Wyoming Trip - September 11-13th, 2009

Arrive in Denver at 1pm, the big fountain is off	Head over to Hertz Car Rental from DEN
Dave P navigates, Dave G social-commentates	Head into Denver looking for some grub
Dave finds a promising morsel	And promptly woofs it down
Brad is ecstatic to have green chilies again	Ahhh, the spiciness was delightful
David just might lose his hunger after this meal	You should've seen the sparks fly off the knife & fork
Yah, yah, yah, the 3 of us shared the same burrito	Got it at Jack N Grill, featured on The Travel Channel's Man V. Food, consecrated with fresh roasted hatch green chilies!
Looking for New Belgium Ale in Fort Collins, CO	There it is, I can tell by the unattended bicycle
Finally discover the tasting room	So many choices, which two to grab?
Here's to free beer in distant breweries	Nope, that is not a spruced up port-o-john
Cross a new state line, first time since August, 2001	Gas stations hint at quick visits, then departures
Cattle enjoy the untamed and scenic land along I-25 to Cheyenne (Population: 55,738)
Staying 2 nights at Cheyenne's Historic Plains Hotel	Built in 1911 and features The Capitol Grille
Room 544 is spacious with two queen beds	TV armoire & window unit A/C (it's an old hotel)
The bathroom is in the other half of the suite	I get the couch, by the bathroom, AGAIN?
What to do tonight, look out the window, RIB FEST	Behold Cheyenne, the busy capitol city of Wyoming!
Take care of the means & the end will take care of itself	$15 for a half rack of North Carolina Delight
Grab breakfast at the best joint in town	Enjoy the Luxury Diner's famous Corn Beef Hash
Our Subaru Impreza has a devilish license plate	We had a devil of a time getting a table
See a lonesome derrick pumping oil along I-80 on the way to Laramie and the football game
Foothills along the Lincoln Highway (America's First Transcontinental Highway) on way to Laramie
Not a neighbor in sight in the state with the lowest population (532,668), less than Puerto Rico & DC
Highway rest area at Happy Jack Road with Lincoln statue marking the highest point (8,835 ft)
Begin the descent down to Laramie through the mountain pass at an altitude of 8400 ft
View of the City of Laramie (population: 26,050) from the mountain passage
Laramie is in Albany County (population: 30,890) home of The University of Wyoming (enrollment: 13,300)
All roads lead to War Memorial Stadium in the center of Wyoming's campus
Lined up christmas trees provide character and sound bafflement around the football stadium
View Texas vs. Wyoming Football Game
It is easy to find the only car not in the traffic jam	The forest on the way back up the mountain pass
Find the 8,835 ft altitude rest area within a cloud, the highest point along the Lincoln Highway	Where our sixteenth statesman silently stands sentry
Drawing near, you can sense Abe say, "Try the Bison Meatloaf at The Plains Hotel"	One hour later, back in Cheyenne, the Capitol Grille proves Abe's wisdom
Sunday morning breakfast at the Diamond Horseshoe Cafe	For a skillet of eggs, potatoes, peppers, onions, cheese and green chili sauce
Almost forgot about Friday's purchase of New Belgium's seasonal Golden Ale in the room fridge	A toast to Cheyenne, WY and a toast to Manhatten, KS hosting us in November, 2010
Head down to the Plains' Lobby to checkout	Lobby lighting has the nine planets shown
Our top floor room had the two left most window on the white building directly above the street light	View of The Plains from the Depot Plaza with the Lincolnway Street entrance below
View of southbound Lincolnway, back to Denver	Northbound Lincolnway & both Plains buildings
Looks like the barbeque will fire up again today	Old cars gather near the Transportation Museum
View Photos of Cheyenne's Old Cars
Wyoming Capitol building Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women suffrage (December 10, 1869) and was thus named the "Equality State"	Statue of Esther Hobart Morris who played a role in granting women equal suffrage
Lengthwise view of Capitol w/sign	Spanish American War volunteers memorial
Buffalo statue on the north side of the Capitol	View down Capitol Ave from the top of the steps
Liberty Bell replica stands at 24th & Carey	South side of Capitol with bucking bronc statue
Two views of the bucking bronc & cowboy statues	Known as & represents The Spirit of Wyoming
Interesting tree on the Capitol grounds	Orange berries of the Oak Leaf Mountain Ash
Nice architecture across 24th Street from . . .	. . . the capitol which is now a funeral home
Straight on shot of the Capitol's gold dome	Down the road is the Governor's Mansion
Exit the car and onto Wyoming dirt one more time	Head back to Colorado for the flight home in Denver
Brad wants one more meal from Jack N Grill	It's a 10oz patty with guacamole, sour cream, bacon, & fresh roasted Hatch green chilies
David has no trouble devouring this small snack	Depart @ 5:15pm, 30mins late (clueless passengers)
Home awaits us just 2 hours away, 30° warmer, 5,700 ft lower altitude, and 70% greater humidity