This morning, we packed up our gear, and hit the road. We've decided to head out to Keystone, South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument.
We actually left Yellowstone a lot later than we planned.
There are several hotels and lodges spaced around Yellowstone. These lodges offer a cool service to backpackers by letting us pay for a shower without paying for a room there. So for $3.25 each, Amy and I both got a nice, hot bath in these really cool old clawed bath tubs at the Old Faithful Lodge. All I needed was a cigar and a cowboy hat and I would have been in a western movie.
I don't know why it was a $1 cheaper than the other hotel, but it was all good, AND the concierge gave us towels for free. FREE! You really appreciate the little things when you've been out in the woods with animals that want to eat you. haha
Anyway, we took our time with getting cleaned up then had a nice meal at the Old Faithful Grill while we chatted with the servers and cooks.
The workers and service people at Yellowstone are generally from all around the country. Most of them are retired, and do the "RV" thing, always very interesting conversations.
It was actually a little further to South Dakota than what I thought. We didn't want to pass through Mt. Rushmore in the dark so we've stopped in Gillette, Wyoming tonight. Tomorrow morning we'll see the monument and get back on the road.
So far, we've logged about 2,700 miles. We've got another 1,600 before we get home. No problem. ha!
KoP
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Day 8- A Change Of Plans
We've decided to stay another day in Wyoming. We really want to see a Grizzly so another evening out at Lamar gives us a better chance.
I can't even remember everything we've done today... so much driving, so many places, so many photos.
We've taken over 2000 now I think.
Thank goodness I have this little laptop to upload them all to.
We took the doors off the Jeep again. I figured out a better way to load them in the back with all the other gear stacked around them. A tight fit, but it works. I like hanging my feet out on the running board taking pictures while Amy drives. I feel like a real Safari guy. That usually doesn't last very long though because she doesn't like driving on the more precarious roads, and there are a LOT of those here.
We've also changed our plans for driving home. instead of just going back sort of the way we came, we're going to swing out to South Dakota and see the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. It should only add another 2 or 300 miles to the trip. No biggy, plus we'll get to pass through South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. ha!
So, that also means we won't be dropping in on you next week, Wes. That's a real bummer because we wanted you to show us the cool places to hang out on old Route 66.
maybe we'll catch you on our next trip. I am CERTAIN there will be one.
Check ya later.
KoP
I can't even remember everything we've done today... so much driving, so many places, so many photos.
We've taken over 2000 now I think.
Thank goodness I have this little laptop to upload them all to.
We took the doors off the Jeep again. I figured out a better way to load them in the back with all the other gear stacked around them. A tight fit, but it works. I like hanging my feet out on the running board taking pictures while Amy drives. I feel like a real Safari guy. That usually doesn't last very long though because she doesn't like driving on the more precarious roads, and there are a LOT of those here.
We've also changed our plans for driving home. instead of just going back sort of the way we came, we're going to swing out to South Dakota and see the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. It should only add another 2 or 300 miles to the trip. No biggy, plus we'll get to pass through South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. ha!
So, that also means we won't be dropping in on you next week, Wes. That's a real bummer because we wanted you to show us the cool places to hang out on old Route 66.
maybe we'll catch you on our next trip. I am CERTAIN there will be one.
Check ya later.
KoP
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Day 7- More Wildlife And A Late Night
This entry is also a day late...
So today, we went up in to Montana. While is was beautiful and mountainous, it just wasn't Wyoming so we drove back into Yellowstone Wyoming and decided we'll just stay an extra night and leave from here. There is still a lot to see.
We took the doors off the Jeep around lunchtime, and man, that was just a whole different experience up here in the mountains being able to see over the cliff edges and all.
When we came back into the park from Montana, we decided to stop at a hotel in Mammoth Springs and get a shower. It only cost $4.25 each plus $1.00 for a towel. haha
THAT was different, but WELL worth it. Being really clean on a backpacking trip kind of doesn't happen.
