When you think of the Great Plains, you probably think of wide open grasslands but good god - neither of us were prepared for the nothingness we encountered today. From Western Nebraska to Cheyenne, WY we saw approximately 4 houses and about 5,000 cows. LOTS of wide open spaces. Is this what the Dixie Chicks were referring to??
We stopped for lunch in Cheyenne and loved how cowboy kitschy it was. We ate at a trolley-car-turned-diner called the Luxury Diner, which was perfectly tiny and charming. And lo and behold, they had a veggie sandwich that wasn't bad. The fries were really good (Stacy, I thought you were on a diet...). Mom even met a celebrity - who knew John Wayne was still kickin' it in Cheyenne?!
She took this just to make my aunt jealous (that means you, Lil!)
I hope they replaced those signs on the actual railroad track...
We took the 'scenic' route from Cheyenne to Laramie on Happy Jack Road (SR 210). It turned out to be the best part of the day. We drove through Medicine Bow National Forest, and it was breathtaking. We even drove past snow-capped mountains (see below - thumbs up!). 
Overall, the landscape was rugged, uninhabited, and perfectly western. The change from Midwest to West was tangible. Oh, and we passed the Continental Divide! We were hoping for a whole tourist stop complete with statues of Buffalo Bill and funnel cake, but there was only a dinky green sign on the side of the highway that we passed by so quickly that we couldn't even get a picture. Fail, Wyoming. We will forgive you, IF you show us a bison tomorrow. And speaking of wildlife, Mom saw elk! I only saw a dead one on the side of the road, but am hopeful for what tomorrow may bring.
How did that rock get UP there?? For dinner, we walked to a chinese restaurant down the road from our hotel in Rock Springs, WY. I ordered vegetable lo mein; it was so boring that I am not going to post a picture. Use your imagination.
Lesson(s) learned: I am really tired of driving but invigorated by the pioneer spirit!
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