Grizzles, Markets, and Brews

Tuesday 9/13/11

Sadly we left Yellowstone.  Much more still to see but we must move on.  Leaving the park on the west entrance we came by Grizzly and Wolf  Discovery Center.  Facinating info.  Now you can ask us the difference between a Grizzly and a Black Bear.  Great displays, videos, and the best was the real live bears, wolves and coyotes.  I could have snuck a picture of the bears or wolves in this blog and said we met them on a hike but I'll be honest and tell you they were taken at this center.  Don't miss it if you are ever in West Yellowstone. 

The drive to Bozeman, Montana was so beautiful.  The road just weaved along the Gallatin River and in through canyons.  Must be great fishing as we saw lots of fishers in waders.  In Bozeman, it happened to be Tues. Farmer's Market Day from 5-8 PM.  What a great market.  Bigger than we expected.  And on Saturdays there is an even bigger one.  Local Produce, Music, lots of food, jewelry, crafts, rock climbing.  Why cook when there is all this wonderful local food!  People were there with their dogs, kids played on the swing sets and Jeff talked to a local fellow while I went back through all the the stalls and of course had some sweets.  Next stop was at The Montana Ale Works (great bldg.) for a local brew where we met an interesting couple who live in Bozeman and love it.

Another busy and fun day.

By The Light of The Silvery Moon

Sunday 9/11/11

We entered Yellowstone through the South Gate.  Jeff being a senior now has the wonderful advantage of free entrance into the parks and campsites for ten dollars. If it’s not free it’s half price.  Not bad hanging around with an old man!  Already saved us over $75.00.

1^st stop- Lewis Falls.  Tetons still in view. Next stop was Kepler Cascades.  There was a great overview deck over a deep gorge with waterfalls.  Hard to look over the edge.  What will I do when I get to the glass walk over the Grand Canyon?  After a nice lunch in a quiet wooded picnic area, our next stop was none other than Old Faithful with only 10 minutes to showtime.  Amazing how many people view this every 92 minutes all day, every day from May thru Oct, every year.  We enjoyed a 2.5 mi. trek around the loop to view all the other geysers, each with their own name.  Morning Glory Geyser was definitely the most colorful.  Happen to be making a documentary film about the creation of the earth, which Jeff found interesting, since reminding him of his video production company.  On the way back Beehive Geyser gave us a spectacular performance along with a rainbow.  We both thought that geyser was better than Old Faithful.  By the way- we have been blessed with gorgeous weather again.  Sunny, warm, not hot, and a wonderful soft breeze.

When here you just have to see the Old Faithful Lodge.  What a structure. Note in the picture the flags at half mast for 9-11 ten year remembrance.  This Inn is an attraction in itself.  If your not camping, that’s the place to stay.  Actually we’re very content in our little camper.  We have had people come up to us and admire our truck and camper.  Who would have thought!

The day goes by so fast when there is so much to see.  At about 4:30 PM we arrived at  Madison to settle in for the night.  Or so we thought.  We pulled into Madison Campsite and no sites at the camp!!!  Where to go-three other campsites closed down for the winter.  Again, can’t imagine what it must be like in the summer. Actually we could “boondock” but it’s not allowed in Yellowstone Park.  I must have been convincing, because they did find us a campsite.  Schew!!! I put a beef and elk stew together while Jeff talked to the guy next to us with a 40 ft rig and 4 slideouts.   That’s not exactly camping.  He and his wife work at the camp in the summer and they get a free site off season.  Maybe that’s what Jeff and I could do!!??  At 8PM, in the outside amphitheater, was an interesting talk, with a huge screen slide show all about amphibians and reptiles in Yellowstone. Only one venomous snake in Yellowstone.  The rattlesnake.  Glad were in a camper and not a tent to find a snake cuddled in our sleeping bag.  

Around 9 PM we walked home By the Light of the Silvery Moon



Saturday 9/10/11

Colter Bay is another beautiful lake in The Tetons.  There are paths around the lake and canoes and kyaks  available.  The view of the Tetons across the lake was so beautiful.  God is awesome. What spectacular creation.  Colter Bay is a great recreation area and campsite.  The central area had a nice shop and market. They had a laudramat so we threw our clothes in and just a few hundred yards away was the lake where we relaxed while our laundry spun.  Pretty easy!

Colter Bay and Teton Mountains

Raven on Colter BAY

The campsites were clean and the layout was pretty private, each site with it’s own picnic table and fire ring. The RV next to us was the same make and almost the same model.  So Jeff had a chat with the owner from Arizona.  We grilled steaks on the fire and watched an incredible full moon rise between the tall pine trees. Then walked around  checking out all the RVs and tents.  What a variety.  

A relaxing day!

