Getting the Pioneer Spirit

When Dave and NOT travel cross country, they do it in the comfort of a Volvo.

When the pioneers did it, they only had their covered wagons. And sometimes those were none too comfortable.

But the trail still makes it mark on the country, as well as the land where 150 year old wagon wheel ruts get contemplated by NOT

The pioneers got thirsty along the way, and so did NOT, so they stopped at Chugwater.

And when they emptied their cups, sometimes the water would fall on the rocks. And from those rocks sometimes grew trees to provide shade to rest under. Or they are just freaks of nature to be gawked at by tourists near Buford. Might the tree be a home for Rocky Raccoon?

In the old adage that if one person does it, then the rest will follow, Wyoming (which takes it's name from the Valley in Pennsylvania where the first settlers set out from) was also a crossroad for the Pony Express. Ride em!  Funny, but was the pony faster than the USPS?

And continuing in the spirit of the pioneers, the Wyoming State Capitol celebrates the home of women's voting rights in Cheyenne.

Photos (and some puns) courtesy of David Backman

Prepared Fall 1999.  Last updated June 2006