Does It Get Any Better Than This?

18 Jun 2010--It is hard to believe, but Cathy and I left San Antonio only one month ago today. I already feel like we have seen so much, it seems like a lot longer time frame than that.

And I am not sure it gets any better than this! When you combine "seats of government" and wild animals, I am over the moon! I truly feel privileged to experience this! Cathy says I am a weirdo, but I really love this stuff.

As you are leaving Colorado and going into Wyoming, there is a big buffalo at the top of a hill.



And they are very happy to have you visiting.



This is the state flag, along with the state seal, and then the state license plate. I like all of them!

We are only going to be here till Tuesday morning, and we are staying at F. E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne. This is a nuclear missile base, as was the base in Montana that we were stationed at in the late 80s/early 90s.

This is the sign to the Famcamp...don't know the significance.

We saw pronghorn antelope on the ride from Loveland, CO all the way to the base. We even saw some baby antelope with their mothers...I just haven't been able to get a picture yet. These antelope were on the base, right up from where we are staying.

Once we got set up at the Famcamp, we decided to go take a look at the downtown area of Cheyenne. Of course, the 1st place we went was to the Capitol, which we didn't expect to view, but more to check out what their hours and days of operation were. Instead we got to view the whole thing.

This is a statue of Esther Hobart Morris, a proponent of the legislation that made Wyoming the 1st state government to accord equal rights to women--in 1869!!!! She is right out front, so I say "Touche!" to Wyoming!

Two other statutes outside the building...I think the guy on the horse looks like Ronald Reagan.



As you enter the Capitol building, the first thing that jumps out at you is that there is no security to go through. This is the 1st Capitol that we have been to that that is the case.

This statue of Shoshone Chief Washakie has been on display for the past 10 years in the center of the main hallway, just off from the governor's office. We were told that it would one day be moved to the state history museum.

As you look up from the statue, you can see all the way to the stained glass dome.

Surprisingly, the Legislature meets every year, but on a 2 year rotation they only meet for 40 days one year and then 20 days in the following year when the budget is set. Now I have heard of "small government" before, but isn't this extreme? I can't remember what Florida does...I know it is a part-time Legislature, but now we also have Texas only meeting 120 days every 2 years, and Colorado meeting once a year for 120 days. No wonder all these guys are screaming at Washington, DC!!! I'm not saying they are right, but at least now I know where they are coming form.

This is the Senate, the stained glass ceiling in that room, and some paintings rendering tribute to certain people or events in the room.

The House of Representatives, its ceiling, and some paintings on the wall.

Looking down from the Legislative branch to the 1s floor, where the governor's office is and the Chief statue is.

Wyoming authorizes a Capitol Building in 1886 and becomes the 44th state in 1890.

After touring the Capitol we were hungry, so we rode around the city looking for some place to eat. We just happened upon the Cheyenne Depot Plaza, where every Friday nite they gather for beer and music and seem to turn out a really good crowd.

The depot plaza is in front of the railroad depot that goes back to the 1800s, which is now still a depot, but also a small railroad museum and gift shop.

These painted boots surround the plaza, and have everything from antelopes to the names of all the governors of the state painted on them.

A building across the street.

People listening to the music.

I saw this guy in the crowd and thought he must be part of a show, but when he was leaving I asked him what he was up to, and he insisted he was just a regular guy...no show going on here. Seeing as he had a rifle and even a pistol on his hip, I just thanked him for letting me take his picture, and pressed on. haha

This is the depot, which also has a restaurant that we ate at...lots of motorcycle people here.

Headed back to the base, where we again saw antelope on the grounds. These are wild animals, but seem to know it is not hunting season.

God is good!