Yellowtone Trip Part 3

Tuesday September 10
After breakfast we went to town to the Yellowstone Foundation to get tickets to a fundraising dinner/dance/entertainment on Saturday.  Also went to the visitor center to do the blog and went  to the grocery store.  After lunch I went fly fishing on the Madison river.

Judy watched me and knitted among the biting flies.  I got three bites and one small trout which got off  the barb less hook only a few feet away.  Fun fishing.   Soft taco’s for dinner and afterwards watched the president’s speech.

Wednesday September 11  Remember the day 12 years ago.
We drove the loop from Madison Junction to Norris to Canyon to Fishing Bridge to West Thumb  and back home.   Lots of bison in the Yellowstone River valley between Canyon and Fishing Bridge. Saw some otter too.

Stopped  at the sulfur cauldron and mud pots alone the river.

Drove a few miles South to Lake Village and had lunch at the Yellowstone Lake Lodge built in 1890 and had a nice lunch.

Lodge on Yellowstone lake

On the way home from there, the traffic was stop and go for miles because of elk in several places along the way. Crepes for dinner, yummy.

After eating we drove to the West Thumb geyser basin and walked around.

   While we have been here we have watched a man installing snow sticks, or better known as snow markers…     well….. Hope the weather stays for us.    J

Thursday September 12
We were planning to go rockhounding but when we woke up it was raining so we decided to just take it easy today.  It rained almost all day and we got about 0.2 inches of rain.  We did go out for a while to the grocery store and a few other places.  Nice quite day reading, knitting and kumihimo cord making.

Friday  September 13
We got up and headed out North on Hwy 287 to the small junction  town of Norris.  At a place called Quake lake , just outside the park, we saw a big horned sheep on the road. Really foggy until we got over the first range of mountains then it was nice and sunny.   We got to Norris and headed Westerly about 6 miles up into the mountains.  Very beautiful.  We went to several mine sites and found some beautiful quartz crystals on milky quartz. On the way home, thunderstorms were seen in the distance. Saw antelope too. Stopped in Ennis to look at some of the antique shops.   Good fish dinner.

   This was a perfect day.  On the way to our chosen location we stopped quickly when a beautiful Big horned Sheep stepped out in front of us.  We took several pictures.  What a treat….J

Saturday September 14
We slept in this morning.   Rained off and on through out the day giving about 0.05 inches.  In the evening we went to the “Happening” put on by the Yellowstone Foundation who support all kinds of charitable endeavors.  Prime rib dinner, silent auction (Judy got a small purse), live auction and music by the “Midlife Chryslers”, a group made up of doctors and other medical professionals.  We met some real old timers who were full of stories of the good old day.  One lady was 94 and an other couple were in their mid 80’s.

     Did not pack our real dress-up clothes, but we seemed to fit right in.  Oh, how we danced….J

Sunday September 15
We left West Yellowstone and headed for the Grand Teton National Park.  As we were passing the exit to Old Faithful, the two lanes were going down to one when some idiot with a trailer tried to pass as the lanes converge.  He missed, could not go into the other lane for fear of a head on collision, and side swiped the front of the motor home.  Luckily, he just hit the mirror, breaking the housing and one of the mirrors.  He did not stop.  Called 911 to report the hit and run and a ranger came and took our report.  Called the insurance company also.  We managed to get the mirror back in place and adjust it.  Need to get the wide angle view mirror replaced.  Drove out of the park and will spend the next few days at Flagg Ranch RV park.  Nice place in the woods, no grass, no TV, no internet at our site.  Very nice and rustic.  Before dinner we went for a drive on the Grassy Lake road which is mostly dirt.  Saw three grouse on the trip. We drove as far as Grassy lake which is not a reservoir.  We hoped to see moose or something.  On the way back, stopped at a river bar on the Snake River and found some fun rocks.


    Thanks to “cool ”Richard our incident was handled with no ado.  It was pretty frightening.  I think the fela made the right decision… We are so very careful on the road… The parks are full of people from the big cities, and some from other countries.  The speed limit does not always hold.   J

Monday September 16
Left Flagg Ranch and headed into the Grand Teton National Park.  Weather was good.  We stopped at the Colter visitor center to check it out.  A ranger was giving a talk about the history of the park.  Part way through  someone spotted a black bear about a quarter a mile away.   The talk stopped and everyone ran to the rail of the deck to look.  After the talk we headed further into the park stopping at various places enjoying the view of the  mountains.   Thunder storms started up later in the afternoon and continued into the evening.

