The food was wonderful and the desserts were great. They served donut holes with carmel and/or chocolate sauce. Simple but so good. Cream puffs, and about 20 little small bite size treats were available to try. That is our meal for the day.
We are staying close to Denver tonight and will return the car by 11 o'clock. I expect we may sleep on the flight home.
What I have learned on this trip:
1. I not only tolerate long drives but enjoy them. You can see a lot of things in a short amount of time.
2. I love to take photographs.
3. I am not really good at taking photographs.
4. I have developed camera envy from seeing so many amateur photographers with fancy equipment.
5. I love the western states but am glad I do not live here.
6. Once again Bill has amazed me with his knowledge and his super eyesight. He sees things about a mile before I do. We got to see lots of animals because of this ability.
7. It is always wonderful to leave home and just as wonderful to return.
8. Family and friends are the most important things in life and your health.
Happy Trails to you, 'til we meet again.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Tuesday, Oct. 7,2014
We're heading for the last round-up....leaving tomorrow afternoon for home. The last two days couldn't have been better. Traveling through WY to Rocky Mountain National park was great. We saw all kinds of animals right by the roadside. A bald eagle was just sitting on a fence post surveying the open fields. Then we saw a golden eagle wondering if he wanted a road kill.
Antelope were everywhere in WY and then we didn't see any in Colorado. Wonder if they are banned? The sky was completely cloud free and very blue. You can see why WY is big sky country. Not too far into Colorado we saw mountains. We were also looking for a drug store in several small towns but there were none. It amazes me that people can enjoy living so far from my necessities. None of the homes we saw were big or even attractive. I think all the money goes into cattle and maintaining the ranches.
As we entered the park we knew we would be going up. The vistas had changed to mountains and the car was climbing up and around and down. We encountered snow on the sides of the road when we were at 6,000 feet and it just increased in volume as we climbed and so did the wind. It was so pretty. We took way too many pictures but so what. The peak was at 12, 714 ft. and I developed sinus problems at that height. Never had that happen before. The peak was crowded with cars. Not many RV's on this road. Just beautiful. We had a late lunch in the town of Estes Park and then I did some window shopping while Bill enjoyed samplings of beer. Our motel was on the way out of town so we were set for an early morning escape.
This morning we returned to the Park for Elk watching and photographing. We were in the park by 7 and there were already lots of cars traveling to the best spots. All we had to do was lower or windows and you could hear the males bugling. We saw a male with about 8 females in his harem and another male with 7 or 8 females. If you just stood outside the car or sat in the car and didn't make any noise, they wouldn't even act like you were there. One elk came very close to me and then just walked into the road, blocking traffic for a short time. There was no indication that people were anywhere near him. Exciting to be so close.
We left the park and headed south to Rollinsville, a town where John Applegate used to have a cabin.
Bill found the property but three building have been built on the property. About a mile from that spot were the public restrooms for the town. A large sign was pointing to a port-a-john. We went to the next town for a break. As we were lower in elevation, some Aspen trees still had leaves. Against the green pines and snowy peaks, they are pretty.
Bill found his way to Black Hawk, a town devoted to gambling. We stopped for brunch and some gambling. Both endeavors were wonderful. The food was probably number one for buffetts. They served smoked beef brisket, crab claws, shrimp, chicken, one of the best Cesar salads I ever had, fish,
Antelope were everywhere in WY and then we didn't see any in Colorado. Wonder if they are banned? The sky was completely cloud free and very blue. You can see why WY is big sky country. Not too far into Colorado we saw mountains. We were also looking for a drug store in several small towns but there were none. It amazes me that people can enjoy living so far from my necessities. None of the homes we saw were big or even attractive. I think all the money goes into cattle and maintaining the ranches.
As we entered the park we knew we would be going up. The vistas had changed to mountains and the car was climbing up and around and down. We encountered snow on the sides of the road when we were at 6,000 feet and it just increased in volume as we climbed and so did the wind. It was so pretty. We took way too many pictures but so what. The peak was at 12, 714 ft. and I developed sinus problems at that height. Never had that happen before. The peak was crowded with cars. Not many RV's on this road. Just beautiful. We had a late lunch in the town of Estes Park and then I did some window shopping while Bill enjoyed samplings of beer. Our motel was on the way out of town so we were set for an early morning escape.
This morning we returned to the Park for Elk watching and photographing. We were in the park by 7 and there were already lots of cars traveling to the best spots. All we had to do was lower or windows and you could hear the males bugling. We saw a male with about 8 females in his harem and another male with 7 or 8 females. If you just stood outside the car or sat in the car and didn't make any noise, they wouldn't even act like you were there. One elk came very close to me and then just walked into the road, blocking traffic for a short time. There was no indication that people were anywhere near him. Exciting to be so close.
