So we left South Dakota and drove across the border to Wyoming. I don’t know how the border between the two states was decided (I’m sure I could Google it), but there’s a weird transformation right around that moment. While you’re driving through western South Dakota you see mostly rolling grassy hills with some trees and bushes. Then within a few miles after the border you’re suddenly surrounded by red rocks and cliffs and all sorts of goodness. Then you start seeing big boy mountains in the distance, and you realize you’re not in… well, South Dakota… anymore. It feels like they somehow did it on purpose.

In other words… MAN does it feel good to be back out West.

We landed in Buffalo, WY on Monday afternoon, and very quickly realized we were back home. We both grew up in New York and lived most of our lives in the Northeast. But getting back in the mountains just felt… right. We even have Denver local news. Not to mention Jenny was thrilled to be out of the humidity. Something about her hair, I dunno… I buzz cut my hair like two months ago and stopped worrying about it.

We’re an hour outside of Bighorn National Forest, so yesterday we decided on a 12-ish mile out-and-back hike to test this 36 year old’s busted knees. We started at a place called West Tensleep Lake, and started out towards Mirror Lake.

The lake is about 3-4 miles in, but it’s off the trail and very easy to miss. We would have stopped and enjoyed it longer, but within 0.2 seconds of sitting down by the shore a bug bit Jenny pretty good, and we were OUT.

The trail continues on after that as you work your way to what’s called Lost Twin Lakes, an appropriately named pair of lakes that live up in the mountains.

And then… payoff. We only went to one of the lakes because to get to the other one required another uphill climb. By this time it was late afternoon, we were absolutely exhausted and still had a good 5-6 mile hike back to the truck. No regrets here. I think every hike Jenny and I do for the rest of this trip will have to have a lake at the end of it.

Then you turn around and realize you have a whole new set of ridiculous views on the way back.

After about three hours of hiking and another hour drive, we got back to the camper and decided on stuffing our faces with cheap, greasy, s**tty McDonald’s Big Macs and McNuggets and fries and… hey, does McDonald’s still sell apple pies? We wanted them but had no idea if they still sell them. FYI the McDonald’s in Buffalo, WY is operating with a limited menu, so couldn’t get a clear answer on that. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Today was chores day, and tomorrow we set out for more boondocking out in Yellowstone. Fourth of July weekend probably won’t be too bad there, right? Like, not many tourists? Right?

::looks around::

RIGHT?!?