Tuesday September 17
Thunderstorms all night long.  Got about 0.3 inch rain.  Nice after breakfast, so we headed South into the park.  The mountains were encased in clouds and rain.  On the South end of the park is the L. Rockefeller Preserve which is a large amount of land donated to the park by Rockefeller.  In the visitor center was a mural of mountains, lighted  and was made up of small  pictures of  birds, flowers and animals. We went down to the Moose entrance and took the back road to the town of Jackson..  We went to the auto parts store and got a replacement mirror for the motorhome.  Also went to the Albertsons store which was huge.  Judy and I thought it was the biggest grocery store we have ever been in.  On the way home, we saw a bear which had just crossed the road and was heading into the wood.  It must have been less then 200 yards when we first saw it.  Thunderstorms with rain started again after dinner.


  Richard has now completed his wish list, as to the animals he wanted to see, save --- the illusive Moose… We will double our scope, by riding in the RV.  I can not say enough about the pristine beauty of this park.  It is a close second in my heart to Glacier Park.  What a beautiful country.   There will be pictures to tempt you to come, or to refresh your memory.  J

Wednesday September 18
We left the flag ranch after a night of rain.  Headed South through the Grand Teton National Park and noticed snow on the mountains.  We knew it got cold last night.  In Jackson took hwy 26 to Twin Falls which follows the Snake River most of the way.  The road was twisty and not the best.  When we got into Idaho, there were high winds of 25 mph with gusts to 35 according to the weather man.   I had a hard time driving.  In Twin Falls we took I-15 North to Dillon and now the wind was more to our back so driving was much easier.  We spent the night at Countryside RV park space C-8.  We had a nice pork chop dinner and saw a pretty sun set. R
    Whew, an ugly day of travel… windey roads .and wind …. so there was the snow on the Tetons this morning…telling us to head for home… unfortunately the Moose stayed in his comfortable spot, .so no sighting we will be in our cozy nest soon.    J

Thursday September 18
Left Dillon and continued heading North to I-90.  Drove to Missoula and stayed in the local Wal-Mart  “RV park.”  Weather much better. 

   Great drive from Dillon to Butte, then on to Missoula.  Blue skies and sun shine where life goes on in these small towns and ranches.  J

Friday September 19
Drove from Missoula to Cheney, WA and checked into the Ponderosa RV park taking spot R-1.  We called granddaughter Jessica and make plans to have her and her room mate over for dinner tomorrow.

   I failed to mention the welcoming committee that awaited us as we took possession of our RV site near the Tetons.   Right away we noted a very busy grey squirrel, running from one tree to another.  We got hooked up, fixed lunch and as we started our meal, I saw a very pert grey rodent, inside the RV.  Richard got up, and, the fury one disappeared.   Come to find out there is an entrance from the outside front of the bus to the inside…at least one small enough for live creatchers to pass… I swear I saw him waving as we left the beautiful  area.  We hope to return.  J 

Yellowstone Park Part 2

 Tuesday September 3 We drove to the Norris Geyser field stopping first at the Terrace Spring.  The Norris field is the hottest and most acid of all the places in the park.  There are lots of geysers and pretty colored pools with bubbling water. 
  It was very spectacular.  We then went to the Canyon area which is Northeast and had lunch.  After lunch we drove to the North rim of the Yellowstone “Grand Canyon” and the famous falls.  Wow, great seeing it again. The colors in the canyon were beautiful. We went to several different viewpoints and each gave a special view.  No afternoon thunderstorms as predicted.  Saw buffalo, osprey (two babies on a rock column in the canyon) , a coyote not a wolf,  and a herd of elk along the Madison River.  Judy saw the mother osprey come and feed the babies.  Fun time.  After dinner we went into town for a DQ ice cream and walked around town a bit.  R