We left the park and headed south to Rollinsville, a town where John Applegate used to have a cabin.
Bill found the property but three building have been built on the property. About a mile from that spot were the public restrooms for the town. A large sign was pointing to a port-a-john. We went to the next town for a break. As we were lower in elevation, some Aspen trees still had leaves. Against the green pines and snowy peaks, they are pretty.
Bill found his way to Black Hawk, a town devoted to gambling. We stopped for brunch and some gambling. Both endeavors were wonderful. The food was probably number one for buffetts. They served smoked beef brisket, crab claws, shrimp, chicken, one of the best Cesar salads I ever had, fish,
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Sunday morning, October 4, 2014
Bears, and Elk and Buffalo Oh MY! We drove north into Yellowstone yesterday and were greeted by wild animals of all kinds. A huge male Elk bid us farewell as we left Jackson. He was majestic. When we arrived in Yellowstone we saw deer on the road and they do not seem to be afraid of cars. This portion of Yellowstone, entering the south exit, is primarily trees. The growth of new trees from previous fires absolutely amazed us. No human would ever plant the trees this close. Bill, Rob and I were here in 1988 during the huge fire that destroyed much of this portion of the forest. I guess the Fire Service has it right now, let it burn and it will come back. It was about 27 degrees this morning and the short road to Old Faithful was closed for the season. Too much snow on the pass. We had to go 80 miles around the park to reach Old Faithful. Along the route we saw Buffalo but mostly singles. No herds were evident on our route. I needed to photograph every single one. It is weird to see them walking the road or grazing by the side of the road. They are huge.
We drove to the canyon area called Artist's point to view the waterfall. The sun was shining by then and it was worth the walk. We saw about 4 buses pulling in as we left. Timing was perfect yesterday. Because it was Saturday, we saw lots of families with their children. The kids just love the geysers and want to run into them--bad idea. Driving down to Firehole Lake, we discovered that it was just geyser after geyser. It appeared to be all steam with the smell of sulphur. We have to accept that there is a Lake somewhere in the mix.
On our way to Bozeman through the west exit of the park, we drove on what we considered the deadliest road in America. Out here every fatality on a highway is marked with a white cross. This road goes through a tall canyon and at every curve you could see 2 to 5 crosses. Signs proclaim that they want to make the road safer but until then, we drove with extreme caution. Big horned sheep inhabit this area and we came across about 5 of them in the road. They scampered up the gravel hill without even stopping.
Dinner with friends was fun. The building was a converted hotel and had several restaurants and a chocolate shop and bar. Bill had his first bison and had chicken. No beef today. Heading south to Rawlings, WY. It will be a long day but pretty.
We drove to the canyon area called Artist's point to view the waterfall. The sun was shining by then and it was worth the walk. We saw about 4 buses pulling in as we left. Timing was perfect yesterday. Because it was Saturday, we saw lots of families with their children. The kids just love the geysers and want to run into them--bad idea. Driving down to Firehole Lake, we discovered that it was just geyser after geyser. It appeared to be all steam with the smell of sulphur. We have to accept that there is a Lake somewhere in the mix.
On our way to Bozeman through the west exit of the park, we drove on what we considered the deadliest road in America. Out here every fatality on a highway is marked with a white cross. This road goes through a tall canyon and at every curve you could see 2 to 5 crosses. Signs proclaim that they want to make the road safer but until then, we drove with extreme caution. Big horned sheep inhabit this area and we came across about 5 of them in the road. They scampered up the gravel hill without even stopping.
Dinner with friends was fun. The building was a converted hotel and had several restaurants and a chocolate shop and bar. Bill had his first bison and had chicken. No beef today. Heading south to Rawlings, WY. It will be a long day but pretty.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Friday, October 2
Two wonderful days of vistas. We traveled from Vernal, UT to Jackson, WY on Thursday. It was ridiculous the number of times we stopped to take photos in the first hour. The scenery was a compression of all that is western. It started with mountains, rocks and prairie lands. I was waiting for the Calvary to come galloping around the corner. In one section on the highway, where we couldn't stop because the road was too narrow, we saw a flock of sheep, perhaps 300 in number. Then we looked to the north and sitting on a small plateau was the herdsman sitting on a pinto horse. He was wearing chaps and a large cowboy hat. I thought we were traveling through a movie set. We arrived in town about noon, early enough to go window shopping. Jackson is filled with small stores. However, the goods are on the high end. Decorator stores and galleries dominate. Next to our motel is a deli so we ate in our room for a change.
