Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Day 16 – July 25th:

After spending the night in the parking lot of the Flying J, we got back on the road and headed west on US 16. We turned south on SR 79, and then west on US 18. When we reached US 85, we turned south and followed it to US 26.  Heading west on US 26 took us to IS-25. We followed IS-25 south just far enough to get to SR 34, and turned west to reach US 30. We followed US 30 east where it became US 287 in Laramie Wyoming. We continued south on US 287 in to Colorado, and finally got to SR 14.

SR 14 is a scenic ride with numerous camping areas. I had planned to find a campground, but it started to rain. I really had no desire to camp in the rain, or spend another night in the truck, so I decided to find a Motel 6. I backtracked to US 287 and followed it in to Fort Collins.

I like Motel 6 when I’m traveling with Marley because it’s:

  • Reasonably priced
  • Clean
  • Accepts pets
  • Most are recently remodeled with hardwood floors so their’s no pet smells to deal with

This one had a weird shaped shower that reminded me of some kind of escape pod, or one of those canisters the teller uses at the bank drive thru.

After traveling and camping in remote areas, I decided to go out for the night in Fort Collins. Marley was fine. I took him with me. He’s content sleeping in the truck wherever I take him.

Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Day 17 – July 26th:

The next day it was pouring rain, so I decided that it was time to move on to another state.

We took IS-25 south through Denver and Colorado Springs. When we got to Pueblo, we took US 50 east in to Kansas. I’ like to tell you it was an interesting drive, but it wasn’t. I was just putting miles on the truck.

Following US 50 took us to Garden City, where we found the Garden City Travel Plaza. It was a large truck stop with tons of parking. Even though it isn’t a big chain like Flying J and Pilot, it still offered a store, restaurant, game room, drivers lounge, laundromat, and showers.

Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Day 18 – July 27th:

The next morning we got up and went to the local McDonald’s for breakfast. Afterwards we stopped at the local laundromat so I could wash my clothes.

We continued east on US 50 and finally arrived at the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City Kansas .

Dodge City became famous, as a true frontier settlement of the Old West. Dodge City had more famous (and infamous) gunfighters working at one time or another than any other town in the West. It also boasted the usual array of saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, including the famous Long Branch Saloon and China Doll brothel.

In 1876, Wyatt Earp followed his brother James to Dodge City, where he became an assistant city marshal under Marshal Lawrence “Larry” Deger. He held that position until 1879. Later in life, Wyatt wrote, “In 1879, Dodge was beginning to lose much of the snap which had given it a charm to men of reckless blood, and I decided to move to Tombstone, which was just building up a reputation.” On October 26, 1881, Earp was involved in the famous shootout at the OK Corral n Tombstone, Arizona.

I figured it would be cool to have an old west photo that was actually taken IN Dodge City.

There was a place in the Boot Hill Museum that did one, but I wasn’t happy at all with the quality. It’s a place where they slip a costume on you like a hospital gown, and take your photo with a cheap camera.

After I left the museum I decided that I really wanted a better photo, so I went to the ‘Old Dodge Photo Parlor’. It’s just a block from the museum, and within walking distance.

It’s a door between two businesses that actually goes upstairs. It doesn’t stand out much, so look for it. When you enter, there’s a curtain covering the stairwell. I went up not sure if they were even open. The building looks a bit run down.

I met the owner/photographer, and told him what happened, and what I was looking for. He went to his rack of clothes and gave me a shirt, chaps, bandanna, and cowboy boots to put on. He had cowboy hats, but I used my own. He then gave me a gun belt, gun, and badge. No slip on costumes here. Very authentic. He had different rooms for different shoots, and racks of clothing.

He took amazing photos, and was very patient. He was able to capture what I wanted in only two poses, and I was so happy with them that I bought both. And the photo was the same price as I paid at boot hill!

After spending a few hours in Dodge City, we left and headed east on US 400. We followed US 400 to US 281, and then turned south towards Oklahoma. We stopped just inside Oklahoma at this roadside rest. The highway department built this covered picnic area out of guardrails.

We continued south on US 281 to the city of Alva. From Alva we headed east on US 64, and then east on SR 11 where US 64 splits.

We stopped in Medford Oklahoma for fuel and to stretch. I decided to find a motel for the night, and the closest one was north across the Kansas state line. The only other option was a couple hours east. I took US 81 north from Medford to US 166, and then headed east to the Motel 6 at US 166 and IS-35. This is where we would sleep for the night.

Marley had his own bed, but still ended on mine.

We were gradually getting closer to Texas, and the end of our trip. Tomorrow we would be heading for Arkansas. It would be the last state  that we would visit before heading back to Texas.

Links:

Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Main Page

Roadtrip 2017 – Exploring The West – Days 19 & 20