Meeteetse and the Ghosts

Today we headed out at the bright and early hour of 12 noon. It was great to sleep in, eat breakfast at a slow pace and just sit and relax for a while and visit a bit. Seems like at home things like that don't happen because we've both got "places to go and things to do."

We aimed the bike in a southerly direction and drove the 30 miles from Cody to Meeteetse, one of our favorite places. We discovered it several years ago. It's currently just a wide spot in the road, but has a tremendous amount of history. It previously was a mining town, and hosted some pretty famous criminals at one time, among them Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In fact, they were both arrested just outside the Cowboy Bar.

The Cowboy Bar began its existence in 1893, and looks pretty much the same today as it did back then. There are bullet holes in the walls in a number of places, and the original bar is still in use. At one point in time there was a rather dasterdly cowboy killed outside on the street, shot through the head. He was brought into the Cowboy Bar, laid out on the bar, and the remainder of the community held a big celebration over his body because they were so glad to see him done in. When the local doctor came in to view the body he poked his finger in the bullet hole, pronounced him dead, and the, dead man's brains began to ooze out all over. See - I told you this place has quite a history.

There are also three ghosts that frequent the place - seen by a majority of the citizens of Meeteetse. One of them is named Belle, a lady of the evening. There's also one with a peg leg, whose presence they can feel when he's around, and also hear him dragging his foot. Then there's a group of cowboys who play pool. I guess it's quite an evening when the balls start rolling across the table and there's no one standing by the pool table. They can even hear the whack of the cue hitting the ball.

The picture below is of Ole standing in front of the bar that was originally ordered from France, brought to the USA by ship, went by train to Omaha, Nebraska and the remainder of the route by freight wagon. That in itself was quite an accomplishment. Look at how ornate it is.

Here's a shot of Ole's Harley outside the Cowboy Bar.

So we spent the better part of the afternoon visiting with Big Jim, the owner of the bar. Then took off back to Cody and stopped at the Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill back around the turn of the century. It's THE place to be in Cody. There's a huge porch on the front with lots of tables and big comfy chairs, but it was too hot to sit out there, so we went in and had something cold.

Here's a picture of the bar at the Irma Hotel - also very ornate - and made from cherry wood.

Then it was back to the motorhome for a little R & R. And that included Simon the Senior Citizen. Doesnt' he look comfy? He behaved better last night - he didn't start prancing across me until about 4 o'clock, so I managed to get a few hours of sleep.

Tomorrow the plan is to head over Dead Indian Pass (8000 feet +) go through the Sunlight Basin, which is absolutely beautiful, and then go over Bear Tooth Pass (11,000 feet). That should be a full day.

Tomorrow, then.