My Final Day in the Miner's Exchange Saloon

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Miner's Exchange Saloon, South Pass City State Historic Site, Wyoming  
 
Looking across the billiards table to the bar.
 
Gator and I met up this morning at a little before 8:00 for our last Miner's Exchange Saloon soda pop run for the summer. It was a nice morning, but cooler mornings are on the horizon.
 
After the soda pop run, I went into the Archives and Gator went off looking for an adhesive to help re-situate a belt on the stamp mill. After a couple of hours, Gator came back looking for a hand to get the belt on. I rode out to the stamp mill with him and thought we had a morning work ahead of us. We got that rascal back on in about five minutes. Gator fired up the stamp mill and everything went well.
 
Well, back to the archives for a bit and then, at noon, I opened the saloon. It was a quiet day, not real slow, or so it seemed, as there were a fair number of people walking the town; however, as always, many just walk on past the bridge that leads to this side of town.
 
Today, again, I had a few CDT hikers and two bicyclists riding the trail come into the saloon. They usually just stop at the gift shop and get a drink and then move on. I understand that, but I do appreciate those who take the time to explore along the way.
 
I worked a bit during the slower times today and enjoyed the conversations with visitors, as always, but told many of my best Saloon stories- a chance to relive them one last time. I will likely man the saloon for some school tours, but the stories I tell vary with the audience.
 
Things began slowing down after 2:30, or so. Forty-four visitors and four dogs today. More activity than I have seen in the saloon in some time.
 
I had several people ask for sarsaparilla today. I hated having to tell them we were sold out. I managed to sell eight bottles of the other soft drinks, but would have sold a lot more. 
 
Connie and Joe Ellis came by at 4:00 and I closed the saloon for the last time. A bittersweet moment. I visited with Joe for a few minutes about my Lovejoy presentation later this month and agreed to his request that I tell ghost stories at the Site's October event.
 
After putting the remaining sodas away, Connie and I walked back to the trailer and agreed that this would be a good evening to run into Lander for dinner at Cowfish.
 
 
Cowfish, Lander, Wyoming, shown from the north side of the building  
 
Cowfish from the north side of the building, with a good view of their logo.
 
We saw two pronghorn antelope on the way into Lander and one mule deer on the way back. We relaxed for the rest of the evening and got to bed a little late. 
 
 

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