The Perfect Day

Friday 9/0911

Grand Tetons

Hike to Fall

Jenny Lake is a beautiful spot just outside of Jackson Hole in the Teton National Park.  We took a boat across the lake and then hiked up to Hidden Falls where the cold mountain water cascaded down the mountain, over rocks and cliffs and through the woods. The weather was perfect and the smell of pine trees made you lift your nose into the air.  We kept peeling off layers of clothes and by the time we got to Inspiration Point, 7200 ft. I had zipped off the bottoms of my pants and was in a tank top. Can’t imagine doing this in the summer with the heat and crowds of people and kids.  We stopped for lunch and looked down over the lake and valley.  What a way to have lunch- Pretty spectacular with The Grand Teton Peaks behind us and still some snow on them. 

 Back in Jackson Hole we enjoyed a Gallery Stroll.  The town has about 50 art galleries and most of them had something going on. Some of our favorite goodies included BBQ Buffalo sliders, sugared Elk bacon strips and venison carpacio.  After seeing some wonderful art, most of which would never go into a beach house, we went to the Silver Dollar Saloon, recommended by cousin Jimmy “Sea”.  We had the most awesome pheasant soup, met some interesting locals and danced to a great band.  What a great day!

Home Home On the Range

DeBois Wyoming Cowboy Pianist

Leaving Hermosa SD took us past prairies, reserviors, mtns, buttes but the best was The Big Horn Canyon.  Sorry no pictures.  It was just too awesome of a site to see.  Who had time to take pictures when it was one spectacular view after another around each bend.  I couldn't take my eyes off the views through the canyons.

We are finally getting to know what to do and not to do.  How to do,  when to do,where to go, when to go, how to go.  It's getting easier and easier and  more relaxing.  Plenty of people to talk to and very interesting people too.  So we are not alone out here. Every kind of RV you can image.  Our little RV is just right! Everything we need and oh is that bed comfy after a long day of traveling and site seeing.  Bacon and eggs in the morning and were "On the road Again" !



Wind River & Canyon



On through Ten Sleep and Thermopolis where the Hot Sulfur Springs are and from there we followed the Wind River.  Our destination this day is Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Grand Tetons for acouple days..


Jeff by Wind River




Doc Holiday



Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, WY. in the distance.

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South Dakota

Heading west from Wisconsin took us across lower Minnesota.  I thought this is the land of lakes.....must be in the north!  Into South Dakota we made a stop in Mitchell at yes.........The Corn Palace! Just had to.  It really is amazing that they change the theme every year.  Entire outside of the bldg. is covered in ears of corn and corn husks. Here's the next rig Jeff wants to purchase; nothing like taking your Smart Car along with you!

Our next stop was THE BAD LANDS.  Our first real feeling we were entering the Wild West.  Facinating rock formations.  I just can't imagine the homesteaders and cowboys riding through this area. This is about where I would have probably turned back. Another highlight was of course Wall Drug.  Purchased in 1931 by Ted & Dorothy Hulstead, which was close to failing until Dorothy decided to advertise free ice water to travelers headed West.  It became a huge American entreprenuerial success story.  All roads lead to Wall Drug and there wasn't just one sign but signs for miles and miles,  As a matter of fact there is a sign in every state!  What a complex of stores, food, museums. 

Wall Drug Gang

A Bus Tour ! Never say Never !

Okay, I know I said I would never go on a bus tour.  We started out with breakfast at Ft. Hayes, where Dancing with the Wolves was filmed, so a replica of a small western town.  We boarded the bus at 9 AM and headed for Mt. Rushmore where we met President Teddy Roosevelt. Very facinating. Then we headed through Custer National Park.  Didn't see too much wildlife, except for one lonely Buffalo and prairie dog, but the views were awesome and the tunnels the bus had to go through were really something.  Of course that made us hungry for a buffalo burger and chips.  French fries that is.

Sylvan lake was beautiful with jagged rock formations surrounding it's edges.  Too bad we couldn't kyak or swim.  But back into the bus we went off to see Crazy Horse.  Now that was something to see.  We were touched how the large family (10 KIDS) of the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, have carried on constructing and maintaining it and with NO Government Funding so they won't have any control over it.  He started in 1923 and it's far from even being finished.  See the picture of the marble sculpture in front of the monument  to see how much more to do,

We also saw The Needles.  Again unbelievable rock formations.  So now it is 6 PM and the bus driver did not stop talking the entire trip, laughing at his own jokes and we are not yet in the hearing aide association so it was LOUD.  We were exhausted but driver Ken was a wealth of knowlege about the area and we sure saved alot on gas! So it wasn't all that bad but still not our cup of tea in general.  Had a great dinner at The Firehouse Brew Pub in Rapid City to end the day.