Today was a highlight day for me. We were up before dawn to see the sunrise on the Tetons. Then by 8 p.m. we were watching the horses being driven into the corral at the dude ranch. Traveling though the Teton Park was filled with snow covered mountain peaks. The snow resembles powdered sugar when you get closer. The Tetons are fairly young mountains and they seemed to just grown out of the plains. We viewed the peaks from every angle and all were great. When we went to Jenny Lake, the lake was surrounded by trees and then you would get a glimpse of mountains and the lake.Very pretty. One trail looked well paved until you got about 5 miles into it. Syracuse would be proud of the ruts we discovered. They had a sign that said rough road but that hardly described the experience. One excellent sight on the road was a moose feeding in a pond. I really like seeing moose. We saw another 2 before the day was over. We had lunch at a ski resort and enjoyed that very much. Dinner at the Gun Barrel was a great ending to a terrific day. Tomorrow we head to Yellowstone in the morning and finish up in Bozeman MT having dinner with a former SU colleague.
Today was a highlight day for me. We were up before dawn to see the sunrise on the Tetons. Then by 8 p.m. we were watching the horses being driven into the corral at the dude ranch. Traveling though the Teton Park was filled with snow covered mountain peaks. The snow resembles powdered sugar when you get closer. The Tetons are fairly young mountains and they seemed to just grown out of the plains. We viewed the peaks from every angle and all were great. When we went to Jenny Lake, the lake was surrounded by trees and then you would get a glimpse of mountains and the lake.Very pretty. One trail looked well paved until you got about 5 miles into it. Syracuse would be proud of the ruts we discovered. They had a sign that said rough road but that hardly described the experience. One excellent sight on the road was a moose feeding in a pond. I really like seeing moose. We saw another 2 before the day was over. We had lunch at a ski resort and enjoyed that very much. Dinner at the Gun Barrel was a great ending to a terrific day. Tomorrow we head to Yellowstone in the morning and finish up in Bozeman MT having dinner with a former SU colleague.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Wednesday, October 1,2014
We are having such a good time seeing the sights. We traveled through the little painted dessert, the petrified forest and the painted dessert on our way to Aztec New Mexico where Bill's cousin Lynn Gilkey lives. The petrified forest was very interesting with marvelous colors on the wood which have turned to stone. It is strange to see where the wood has fallen. Not anything like a forest, more like someone riding around in a truck and dropping them anywhere they wished. This area turned into the Painted dessert and was so wonderful with various colors of dirt and stone. One can easily see where the Native Americans got their decorative ideas--straight from nature.
We arrived in Aztec just in time for cocktails and a home-made dinner. The dinner was so good, especially after eating out for so many days. On Tuesday we traveled up to the mountains north of Aztec to visit the cabin of the Gilkey's daughter Karen and her husband. It was a magazine worthy cabin, wood exterior and interior, open concept big room and kitchen, two lofts upstairs. Bill was ready to spend the day. The lot contained a pond filled with fish and a roaring river with spawning salmon. Picturesque.
Our lunch stop was in Durango, Co. That town has some beautiful old homes that are situated about 3 blocks away from the Main Street. The town has really grown since our last visit. Almost too big for me.
Karen also had us visit her home in town and it was similar to being in a museum. Wonderful authentic artifacts and furnishings in the southwest style. It is another candidate for a magazine spread.
Had another great dinner with Lynn and Shirley and some great memories were exchanged.
This morning we left early to go through the pass at Durango to Ouray Co. Still my favorite drive. Saw the Durango Silverton train leave town just as we started up the pass. It was crowed with every car full--including the open-air car. The Aspens are just changing color and it is awesome to see the trees against the mountains, covered in snow, and clouds. Much to my horror we needed to add snow to the view. It was dicey for me when we encountered snow covered roads but really beautiful. Took tons of photos today.
We are in Vernal, UT tonight and will go to Jackson Hole Wy. for the next 2 days. Another of my favorite places.
We arrived in Aztec just in time for cocktails and a home-made dinner. The dinner was so good, especially after eating out for so many days. On Tuesday we traveled up to the mountains north of Aztec to visit the cabin of the Gilkey's daughter Karen and her husband. It was a magazine worthy cabin, wood exterior and interior, open concept big room and kitchen, two lofts upstairs. Bill was ready to spend the day. The lot contained a pond filled with fish and a roaring river with spawning salmon. Picturesque.
Our lunch stop was in Durango, Co. That town has some beautiful old homes that are situated about 3 blocks away from the Main Street. The town has really grown since our last visit. Almost too big for me.
Karen also had us visit her home in town and it was similar to being in a museum. Wonderful authentic artifacts and furnishings in the southwest style. It is another candidate for a magazine spread.
Had another great dinner with Lynn and Shirley and some great memories were exchanged.
