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

Day 16: August 28th, 2006 Buffalo — Worland

They recommend Duffy’s for breakfast, which is a bit off the main highway. This is again one of these typical cozy American small town restaurants with a fantastic service — and my server Daylene is always ready for a joke. Beside the restaurant is also a gas station. However, there are a vast number of wasps and one also ends up in my car. Lucky me, I am able to get this beast out of my truck through my rear window pretty fast. It’s slowly time to hit the road, because it is already 10am…

Highway 16, WY

First I drive northwest, to reach the point, where Hunt met Indians back then. But at the exit, another private property locks me out of my planned route.

Highway 16, WY

Therefore I am driving back on Highway 16 to Buffalo.

Via Rock Creek Rd and I–90 I reach the point on a different route.

Then I continue along the mountain range in southern direction.

French Creek Rd, WY

Wildlife Management Area, WY

Wildlife Management Area, WY

South Sayles Reservoir, WY

Because noon is slowly approaching and a nice exit goes in direction of the mountains into a Wildlife Management Area, I take this road. I drive this road to the end and have a nice lunch break there, even when there are again some wasps around. A bit on the side lies a small lake, from which I take some nice shots.

Wildlife Management Area, WY

Then I am driving back to French Creek Rd and in direction of Buffalo.

Klondike Rd, WY

Klondike Rd, WY

Klondike Rd, WY

I pass the city and drive on RD12 along the mountain range further in southern direction. Soon the gravel road turns into a one lane road and a dirt road.

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

Deer, Crazy Woman Canyon Rd, WY

I turn onto RD14 and slowly reach the Big Horn National Forest and Crazy Woman Canyon. On this forest road I have some really nice views.

In some areas the road is pretty steep. But on a good gravel road I reach Highway 16. For a short distance I follow this highway before I turn onto the paved FR3 in southern direction.

Hazelton Rd/FR3, WY

Slowly the bad weather approaches.

Upper Doyle Creek Rd/FR506, WY

When I am back on gravel and dirt roads, it starts to rain. Unfortunately I can only follow the forest road before I am locked out by a closed gate.

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Rome Hill Rd/Highway 436, WY

Highway 436, WY

Highway 436, WY

So I must drive back to the main road and must cross the mountain range a bit further to the south. First I am driving on a paved forest road, later continuing again on a good gravel road. Soon after I have crossed the mountain range it stops to rain. On Highway 436 I reach the bigger Highway 16.

Tensleep Canyon, WY

Now I do a small side trip into the picturesque Tensleep Canyon. On my drive to the northeast I miss the exit to the small backroad Old Hwy 16 through the canyon. But even the main road gives you fantastic views!

Old Hwy 16, Tensleep Canyon, WY

88 S10 Blazer, Old Hwy 16, Tensleep Canyon, WY

Tensleep Canyon, WY

Old Hwy 16, Tensleep Canyon, WY

Tensleep Canyon, WY

Old Hwy 16, Tensleep Canyon, WY

Tensleep Canyon, WY

Old Hwy 16, Tensleep Canyon, WY

At my planned turning point I find the exit and decide to finish the day with a picturesque drive on the gravel road through the canyon. Together with the low sun this gives fantastic views. Unfortunately it is a bit hazy, so the shots are not this clear.

Back again on the main road I drive a bit off Hunt’s trail to the west. Last year I stayed at the Super 8 in Worland, where I also want to spend the night today. But the drive is getting a bit unpleasant due to the vast amount of flies. The whole windshield is covered. But thanks to my bug shield at least the lower area stays a bit clean.

Highway 16, WY

Highway 16, WY

Highway 16, WY

Highway 16, WY

Around 7pm I arrive at the Super 8 in Worland and I am just able to get a room. I almost cannot believe that the motel is completely booked in this small village. I ask for the Buffalo Rose Restaurant where I had buffalo meat last year for the first time in my life. The restaurant still exists and they are open until 10pm. Therefore I just put my stuff into my room and check the first video taping of today.

Around 8pm I depart. I didn’t remember that the restaurant was this far out of the village. This time, there are a lot of free parking spots and also free tables. Last year, I had been there on a Labor Day Weekend, where there was pure chaos. Today, things are way more relaxed.

But unfortunately they changed the menu. The Buffalo Wings are no longer available, which I was looking for. There is only one big Buffalo Steak on the menu, which is too big for me. So I order a 12 ounce Sirloin. But this one is not really convincing. It is extremely marbled and most of it can only go to the trash. Pretty much disappointed I pay around a quarter to nine and drive back to my motel. There I check the rest of my video taping.