On the Road to Yellowstone…

On our last minute road trip to Yellowstone National Park we saw lots of fences and ranch gateways. My photos are mostly from the road speeding along in the state of Montana. We traveled across the state of Washington, Idaho and Montana to get to Yellowstone through the Northwest Gate and into Wyoming.

Yep…those are camels behind this fence.

And here’s our privacy fence getting ready for the 4th of July celebration!

I’m linking up to Good Fences #119 hosted by TexWisGirl at Run A Round Ranch Report.

Yellowstone Signs…

We were happy for the most part with the sign placement in Yellowstone National Park. There was only a couple times I yelled too late “pull over” and we had to circle back to see another amazing area. These series of signs were from the western side of the park.

At major sights there were detailed signs that explained what you were looking at and mileage postings so you understood how far you’d have to walk to see everything. I have lots of photos to share from the Norris Geyser Basin in a future post.

Sheepeater Cliff: This cliff was named for the Shoshone Indians who lived throughout this mountainous region. Their use of the bighorn sheep earned them the name “Tukadika or Sheepeaters.” The cliff is basalt lava that formed columnar joints” when it cooled nearly 500,000 years ago.

Stay tuned for more themal basins, geysers, waterfalls, bison and amazing vistas from our oldest National Park.

Linking up to signs, signs with Lesley.

Mammoth Hot Springs

We entered Yellowstone National Park at the North Entrance. President Grant signed a bill into law setting aside 2.2 million acres, making Yellowstone the world’s first national park on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone is in northwest Wyoming and spreads into Montana and Idaho, too.

Our first stop for some exploration was at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone has the most geysers and hot springs in one place. This is an area where hot magma deep underground bubbles close to the earth’s crust.

In this area hot water full of minerals bubbles to the surface. These springs have formed beautiful limestone terraces and colorful pools.

This was a very windy day and many people lost their hats. There are several warning signs telling you to stay on the boardwalks built for visitors safety and not to throw any foreign objects on the thermal fields. I guess the wind decided to break the rules!

Hang on to your hats!

The park’s thermal features include geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, and hot springs. A fumerole is an opening in or near a volcano, through which hot sulfurous gases emerge.

This was our hottest day in the park and we were happy to have cooler days. From this spot on the northwest side of the park we headed south with several stops before we reached our room for the night at the Old Faithful Inn.

Today was a very unproductive day for me at this old house. It always takes me a while to recuperate after being away from home.

Cody, Wyoming

We left ~~Yosemite~~ oops Yellowstone on Saturday at the Eastern Gate and drove to Cody, Wyoming to spend the night. We had breakfast at The Irma Hotel named after Buffalo Bill’s daughter Irma. From here we took the trolley tour to learn about the city of Cody.

Today (Sunday) after spending a couple hours at the Buffalo Bill museum we hit the road for Butte, Montana. We had a nice drive with lovely weather and are at our hotel for the night. Tomorrow we hit the road early to drive all the way home. I have so many photos and will have to decide which to share in the next week or more.

I haven’t visited any blogs since we didn’t have WiFi while in Yellowstone. Hope all is well in blogdom!

Postcard from Yellowstone

We spent two days in Yellowstone National Park without any WiFi. Now that we are in Cody, Wyoming with WiFi I wanted to share a postcard from the park. Yellowstone is an amazing complex area with such interesting topography. The photo above is of Gibbon Falls. We were amazed at God’s creation at every turn!

We haven’t seen any news for a few days and it’s kind of refreshing. Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Things are fine right now in Wyoming. Blessings.

Day #1 Roadtrip Postcards

We left home while it was still dark and headed east over the Cascade Mountain Range and then through Central and Eastern Washington on Interstate 90.

We entered Idaho at Post Falls with a quick stop at Cabela’s for some binoculars.

We then entered Montana just past Lookout Point. We were on empty at this point and hoped we’d find an exit that didn’t say “no services”. We made it to a small town with a couple pumps and added a few gallons before our stop in Missoula for a fill up at Costco and a stop for the night.

Missoula County Court House, Missoula, Montana.

We’ll hit the road early again tomorrow to reach Yellowstone National Park.

We are enjoying one of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries on cd as we drive along. A very pleasant way to make the time fly on the road!

St. Joseph Church – Leavenworth

I was attracted to the Russian onion dome steeple. We walked up to the church but there was no information for us to see. When I researched it I didn’t find much information until I came upon Susanne Wilson’s blog.

