June 20, 2012-Wednesday

I have not quit publishing the blog, just took a break while we dropped by Boulder, Co., to surprise our two nieces, Andrea and Erica.  Andrea has just added to our extended family by having a beautiful daughter, Ayla.  We went first to Erica's work and she was surprised to see us., then to the hospital where Andrea and her husband Tim were caring for their new daughter Ayla, who had some minor issues, but will be home soon.  While on the way to Boulder, we observed heavy smoke from the Laramie, Wy, mountain fire and then as we crossed the border into Colorado, we saw the smoke from the Ft. Collins fire, which has destroyed many homes and properties.  By the way flat Terry is full blown, see the pic with MK.  We spent last night in Walmart parking lot in Lafayette, Co. and then drove in relentless wind all day to finally arrive at the KOA at Salinas, Ks.  Tomorrow is another long day as we move on toward Columbia, Mo. and points east.  This trip home is bitter-sweet as I hate for the trip to end, yet look forward to seeing all my grands and our son and daughter-in law and Julie.  More to come.

June 17, 2012 Last day at Yellowstone

Today was our last day to witness the wonders of nature and God, in Yellowstone National Park.  We did get an early start and ended up with a full day, began with another fantastic entry into the park with a grizzly sighting, not a full adult but old enough to be on his/her own.  We traveled to the upper and lower falls, which were super then on to Tower Falls and after that we traveled to Mammoth Hot springs.  I saw so many small geysers and hot springs today, I am surprised  that snow could lay on the ground.  We saw many more buffalo and deer today and passed one group of people who stated they had seen a wolf, which we did not see.  If you want to see many buffalo then you need to take the right turn on loop road.  Hundreds of acres today of beautiful green valleys fed by numerous springs, the beauty is outstanding. The deer in the next to last shot, just came out of woods, while MK and I were hiking down to the Yellowstone River, at Tower Falls.   I hope everyone has enjoyed this trip and will continue this blog until we arrive back in Greer.

Saturday 06/16/12

We were lazy this morning and got off to a late start today, but it was well worth it.  We drove the 32 miles to the East Entrance of Yellowstone and love my senior National Parks card, another free entry.  We drove 26 miles of beautiful scenic road to the Loop Road which circles inside the park.  On the way to Loop road, Mary's sharp eyes spotted a young elk next to the river and we got some photos, little further in was a small herd of deer four crossed road in front and three more stayed on side of mountain.  I stopped the car to get some photos but the three on mountain turned and went back over the mountain out of sight.  On up the road we came upon a buffalo bull having a good time rolling in the sand and got a shot of him.  We traveled on to Fishing Bridge, where we picked up the loop and drove around the edge of lake Yellowstone, this lake is just as nice as Lake Tahoe.  We saw much devastation due to a past fire, so much forest burned, slowly making a come back.  We saw some geysers on the edge of lake, on across the road was pure sulfur.  At a location called West Thumb, we stopped and observed a treat for you ladies, who like a mud bath, a very hot, bubbling, all natural mud pool video attached.  Leaving there we went on to every tourist must see, Old Faithful.  This geyser puts on a pretty good show for a hole in the ground that blows hot water on semi frequent schedule.  The day was slipping away by this time so we started the trip back to the rv with a desire to start early Sunday to see the rest of the park.  A great natural wonder everyone should see.  More tomorrow.

Friday 06/15/12

Ok, we hit the road again this morning in our quest for Yellowstone.  I did include a pic of the motorhome in Buffalo, as I forgot to yesterday.  The Wyoming land scape is certainly diverse.  Today we traveled thru forested areas, farming areas, cattle areas and desert areas and mountains.  First up, leaving Buffalo we come to the Big Horne Mountains, and they are a little steep, I posted some photos yesterday of the snow capped peaks, and we saw more today, then we crossed the snow capped peaks.  The scenery was beautiful and we saw several deer again today.  One of the photos has a deer in it, that is not visible until you look harder, see if you can find it.  DW took several other photos of deer in open spaces and we miss more ops as we ran up on them too fast.  We hit couple construction sights that slowed our progress today but we still arrived in time to get set up in the wind.  Winds have been rough out here since S. Dakota.  We left Cody Wyoming, which is a great town and headed toward Yellowstone and our camp ground , Yellowstone Valley Rv.  we traveled by the Shoshone River until the Buffalo Bill Cody Dam made a pretty lake and then as we arrived at our camp the river was back to a full flowing river, right by our campground.  We might take in a rodeo in Cody before we leave.  I forgot to mention that enroute her DW saw two cowboys on horse back with their dog, we had been looking at a large herd of cattle on my side and I did not see them in time but she was able to snap a pic across me, so ignore me and look at cowboys. I forgot to mention that crossing the peak of the mountains, the elevation was 9,666 ft above sea level.  More to come. This last river pic is the Shoshone River beside our campground.

Thursday 06/14

Today is another excellent day, I do not know why we have been so blessed with beautiful weather, but we are certainly happy with it.  Today we broke camp in Hill City, foot of Mt. Rushmore, and started out on US 16 West.  We drove back thru Custer and continued on to Morecraft Wyoming.  Beautiful country side again, rolling hills and vast plains.  Saw deer, prarie dogs, and more deer, during the day.  I decided that since I was only 37 miles from another prize location I would go there, can you say Close Encounters of the Third Kind.?  Yep we went to Devil's Tower, the first National US Park.  Awesome rock,  We then struck out back to I-90 to Buffalo, Wy. where we got off on US16 west again and will take this road all the way to Yellowstone, two lane and scenic.  We are camped at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains and as you can see in couple photos, on June 14 still many snow covered peaks.  Enjoy and again if anyone wants anything on the Blog and I can do it, just ask or make a comment.  Note, my route tomorrow takes us up and over the Big Horn Mountains.  Flat Terry is earning her keep also.