Day 5, Big Sky Country, 07/15/2010

We started the day off in Gillette, WY. The temperature was 54 degrees. Brr. Needed a jacket. We spent the morning traveling along I90, with the snow capped mountains of the Big Horn Mountains off our left. Brr. We stopped at Ft. Phil Kearney and toured the museum and Fort. It was established in 1866. It was also the location of the "Fetterman Massacre". Capt. Fetterman, with 2 officers and a force of 79 Calvary Troopers went out from Ft. Kearney to provide security for the wood cutters. While on security detail, a few Indians came up and started antagonizing the Troopers. In violation of his orders, Capt Fetterman pursued the Indians. They disappeared over a nearby hillock. When the Fedderman detail went over the hill, they were faced with about 2,000 mad Indians. This is where the "Fedderman Massacre "got its name. Ft.Meade was abandoned a year later.

We had lunch at a local Mexican restaurant in Sheridan, Wyo. Then we traveled north into Montana. That's where we took the picture(welcome to Montana). We stopped of at the Custer Battlefield. The results were not good for the U.S. Army. I feel if Custer had a couple of Huey Gunships, with miniguns and rockets, then the results would have been different.

This is a great trip. I am from Alabama, born and raised. My state is beautiful. We have traveled through some beautiful country. You should all come to this part of the U.S.

We are in Great falls, Mt. tonight. Tomorrow we cross into Canada and will go to Banff, in the Canadian Rockies. We will rest there a couple of days before heading for Alaska. Until then...adieu...Jerry

P.S. I almost forgot...Linda took the picture of the bear today. She did not use the Bear spray.