Having hammered down the Montana interstate (until recently, no speed limit) to cross the border into Wyoming last night, we thought a few hours’ respite had been earned, so we took a slow morning observing and fancying ourselves part of the lazy rhythms of the quintessential western town of Ranchester. Whilst Ryan happily tinkered with water pumps and generators (of which I know nothing), Malkie and I busied ourselves with other necessary tasks and relaxation, including the hosting of our first family visitor to the rig in all its quirky splendour via Skype – the Steens. Meanwhile, Ryan availed of a few insider tips from our RV park neighbour Gerry, including the possibility of meeting storms around Kansas, and the rigorous speed control in Pennsylvania.
1. Ryan getting acquainted with the RV control-room
After brunching in the morning sun on eggs and bacon, and hit the wide open Wyoming road in high spirits. The first 70-mile stretch of road was a stark yet beautiful example of the Great Plains, without so much as a gas station or village to break the journey. Wyoming is the least populated and 2nd least densely populated state in the US, and when you drive the length of it, you can see why; vast swathes of arid ground as far as the eye can see, yet strangely we remain at around 4500 ft elevation.
2. Outdoor brunching
3. The open road, Wyoming
As it has been a whole day since Ryan last bought some sort of gadget, we stopped off at Sundance (of Butch Cassidy fame) to locate an electrical multimeter (no, I don’t know what that is), which the boys duly did find in Hank’s Hardware store, where one can munch on free popcorn and guzzle free coffee whilst Hank gives you the run down of his multimeter selection. Ryan was clearly quite delighted by this, but their visit to the liquor store topped it off, with a row of cowboy hatted, mustachioed locals glaring as they purchased a bottle of white wine. Its probably been a few years since anyone bought white wine in there.
Meanwhile I was left to mind the rig, but shortly into my brief snooze Mr police officer, fresh from his busy morning chewing tobacco, came to inform me we were illegally parked. One can’t stretch across the diagonal parking spaces it seems, even in a back-country town with approximately 350 other free diagonal spaces. In fact, RVs and trucks must park, bizarrely, in the middle section of the main road. When the boys rounded the corner I found them laughing and taking pictures of my seemingly imaginative parking.
4. Taking my turn at the wheel
5. My parking
The RV is now becoming very much an endearing and companionable friend to us, as we gradually discover more of the on-board highlights, including kerb lights, outdoor speakers, and a fire pit. Sadly I haven’t yet found the hoover. The world of RVing seems congenial and relaxed, with each park we arrive in giving us a warm welcome and a spin on their golf buggy to choose our site, which always puts a smile on Ryan’s face. We have found ourselves developing a certain smugness towards other RVers, with their shiny new rigs, which we are convinced lack all of the character and charm of this one, with its vintage persuasion and need to be nurtured.
Ryan is just setting a match to the fire pit and I am anticipating another contented evening of good food, company and reflection, to the tune of crickets and the distant hum of the highway.
6. Wyoming sunset
7. At the fireside, all is well.
ROTF [rolling on the floor] at the parking photo. Are you sure you heard him correctly luc! Nice centreing though and very impressed at the driving!! We are currently hurtling through england to catch a flight from gatwick well I wish we were hurtling, we need some of those open roads so thinking of u. At a wedding yesterday, ivan starstruck by his old england and GB hockey matesxx!