This morning we left early to go through the pass at Durango to Ouray Co. Still my favorite drive. Saw the Durango Silverton train leave town just as we started up the pass. It was crowed with every car full--including the open-air car. The Aspens are just changing color and it is awesome to see the trees against the mountains, covered in snow, and clouds. Much to my horror we needed to add snow to the view. It was dicey for me when we encountered snow covered roads but really beautiful. Took tons of photos today.
We are in Vernal, UT tonight and will go to Jackson Hole Wy. for the next 2 days. Another of my favorite places.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Sunday
Bill got to see Lake Havasu City today. He has talked about it as a possible winter escape. It sits on the Columbia River and Lake Havasu and is a year-round resort area. The city is larger than we thought, it sports all the stores you would expect to find in civilization USA. The downtown area has the London Bridge that you may have heard of --maybe 5 years ago--that was shipped over here from London. Boating, fishing, hiking, jeeping, golfing and having sunshine are the main highlights. The town looks very new and most homes are the same--single dwellings, all light stucco and built rather close together. We only saw about 3 resorts that were 2 to 3 stories high.
We headed east this afternoon and took Route 66 for several hours. Some of the towns along the route have really made the old buildings look like they may have looked in the 50's and 60's. Tourists were out today in those towns. Most restaurants served food outside. Motel signs advertised Roomy Rooms or private baths. We only stopped in just 2 stores. I didn't remember that James Dean was an icon for this road. Cardboard cut-outs were of Dean and Elvis were everywhere. Even some near the entrance to the bathrooms.
Saw some great sandals by minneonka trimmed in Native American motifs. Looked similar to a bracelet design. Too expensive for a vacation whim.
It was another beautiful day. Trains were our constant companion on the tracks next to Route 66. Sometimes an East bound train would pass a West bound train. Certainly keeps trucks to a minimum.
Tomorrow we travel to New Mexico to visit Bill's cousin, Lynn Gilkey, who used to live in Cazenovia.
We headed east this afternoon and took Route 66 for several hours. Some of the towns along the route have really made the old buildings look like they may have looked in the 50's and 60's. Tourists were out today in those towns. Most restaurants served food outside. Motel signs advertised Roomy Rooms or private baths. We only stopped in just 2 stores. I didn't remember that James Dean was an icon for this road. Cardboard cut-outs were of Dean and Elvis were everywhere. Even some near the entrance to the bathrooms.
Saw some great sandals by minneonka trimmed in Native American motifs. Looked similar to a bracelet design. Too expensive for a vacation whim.
It was another beautiful day. Trains were our constant companion on the tracks next to Route 66. Sometimes an East bound train would pass a West bound train. Certainly keeps trucks to a minimum.
Tomorrow we travel to New Mexico to visit Bill's cousin, Lynn Gilkey, who used to live in Cazenovia.
Saturday
Water, water, cool clear water! Death Valley dries you right out. We left for Death Valley before the sun came up. It is very barren but with mountains, valleys and dips. The dips almost made you sick to your stomach--they were frequent and steep. The registration area was almost 30 miles into the valley. There was an aquifer underground, so there were some trees and green. The place we enjoyed most was the Artist's loop. Very narrow roads, one way travel, some areas with huge dips were just wide enough for one car. Trucks and long vans were not allowed into the Park. They called the area Artist's Way because the roads had some color instead of looking like dark volcanic rocks.
We discovered that bikers seem to love the valley. One biker had camped in the middle of no where and was packing up his tent as we drove by. I just do not understand the purpose of testing yourself in that harsh environment.
The Golden Canyon was another interesting place with narrow walkways between cliffs. It was a little unsettling to see all the rocks that had fallen on the path. I didn't venture too far.
After lots of driving we got back to a main road. We did see sand dunes and valley floors but mostly Death Valley is similar to other drives out west. Rocky Mountains of various sizes, scrubby growth, no growth--looked like gravel had been dumped on the ground in a lot of places--and roads to drive on that let you experience all of the variety. The temperature high for the day was only 90 degrees. It is usually 100 or more this time of year. It really wasn't too bad but you had to drink all the time. Very drying.
We arrived in Loughlin in time for dinner. The Saturday night special, for $18.00, was all the crab legs you could eat and prime rib. And of course all the other stuff you get on a buffet. Delicious.
We discovered that bikers seem to love the valley. One biker had camped in the middle of no where and was packing up his tent as we drove by. I just do not understand the purpose of testing yourself in that harsh environment.
The Golden Canyon was another interesting place with narrow walkways between cliffs. It was a little unsettling to see all the rocks that had fallen on the path. I didn't venture too far.
