Sorry, loyal fans about the delay--Wi-Fi along the way has been spotty and unreliable. We managed to find a DSL cable, and we are back in action!

August 18, 2007 - Our first day at Yellowstone National Park. First lesson learned is this—even in August, come prepared for all kinds of weather. It’s rather much like Humboldt in some respects; if you don’t like the weather, be patient, it will change in a few minutes. We have had clear and cloudless moments, which turned to overcast, with ominous towering cumulus (the precursor to electric fireworks and big boomers), which then turned to thunderstorms with hail, and then back again. We traveled into Yellowstone National Park a short distance, and were awestruck by the majesty of the mountains, Lodgepole pine forests, and cascading Madison River. We were also astounded by the damage caused by the massive fire which occurred in YNP in 1988! Dead trees, as far as the eye can see, surrounded by flourishing new growth Lodgepole pines. This, according to the Rangers, is part of a natural cycle which has happened for millennia. The kids started a Junior Ranger program, an educational program which will award them with a spiffy patch and accolades for its completion. We are helping them with the completion (family participation is encouraged) and we are all learning some way-cool stuff about the park, and nature in general.

We spent the latter half of the day bouncing around in the town of West Yellowstone, a touristy town outside the west park gates. It caters to the fly-fishing enthusiasts, as the local fishing is acknowledged as world-class. It has its share of boutiques and unusual shops (tanned buffalo hides, anyone?), and not a bargain to be found. Gas is $3.09, milk $4.39. It’s again, kinda like Humboldt—you’re a long way from major shopping, so they know they gotcha…

We topped off the evening in the hot tub at KOA, while the kids swam in the adjacent indoor pool. It’s fun to meet people from all points of the country here; everyone seems to be envious of our long journey plans, and wish us well.



August 19, 2007 - Today we did the “lower loop” of YNP. We attended a church service in a magnificent cathedral, built literally by the hand of God. An outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Madison Valley was the site of our small service. God parted the skies for good weather during the service; the minister, who is also a seasonal Ranger in the park, pointed at some trace clouds in the distance, and said “here it comes.” He was right, and about 1:00 o’clock, the first t-storms came rolling in…

Before that time, we visited several geothermal sites, where superheated water made its way to the surface, heated by volcanic magma deep below the earth. (YNP, as it is, is situated atop some very active volcanic real estate). Nature’s hot tubs bubble like a cauldron (160° as it comes out at the surface), and bacteria that can withstand these temps color the surrounding geology with a rainbow of colors. It looked like a scene out of “Ice Age—The Meltdown”. The blue of the thermal pools look so inviting, but would boil you like a lobster (oops, I mean Dungeness crab—wrong coast…) if you gave in to the temptation (and the Rangers would scratch you a really expensive ticket if you survived.

YNP is like Animal Planet—today alone we have seen a Bald Eagle, and an Osprey which caught its trout lunch from the river while we watched (that was awesome—the Rangers say that they are typically successful in 1 of 12 attempts!). We also saw chipmunks, numerous bison, elk, deer, and a coyote today. We still are looking for the elusive bear, but hopefully tomorrow…

We finally made to Old Faithful minutes before the sky fell in a hailstorm. We had lunch, and went to the Visitor’s Center, where the kids were made Official Junior Rangers, to the applause of bystanders to the Ranger’s “hear-ye.” At about 2:20 p.m., while waiting for the Big Blow, we were treated to another lightening storm, which included some marble-sized hail. At 2:34pm, within two minutes of the predicted time of 2:36, Old Faithful put on a spectacular show for about four and a half minutes—you can see it all you like on video tracks, but until you see it “live” you just cannot believe how awesome it is!


August 20, 2007 - We rolled out of YNP via the north loop, and left by the north entrance. More wildlife to be seen, and finally saw actual herds (200-300)of bison, although, although a small token of the 30,000,000 that used to roam the American Plains. Again, a geologist’s paradise of colors and textures of the earth’s crust. We went over Dead Indian Pass, which was part of the route used by Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe while seeking escape from the US Army, a tragic tale, left for another time. We took in breathtaking vistas from a place that the Plains Indians revered as the top of the world. Rolled into Cody, Wyoming that evening.

August 21, 2007 - We took in the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody. We took most of the day there, and among the 5 different galleries of displays, it would take most of a week to truly savor its offerings. Natural history, Native American, Bill Cody, firearms (largest known collection), and western art are its galleries, and we left in big-time information overload. That evening, we visited the Bill Cody dam, an engineering masterpiece created in 1908, and was the prototype of the Hoover dam.

August 22, 2007 - On the road again, after a visits to the National Wild Sheep Conservation Program. On the road, we stopped at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center (WWII Japanese-American internment center), and the Custer County Historic museum. A shop-stop in Billings, MT, and then landing at the Little Bighorn / Custer Battle site. A tour tomorrow of the battlefield, and then on our way.



We are meeting a lot of nice and interesting people along the way--one guy from Visalia, our old digs! RV parks and tourist sites are a "target rich environment" if you like to talk to people. Usually, the foolproof ice-breaker is to offer to exchange group-photo services to those taking each other's pictures at a tourist attraction, but have no one to get the "group shot", or simply saying "howdy neighbor" at the RV sites, followed by "...where ya from?"