devil, Rd 31, WY

Rd 31 1/2, WY

Then I continue on the County Road to Highway 16/20/789. I continue there for a short distance until I am able to turn onto a backroad again. There I continue for a short distance on gravel before I reach Highway 433.

Highway 20/789/W Bighorn Ave, Worland, WY

The small highway takes me all the way to Worland. On Highway 20/789 and 16 I drive through the whole city. At the other end is the Super 8 where I have stayed already two times. They are again already almost booked. But I have my reservation.

Then I get my stuff out of the car and start my search for dinner restaurants first. Because the reception has checked me in while they have been on the phone, I was not able to ask for recommendations. My records show me that the Buffalo Rose was not this good anymore the last time. I write down a couple of other restaurants and also the Buffalo Rose, just to be sure.

Then I get my CDs out of my car which I have forgotten. When I go back to my room, the two employees are sitting outside and smoke. This gives me the chance to ask for dinner restaurants. The Buffalo Rose is closed in the meantime. It’s not really a surprise when thinking back how the food was last time. He gives me three restaurants but do not recommend to go to the Mexican Restaurant. Therefore I decide to go to the Brass Plum. Let’s see what kind of restaurant this is. At least it has good reviews on the Internet. Then I write my diary and listen to my last two CDs of Justin Moore and Zac Brown Band.

Around seven in the evening I leave, just to be sure. Most of the restaurants in just a small town close already around eight. The first steakhouse is the Rumors, which does not really look promising. The Brass Plum is closed today. So the only one left is the Ranchito. There they are currently extremely busy and I must wait really long for my server. Then it starts to work out. The food is not overwhelming, but also not too bad. But next time I am sure I will look for a different location.

Around a quarter past eight I leave the restaurant and see that they are already closing! And I planned originally to leave my motel around eight! Seems like I had luck!

Back in my motel I put in my Zac Brown CD first and listen to the rest while my coffee is running through, finishing my bookkeeping for today and finishing writing my diary. Then I copy my pictures of today and finally check them. There is a lot to catch up and I have video taped today again 2h! And I again only make two tapes until it is already half past eleven again. It seems like I will never catch them up again…

Into the bargain, some late arrivals show up who make such a terrible noise that I am sure the whole motel is now awake again. In this case I put my ear plugs into my ear that I will be able to catch some sleep…

The next day is in preparation…

Sights
Shell Canyon Falls (Free)

General
Breakfast: P.O. News & Flagstaff Cafe, Sheridan
Dinner: Ranchito, Worland
Motel: Super 8, Worland
Distance: 116 miles

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