Moving On...

To Denver... but since there wasn't extra time left, we only stopped for lunch. Bob spotted a Jimmy John's Sub Shop and we decided to give it a go. Once in, the manager (Steve) happened to be there with the workers and we admitted we've never been to one so had to take a minute. Steve called to the kid ringing us up and said "Comp their order and add chips and drinks to it." We couldn't believe we got the whole meal for free! I told Steve he'd be on my blog, ha! Jimmy John's subs are a definite step above Subway and about the same price. There's my commercial.


















On the way to Cheyenne we had to go thru these tunnels. Look at that solid rock they had to blast thru. Pretty amazing to see.








This tunnel entrance is for the railroad tracks. It's the same on the other side. All we could figure is they (RR) are trying to minimize the damage from falling rocks on those tracks. But seriously, wood held up with individual boards for support? Whoa!






We passed thru Cheyenne and managed a short visit with Allan and Edna at their new house. It was nice to see them if only for an hour or so. The day ended with a run down room in a run down hotel that we were glad to get. Being so close to Cody, apparently they all book up early. Sigh.



Now, a 4 hour drive to Cody, with a stop in Thermopolis (this town always makes us think of Super Man!) was the plan for Day 8. Okay, make that 6 hours. We stopped in Thermopolis for a walk around the hot springs park and then had lunch at a local little shop. This spot is in the middle of nowhere and has hot springs all over the place.









We made Cody in time for a little nap and to attend the 6:00 Western Shoot 'Em Up show (along with a few hundred of our friends). This is held every night June - August in the street beside the Irma Hotel.

 
The Irma (as its called locally) was built by Buffalo Bill for his favorite, and oldest, daughter, Irma. It has a large restaurant and hotel. Some of the original furnishings, such as the bar, are still in use today.








Annie Oakley, Black Bart, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and a few others entertained us for 30 mins in the street.

The bullets they used were blanks but had plenty of sound going for them. Wild Bill showed Bob and I (we bought a raffle ticket after the crowd had left) his gun and how he packs the gun powder in the chamber using peanut butter!







Script was totally lame but its all done for charity and was a lot of fun to watch. The money they make from renting the chairs ($2 ea) and selling posters and having a rifle raffle all goes to charity.








The actors are all volunteers. At one time, the character of Buffalo Bill Cody was played by his real grandson. "Bill Cody" still walks around the restaurant in the evening and greets people at their tables and poses for pictures.









Final stop for the evening was the Dug Up Gun Museum. It is exactly what it's name says. They had a wonderful display of rifles, shot guns and pistols that have been extracted from the earth from all over the US. They ranged from pre-civil war time on up. There were 2 rows of glass cases on each side of the row and they included bayonets, bullets, memorabilia and pictures.





It is free but they ask for donations. The guy who was there to run it, also owns it and is a real enthusiast. I have a brother-in-law that would spend all day in here I suspect!