   The last time I was here in this unusual place my vocabulary was rather limited, but now I am relearning words like ‘tuft’, and ‘caladara’.  The geological interest here is incredible.  It is also set in some of the most beautiful mountains in our country.  There have been two major events since my last visit, the earth quake of August 1959 and the terrible fire of 1988.   These events have been responsible for huge changes in the park’s superficial and structural look.  The fire burned over 800,000 acres.  That figure is almost unbelievable to me.  I am so hoping to visit the museum here in the canyon area tomorrow.  As we drive along the smooth paved road, a look to the horizon reveals miles of upstanding burned timbers.  They look like stubble on the mountains cheeks.  The most common tree here is a ponderosa pine.  The park ranger described them as a huge stick with a Christmas tree  on top.  The trees that have finally fallen, look like stitches of silver across the forest floor.  This is the new practice of forest management.  Some of these trees have attempted to lay down, but remain held up by there former neighbors.  New growth is a promise for the future.  Several of these giants that were not damaged in the fire display good sized areas of missing bark.  They can be explained by the need of the bison to scratch !    The BEST day.  J

Wednesday September 4
We slept in today.  Walked around town looking at stuff.  We went to the old train station which was turned into a museum.  They had films about the park history and a good ones about the 1959 earth quake and the 1988 fire which burned about 45% of the park.  Had a nice dinner of chicken roll-ups.  R

   Went looking for some water shoes for Richard.  He is anxious to try his luck at fishing.  The sight of the hopeful fishermen standing like tin toys along the river  can only make a real fisherman want to join.  I got my wish… a visit to the place that answered so many questions about the history of this amazing place.  J

Thursday September 5
We drove up to the Mammoth Hot Springs area at the North end of the park.  We stopped at the Artist paint pot area on the way. One of the pots was bubbling white clay.

Passed it up the other day because of the crowds.  We continued to Mammoth and drove the upper plateau road around the springs.

We drove to the Norris Geyser field stopping first at the Terrace Spring.  The Norris field is the hottest and most acid of all the places in the park.  There are lots of geysers and pretty colored pools with bubbling water.

White Elephant

A lot of the features were not very active.  Ate lunch and then went to a ranger talk about the springs.

ants living in terraces

She said that the area spews out the same amount of water every day but sometimes the water goes to different places.  At the moment the Palette springs is the most active and was just beautiful with the white travertine (calcium carbonate, aka, chalk) terraces and running water.  On the way home we stopped at various turnouts.   The obsidian cliffs area was roped off to keep people from taking any of the millions of tons of the stuff.  Saw more buffalo today.  No bears yet. R

Friday September 6
We got up early and headed to Ruby Reservoir which was about 90 miles Northwest of West Yellowstone.  The weather was nice with temperatures in the 80’s.  We dug and sifted and washed and found some garnets.  A few were big and possibly able to be faceted. We continued on the dirt road which eventually goes to Dillon looking for some Montana wonderstone.   We found the spot and got some nice pieces. Leaving there we went and visited the old mining town of Virginia City.  Most of the buildings were closed for the season and not too many people were around. We stopped in Ennis for dinner then drove back to West Yellowstone.  Beautiful sunset. R

Saturday September 7
We went to Norris geyser basin and I took the 1.6 mile loop trip while Judy took a short hike. While we were there we met,(ran into) Linda and Becky from Shelton and are members of the rock club.  Surprise  seeing them.  We left and ate lunch along the Gibbon R.  After that we went South of Madison Junction towards Old Faithful.  Stopped at several geyser basins and enjoyed all the pretty colors from the thermophilic  bacteria and the geysers and hot pools. SWe saw a red fox hunting something.   We got back in town  and checked out a few stores.  During dinner we had a big thunder and lightening storm with lots of wind.  After dinner we invited the neighbors over for a huckleberry sundae.  Nice people.  R

New words… Fumeroles and Ryolite… this is really fun.  Turns out the fox may be a cyote, but I tell you Richard can spot an animal for miles away.  The sunsets have been spectacular.  J

Sunday September 8
We had planned to go to Lamar Valley and look for wolfs.  Instead we slept in really late.  Had omelets for breakfast.  Yumm.  Just goofed around all day.  After dinner watched Sunday night football and did knitting and kumihimo.  R

We weren’t completely shiftless.  We did the laundry.  J.

