theghosttownhunter

Stopped at Sheridan Wyoming. Just had dinner at The Rib and Chop House. 

The food was great! The filet melted in my mouth and the huckleberry vinaigrette dressing was spectacular.

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There’s a flyer posted at the front desk of this hotel in Stanley, Idaho. It’s about a missing body. People went white water rafting and spilled, one of their party was sucked under a log jam. They still have not yet found the body. He had a white helmet and red life vest, this is intentional, makes it easier to spot you in the water.  White water rafting can be dangerous. Just letting you know that many things I do has a risk factor.  Be careful if you copy other’s western adventures.

Once while canoeing a flooded river in the Ozarks, I too was sucked into a log jam but obviously survived.

Water safety anywhere is to be taken seriously. Many died on calm, flat water because the one manning the boat was drinking. We’ve all seen drinking Ozark canoeists.

So have fun my friends but be safe.

American Travel Alert! 

While making reservations for my upcoming western trip, I’m running into many obstacles and few rooms. Many weekends are filled with events again that Covid had cancelled last year. So I tried getting rooms on week nights. Called a hotel in Wallace Idaho this weekend and was doing just that, reserving a room on a week night and four months in advance besides. They had only one room left. Now they have none.

Gas prices and room prices are already high so by July they could be shockers! This means you can already count on restaurants being packed, short staffed and always out of something. It will make your vacation challenging. One solution, pack food in your vehicle and plan more picnics. Be careful, this can lead to insects and much larger pests coming into your vehicle. If the hotels and campgrounds are full, there is always primitive camping. You can take my word on that. Take biodegradable soap, you may be washing in a bucket with stream water because bathrooms are either closed or full.

It will be a challenging year for vacations. That doesn’t mean, don’t go, it means go prepared.

#travel #food #covid #hotels #hotel #restaurants #events #water #gas

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The tragic death of Bob Saget and the numerous videos on YouTube of dead hikers and hunters have one thing in common – being alone either contributed to or was the cause of the person’s death. If you fall in the city, break a leg and do it on a public sidewalk, it hurts. It is more than inconvenient but it is not life threatening. If you are alone in your house and hit your head, or you break an ankle hiking in the wilderness, being alone can lead to your death. 

I mention these things to you readers because I have a couple of trips coming up. I spend 90% or more on these trips alone. Over a third of the trip is solo wilderness camping. I’ve said this before and it is in my books, part of my purpose in life is to serve as a bad example. I’m glad for all those who follow my adventures but again, be safer than me. Take a friend, it will be twice as fun and a lot safer. As for me, feel sorry for the bears!

Photo:  Angel’s Landing - at the bottom of the cliffs they occasionally find bones of dead people from previous falls. It is stunningly beautiful and very dangerous hike.

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Travel Tip – check to see if your room has a safe. If it does, there is a fee for the safe. If you are not going to use it, tell them when you check in, they will take the fee off. You wait till the next day, you are stuck with the fee.

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Traveling safety tip: If you travel the back roads like I do, check your tires often – you will bounce the tire pressure out of them.

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Mosquitoes a big problem in the Tetons, Yellowstone and the National Forests surrounding them. Many of the campgrounds in Yellowstone are gated and closed. No restaurant, café, or snack bar in Yellowstone is open for in-dining purposes. A very small number of the park’s restaurants are open for take-out only. Even some of the park’s grocery stores were closed. This is causing grocery stores in towns surrounding the park to be almost empty on a daily basis. It is putting hardships on the locals. 

Last but not least, northwest Wyoming has joined in on the heat wave! 100 degrees in Cody today.

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Got a great meal at the Proud Cut Saloon in Cody. French Onion soup, garden salad with huckleberry vinaigrette dressing, and a nice thick cut of medium prime rib! In my opinion one of the best places to eat in town.

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June 2021

Travel Warning:  Heard a rumor that rooms are going for $600 in Moab!  Crowds are out in many places and this is driving room prices up. Besides I like an excuse to say “Moab” and “Winnemucca” Call ahead to check on crowds and prices. Avoid being shut out when you get there! Going to Encampment and Saratoga.

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Like to give a shout-out to the Farson Mercantile, Farson Wyoming! Just received a large book order from them! One of the things that you will love about them is their ice cream. You have probably noticed many of my postings are about places where I stop to eat something!  The Farson Merc is one of those places! They have a nice gift shop that serves snacks and lunch but their best thing is their ice cream!  It is well worth the stop!

It is on the southern approach to Yellowstone National Park and of course the building is old and historic. Local directions are not necessary, there are only 4 occupied structures in Farson Wyoming.

Website:  https://farsonmerc.com/

Facebook:  Farson Mercantile

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The Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis, Missouri will shut down for two years after this weekend. There will be a closing ceremony on February 28th.  The Soldiers Memorial will be closed to undergo extensive renovations. The current estimated cost of renovations is $29 to $30 million dollars.  Those costs will be covered entirely by anonymous donors to the Missouri Historical Society.

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July 28, 2010 thru August 1, 2010

In Wallace Idaho, having a great time. Two new restaurants in town that I tried.

Like all restaurants in town, they have excellent and friendly service. These two are truly unique.

For lunch I tried the Silver Tea Room, 618 Bank Street.
For dinner I ate at a Hawaiian restaurant called The Taste of Aloha, 520 Bank Street. They serve authentic Hawaiian Luau Food.  I cannot pronounce or spell everything I ate, but the food was good.

When in Wallace I recommend that you give these places a try!

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I recommend the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, SD as a good visit.  It's 42 buildings crammed full of historical items spread out over several acres.  www.pioneerautoshow.com

Today, the Westlakes have passed on, their holdings have been sold, the signs are gone and the "ghost town façade” is no longer open for visitors. The "general store” still stands, though with very little variety, fewer rocks, and not nearly as much ambiance as it did in the past.