Today was more of the same. Rolling hills (big hills) with the scenery changing from agricultural to ranching to coal mining to oil extraction and refining.
At the roadside park along the Powder River where stopped for lunch, an educational exhibit on the Powder River Basin claimed that the coal, gas, and oil produced in the basin are used to produce 1/6 of the WORLD's energy, mostly from the low-sulfur coal.
As we moved through that area, we saw unbelievably long trains of full coal cars moving east. We also saw one coal strip mining operation right beside the Interstate. The coal seam they were working appeared to only about 20 feet below the surface and was at least 100 feet thick. The coarse coal was moved across (under) the Interstate by conveyor belt to a building where it is crushed to what appeared to be a uniformly small size. The coal cars are moved through the building and emerge full of coal.
Once again we were treated all day to the sight of herds upon herds of Pronghorns. If you read the info on the link yesterday, you'll know that it is estimated that Pronghorns outnumber people in Wyoming. We now believe it!
As we transitioned out of the agricultural zone to the ranching zone, the hills became covered with grasses and sagebrush, Every little runoff gully, stream or river sports a fringe of deciduous trees, mostly cottonwoods. The cottonwoods are beginning to show their fall colors - varying shades of yellow dominated by bright yellow. By next week the hills will appear have strands yellow ribbon scattered across them.
We are planning to get out tomorrow and go to Devils Tower, Rapid City, and Mt Rushmore. Later we'll get to Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave NP, and Badlands NP, and the Black Hills. Stay tuned! Pictures coming!
Oh, yes. Here's a picture of some of the wind turbine/windmills we saw yesterday.
Love you all,
MMG and DDG
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