I signed up for a week in Rawlins, partly because there are lots of back roads to explore and partly because the weather forecast indicated I was going to have some down time. As it turned out, the forecast was pretty accurate. During the week, we experienced sporadic rain, snow and high winds, along with constant cold. The lows were below freezing almost every night, and daytime highs were not that pleasant most days. I had lots of time for doing chores and little time for touring the back roads.
On one of the nicer days, I took a drive on the Seminoe Scenic Byway that runs from the town of Sinclair over the mountains to a town called Alcova, a distance of 64 miles. I actually drove only about half way because there were lots of side trails to explore. Still, it was an enjoyable drive and gave me a good taste of the area.
Sinclair, as its name suggests, is the home of a huge oil refinery owned by Sinclair. Originally founded in 1924, the town was called Parco, after the Producers & Refiners Corporation (or PARCO) which built the refinery and the company town. Sinclair bought the entire operation during the Great Depression. Its population is about 450, presumably all employees of Sinclair and their families. I can't think of any other reason to live there.
The original developers commissioned an elegant Spanish Colonial hotel that is now privately owned. In fact, Sinclair sold most of the town to its residents in 1967.
This is only a small part of the refinery.
The town's park highlights Dino, the green dinosaur symbol of Sinclair. There is also a golf course for recreation.
You may not associate Wyoming with sand dunes, but the state actually has the largest sand dune field in the country. The scenic byway traverses a tiny portion of the 110,000 acre field. About 10% of it has been designated for recreational use by ATVs, dune buggies and the like.
All over Wyoming there is ample evidence of a violent geological history. In addition to its mountains, there are countless buttes and hills that reflect past uplifting and breakage in earth's crust. Hot springs and geysers are not confined to Yellowstone, but can be found in many parts of the state. To say it is a rugged land is a massive understatement.
Much of the land in this area is colored red due to the presence of an element called hematite (sometimes called blood stone) that is a form of ferrous oxide. At one time it was mined for use as a paint pigment because it is a preservative. Solid forms are still used for jewelry.
While driving the byway, I happened to spot numerous birds along the way. Here are just a few of them.
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| American Robin |
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| Savannah Sparrow |
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| Yellow0headed Blackbird |
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| Horned Lark |
Of course, there are always plenty of pronghorns dotting the Wyoming landscape. The fastest land mammal in North America, these guys are always alert to possible danger and ready to outrun their adversaries.
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