Buffalo Bill Historical Center

Saturday - 21 September 2002: Cody, Wyoming - This morning in Yellowstone National Park we had no water - the faucets had frozen in the campground! We are at 8000 feet - no wonder this campground closes in a few days. DT went out and fussed with the pipe and we were good to go again, but we do keep water in our tanks and our pipes and tanks are "freeze-proof", just in case. We had a cup of coffee and bundled up for our exercising/dog walk. It was 30 degrees when we left the motorhome. I was going to walk to Fishing Bridge with Snickers, DT was going to run five miles and then jog back to the motorhome from Fishing Bridge with Snickers. Anyway, this was our plan. Little did I know that soon my dog's life would be flashing before his eyes.

The walk to Fishing Bridge was bitter cold. No wind, and the skies were clear - but the chill just penetrated. Snickers was so happy, sniffing his way to the bridge. He was interested in every tree, but ignored the Bear and Bison scat. Dogs are strange.

Fishing Bridge crosses the Yellowstone River just above where it enters Yellowstone Lake. In 1973, Fishing Bridge was closed to fishing - Cutthroat Trout spawn under the bridge and the Rangers finally figured out this was not good "animal management". Duh. Snickers and I walked to the bridge and took the staircase down to the water, where we enjoyed the view up the river. Snicks had a little drink (made him feel like a wild dog since he has been drinking bottled water since we left Our House). Then we walked to the center of the bridge and looked over to see about 50 trout! The water is crystal clear!

We continued to the far-side of the bridge and were about to cross to the other side of the road when a coyote crossed the road, toward us and passed about 5 feet in front of us.

A van-conversation motorhome was crossing the bridge and I waved for them to stop - they could not see the coyote and I was afraid they would hit it if the coyote decided to suddenly turn back. The van stopped. At the same time, Snickers saw the coyote. My dog went to me and stood directly in front of me and made a growl that I have never heard, from deep in his throat. He was going to protect me! The coyote was standing still - deciding whether to go back or head down to the river. He decided to continue on his course and as soon as he took off, Snickers lunged at him, snarling and barking. Snickers weighs 36 pounds. I weigh... well, more than that... it was all I could do to hold him back. By now, several cars had stopped and were watching the events. The coyote had run about 50 feet down to the river and then stopped to look back. I swear the coyote gave a "Dumb Beagle" look and then continued his course. Snickers was pulling on his choke collar so hard that he lost oxygen and actually fell to his side, gasping for air! He was twitching and panicking! I loosened his collar and he jumped right back up and lunged toward the coyote again! Can a dog be this stupid?

Snickers sees coyotes often at home. He seems to be shy of them - and does not bark. He loves to roll in their poop and loves to howl with them when they are "singing" in the middle of the night - so I am puzzled at this reaction. Maybe because this coyote was easily twice the size of the coyotes at our house? Maybe because it startled him? He wanted to protect me? I will never know what goes on in the head of this dog. I must add that I was "legally" walking my dog only where dogs are allowed in Yellowstone: in your vehicle, on paved roads, or within 100 feet of paved roads, or in campgrounds.

Coyote

We walked back to the middle of the bridge and watched the coyote continue along the shore of the river. It was a male. Just then, DT showed up and we watched the coyote disappear, though we could watch his progress up the river by the marsh birds jumping into the water as the coyote passed. DT tried to jog with Snickers, but My Dog would not leave my side. Just as we left the bridge, Snickers squatted and did a Big Dooder. That coyote literally scared the s**t out of him.

Snickers and I walked back to the motorhome. It was still bitter-cold. We showered, packed it up and headed out to Cody, Wyoming.

Teddy Roosevelt says the road from Yellowstone to Cody is the prettiest 50 miles in America… It would be difficult to disagree with Ted. With the clear skies, the views were outstanding - you could see all the way to The Tetons. We stopped just outside of Yellowstone at Pahaska Tepee. Though now this is a touristy shop, restaurant and motel, the original Pahaska Tepee (a log lodge) is still on the property. Pahaska Tepee was built by Buffalo Bill Cody as a tourist lodge. Buffalo Bill also owned the famous Irma Hotel in Cody. Room and meals at either hotel was $3. He helped develop the road from Cody to Yellowstone and seemed to have a hand in everything else in the area. We enjoyed our coffee, sitting in the restaurant at a sunny window. When I stood up to leave, every muscle in my body ached! I felt like I had hiked 20 miles and was carrying a 50 lb. pack! All of this pain was from walking 3 miles and holding-back an attacking dog!

Pahaska Tepee


Goldie and the muddy BC2 at Pahaska

On the Most Beautiful Road in America, you pass through Buffalo Bill State Park, Buffalo Bill Lake and Buffalo Bill Dam. We checked into a nice little campground, The Ponderosa, in Cody, Wyoming, and drove the BC2 into town in search of a car wash - the road construction was brutal on the tow car. After the car wash and a fill-up, we went to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. I had visited the museum before and wanted DT to see the collection of Cody memorabilia, Plains Indian artifacts, western art, and the "world's largest and most important assemblage of American arms". Since my visit, the museum has added the Draper Museum of Natural History - specifically the Natural History of Yellowstone National Park.

We spent three hours at the Center. Everything was a-jumble because tonight was the Annual Ball for the supporters of The Center. (They said we could come back tomorrow, free, to apologize for the disarray.) Dinner tables were set-up among the exhibits and people were busy decorating and placing banquet tables out in the foyer for the cocktails and appetizers. Silent Auction items were scattered about. DT estimates over 500 Patrons will be enjoying the festivities tonight. Cody has a population of 8,000 - so this must be The Big Night.

I especially enjoy the collection in the museum of the gifts Buffalo Bill received from European Heads of State - a carriage blanket from the Tsar of Russia, tea service from the Queen of England, jewels from the King of Sweden, etc. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center also has an extensive collection of Western Art, including about 100 C.M. Russell paintings, sketches and bronzes. The Center has many original posters from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, his famous rifle - Lucretia Borgia - and most of his personal items - furniture, medals, letters - even his toothbrush!

Terry at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center

In the above photo, I am in my "Duck Stuff". The Ducks played Portland State and the game was not on the satellite. Between phone calls from Autzen and the constant score updates automatically sent to my cell phone - it was nearly as if we were there. Ducks win. 41-ZIP.

Back to Goldie to rescue Snickers. He is doing well being left in the motorhome. We think at this point, we can easily leave him for 4 or 5 hours. But, basically he is miserable and would prefer to be home. Most dogs just love RV travel... but not our boy. We were chatting with our neighbors when a woman walked by, wearing a Purdue University sweatshirt. Hello! Hey, we are going to Purdue, which campground is best? She was happy to tell us the KOA. In a few minutes, she was back. "No, it isn't the KOA, it is the A-OK! How funny. She said she had gone back to her camper and asked her husband and he told her it "used to be the KOA". They had spent the day along the same road we had traveled to go "Grizzly Watching" and they had seen two Grizz!

We are staying in again tonight. Nothing special to eat in Cody (unless you are dining at The Gala). We had Red Beans and Rice and are enjoying college football on the satellite. We are leaving tomorrow - so check back for my next update. I am trying to update daily, but out here, in "the Wild West", cell-service is not so good!

GO DUCKS!

RV Park: The Ponderosa