July 7, 2026 (Tue.) – Part 1 – To Thermopolis : A Scenic Drive… and a Not‑So‑Scenic Ticket.

Finally, travel day! After 12 days in Pinedale, it was time to pack up and move on. We’d never even heard of Thermopolis, WY until a couple we met in Steamboat Springs mentioned it — and it fit perfectly into our route.

Since a lot happened today, this entry is a two‑parter: Part 1 = Travel Day + Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway (Hwy 20).

Lynn was up at 5:00 a.m. (travel‑day tradition), and Kirk rolled out at 8:00. We hit the road at 9:45 after the usual prep — plus airing all the tires, which hadn’t been done in a while. Today’s drive was longer than usual: 241 miles, about four hours, with an ETA of 1:30 p.m.

The morning rolled by quietly — open roads, pretty scenery, and absolutely no drama. Around noon we made a quick stop in Lander, WY at the South Pass Rest Area: clean bathrooms, easy pull‑through, in and out without fuss. By 12:15 p.m., we reached the Red Canyon Overlook, a spot we normally wouldn’t attempt with the rig. We usually skip scenic pullouts when towing, but this one was too beautiful to pass up — and the huge parking area made it an easy stop. The red canyon views were stunning, a perfect little pause before getting back on the road. By 1:45 p.m., we rolled into Shoshoni — and that’s where the day suddenly got a lot more interesting.

As we cruised through town, we passed a patrol cruiser. Kirk is usually a stickler for speed limits — he spots signs faster than Lynn spots cows — but not today. Moments later, the patrol car pulled in behind us with lights flashing. Uh oh. Pulling over a huge rig in a tiny town is never graceful, but we managed to find a spot. The officer said we were doing 59 in a 30, with no sign of slowing down. Ouch — nearly 30 mph over! Thankfully, he was a “nice cop” (his words) and wrote it as 39 in a 30, which meant online traffic school and a ~$155 fine instead of ~$325 plus points. We’ll take it. Later, after reviewing the dashcam, we realized we’d missed one of the 30‑MPH signs — but we were decelerating, just not fast enough. By the time we reached the officer’s sign, we were already at 39 mph, exactly what he wrote on the ticket.

Just after the ticket, we pulled into the Exxon across the street to regroup. Inside, Kirk spotted a bottle of Blanton’s — not his favorite but since we had no whiskey in the RV, decided it was exactly what he needed after the sting of the ticket. While he was checking out, he spotted the same officer in the store. Needless to say, the whiskey went straight into the back of the truck.

Back on the road around 2 p.m., we entered the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 20 between Shoshoni and Thermopolis), and wow — absolutely stunning. Lynn used to swear the Virgin River Gorge in Utah was her favorite drive, but this one stole the crown. Towering canyon walls, red rock, winding roads, tunnels, lakes, rivers and mountains — the kind of scenery that makes you forget you just got a speeding ticket. The Virgin River Gorge will always be one of her favorites, especially for nostalgia’s sake, but Wind River Canyon definitely earned a spot at the top.

As we rolled into Thermopolis, right at the speed‑limit drop, we spotted another patrol car lurking! Yep — another speed trap — but this time we were on our best behavior. We pulled into Eagle RV Park around 2:30 p.m., straight into 90°+ heat. The sites were tight, the truck barely fit, and the neighbors were practically in our lap. Nothing fancy — but good enough for a quick three‑night stay.

By 4:30 p.m., we headed into town to explore. Main Street had a charming, slightly nostalgic vibe — reminded us of Mackinaw City in Michigan. Dinner was at One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company, and it was fantastic. Lynn ordered their most popular Jagersnitzel (their spelling), and it was delicious. Kirk got the filet, but Lynn’s dish definitely won. He also ordered an old‑fashioned, which they made properly — unlike the mystery concoction he got at the last place.

After dinner we walked around town in the rain — despite the forecast claiming zero chance of rain. Wyoming weather turns on a dime and changes faster than Lynn can finish a cup of coffee. By 7:30 p.m., we hopped back in the truck to explore the area and stopped at Hot Springs State Park.

A full day of quiet roads, canyon beauty, small‑town charm, and one unforgettable speeding ticket — with Part 2 covering the rest of the adventure.

Weather – (Thermopolis, WY) – High 88*, Low 63*. Winds 5-8 mph/16 mph gusts. Rain = 0% but it did. No humidity.

Traffic – None.

Food – One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company – excellent.

Notable – Speeding Ticket, Wind River Scenic Byway, One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company.