Suzanne Wilson has some great information on her blog “Churches on Sundays” about this church and it’s history. It is no longer used as a church but the owners of Pension Anna (a hotel) moved this abandoned church adjacent to their hotel and named it the Old Chapel Suite. I’m glad it has been preserved.

Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday hosted by Beth and Sally.

Signs Along U.S. Route 2

Last Saturday we drove east on U.S. Route 2 in Washington State to meet up with family in Leavenworth, Washington.

When we stopped for breakfast in Gold Bar we saw these signs and more. My favorite is the Positively No Profanity or Dancing!

This sign does not lie. I wish the Big Bear was clearer in my photo.

As you approach Leavenworth you see the beautiful and powerful Wenatchee River.

Welcome to Leavenworth, a Bavarian like village nestled against the eastern slopes of the Cascades and right on U.S. Route 2.

Village Pharmacy

Starbucks Coffee, Bavarian style, with a small sign above the door.

This is my favorite sign from Leavenworth since our main reason to drive east was to see our son Dan and our daughter in law.

Hope you enjoyed traveling the U.S. Route 2 with us.

Linking up with signs, signs hosted by Lesley.

And back at home we are still working on some planter extension projects at this old house.

We received the sad news that our neighbor passed away last evening. Just one short month since she was diagnosed. Our hearts grieve for her children and grand children. Life is very unpredictable with no guarantees for tomorrow, even for the healthy. Make peace with God through Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him (Jesus). Hug more, love more, smile more, encourage more until that day comes.

Tuesday’s Treasures & ABC Wednesday…

Today is Flag Day in the United States of America and we treasure what the flag stands for at our house.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Officially adopted on Flag Day, June 14, 1924 (“Under God” Amendmant made by Congress in 1954)

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands;

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

Off with your hat, as the flag goes by!
And let the heart have its say;
you’re man enough for a tear in your eye
that you will not wipe away.
~Henry Cuyler Bunner

I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it. ~ John Thune

Whatcom Falls Park

Mid May Dear and I had a road trip north to Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive to check out Whatcom Falls and the historic stone bridge.

President Roosevelt’s New Deal Works Progress Administration paid workers to move the Chuckanut sandstone arches from a downtown burned-out building to the park. In 1939 the sandstone was used to construct the landmark stone bridge.

Too bad about the fallen tree that had lodged itself into the falls. I’m wondering if it has dislodged and flowed downstream by now.

In the distance above the main waterfall was this smaller waterfall with some pretty lighting.

The parking lot with access to the stone bridge and the falls was a very short distance from this spot.

I’m linking up with ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and administered by Roger and a team of ABC’ers.

W is for Whatcom Falls Park and for Waterfalls.

I’m also linking up with Tuesday’s Treasures hosted by Tom The Backroads Traveler.

Meeting Halfway…

…or Over and Back Again.

Our young marrieds planned a weekend trip meeting halfway with our DIL’s family and our family. At the end of this month they will have been married 1 year!

We all gathered in Leavenworth, Washington. Everyone else arrived on Friday and stayed till Sunday. Dear and I traveled over on Saturday morning and came back home Saturday evening.

Our family above and the whole crew below.

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One of the main events that was planned for the weekend was a river rafting trip for the brave amongst us.

Here’s the crew ready to go!

Our three sons pulling together!

While this crew were river rafting, Dear, Laura and I shopped about the town of Leavenworth dodging the crowds that flock to this picturesque Bavarian like town with the Cascade Mountains as it’s backdrop. I bought a few little treasures from the Russian shop, a free trade shop and a kitchen shop. We survived the Kris Kringle shop, too. If you love all things Christmas, this is the shop for you!

Dear, Laura and I enjoyed lunch at the Icicle Brewing Company while the rest of the crew enjoyed a barbecue spread after their river rafting experience.

We had beautiful weather on the eastern slopes of the Cascades while there was a lot of rain on our western side of the Cascades!

We all got together and enjoyed a potluck taco meal on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning the crew enjoyed a potluck breakfast together.

On the final morning of the weekend our guys got together for some miniature golf fun. Not sure what the girls were doing but I’m guessing they did some shopping.

So thankful to God for all these dear people that we get to enjoy life with. That includes all of life, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. Joy and sorrow with the comfort of the God who created us and loves us more than we can comprehend. Love one another, forgive one another, keep moving forward together with the hope of a glorious reunion with our Lord and Savior. Yes, and Amen!

HT: Rafting photos courtesy of Osprey Rafting Company.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Travel