After lots of driving we got back to a main road. We did see sand dunes and valley floors but mostly Death Valley is similar to other drives out west. Rocky Mountains of various sizes, scrubby growth, no growth--looked like gravel had been dumped on the ground in a lot of places--and roads to drive on that let you experience all of the variety. The temperature high for the day was only 90 degrees. It is usually 100 or more this time of year. It really wasn't too bad but you had to drink all the time. Very drying.
We arrived in Loughlin in time for dinner. The Saturday night special, for $18.00, was all the crab legs you could eat and prime rib. And of course all the other stuff you get on a buffet. Delicious.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday
Today we drove south and then east from Bakersfield. Very, very dry. Hundreds of orchards, grapes and oranges growing everywhere but very little irrigation happening. We're wondering how the trees and vines survive. Now we are in Ridgecrest, CA. It feels like an oasis town. Lots of hotels, shops and restaurants. All day long we're seen barren land as we traveled east. Went through an area called Red Rock Canyon. It was accurate--there was a red rock by the side of the road. Tomorrow we head to Death Valley.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Yesterday was a long day but very much a wow day. The guided tour was worth every penny. Yosemite is very large, more than 700,000 acres, we saw 2 percent yesterday. All of the highlights of El Captain and Half Dome were on our route. We saw both from various areas and angels. The bus drops you in the best spots and you can go on your own from 15 mins. to 1 and a half hours. The hikes were too extreme for Bill and I, especially the early morning hike. It was only 1 mile but left me breathless after the 3rd turn. I'm hoping it was the elevation that was against me.
Glazier Point was the drop-off for lunch and short hikes. The wind was blowing so hard it was difficult to keep a hat on your head. The views were spectacular no matter where you looked. We took many, many photos. Bill used the ipad all day so once again I will try to post here. If it doesn't work look on my facebook page for photos.
Meet some interesting people on the bus. Grace, a passenger, had a new lens on her camera that allowed her to photograph climbers on El Captain. I want one. In one shoot you could see the climber take a step. You could see dark spots with the naked eye but would have no idea what it was suppose to be.
2 couples were from Lancaster PA, 1 couple from Las Vegas, a family from San Francisco, and young adults from Northern California were also on the bus with other retirees. The young folks never got back to the bus on time.
Our guide drove the bus, led some hikes and had very passionate opinions about nature and every other topic that was mentioned during the day. It made the day interesting with conversation. John Muir was her hero.
We got back to our hotel around 6:30 p.m. and headed to a brewery for dinner. Very good food and drink.
Glazier Point was the drop-off for lunch and short hikes. The wind was blowing so hard it was difficult to keep a hat on your head. The views were spectacular no matter where you looked. We took many, many photos. Bill used the ipad all day so once again I will try to post here. If it doesn't work look on my facebook page for photos.
Meet some interesting people on the bus. Grace, a passenger, had a new lens on her camera that allowed her to photograph climbers on El Captain. I want one. In one shoot you could see the climber take a step. You could see dark spots with the naked eye but would have no idea what it was suppose to be.
2 couples were from Lancaster PA, 1 couple from Las Vegas, a family from San Francisco, and young adults from Northern California were also on the bus with other retirees. The young folks never got back to the bus on time.
Our guide drove the bus, led some hikes and had very passionate opinions about nature and every other topic that was mentioned during the day. It made the day interesting with conversation. John Muir was her hero.
We got back to our hotel around 6:30 p.m. and headed to a brewery for dinner. Very good food and drink.
Wednesday, September 24,204
We enjoyed a long day of travel going from Reno to Oakhurst, CA. This morning Reno was still surrounded by clouds of smoke from the King fire in CA. We were advised to stay on the East side of the Sierra's to get to Oakhurst. This change in plan had us going up and down mountain passes all day. We have never been to Lake Tahoe so that was our first stop. What a disappointment. The town has very limited access to the lake. Almost every street we went down had gates or posted signs. There was one main entrance but was so overcrowded they were turning cars away. It reminded us of the Olympics in Lake Placid. The streets were filled with tourists and the town had miles of little boutiques and outdoor gear shops. We thought it was going to be a pristine lake with easy access. So much for the off season in Lake Tahoe.
We continued south, and up and down and all around, mountain passes. Very pretty but enough already. The weather was perfect. About 80 degrees with a rather strong wind. Because we changed travel routes, we traveled through Yosemite to get to our hotel, The route was 120 and took us 4 hours to arrive in Oakhurst. You have to leave the road to see anything. Mostly trees along the route we took--a few rock formation. We ate at a very good steakhouse. Can you hear us mooing now?
Tomorrow we have a guided tour through Yosemite. The bus picks us up at 8 a.m. Looking forward to seeing the sights.