While I was waiting in the Jeep for Amy to come out, a buffalo had moseyed right up to me. No biggy, I was more or less hanging out of the Jeep so I decided to shoot some pics of it. Even with the doors off, I knew I could jump to the other side if the huge thing got a little crazy. Well, these guys started walking up the street and got between the buffalo and the rest of it's herd which was about 150 feet away.
I guess that's why it charged them. I got one shot before I just looked on thinking I was about to witness my first goring. They freaked out and ran of course and the buffalo decided to stop it's pursuit to join the rest of the herd.
Scary, but funny.
This is just as he started taking off after them.
So after this, we were told about a part of the park that has tons of wildlife called Lamarr valley, or something like that near the Northeast entrance. We saw lots of buffalo, elk, WOLVES, coyotes, an injured mother moose and her newborn baby, and a beaver, but no bear. Since we saw our first Black Bear on our way up to Mammoth, we now need to find a Grizzly bear.
Also, I have camera lens envy. There were so many photographers out there with super-duper-high-end lens, mine felt a little puny. I WANT one... or two...
After all that, we got back to camp around 11pm. Too late to eat, and too late to build a fire... but we did anyway.
Ok, I gotta roll.
KoP
So today, we went up in to Montana. While is was beautiful and mountainous, it just wasn't Wyoming so we drove back into Yellowstone Wyoming and decided we'll just stay an extra night and leave from here. There is still a lot to see.
We took the doors off the Jeep around lunchtime, and man, that was just a whole different experience up here in the mountains being able to see over the cliff edges and all.
When we came back into the park from Montana, we decided to stop at a hotel in Mammoth Springs and get a shower. It only cost $4.25 each plus $1.00 for a towel. haha
THAT was different, but WELL worth it. Being really clean on a backpacking trip kind of doesn't happen.
While I was waiting in the Jeep for Amy to come out, a buffalo had moseyed right up to me. No biggy, I was more or less hanging out of the Jeep so I decided to shoot some pics of it. Even with the doors off, I knew I could jump to the other side if the huge thing got a little crazy. Well, these guys started walking up the street and got between the buffalo and the rest of it's herd which was about 150 feet away.
I guess that's why it charged them. I got one shot before I just looked on thinking I was about to witness my first goring. They freaked out and ran of course and the buffalo decided to stop it's pursuit to join the rest of the herd.
Scary, but funny.
This is just as he started taking off after them.
So after this, we were told about a part of the park that has tons of wildlife called Lamarr valley, or something like that near the Northeast entrance. We saw lots of buffalo, elk, WOLVES, coyotes, an injured mother moose and her newborn baby, and a beaver, but no bear. Since we saw our first Black Bear on our way up to Mammoth, we now need to find a Grizzly bear.
Also, I have camera lens envy. There were so many photographers out there with super-duper-high-end lens, mine felt a little puny. I WANT one... or two...
After all that, we got back to camp around 11pm. Too late to eat, and too late to build a fire... but we did anyway.
Ok, I gotta roll.
KoP
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Day 6- Old Faithful
We were so busy yesterday that I didn't get a chance to write. We saw Old Faithful and myriad other geysers and hot springs.
We just pulled the doors off the Jeep and are heading North for some Polaroid moments. So far, they've been plentiful.
I promise to take more time to write tonight even though I may not get to post until tomorrow.
I'm dying to show you these photos...
KoP
We just pulled the doors off the Jeep and are heading North for some Polaroid moments. So far, they've been plentiful.
I promise to take more time to write tonight even though I may not get to post until tomorrow.
I'm dying to show you these photos...
KoP
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Day 5- On The Road
(This was all written yesterday on the road, but with no internet connection to get it posted.)
Right now, we are on the road somewhere in Wyoming jamming out to Def Leopard. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular. I mean, I wouldn’t really want to live here because it’s very desolate, but, wow, it is breath taking.
We’ve been driving under the speed limit pretty much all day, just taking it in. We stop whenever anything catches our eye and looks photograph-worthy. We even go off on these dirt roads if they look like they might lead to some cool rocky crag or cliff.
