Day 6 - (08/08) Laramie, WY

We headed for Cheyenne and Laramie, WY today.  The weather and highway provided a pleasant trip.  The sights were interesting.  We didn't get where we intended to go thanks to a forest fire.

This Buffalo Bill attraction was just around the corner from the North Platte campground.  We passed it up, but thought a picture would be fun memory.

The terrain along the 274 mile trip on I-80W went from flat, to gently rolling hills, to plateaus & mesas and finally to mountains.  Fields surrendered to open range.

Sidney, NE provided a curious lunch stop.  First, the village/community was in the middle of nowhere.  The businesses were plentiful and new.  A Cabela's Outfitter store seemed out of place until we saw the Cabela's World Headquarters next door ... what a surprise!

This Sidney business lets you know where you are

Cabela's ... in Sidney?

We got a greeting from Wyoming, but no Nebraska good-bye.

I-80W has some interesting capabilities.  The highway can be closed at the entrance ramps.  There are RR-crossing type barriers and flashing lights.  Digital signs allow the speed limit to be changed.  These are pretty cool ways to manage weather and accident conditions.

I-80 west of Laramie

Carol spent some of the drive time planning our itinerary to Portland.  We decided to go north in Wyoming through the Tetons and Yellowstone.   The new plan was to begin today with travel on the Snowy Range Road (WY 130) scenic byway through the Medicine Bow Mountains from Laramie to Saratoga.  Unfortunately, the route was closed due to a forest fire.  We retreated to a KOA campground in Laramie hoping we can take the scenic route tomorrow.