Well, we didn't go anywhere in the air today. As is the case when we're delayed by weather, something cool usually pops up on the ground and since we're a science/historical/educational expedition that usually involves a museum. In Great Falls, MT last year, it was the Charles M. Russell Museum and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Today it was the Trails Museum in Casper.

There's an inscription on a granite block as you head into the Museum, and it quotes a visitor who traveled along the Platte River to Casper in the mid-1800's:

"There are few women to be seen here, nothing but mules, men and tents".

Of course, that has changed and I couldn't resist taking a photo of the FOD women in front of the obelisk. The Museum is located on a hillside above a crossing on the Platte River where the Oregon, California, Pony Express and Mormon Trails intersected. Not too far away is Independence Rock, where if you made it that far by July 4th, you might just make it through the western mountains before the winter snows.

The Museum is a must for anyone interested in these historic trails. They even have covered wagon and Mormon handcart simulators. We asked to meet the Museum's director to talk about future coordination for our upcoming expedition in 2007 along the Oregon Trail but since we hadn't really planned on being here and didn't have an appointment, unfortunately that contact will have to be made in the future. We did leave some literature and my business card.

The overcast was bad enough that one couldn't see Casper Mountain just to the south of the City so in the afternoon we went back to the airport and looked at the weather on the computers. No go for today, and maybe not even tomorrow. It's looking like I might not get back for the class I'm supposed to teach on Monday in Irvine. We did find that Tony made his fight to Salt Lake and that Greg is similarly stuck in Billings for a few days. I'm greatly relived on both counts.

Lots of guys arriving at the FBO in private planes to go hunt antelope, or goats as they're know around here. I'm not sure where these guys head out to when they're hunting, but we saw a dozen pronghorns running back and forth near between the rental car lot and the long term parking on our way back to the hotel this afternoon. They appeared to be very confident and secure.

Flight Operations

No flying today!