Travel Day... and The Medicine Wheel

 We broke camp from the lovely Cody, Wyoming  KOA this morning. One item that my Dad had always to do was see The Medicine Wheel. I  didn't take photos  there, it seemed wrong. My brief video for myself is blurry. So, not seeing any signI indicating that  trailers should  not attempt the dirt road... up we went. Reaching the parking lot, a hike remained. 

We had chatted with a number of people  in the parking lot.  One fellow  said we NEED  to take water, as the elevation causes dehydration.  (Thank you random stranger! We normally take water, but didn't  realize it was a three mile hike.

Kids were sent to potty. Water bottles  obtained. People we had spoken to got a good headstart.  Random comments  as we went up the trail: "oh, a field trip!" "Well behaved children! You're  doing good!" "There's  a naked Native American  up there doing his prayers. He saw the children so he's  getting  dressed" "Good for the children that you have brought them here." (This from a fully clothed Native American coming down the trail).

We stressed that the kids should treat the place as sacred, whether they  feel it is or not. To show respect, not climb on everything, nor roughhouse. I wish I had taken a personal item up. As it was, I  carried a small rock and left it on a cairn.

Becky and I  spotted two bears in the far distance.  Nothing else moves quite like a bear... but it was very far away. Becky needed a nap, and had planned to catch a quick 20 winks while Ruby and I fed the kids in the parking area. Unfortunately, we were  smack dab out of water. The meal was peanut butter and jelly  sandwiches.   Not something to eat without a beverage! So we set off to the nearest town. Water and gasoline  were purchased.  We saw a nearby park... so Becky got her nap while the kids played and had lunch.

Kimber and Tyrel  were playing a physics game. Throwing/ catching a ball on a moving merry-go-round. All the kids teamed up to play a round of volleyball. Only Kimber  and Dakota  have actually  ever played. Becky's  kids have been to games, so had a be/er grasp than their cousins. Althea threw a whining fit about not knowing  how to play... I let her vent for a few minutes.  Commented  that I can't  speak Whinese... and  called the kids to load up. Althea whined a bit more. I wasn't  too crabby at first, as she's  probably  missing her family. I did crab at her severely, when 15 minutes  later, she turned on the full scale drama all over again talking to her  Mom.

We saw  several moose today! 

ntelope, elk, and deer. A pika, chipmunks, and the bears. We learned about the Medicine  Wheel.  Many  native American tribes hold it sacred, but all  claim it was in existence  when their tribes came. School on the road has been great.