Red Grade Road

6/28/05

Peter D's road is in "Scenic Driving Wyoming" as Red Grade Road. It is "A 49 mile, mostly gravel road from Sheridan, at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains, up into the mountains, past alpine lakes and lush forest."

So off we went, fortified by breakfast at Perkins Pancake House. First stop the Bradford Brinton Memorial Ranch.

Bradford was a weird bird. He died in 1936 and left the ranch to his sister. It was their summer home. He had twin daughters but no mention is made of his wife. He was a friend and patron of western artists and the ranch is filled with western art, books and "stuff" he acquired on his safaris to Africa. When his sister died she established a foundation in her will to perserve his collection. Very pleasant place Bradford had to entertain his artist friends.

Up the hill, steep rough gravel road, climbing 3,000 feet in three miles or so.

I was pretty proud of myself and the Dodge until we were passed by two SUVs full of girls when I stopped to take pictures.

Alpine Meadows.

Wildflowers

Then miles and miles of rough gravel road through the forest emerging just below Burgess Junction on US 14.

US 14 through the Bighorns is the Bighorn Scenic Byway.

We headed down US 14 to Shell Falls. "Scenic Driving Wyoming" says " Waterfall overlooks, a paved nature trail, an information center and toilets all make this a worthwhile stop."

From Shell Falls we continued down the canyon and picked up US 16 back to I-90 and Sheridan. US 16 is pretty boring until you get to Tensleep. From Tensleep to Buffalo it is the Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway that goes up through the Tensleep canyon to Power River Pass at 9800 feet and over the eastern end of the Big Horns to Buffalo.

Before Tensleep, we went through an area that reminded us of the Badlands.

Up at the top there were rolling green "hills". Up in there somewhere we encountered a Pepsi Truck struggling up the mountain. He moved over a little to let us by. We thanked him using the CB and asked what he was doing up there. "Hauling Pepsi from Worland where we make it to Rapid City."

Back at the campground Peter D asked how the ride was. Camille's response was something like long and rough. He told us one lady really complained: "You didn't tell us how rough that road was!" Peter told her "You're the first one who made it back to complain."

Cody 6/29/05 - 7/2/05

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