link to national park site and history
http://www.nps.gov/fola/
We left at 9:00 am stopped for gas, eats and photo ops.
Was there at 12:30.
Will upload some pics via photobucket may be large.
Post had a lot more history than I knew about.
Started as about 120 x 160 foot adobe wall fort john in 1841
for the fur trade.
Was major Pony Express route and telegraph.
forget name of horse and rider, but he rode from fort phil kearney to here in two days mid of winter (I think 1866 226 miles ) horse died of exhaustion 1 day later. Phil Kearney was being massacred by Indians.They needed help!
Army bought it, tore down original, built new with no exterior walls.
All existing buildings are original and restored.
Little off beaten path but worth the trip for history / army/ calvary buffs.
$3 per person.
After fort, we stopped for gas at Torrington, lots bikes coming back from Sturgis, could see major storm brewing in S.W. , direction we were headed.
Made about 20 miles had to pull over at Yoder wait 10 minutes storm pass.
Made about 40 miles and was heading into another even bigger.
Stopped at rest area, CMA there with water coffee cookies. Plenty good shelter. Storm hit with a fury. GF finally believes me I think, when I say time to find cover on Wyoming plains. Rained hard about 1 hour, but we stayed dry. Several fools didn't believe me, but they came back with a new belief and then waited it out.
I have one pic in phone to upload but battery dead so will send it in another thread.
wanted more pics, but disk in camera was full and forgot extra disks.
bridge is over northplatte river built by army 1875 you can walk across.
building is infantry barracks from 1860's and also main supply pantry.









Hope you enjoyed the brief tour.
Not often you find a sign with something free.
Restaurant about 3 miles from fort.
Order anything on menu, if you don't like it for any reason
they will give you anything else on the menu for the same price.

 

Did notice my rebuilt seat needs a little more padding.
Just had it rebuilt by a reputable local shop.
Will find out tomorrow how reputable.
If he does me right I will post it if not I will post that too.
As there may be others in my area wondering.
Going to ask him to undo cover from bottom (staples) peal back
and add a 1/2 to 3/4 inch more foam under the gel pad.
Doesn't seem to be enough cush under the pad to take advantage of the pad
properties.

 

Nice pics choochoo
THX,
Steve

 

We had planned to stop on our way home from Sturgis, but it was so hot we drove by the turnoff, now I'm sorry we didn't stop. Great post, I will have to go up there, since I live about 200 miles away in Colorado.
Dave