Cody, Wyoming

Tuesday, July 4, 2017   Trip to Cody, Wyoming

Happy 4^th of July!

Today was a travel day.  We left Glendive MT and traveled in the southwest direction following the Yellowstone River to Billings, MT.  Along the way we passed through miles and miles of cattle country, grasslands and fields of clover and baled hay.  Huge bales of hay and lots and lots of it.  We saw the occasional field of corn and sometimes red beets (we think).  They do a lot of irrigation here and the water channels snake through the countryside. 

 We passed back and forth over the Yellowstone River.

Train racing across the grasslands

We stopped at a rest stop where the Rosebud Creek entered the Yellowstone.  We really aren't sure which is which.  Thought this Cow Brand sign was interesting. 

We stopped briefly in Billings to get a bite to eat and refuel.  As we headed out of town we weren’t sure if we were seeing mountains or low hanging clouds.  Once outside of town we confirmed that the Beartooth Mountains with their snowcapped peaks were indeed within view. 

Snow on the Beartooth Mts

We took the highway south towards Cody, continuing past the foothills of both the Beartooth and Big Horn mountains. Still in cattle country, we started to see more horses but very few ranches.

When we got to Cody it was a mad house of people.  Earlier in the day there was a 4^th of July day parade and the town was packed.  We drove to our motel that was on the eastern edge of town.  The Big Bear Motel is an older “mom & pop” style place, but the folks were friendly and the rooms were clean. 

About 6:00  we were invited to a barbeque in the front of the office.  A great meal of ribs and burgers with all the fixins’.  They were giving horse and pony rides and we got to meet Cookie.  He is somewhat a celebrity in town and we watched as he rode around in the golf cart. 

Cookie

After dinner we walked down towards the Cody Stampede Park.  They have a rodeo every night in Cody, but this week was special.  All week they were having events for the PBR (Professional Bull Riding Assoc).  Tonight was the finale with big dollar prizes.  We walked around a little park and listened as the last rider tried to ride a bull for a prize of $20,000.  We think he did it. 

After that we relaxed and waited for the fireworks display that went off right behind our motel.   They were awesome!