Yellowstone-Day 2 Aug. 28

We rose early to make the drive to Pelican Valley, the prime grizzly bear habitat in the park, with hopes of seeing several grizzly bears…did not see a one.



We had breakfast at the Fishing Bridge general store and headed for the canyon area.  We did stop to see a couple of attractions in the mud volcano basin. Our favorites were the mud volcano and the dragon’s mouth. As we drove to the canyon we were totally dismayed at the damage still remaining from the 1988 fires…millions of dead trees still standing like so many skeletons…not a pretty sight.  On the South Rim drive of the Canyon of the Yellowstone we hiked the Uncle Tom Trail which dropped 600 ft into the canyon for a close-up view of the base area of the lower falls…also we viewed the lower falls from Artist Point…it was truly breathtaking…


From there we continued to the North Rim stopping at several sites…we walked the trail to the brink of the lower falls which was a 500 foot drop from the canyon rim…again the views were fabulous. For lunch we picniced beside the Yellowstone River...one lone buffalo joined us!   After returning to Roosevelt Lodge for dinner, we drove to view Tower Falls. We decided to drive the Blacktail Deer Plateau Road again in hopes of spotting more wildlife…bummer. . .no such luck!

Yellowstone-Day 1 Aug. 27

Drove the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge to Northeast entrance of Yellowstone. Continued drive to Roosevelt Lodge where we would spend the next two nights in their Rustic Cabins. Along the way we spotted a golden eagle, and a huge herd of buffalo. As we drove along the Lamar River we saw many fisherman, but we did not stop to fish.








After checking in at the lodge we drove to Mammoth Hot Springs and spent the remainder of the day viewing the huge hot springs.

On the return to the lodge we drove the gravel Blacktail Deer Plateau Road in hopes of spotting more wild critters. We saw one buffalo, one coyote, and several young Golden Eagles frolicking in the air. Had dinner  at lodge.

Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 I think...

If you have been following this blog you are aware that we have not made any post since Aug. 26.  The reason, we have been in Yellowstone N.P. without internet service and for the most part no cell service.  Tonight we are in Twin Falls, ID and have both services...will attempt to catch up to today...lots of photos to post and tales to tell...


We really apprecite all comments...hope you are enjoying this half as much as we are...we're almost half way through our trip, should reach Grants Pass, OR day after tomorrow.

Drive from Cody, WY to Red Lodge, Montana...

This morning Charlie had to see the "Old Trail Town" in Cody before we started the drive to Red Lodge.  The drive up the "Chief Joseph Scenic Highway" was awesome.  The mountains were rugged and the vistas seemed endless...we stopped at "Dead Indian Pass" for a couple of photos and to read the roadside plackards detailing the plight of the Shoshone Indian's failed attempt to escape capture.  The road intersected with the "Bear Tooth Highway" and continued to climb in elevation...reaching it's highest point at "BearTooth Pass" at an altitude in excess of 10,000 ft.  The high peaks and medows were spotted with lingering patches of snow waiting for the first flakes of the coming winter snows. 

The road down to Red Lodge was winding and twisting as indicated by my new "GPS" which displays the road features and posted speed limit of 70 mph (for crazy people only).  Finally after reaching the valley floor the road straightens and makes it's way to Red Lodge.

We look forward to reading everyone's comments, so let us hear from you..or we might not come home... even though that might please some people. :>)

Fishing we went...

Today we thought we would try to find a different place to fish...we drove west past Buffalo Bill Reservoir and along the North Fork of the Shoshone River toward Yellowstone...the drive had breath-taking views of the rugged canyon, but the water was too murky for fishing...so we returned to the lakes we fished yesterday.

We could not have asked for a prettier day. . . clear, blue skies, temperatures in the 80s and a nice breeze. . .and fishing we did go!  I caught the biggest rainbow trout of my life.  It was at least 22 inches long (maybe more!) and put up a great fight.   It was soooooooooo big Charlie had to net it for me.  Hope my fishing buddies will appreciate the pics.

Along the way we also saw a few other interesting critters and one weird house.

This completes one week of travel since we left Tennessee...distance traveled in excess of 2200 miles and we ain't half done...

Next stop...Red Lodge, Montana

Museum of Vintage Aircraft...

After Medicine Lodge we returned to Greybull on our way to Cody.  While in Greybull we had noticed a bunch of old, old old aircraft, so we decided to stop and check them out.  Too bad the museum was closed so all we could do was look thru the fence and take a couple of photos...so on to Cody we headed...in Cody we quickly located lodging, a fly fishing shop, aquired our license, a few flies, and directions to the nearest water! 

A couple of hours later with empty creels and dampened spirits we returned to our lodging....

However, tomorrow is a new day...fish beware!!!!!

Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site...

After a restful night at the world famous "Antler Motel" in Greybull, WY. we headed for another of my infamous finding...Medicine Lodge.  After miles of paved roads we encountered smaller, winding gravel roads which eventually turned to dirt tracks...Charlie refused to use the local restroom facilities.  

Medicine Lodge has seen human habitation for more than 10,000 years...and displays pictographs and petroglyphs left by it's inhabitants...although their meanings are not known we can view them and try to understand some aspects of their culture.  Man, this is getting deep.... We do enjoy seeing sites like this and wondering what life was like for those people.

We continued our drive on into Medicine Lodge Canyon via a narrow dirt track...the local ranger had mentioned we might spot a mountain lion and that was all I needed...away up canyon we went with Charlie kicking & screaming don't go...don't go...