We continued south, and up and down and all around, mountain passes. Very pretty but enough already. The weather was perfect. About 80 degrees with a rather strong wind. Because we changed travel routes, we traveled through Yosemite to get to our hotel, The route was 120 and took us 4 hours to arrive in Oakhurst. You have to leave the road to see anything. Mostly trees along the route we took--a few rock formation. We ate at a very good steakhouse. Can you hear us mooing now?
Tomorrow we have a guided tour through Yosemite. The bus picks us up at 8 a.m. Looking forward to seeing the sights.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Tuesday, September 23,2014
Kalmath Falls, OR was our home last night at a Microtel. The hotel was very nice, we had never stayed in one before. We were so sick of restaurant meals that we went to a huge grocery store called Fred Meyer and purchased sandwich fixings and fresh fruit. They labeled their avocados large, and they were about as big as a butternut squash. I didn't buy one.
In the afternoon, we drove around the rim of Crater Lake. You drive up to 7,000 feet to get to the lake which is the deepest in the USA. The lake is located inside a volcano that erupted hundreds of years ago. All photographs of the lake look very blue but the day was overcast so we didn't see the reflection of the sky in the lake. The lake is only 60 miles across so no matter which overlook you used to view the lake, you could see the entire lake. It is beautiful. We drove around the lake on the West side so we were on the edge. There were drop offs of 4,000 to 5,000 feet in some sections. Scary. A lot of people were planning on camping in the camp grounds and signage warned campers that bears were in the campgrounds and they should follow all precautions listed in the camp office. We drove away without even considering camping.
This morning we headed south into Neveda. We had a short drive today, about 4 hours, and the terrain was mostly semi-desert. Irrigation is not very popular in this area. Mostly ranches raising cattle. As we neared Reno in the afternoon, we smelled smoke and saw smoke but no flames. The wind blows the smoke way beyond the fire area. Even listening to the news, it is hard to determine where the fires are burning. The hotel staff told us that you couldn't see Lake Tahoe this afternoon because of the smoke. We are planning on traveling around the lake tomorrow on our way to Oakhurst, CA. In Oakhurst we will join a one-day tour of Yosemite on Thursday.
We spent this evening gambling after we had a light dinner. Nothing positive happened. The casino has a Gilleys but they were not open this evening. I did want to see Bill ride the mechanical bull but that will have to wait for another time.
We are looking forward to continueing our trip.
In the afternoon, we drove around the rim of Crater Lake. You drive up to 7,000 feet to get to the lake which is the deepest in the USA. The lake is located inside a volcano that erupted hundreds of years ago. All photographs of the lake look very blue but the day was overcast so we didn't see the reflection of the sky in the lake. The lake is only 60 miles across so no matter which overlook you used to view the lake, you could see the entire lake. It is beautiful. We drove around the lake on the West side so we were on the edge. There were drop offs of 4,000 to 5,000 feet in some sections. Scary. A lot of people were planning on camping in the camp grounds and signage warned campers that bears were in the campgrounds and they should follow all precautions listed in the camp office. We drove away without even considering camping.
This morning we headed south into Neveda. We had a short drive today, about 4 hours, and the terrain was mostly semi-desert. Irrigation is not very popular in this area. Mostly ranches raising cattle. As we neared Reno in the afternoon, we smelled smoke and saw smoke but no flames. The wind blows the smoke way beyond the fire area. Even listening to the news, it is hard to determine where the fires are burning. The hotel staff told us that you couldn't see Lake Tahoe this afternoon because of the smoke. We are planning on traveling around the lake tomorrow on our way to Oakhurst, CA. In Oakhurst we will join a one-day tour of Yosemite on Thursday.
We spent this evening gambling after we had a light dinner. Nothing positive happened. The casino has a Gilleys but they were not open this evening. I did want to see Bill ride the mechanical bull but that will have to wait for another time.
We are looking forward to continueing our trip.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Day 3
Our travels continue to follow our planned activities. Today was just devoted to driving northward to Kalispell, MT about 100 miles south of the Canadian border. It was rather cloudy all morning but we saw some sun this afternoon. The mountains, cattle and rocks dominated the scenery until we reached Flathead Lake. It is a popular resort area and the lake is the largest in Montana. Our route took us around two sides of the lake. Hundreds of boats, shops and restaurants dotted the landscape. The surprising thing was that most of the shops related to fishing, outdoor gear and of course guns and ammunition. More the type of shops I consider inviting to men rather than women. I couldn't find anything to purchase today but food. We stopped at one gas station that had a small department store inside. The number of boots and hats was in the hundreds. Sorry Sarah, but the fancy belts were way to expensive to even consider.
