Wilson Price Hunt Trail (‘Astorians’) 1811 — 1812

Day 15: August 27th, 2006 Gillette — Buffalo

Today I slept in a bit. As usual, I load my truck and fill up my oil before checking out. Then I walk back to my room to wash my hands. There I realize that they have already completely emptied my room and have thrown away my bottle of water — and this in a motel, which has charged more than $70 for one night! The guy at the reception excuses, but I don’t have the impression that he is taking this complaint really serious. For me I swore, that I will never ever stay in this Motel 6 again!

Pretty much pissed off I drive over to Granny’s Kitchen for breakfast. The restaurant is really nice and you have a whole coffee can at your table. Then I drive over to the gas station and around a quarter past ten I am finally on the road.

The trip to Buffalo is not this far, even when taking the backroads. Therefore I plan a visit of the historical downtown. The trip starts first on Highway 14 to the north until I reach my first exit to a backroad.

The property is owned by an oil company, but you are still allowed to drive there. The start is a real bad washboard road until the road enters the small hills and is getting smaller. There are great views of the country and a lot of deer and pronghorn to video tape. So I make a lot of stops for videos.

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Two workers approach me with their Dodge Truck and we chat for a while. He tells me that there are a lot of nature photographers coming in this area. Because his colleague in the truck behind him is getting inpatient and tries to move him with his truck, we say good–bye and he wishes me a lot of fun on my trip.

Backroad, WY

88 S10 Blazer, Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

Backroad, WY

The landscape is really beautiful. But the roads are completely different to the ones in my map. Looks like they have changed really a lot. Therefore I circle around pretty much helpless and also the point, where I plan to exit this area, is no longer existent. The roads end in either nowhere or at some measuring points.

That’s why I loose a lot of time until I eventually find an exit point in the area of Oriva. However, I must open a gate to be able to exit this property. But then I am back in “freedom” and I continue on my originally planned route — whereas in the meantime it is already 5pm instead of noon, as originally planned.

Echeta Rd, WY

Echeta Rd, WY

Echeta Rd, WY

Echeta Rd, WY

Echeta Rd, WY

Echeta Rd, WY

Originally I planned to take the backroads to the west from Echeta. But everything is private property there. So I must travel more than 30 miles to the north as a detour.

Finally I arrive in Arvada, WY.

Highway 14/16, WY

The last stretch to Highway 16 is on pavement. Now I make good miles and reach Clearmont, WY.

Highway 14/16, WY

Over Pine Creek I reach Ucross, WY.

Highway 16, WY

Now I must only drive a short distance to my destination of today, the Motel 6 in Buffalo.

Around 7pm, I check in — and just in time I ask for the AAA discount. Then I put my stuff into my room and follow the advice to have dinner at the Bozeman Steakhouse. The restaurant is really nice and has a rustic interior — with a brief description of the Bozeman Trail.

The steak is simply fantastic, nothing marbled. And even with a completely full restaurant the service is really good. Around 8pm I pay and walk back to my car. Just next to the restaurant is a Super 8. But this one is way more expensive than my Motel 6, which already costs $70. Back in my motel I check the first set of my today’s video taping. Then I fall absolutely tired in my bed…