Casper, Wyoming and the Metal Gas Can Enigma

Driving the Alaska Highway, its rumored that the traveler should be a self contained emergency rescue vehicle. The traveler should carry spare car parts: headlights, tires, gas cans, duct tape, etc. There should also be easily accessible: cold weather gear consisting of down coats or sleeping bags, extra boots, gloves, hats, etc. Food and water is a must in case you are really stranded. And of course real emergency gear: flares, flashlight, and tools. 

Thankfully, it is now the 21st century and automobiles are made to last longer, drive further on a tank of gas, and tires last longer. This is all well and good if one should be traveling in the summer. We, however, have pushed the limit of travel date and will be entering in the ‘off season’ for most stops. By towing a trailer, we had all the space we needed for spare and emergency gear. However, there was one item yet to purchase, a metal jerry can.

The are lodges and small towns spaced about 100 miles apart on the most remote parts of the Alaska highway and through the deep stretches of northern British Columbia and the Yukon. Usually the traveler can feel confident in finding gas when necessary. We did not plan on adequate openings and wanted to carry a metal jerry can with us just in case. As with trying to find an oil pan heater in Texas, finding a metal gas can seemed to be just as elusive. When looking for one in Kansas, people gave Ken that ‘I don’t know what you are talking about’ look. We determined that they just were not familiar with the term ‘jerry can.’ Odd, who isn’t? So, metal gas can it was. None-the-less, a metal can was proving hard to find until Casper. 

Ken and I were confounded. How, in this time of hyped-up, four-wheel drive Jeeps, Land Cruisers, trucks, Hemi’s, Range Rovers, etc. etc., could we not find a metal gas can with an external mount? That’s the key, with the mount. Ken wanted to mount the can externally on the trailer since we had been sleeping in it. Finding the mount for the can was a trick. Luck was on our side, as had been the weather. Having not found one thus far, we searched the internet for hardware stores and 4-wheel drive shops in the Casper area- and -eureka! We found both parts, but at different businesses. 

Ken talked to Mick at Evolution 4x4 in Casper http://www.evolution4x4.net/ Mick did know what Ken was looking for, but unfortunately, he was out of cans. He did, however, have the external can mount. Mick referred us to Murdoch’s Hardware for the can http://www.murdochs.com/ . Sure enough, they had one. And boy did they have everything else you could possibly need to outfit a rig or ranch! Murdoch’s was your local Ace or True Value on steroids. Most Americans living in big cities with capitalist, commercial, chain store options on every corner do not realize how limited a selection and generic the products are. Murdoch’s carried everything from chicken feed to clothing to car parts and many different brands than found at the larger stores. We are definitely tool-gear-outdoor nerdy and thusly had a fun time looking around the store. With our shiny new red jerry can-with the new regulation cap-in hand we were off to find Evolution 4 x 4.

And now back to our previous segment called, your GPS doesn’t know &*#%! We programmed in Evolution into the Magellan and it gave us an address which we promptly drove to. Nothing, just houses. A dreary street. We saw a couple of guys talking outside what looked like it could be a secret workshop and asked if they knew where our elusive business was. Neither were very sure, they thought it might have moved but did know know exactly where. So, we called Evolution again to get directions. Mick asked if we had used Mapsco or a GPS. He said his business had moved TWO YEARS ago and does not know why the old address is still found on mapping services. Our Magellan is barely one year old, hence our annoyance with it. 

Anyway, once we go to Evolution, we had a blast meeting Mick and the rest of the crew. All avid 4 x 4 guys and gals for real! These guys even weld and fabricate their own roll cages. (Take that you fake off-road clubs in Texas) Serious business these guys were, as much as they wanted to help us, they had a ride planned that afternoon and where hot to get out of town! Mick indeed had the mount for the metal jerry can which we gladly purchased, then contemplated where to attach, and then let the guys go have some fun! Thanks Evolution!

First and Only Attempt Sleeping in an RV Park

We arrived in Casper around dinner time after sunset making it difficult to find a campground or RV park. Sure they are listed on the map, but daylight really helps find them better. Many signs are not lighted, roads are harder to see, and campsites are not lighted. Ten years ago when my sister and I made this trip, it was May and we had an easier time finding campgrounds. We were tent camping then, at this time, Ken and I are trying to sleep in our trailer in order to save money. Searching for campgrounds on the GPS is difficult as RV parks tend to call themselves campgrounds. A misnomer if you ask me as the RVer has brought their whole home with them! RVing is NOT camping! Ken and I were prepared to sleep in the trailer or pitch a tent if we needed to. (Above, typical driving view in eastern Wyoming. Below, sunset approaching Casper)

Since Ken and I are now traveling in November, many of the RV parks/campgrounds are closed for the season. This is one thing the GPS cannot tell us. The GPS can in some cases provide a number. However, when I called at this time of evening, some places did not answer, or had answering machines. In those two cases, I could mark that location off the list. There was one place that answered the phone, a combination RV and tent camping site. There are a few that offer both spaces. 

And now another segment of, your GPS doesn’t know %$#&! With the address for the Casper East RV Park programmed in the Magellan, we sailed down the road. And sailed, and sailed. There was no obvious sign for the RV park yet the Magellan said we had arrived. We did not see the location so kept driving. Casper is not a big town, so soon we were way too far gone. We turned around heading back to Casper and again passed the location the GPS thought was our destination. No sign, no nothing. We took what we thought was the nearest exit and looped back on a side road. Sure enough, we finally saw a sign. It was on a road perpendicular to what might be considered a feeder to the freeway. Not very obvious. 

At this time of night, the office was closed and as such in a place like this, payment is self service. I filled out a form and tried to figure out their pricing for tent camping. I took advantage of Ken’s veteran status and dropped payment of $18.47 into the night box for a tent camping site. Though not a KOA (which was closed for the season believe it or not) it was very similar. There are many of these independent RV parks that accommodate RVs with and without hook ups, tent sites with or without electricity, and separate shower and toilet facilities for tenters. All-in-all, not too bad a deal for road trippers if the location is well maintained. 

Ken wasn’t too impressed. The first thing that turned him (and me) off was the location right by the railroad track. Cargo trains run at night folks. So any of you out there planning on the same money saving situation, be warned. And the memories all came back to me. On many a road trip in my past, in many different states, I have found the same thing. I guess people who operated RV/campgrounds find cheap land-located near utilities, railroad tracks and the like that no one else wants. The next morning we went to the showers to clean up as it had been a few days. They were so-so. Ken might have rather had a motel shower, but at this price, it would do. We cleaned up, packed up the trailer and headed into Casper to see if we could find a metal gas can. On the drive in, we enjoyed our delicious danishes we had purchased the day before at the Bread Basket Bakery, yum!