Friday The 13 - Day 7 (Didn't Check The Odometer)

I rode into town and headed, first, to the Botanical Gardens, home of an array of beautiful flowers and native plants and resting spot for Big Boy #1242. Cheyenne is not only a cowboy capitol and preparing to celebrate their 116th Frontier Days and Rodeo next week - it's also a railroad town.

Big boy #1242

From there I rode downtown, parked the star and undressed, much to the surprise of a city workman across the street (who was relieved, and called across the street to tell me so, that I was just doing a metamorphosis so to speak, peeling away the hot riding gear and was fully clothed, in suitable sundress and leggings underneath).
I promised myself today's post would be less talk and more pictures ... but I have to add a few words about the Cowgirls of the West Museum, my first downtown stop. At the door I met Bill Hilsen, a cowboy straight from the past and museum historian. Bill was more than knowledgeable, he was passionate about the contribution that women had made to the west and how Wyoming was in the forefront of supporting women's rights. He posed (sadly I was out of focus) in front of the photo of Rodeo Champion Bertha Blancett (who, he proudly announced, was a Canadian born gal). Bertha changed the face of Rodeo - not necessarily in a good way, but in 1914 she came within 10 points of winning the All Round Champion Rodeo which prompted the rules to be changed. Bill said it was the male ego, the cowboys couldn't handle being beaten by a woman so they changed the rodeo rules and in 1915 women could no longer compete against men, they had to have their own, separate rodeo. The museum was filled with photos and life stories of women who made the west ... from Western Ladies of questionable morale like Dell Burke (Bordello owner) and Etta Place (the Sundance Kid's girlfriend) to noted authors like Mary O'Hara (Author of My Friend Flicka) and Bill's own great grandmother, immigrant and single female homesteader. An amazing little museum and totally free (like many of the museums I visited today in Cheyenne Wyoming.)

 Cheyenne Botanical Garden

 A couple of other Canadians visiting Cheyenne

 Bill at the Cowgirls of the West Museum (Bertha in the background)

 New model train exhibit at the Depot

 The State Capital  building

Wyoming State Museum

My Campsite buddy