About Natrona County, WY

Note to self: The "State Bird" of Wyoming is the RATTLESNAKE. (juxtaposition ROCKS).

"If you come into contact with one while hiking the trails...DO NOT spook it!"...(great advice from the lady in the State of Wyoming Department of Land Management Booth at the fair.) :)

Walking through the hills and canyons here has been my favorite thing to do in Casper, WY.

This is truly a sportsman's paradise...hunting, fishing, hiking, biking...all right out your front door.

The folks here in Casper have been wonderful ambassadors of their state. Friendly, "Salt of the Earth" people who just want to do their own thing without any outside interference...my kind of folks.

Casper is the second largest city in Wyoming...at 50,000 in population.

Again, my kind of place...They LOVE people here...they just don't like NEIGHBORS. :)

The majesty of nature never, ever, ceases to amaze me. I can sit on top of a bluff here and just stare for a half hour at the scenery. Sort of ilke Nebraska, only they have mountains, lakes, rivers and streams. (Sarcasm intended). No disrespect intended to my home state, we have just never been known for our topography.


Which reminds me of a family trip to Colorado.

We were in Breckenridge in the summer and we took the chair lift to the top of the mountain.

My son Brett (who was 5 or 6 at the time) and I were sitting there at the top of that mountain looking out at the breathtaking view of the Continental Divide, when he said:

"Dad, how can anybody look at something like this...and say there isn't a God?"

I just hugged him so he wouldn't see me crying.

Out of mouths of babes....

Open Fields of wild flowers in Wyoming by Robert Swetz 6-27-2011

As I drove 1700 plus miles from northern Minnesota to Las Vegas Nevada I couldn't help but notice all the Wide Open Space.

I have traveled this route many times through my life and what a beautiful country we Americans live in. And when ever I see endless fields of flowers, sage brush, trees and more I always remember so many words from many different people. Words like "we have a over population" ... "we have to many people in this country" ... "Blah-Blah-Blah!

There are to many people in many cities across the United States of America! But as much traveling as I have done in my life all I ever see Wide Open Space.

Kevin Costner's words in the movie "Dances with Wolves" which is one of my favorites is ...

I want to see "The New Frontier" and he ends up in South Dakota which is not very far from where this photograph was taken.

This photograph above of open wilds flowers was taken in the beautiful state of Wyoming, and to some it may still be "The New Frontier".

Photograph and post by Robert Swetz 7-1-2011