This is still a popular time for travel and Kalispell is a popular spot for fishing, hunting and for seniors. The restaurant we ate at tonight had several tables of all males bonding over dinner. Montana Club was the name of the restaurant and BEEF is big. I ordered a prime rib sandwich for a lighter meal but it was a huge piece of meat dwarfing the roll x3. Bill liked his steak and Buffalo Droll, his new favorite beer.
We are staying at a Travelodge Hotel. I do not want to say it is a bad part of town but the bank next door to the hotel does not dispense cash from the ATM for their customers safety. One may deposit money but not get any out. This hotel and all others in town are full. That makes me feel safer. There are small casinos, about 10 machines per casino, all over town so that may explain the ATM situation but who knows. Tomorrow we go north ending our day in Banff. Looking forward to the trip.
Once again, I will try to upload pictures. Look on my Facebook page to see ones I upload without any problem.
This is still a popular time for travel and Kalispell is a popular spot for fishing, hunting and for seniors. The restaurant we ate at tonight had several tables of all males bonding over dinner. Montana Club was the name of the restaurant and BEEF is big. I ordered a prime rib sandwich for a lighter meal but it was a huge piece of meat dwarfing the roll x3. Bill liked his steak and Buffalo Droll, his new favorite beer.
We are staying at a Travelodge Hotel. I do not want to say it is a bad part of town but the bank next door to the hotel does not dispense cash from the ATM for their customers safety. One may deposit money but not get any out. This hotel and all others in town are full. That makes me feel safer. There are small casinos, about 10 machines per casino, all over town so that may explain the ATM situation but who knows. Tomorrow we go north ending our day in Banff. Looking forward to the trip.
Once again, I will try to upload pictures. Look on my Facebook page to see ones I upload without any problem.
Back in the USA
We have seen so many beautiful mountains, valleys, orchards, and rivers to last a life time. Yesterday we had the chance to stop at the Carrolls in Ellensburg, WA. Paul was a student of Bill's but has lived out here for almost 20 years. He has a wonderful family, 6 children, and a perfect wife who does just about anything. By that I mean cook, clean, decorate, home school their children, sew, paper crafts, and teach others her skills. They also have lots of animals--goats, cows, cats, dog and what ever comes into their yard because it is open range country. We had dinner with them and the meal's main item was half a cow. Never saw such a large piece of meat in a private home.
Heading south into Oregon today. If this posts, I will write more tonight.
Heading south into Oregon today. If this posts, I will write more tonight.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Day 2
We started our day very early--eating our breakfast in Sheridan at 6 a.m. We finished just as the sun came up. It was a great day for our planned activity of driving over the Beartooth highway. Every word meaning magnificent, spectacular, breathtaking, awe-inspiring would be appropriate to describe the mountain pass and the scenery. The summit topped off at 10,300 + feet. The shading on the snow, the trees, the grass, and the mountains from the sun seemed to change the scene every turn. Very sharp switchbacks got even sharper and more frequent as we climbed to the top. I was worried about our descent but we were coming down into Yellowstone National Park so we only needed to go to 7,000 feet.
The day was warm and sunny until the late day shower that happens almost every day around 4 p.m. and lasts about 10 minutes. We saw buffalo and elk today. The Elk are mean because they are rutting. Huge signs warn visitors to stay out of the way. Someone said that the males were attacking
cars on Monday night trying to get to a female. Not today we are happy to report.
We entered our first casino today in a small town near the entrance to the Beartooth highway. We were actually searching for restrooms but found nothing until Bridger, population 260. Previous towns with populations of 16, 95 and 130 did not have any public facilities or much else for that matter. By playing a machine, we got a free beverage. The bathrooms were very quaint. Imagine my surprise to discover the ladies room door did not close but the toilet stall had a curtain that could be pulled for privacy. Since we travelled almost 100 miles searching for a bathroom, it worked just fine. When in the West do as the cowgirls do.
We had a great steak dinner at the Montana Rib and Chop House.
Hopefully, photos will upload and you can see some of what we did today.
The day was warm and sunny until the late day shower that happens almost every day around 4 p.m. and lasts about 10 minutes. We saw buffalo and elk today. The Elk are mean because they are rutting. Huge signs warn visitors to stay out of the way. Someone said that the males were attacking
cars on Monday night trying to get to a female. Not today we are happy to report.
We entered our first casino today in a small town near the entrance to the Beartooth highway. We were actually searching for restrooms but found nothing until Bridger, population 260. Previous towns with populations of 16, 95 and 130 did not have any public facilities or much else for that matter. By playing a machine, we got a free beverage. The bathrooms were very quaint. Imagine my surprise to discover the ladies room door did not close but the toilet stall had a curtain that could be pulled for privacy. Since we travelled almost 100 miles searching for a bathroom, it worked just fine. When in the West do as the cowgirls do.
