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