Monday September 9
We got up really early as in 4 am to go to Lamar valley to look for wolfs.  It was about a two hour drive and was slow because of the ground fog, some from geysers and hot ponds.   Saw a rabbit and some deer on the way. We got to Lamar Valley at dawn, stopping many places to check with our binoculars.   Did not see any and were heading home when we saw a bunch of people looking up a hill.  Sure enough, two wolfs, one black and one grey.  The grey one did not stick around while the black one was just laying there.  Too far away for a picture.  On the way out of Lamar Valley  saw many herds of bison.  Some were doing the “I can stop traffic if I want.” We drove to Mammoth Hot Springs and then decided to go to Gardnier, MT and have breakfast.   After breakfast we went to the Gardnier National Forest office and got a permit to get petrified wood in the Tom Miner basin. Lovely drive into the mountains.  We are allowed 20 cubic inches each.  We got our two pieces and headed home.   Got home, rested and had a nice steak dinner with sweet corn and potatoes.  After dinner I went fishing for a while and caught one small brook trout. R

   We made a quick stop in an old “Trading Post” where I found a blue Pyrex bowl to go with the giant yellow one, found also on this trip.  They will complete the  partial set Richard had in his cupboard when we were married.  I am sure most of your mothers kitchens had the set. 

I must add that we have seen lots of birds too.  Various ducks, a pair of loons, magpies and many mountain bluebirds.  J.

Yellowstone National Park 2013

Our trip in the motor home to Yellowstone National Park.
Sunday August 25 2013 
We got up about 6:30, had breakfast and finished putting last minute stuff in Goldie.  Locked up the house and went to the town house where the motor home is parked.  We got going about 9:30 heading South of  101 on to I-5.  We took 512 through Puyallup onto 167, then  I-405 and finally onto I-90.  Stopped for the night at Suncrest RV park near Moses Lake., spot 79.  We had a nice dinner, leftovers from home.  After dinner went for a walk around the park.  Spent an enjoyable evening with tea and cookies and XM satellite radio.  R

      Finally we are back in the RV and rolling.  We are headed to Yellowstone via Spokane and Kalispell to touch base with some dear friends.   Ready to try this again.   We plan to move more slowly, so as not to put too much pressure on the driver.  It is great to be on the road again.  J

Monday August 26
Had great thunderstorm last night.  Lots of lightening and thunder.  Power went out for a few hours.  We left Moses Lake and headed East on I-90 to exit 272 where we went to Ponderosa Falls RV park.   Nice park in the trees where we took space R-2.  Judy went into Spokane to visit with several of her high school class mates.  She had a great time. I waxed part of the motorhome and did a few other jobs.  When she got back we went for a drive to see Eastern WA University in  Cheney, then to Eastern WA Mental Hospital .  On the hospital grounds there must have been a hundred deer.  We  then drove to Freya street where Judy grew up. House is gone, lots of developments around.  We went out to dinner at a local pub.   Judy says, the dinner is like putting a dolip of cheese on flat bread, melting it and charging $10.00.  R

    It was so fun to see friends I have not seen for over 50 years.  No difficulty finding things to talk about… as I am sure you can guess.  The place we gathered was just a stones throw from the 10 acre farm where I grew up.  All developed ,(sadly) with the usual strip mall stuff.  Nostalgia sometimes gets in my way.  Lots of familiar territory.  The sky was a beautiful blue, just like the old days.  The trip to Cheney was to be sure we can find Richard’s grand daughter on the way back.  The campus was just lovely… awaiting all of those eager students… The roads are now cut thru, so it is a snap to go from the old farm to the Cheney campus by going up Hangman creek road.  J

Tuesday August 27
Had a leisurely morning then headed out East bound on I-90.  In Cour d’Alene we headed North on US 95 passing through Sand Point.  About 23 miles North we spend the night at Blue Lake RV resort space A-9.  Since we arrived early we drove into Bonner’s Ferry about 6 miles away.  Went to the visitor’s center then headed out to a local wildlife refuge. Mostly Canadian geese and a few deer.  The ponds were  mostly dry.  In town we went to an antique store and looked around.  We headed back home and had a very good steak for dinner.