We had a great steak dinner at the Montana Rib and Chop House.
Hopefully, photos will upload and you can see some of what we did today.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Day One
When Bill and I walked through the arch of detection at the Syracuse Airport, the TSA agent proclaimed us Perfect because we didn't sound any alarms. And that is exactly how the day turned out to be for us. Our flight to Minneapolis left and arrived on time. The walk from gate C 29 to gate G 1 was a 5K walk, which I swear went past the Mall of America, but when we finally arrived, the flight for Denver was already loading. We arrived in Denver to 80 degrees and sunny weather. Perfect.
Our car rental procedure was long but we finally got on the road and headed north. The drive offered the same view on both sides of the road. The prairie grasses are short in some areas yet almost cover some Angus Cattle in other sections. We saw antelope( hundreds), cattle, horses, buffalo and some sheep. The grasses range in color from blonde, blonder and blondest, broken up by rocks, valleys, and short green bushes. We even saw a tumbleweed. The best part of driving are the speed limits. 75 in Colorado and 80 in Wyoming. You just cannot go fast enough to try and find another type of
vista.
Our travels will take us to Yellowstone Park late tomorrow. More mountains tomorrow with more varied vistas.
I'm going to try and upload some pictures. Wish me luck.
Not going to happen today.
Our car rental procedure was long but we finally got on the road and headed north. The drive offered the same view on both sides of the road. The prairie grasses are short in some areas yet almost cover some Angus Cattle in other sections. We saw antelope( hundreds), cattle, horses, buffalo and some sheep. The grasses range in color from blonde, blonder and blondest, broken up by rocks, valleys, and short green bushes. We even saw a tumbleweed. The best part of driving are the speed limits. 75 in Colorado and 80 in Wyoming. You just cannot go fast enough to try and find another type of
vista.
Our travels will take us to Yellowstone Park late tomorrow. More mountains tomorrow with more varied vistas.
I'm going to try and upload some pictures. Wish me luck.
Not going to happen today.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
A freak snowstorm in the West has dumped up to 12 inches of the white stuff onto roads and towns in Montana, including Yellowstone Park, and parts of Colorado--including Denver. Thank goodness it was this week and not next week.
I have been notified by several friends that it is not possible to comment on this blog. I will try to correct that flaw before we leave. Look for a new address for bog if we are unable to correct the flaw.
A freak snowstorm in the West has dumped up to 12 inches of the white stuff onto roads and towns in Montana, including Yellowstone Park, and parts of Colorado--including Denver. Thank goodness it was this week and not next week.
I have been notified by several friends that it is not possible to comment on this blog. I will try to correct that flaw before we leave. Look for a new address for bog if we are unable to correct the flaw.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Three weeks traveling
Monday, September 8, 2014
Beginning next week, Bill and I will fly to Denver and then rent a car and make a huge circle exploring the West and parts of Canada. Our granddaughter Sarah, wrote in her last high school English paper the regrets that some people may have about not savoring the last time they may do something. She mentioned the last time you hold your baby on your hip or rock your baby to sleep as examples of last times that may go unnoticed at the time. Well, this may be the last time Bill and I take an extended trip out west, so I decided to write a blog to remember it in detail.
We have traveled to Yellowstone and the Rockies many times and absolutely love visiting these unique spots. It is always a spiritual experience. Bill loves to drive so we shall travel many hundreds of miles exploring some familiar and some new locations.
One bag and 1 carry-on will challenge my fortune telling skills in predicting what to pack but I'm up for the challenge. Starting the laundry and packing today.
We are fortunate to have house sitters so we can leave and return with no worries about our mail, lawn care or "surprises". Makes traveling much easier.
Beginning next week, Bill and I will fly to Denver and then rent a car and make a huge circle exploring the West and parts of Canada. Our granddaughter Sarah, wrote in her last high school English paper the regrets that some people may have about not savoring the last time they may do something. She mentioned the last time you hold your baby on your hip or rock your baby to sleep as examples of last times that may go unnoticed at the time. Well, this may be the last time Bill and I take an extended trip out west, so I decided to write a blog to remember it in detail.
We have traveled to Yellowstone and the Rockies many times and absolutely love visiting these unique spots. It is always a spiritual experience. Bill loves to drive so we shall travel many hundreds of miles exploring some familiar and some new locations.
One bag and 1 carry-on will challenge my fortune telling skills in predicting what to pack but I'm up for the challenge. Starting the laundry and packing today.
We are fortunate to have house sitters so we can leave and return with no worries about our mail, lawn care or "surprises". Makes traveling much easier.
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