We’ve been seeing tons of wildlife too(haha Def Leopard is singing “Animal”). So far on this trip, we’ve seen:
Elk
Axis deer
Pronghorn Antelope
Moose
Elk
Geese
Horses
Cows
Sheep
Goats
Hawks flying overhead with a fish clutched in its talons. Seriously, it was cool.
Bald Eagle
White tail deer
Chipmunks
Ground Squirrels
Marmots
Porcupine
… ok, we’re stopping for gas. Be right back…
Ok. I’m back with some beef jerky and a map of stuff to see in Wyoming.
It looks like Independence Rock is only 15 miles out of the way so we’re going to check that out now.
There is NO cell phone signal up here. There’s barely any in Colorado, but ever since we left this morning, we’ve been incommunicado. That’s why I’m writing this entry in Word right now. I’ll just have to post it later when we get service… IF we get service.
We’re going to try and make it to the Wind River Indian Reservation by this evening. I don’t really know what there is to see there, but it’ll be pretty cool anyways. We’ll probably stay near there overnight and then head into the Teton National Forest in the morning. There is a lot of cool stuff to see there for sure.
***EDIT***
I have to add one more critter to the wildlife list:
Prairie Dog
We just stopped for lunch, and since we are in the part of our trip where we aren’t going to be staying in hotels or eating at restaurants, we just found a nice view, pulled off to the side of the road as far as we could and ate. We brought some lawn chairs and ice chest for this sort of thing and it was just SO cool being out in the middle of nowhere. When we got out, there was a very strong smell of sage because there was sage brush everywhere, that and Prairie dog holes. They started barking at us right away.
After lunch and many high fives ‘cause “We’re really doing it, man” we packed up and are now on the road to Independence Rock. cya
KoP
Right now, we are on the road somewhere in Wyoming jamming out to Def Leopard. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular. I mean, I wouldn’t really want to live here because it’s very desolate, but, wow, it is breath taking.
We’ve been driving under the speed limit pretty much all day, just taking it in. We stop whenever anything catches our eye and looks photograph-worthy. We even go off on these dirt roads if they look like they might lead to some cool rocky crag or cliff.
We’ve been seeing tons of wildlife too(haha Def Leopard is singing “Animal”). So far on this trip, we’ve seen:
Elk
Axis deer
Pronghorn Antelope
Moose
Elk
Geese
Horses
Cows
Sheep
Goats
Hawks flying overhead with a fish clutched in its talons. Seriously, it was cool.
Bald Eagle
White tail deer
Chipmunks
Ground Squirrels
Marmots
Porcupine
… ok, we’re stopping for gas. Be right back…
Ok. I’m back with some beef jerky and a map of stuff to see in Wyoming.
It looks like Independence Rock is only 15 miles out of the way so we’re going to check that out now.
There is NO cell phone signal up here. There’s barely any in Colorado, but ever since we left this morning, we’ve been incommunicado. That’s why I’m writing this entry in Word right now. I’ll just have to post it later when we get service… IF we get service.
We’re going to try and make it to the Wind River Indian Reservation by this evening. I don’t really know what there is to see there, but it’ll be pretty cool anyways. We’ll probably stay near there overnight and then head into the Teton National Forest in the morning. There is a lot of cool stuff to see there for sure.
***EDIT***
I have to add one more critter to the wildlife list:
Prairie Dog
We just stopped for lunch, and since we are in the part of our trip where we aren’t going to be staying in hotels or eating at restaurants, we just found a nice view, pulled off to the side of the road as far as we could and ate. We brought some lawn chairs and ice chest for this sort of thing and it was just SO cool being out in the middle of nowhere. When we got out, there was a very strong smell of sage because there was sage brush everywhere, that and Prairie dog holes. They started barking at us right away.
After lunch and many high fives ‘cause “We’re really doing it, man” we packed up and are now on the road to Independence Rock. cya
KoP
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