      What beautiful country… disappointed in the many miles of junk strip malls ..they call it Sandpoint.  I remember the little town fondly… The area where my family visited after picking the generous amounts of  huckleberries nature gave.  This was before someone decided to take them commercial.  !   The perfect dinner was just right.  J

Wednesday August 28
Left The Blue Lake RV park and continued East on US-2.  Just past Libby, MT was road construction where we had to wait 15 minutes for a pilot car.  We went through one area they had just watered and formed two inches of mud which got the motor home and car messy.  We got into Kalispell in the afternoon and drove to the Glacier Pines RV park taking space 19.  After setting up we headed off to Matt and Linda’s for dinner.  Matt went to a guitar concert and missed a good dinner.   Chit chatted until late in the evening.  R



Thursday August 29
After breakfast we  went to Bethlehem Lutheran Church to listen and watch Linda practice on the organ.   What a great concert.  We then when to Matt and Linda’s to help cook for Matt’s birthday dinner.   Went home to change and get Matt’s BD present.  Had a very nice dinner, also invited were some of Judy’s old friends Mike and Diane.  Great evening.  Went home to bed.  R

    Richard did not mention that we took in a walk through  at the Nursing home where I was the DON or the Director of Nursing for many years… Linda was there as the chief  Social worker, then Administrator.  So.. It was overwhelming to see the changes… and to have the folks who worked for the nursing department thank me for trusting them to do the job they have done for 25 to 27 years.  They  were so sweet, I left in tears of gratitude for all of the years I slogged through the tough days and decisions I had to make.  I  know the folks have received the best care possible.  I left the position in 1987 to seek my fortune in Seattle.  J

Friday August 30
Judy and I drove to Matt and Linda’s and pick them up and head up to Glacier National Park.  We dropped Judy and Linda at the old Lake McDonald’s  Lodge while Matt and I headed up to the Avalanche trail. The weather was nice on our two and a quarter mile hike from the car.  Lots of people on the trail.  We made it to the lake and enjoyed the view.  Still some remnants of the glacier that made the lake.  After hiking out we met the ladies at the lodge and had something to eat. Linda played the piano in the lobby. Way cool.  We then headed to the Lutheran Camp on Flathead Lake after making a brief stop the Matt and Linda’s to let the dog out.  There was a dinner at the camp for a couple that was getting married..  Judy knew them and some of the people there.  After dinner we make a quick trip to some friends house close by,  Gary and Carol.  We talked with them a while and headed home for a good night’s sleep.

     WOW, what a string of great partying.   We are richer for the lovely friendships… past and present.  J

Saturday August 31
Slept in after all the partying.  Left Kalispell and headed South on US-93 to I-90.   We went through Missoula  and continued to Butte where we spent the night.  We took a site in the third row space 7 at the 2 Bar Lazy H RV Park.  R

   Now for the journey to Yellowstone Park.  J

Sunday September 1
We left Butte and continued East on I-90 to exit 256 where we headed South to hwy 287.  We passed by the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and we both reminisced about our previous visits.  We stopped for lunch along the Madison River watching fishermen floating down the river.  First sightings of antelope today. We arrived in West Yellowstone and headed for Glacier RV park taking space 28.  After setting up we drove to the Yellowstone park visitor’s center and got as much information about the park as we could get..  Had a nice dinner, went for a short walk.  Still in the low 70’s at 8 pm.

Monday September 2
We drove into the park today.  Saw a bald eagle in a tree,  some buffalo , and a few elk.  Drove Firehole Canyon road and saw some neat scenery.   Started raining and rained most of the day. We stopped at the Midway Geyser Basin and saw a geyser erupt that hardly ever erupts.  There was a lot of screaming from the “Geeser Geyser Group” some of  whom had waited hours for a different geyser to erupt.  We then went to lunch in the Old Faithful area.  After that, we went into the Old Yellowstone Lodge which was spectacular.  Then  Judy went to the visitors center while I did the upper geyser basin.  Judy saw Old Faithful blow while I was down at the Morning Glory pool. On the way back into town we drove the Firehole Basin road with some nice pools and geysers.  Fun day.

     I must say, this is a one and only place.  Where else will you see A Buffalo leisurely amble down the highway.  Clearly he is larger in mass than most cars.  Do not get out of the car.   J