Aug 1st to 3rd - Thermopolis & Rawlins WY

Aug 1st – Mon – Thermopolis
We went golfing with Dennis this morning. It was a 9 hole course and Dennis rented a cart but we decided to walk. Unfortunately, we started too late so it got really hot and the course was hillier than we thought so we got a workout – and it didn’t do much for our games.
In the afternoon we went for a drive. We drove through the bison grazing area in Hot Springs State Park and saw the small buffalo herd from a distance. We walked through a park to swinging bridge but just as we were starting across, the wind came up and we decided to go back. Dennis wanted to make a buddy burner so we stopped at a few stores looking for cans & candles without any success. We also made the mandatory stop at a grocery/liquor store.
Thermopolis is a small town which has the world’s largest hot spring. There are 2 water parks with slides, pools and hot tubs which are all supplied by the hot springs. There is also a small facility with an indoor and outdoor pool that you can use for free for a 20 minute soak each day. Excess water from the hot springs runs through the park and creates mineral terraces before running into the river.
After dinner, Dennis & Susie came over again to visit and enjoy the buddy burner. Actually, Dennis found a small tin and enough candles to almost fill his own buddy burner.

Aug 2nd – Tues – Thermopolis
We slept in a bit this morning and then did laundry before going out to do some more exploring. We stopped at a visitor center and picked up some information. We walked up & down the main shopping block in town, browsed through some stores and found a tin & some candles for another buddy burner for Dennis. Terry discovered some energy and cleaned up the outside of the 5th wheel when we got back.
We figured we better at least try the mineral water while we are here so we put on our bathing suits and went to the small hot pool facility. You have to sign in, separate to go to the men’s & women’s sides for a shower and meet in the pool. Luckily part of the outdoor pool was in shade as it was very hot today. The water in the pool was 102 degrees so the attendant opened a valve to heat it up a bit. “Pool” may be misleading as it is 3 ½ feet deep all over and has concrete benches built into the bottom. Seemed just like another hot tub to me except some of the 27 minerals stink.
We were sitting out before dinner when Dennis & Susie were doing laundry so they joined us for a bit when it was done. We had a late dinner and called it a night.

Aug 3rd – Wed – to Rawlins WY
We enjoyed the picturesque Wind River Canyon on the way to Riverton and a casino this morning. I continued my losing ways while Terry hung onto his money until we had lunch. Then it all disappeared and we continued down the road to Lander and towards Laramie.
Obviously there is snow & wind in this part of the country because there are miles & miles of snow fences along the roads. There are also several places with barriers that close off the highway when it’s impassable. We crossed the Continental Divide a couple of times and were at 6600 feet for a while. But that didn’t keep it from being hot.
We are in the RV World Campground in Rawlins. We had a brief rain shower which cooled things down a bit so we are comfortable with windows and door open.