Ten Sleep to Lander

Ten Sleep to Lander 

July 6

We left the quaint little (emphasis on little) town of Ten Sleep about 9 am for an easy drive to Lander. After we got settled at Sleeping Bear RV Park and had lunch we ventured over to our daughter’s. We visited with our daughter Kristen’s family: Eric, grandson Rowan, and Eric’s mom Kae. Kris made a delicious pasta dinner complimented by some of our very own Vino Cochera wine.

                                        Leaving Ten Sleep

                                                Wind River Canyon

July 7

A workday for Kris and Eric. Grandma G and Pop picked Rowan up from Gran’s house (Kae’s) for some fun at the Splash Pad at the RV park. Last time we were here Rowan was excited to go to the Splash Pad, but when confronted with another little boy playing in it, he decided to sit on the sidelines. This time was very different. Two little girls were already splashing around and Rowan jumped right in with them. The smallest girl was more interested in throwing water on her grandmother, but the older one (7) and Rowan threw a frisbee back and forth and played dodge ball. After lunch Rowan busied himself playing with Dusty, and playing Angry Birds. Shopping at Safeway, where we met up with two from our Ten Sleep group, was followed by dinner with Kris, et al.

                                      Rowan at Splash Pad

July 8

Pop promised Rowan this would be a fishing day. We picked him up at 8 and headed up Sinks Canyon for the lake area of the Wind River Range. Our destination was Fiddler Lake, the second in a string of three. More on the Sinks Canyon area later. The first line was cast from a fishing dock near a boat launch. A few nibbles, but most small fish. Pop thought it might be more profitable across the lake where the shoreline was steeper so off we went. We found a pretty nice pull out right along the shore with easy access to the water over some rocks. Pop cast Rowan’s pole and handed it to him explaining that he had to watch it while he fixed his own pole. Rowan promptly laid it down and climbed up over the rocks. Just when Rowan was 10’ away his bobber dipped under the water. Pop says “Rowan you’ve got a fish”. By the time Rowan scrambled down the rocks the fish was gone and he was through fishing. Rob tried his hand a little longer, but no luck. The lack of fish might have had something to do with Dusty swimming out after Rowan’s bobber. We continued on around the loop past Louis Lake on our way home. After we had gone several miles down the road, Rowan suddenly announces he left his sunglasses on a rock. His “favorite” sunglasses. Pop wasn’t about to turn around and retrace our path. The road was graded dirt all the way back. So we stopped at a couple of places to find a replacement pair once we got back to town. That mollified him for a while.

Dinner out at El Sol included a pitcher of margaritas.

                               Doe and Fawn in town before the Sinks

                               /view of Lander from top of Sinks Canyon

                         Rob and Rowan at the fishing dock Fiddler Lake

                                               Fiddler Lake

July 9

Rowan is at daycare today. We headed to the Eagle Foundry for a tour.  We were met at the foundry by Denise, a 16 year employee. The foundry was started in 1985 by a husband and wife. The wife is the artist, the husband an engineer. Denise spent 1 ½ hours explaining the foundry process as we toured the facility. They make bronzes that are shipped all over the world using the lost wax process.  Objects sculpted in clay are received from an artist and the foundry takes over. Molds are made by applying a rubber substance to the clay which is then overlaid with plaster. Several coats of wax varying in temperature are applied to that cast forming the base for the bronze. Once that has hardened the piece is dipped in slurry then coated with sand inside and out. Again several coats are applied varying from very fine sand to fairly coarse. This is then baked in a kiln until the sand is solidified. The wax melts leaving a hollow for the bronze. The entire process involves many more people responsible for quality control of the artwork.  One of the largest monuments produced by this foundry is the Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive in downtown Dallas. It is composed of 70 bronze steers and 3 trail riders. Copies of three of the steer and 1 rider are on display on the edge of town.

After lunch we drove down Red Canyon to take some pictures and let Dusty out to run.

                                                  Outside the Foundry

Red Canyon is one of two impressive geologic features in Lander. The color comes from the bright red Triassic Chugwater formation, over 200 million years old. This valley was originally a wagon road from Lander to Atlantic City where gold was being mined. The second geologic feature is Sinks Canyon where the Popo Agie River sinks into a cavern in Madison limestone then travels about 600 feet underground to the “rise” where it reappears in a clear trout-filled pond.

                                                    Red Canyon

Tomorrow we’re off to Pinedale to take in the Green River Mountain Man Rendezvous.