Day 31, Friday July 8,2022, at Douglas, WY

 Day 31,  Friday July 8,2022, at Douglas, WY

Today was probably the best “viewing and seeing” day of our trip, thus far. For us as birders, we seek a place where the birds are numerous, even though we may not find them all, and as a photographer, Ruth, likes some contrast especially with rock outcroppings ,and color and some water thrown in. Well, we had all three of those this morning as we traveled to Ayers Bridge Arch about 10 miles from our camp site.

The Arch looking through to the LaPrele creek

View from the other side

Entering the park the rocks are awesome

 It was truly a beautiful example of Gods handiwork, even though it took millions of years to form. (God’s time?) As we approached the Park, we could see that we traveled up hill in order to reach the canyon where that the arch was located. It was a very winding road the began to disappear ahead as it reached the bottom of the gorge. There was a tree filled park standing astride the La Prele (La-pree-eel) Creek which had over the millennia, carved itself through the 300 million year old Casper Sandstone (red in color) forming a 100 footlong, 50 foot high arch. The park was divided into two parcels. One you could look at from below the arch on the up stream side and the other from the downstream side. We took much time to soak in the beauty and the bird life as well. twas very peaceful and refreshing.

Thae manager's home and outbuildings

A Willow Flycatcher that had a nest and young

A Blue Green Swallow.

 

It was a birders paradise for so few acres. The original park was just 15 acres given by the grand nephew of the original homesteader.  Alva Ayers settled here in 1882. Alva was a freighter and a bull whacker.  (Freight driver usually with oxen.)  Ayers was married for three days  in a mysterious affair. Later the surrounding acreage was deeded to make the park what it is today.

We saw more than 20 species of bird, especially the three swallow types, one of which we had not seen yet.—The Blue Green Swallow. also two Flycatchers and a Western Wood Peewee, again.  Ruth spotted the Spotted Towhee. Truly this site rates  (for a small area) in the best ”top Five” habitats we have seen for  birding and visual effect. We spent the morning there and hated to leave.

A long range view of the Ayers Bridge Arch

 LAUNDRY DAY! We had put the laundry in the the truck.  I secure the tall basket with bungy cords to keep it from tumbling over. Then we headed in town for the “Clay Street Laundromat”. This was now on the”top five” list of Laundromats we have been in and we have seen plenty of them. (est: One laundromat a week on 8 week trips for 25 years = 2000 laundromats surveyed. Anyway, we did get the laundry finished and shared with Rich, the owner ,who built the place in 1998. He said that during the early days of the pandemic he decided to condense the operation and went to 4 days a week. It seemed to work out and now he is continuing that schedule. He also has two days that he does commercial laundry for two big companies. He takes one day a week off. He is 75 this year.

Later we returned to the trailer and downloaded photos and talked of up coming   places to see.

Supper was a dish we have not had yet and that was a tuna salad, with onions, celery and tomatoes .Very good and filling.

Tomorrow we will head for the Glendo Reservoir which is made from the waters of the North Branch of the Platte River. The dam is 190 feet high, and generates 34 megawatts of electricity from two turbine generators. It is SE of here where there will be many roads to poke into for possible bird identification.  We do follow the Platte River and its tributaries most of the way through Nebraska.