West Company Not Invited: Part of Fun, Travel & Adventure :)

[Ray Eklund]

We camp where there are few Human Beans, one Neanderthal and three Blue Heelers, aka Cattle Dogs out West.

Often we are outnumbered.

-Cow MOOSE in the Spring surrounded our trailer west of Buffalo, Wyoming in the Big Horn Mountains. As well as that Spring calving. Could not find that photograph. Taken in June with Snow.

-Cattle from Pastures A to area B. (Photo of Cattle is open range, western Nebraska)

- Sheep being moved down the mountain East of Cedar City, Utah.

-Bull Elk on the Mogollon Rim, six pointers, moving through the pine trees. Moving so fast... we got behind trees and no photographs. Five and Six Pointers...

-This Spring a herd of cows and newborns followed us in the Apache National Forest, New Mexico thinking we were tossing bails of hay. Once they 'met' the Blue Heelers, they got in line and followed the cattle trail back to where they came from.

Cattle like Oliver Elite II travel trailers... as well.

I add some photographs of other 'close encounters of the fourth kind'. When Off the Grid Boondocking... Bear, Elk, Moose, Cattle, Antelope, Deer and Sheep are to be discovered. They move quickly and I do not always have my camera around my neck.

Bear most FAST. Some experiences have the 'objects' moving too fast to photograph. Others... finding them on my computer. But all are great memories.

Plan your travels by accident. They provide more interesting experiences, as well.

Having three Cattle Dogs keep campers away... so sad.

[JeffKim]

We have also encountered dinosaurs. This is our late and beloved Berner, Lupe, in Rapid City, SD who always hammed it up whenever she could.

I'm sure you've encountered lots of elk. This was in the Tetons and our current dog a Newfoundland, Nixie, and her reaction.

Otherwise, we got in a cattle drive in the Big Horns as well, lots of other encounters (bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose) which we are never in to much of a hurry to enjoy (even the cattle jam).

[Ray Eklund]

In Bear Country if you know they are about... Fried Bacon is perfume to Bear. They want to meet you or eat you?

In Bear Country, Cattle Dogs are feared more than Human Beans and Neanderthals.

Our Dinosaur photo was just south of Holbrook, Utah. They sell Petrified Fire Wood, as well.

Pile of abandoned Bicycles in the Black Hills. Traveling across the USA on a bicycle must have its physical costs? You get so far and take a Bus Home after climbing a tree. And the Bear from a Circus peddles it into the Forest?

You have to have a sense of humor dealing with people and large mammals. Just take photographs and put them onto the Airforums. I have my way to avoid personal contact with people or wildlife. If you cannot see them, they do not exist.

JeffKim keeps good company. I do as well. Makes our hearts 'soar like a bird'. Little Big Man Chief quote in movie.

Everyone enjoys someone else's encounters with Man or Beast.

[Ray Eklund]

I do enjoy Forest Service signs and useful information, as well, signs.

[Ray Eklund]

Wyoming brings many opportunities to view wildlife.

We fed the Sheep Dog and watered as much as needed. He later wandered off just as quickly as when he wandered to the trailer.

Livestock always is attracted to vehicles. Many are 'free range' at this time of the year, but are use to having a vehicle tossing bails of hay... they do not discriminate until nothing is offered. They will wander off just as fast as they arrived.

I use an easy to hang around my neck, Nikon E950 digital camera, purchased in 2000. Same slide in digital card and same Neanderthal.