July 11th Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

Sunday morning we slept in on an overcast rainy day. The clouds were hanging below the tops of the surrounding mountain peaks so we decided to just spend the day at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center here in West Yellowstone. There is an interesting exhibit building as you walk in and then paths among the large cages holding some wolves and another holding several bears. The wolves were taking their mid day sleep and would only raise their heads every once in a while. A naturalist held a "seminar" over at the bear area which was very interesting, then they put up some bird food in tree branches and apple chunks under various piles of wood. I did get a good 30 minute movie of the talk and the bears coming out to find the seed and apples. Christine and Laura, I got a Teachers DVD on bears and wolves that I will bring back with me. It is to be used in a computer in the classroom to teach about the animals. Hope that you both find it interesting.

July 8 - 10 Yellowstone National Park

Picture of the back of the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone.

We arrived at the Lionshead RV resort Thursday afternoon early and set up (getting good at that). Friday is Carolyn's Birthday so she got breakfast and flowers when she got up, then drove up into Yellowstone for the day. Treated her to dinner at "Bullwinkle's" in West Yellowstone. Happy Birthday Carolyn.

Saturday we had breakfast and drove back into the park to "Old Faithful" and the basin. We had a nice walk down the outside trail toward the Riverside Geyser and the "Castle Geyser" then back down for lunch and a view of "Old Faithful" in the afternoon. On the trip back home we saw several single Bison, no herds through and stopped for awhile to watch part of the Madison River Elk herd as they grazed close to us. Of little note in descriptions of the Yellowstone area (noted in the Colorado Springs area also) is the phenomena of the EXPLODING MAYONNAISE. Anna, particularly has experienced this personally. At around 6000 feet altitude, mayonnaise in a plastic container will tend to be come over pressurized on the inside and come out forcefully when opened, much to her surprise. She had a laugh at Carl today however as he opened a tube of suntan lotion, and had to quickly put his finger on the hole to stop it erupting.

July 7th in Ft. Hall Idaho

We left Salt Lake City sad to be leaving Betty, Shielia, Neil, Barry, Karen, and Tim as they resume their busy lives. Thank you each and every one for a great time getting acquainted and reacquainted. Neil and Shielia a special thanks to the two of you for taking us under your wing and showing us around the city as well as the surrounding country, things that I would not have associated with SLC. The Temple grounds, the farmers market, copper mine, the lake, "ocean diving" in the desert, and the swim for the dogs as well as breakfast and Pizza. Barry and Karen, your family is great and we had a wonderful time at your home to meet everyone. And definitely not least, Betty - we loved getting to see you and talk again after these three years. Good luck on making the decision as to which house to buy. Love you all.
We stopped overnight at Fort Hall, a Shoshone/Bannock reservation, and hit the museum and the Casino. It was interesting to talk with the same lady at the museum that we talked with in 2007. She is full of stories about the past, legends, and current life in the Shoshone nation. We actually won a few dollars at the casino. ha

July 2 - July 7th Salt Lake City Utah

We are finishing a great few days with the Salt Lake City family. Arrived on Friday afternoon from Zion NP up I-15. Called Shielia after we got set up and made arrangements to meet her and Neil on Saturday morning for breakfast at the Farmers Market in town. Now this is not what I had in mind as a typical farmers market. It reminds me more of the Thurmont Color Fest. The whole park was occupied by food stalls and craft vendors. We briefly met Neil's son and daughter-in-law then hooked up with my Aunt Betty (mother to Shielia, Barry, and Tim) and Tim and walked the vendor stalls. Neil drove us over to the Mormon temple grounds for a tour and a chance to listen to an organ recital from the world famous Morman Tabernacle Organ. We were invited to Barry's and his wife Karen's house for a BBQ chicken dinner with everything. The whole extended family dropped by at one time or another so Carolyn and I got a chance to meet their children also.

Sunday we again met up with Neil and Shielia who gave us a first class tour of the highlights in the area. This included the hugh copper mine in the Western mountain then a drive down to the great Salt Lake and an introduction to the only salt water shark and scuba diving facility in Utah. This is in a natural warm water salt pools that has been stocked by a variety of salt water fish such as sharks, sting rays, angel fish, and many more. It is also used to train scuba divers in interaction with sharks. Neil was a diving instructor here. Monday, Carl and Anna returned from Baltimore and we had pizza with the family.

Tuesday we escorted Carl and Anna down to the Temple grounds so that they could see it first hand.

July 1st Zion Canyon National Park Utah

We arrived here at Springdale, Utah, at the southern entrance to Zion Canyon NP on Monday afternoon, June 28th from Las Vegas, Nevada. The drive was good, only about 170 miles, and we arrived about 1:30 pm. Hot day, around 105 deg, so we just set up and hunkered down for the afternoon. Carl and I took the shuttle bus up to the park visitors center and then transferred to the shuttle that runs through the park. We were able to get off at most of the stops and take pictures then hop the next shuttle on. Carl received devestating news about Anna's mother and we drove them back to Las Vegas to catch a flight to Baltimore. Wednesday, Carolyn and I walked down into Springdale and window shopped at the many small shops there. Had lunch at Oscars (make it a stop if you are in Springdale), then back to the campground. We took the dogs down to the Virgin River and let them swim for awhile. The day was overcast and the temperature stayed down in the 90's so was pleasant. Today, Thursday the 1st, Carolyn and I took the shuttle into the park and hiked the Emerald Pools trail and the Grotto trail, then walked into town for lunch at the Pioneer. Another clear hot day so stayed under the air conditioner until evening then took the dogs for another swim.

June 27 Las Vegas

Staying at the Oasis RV Resort south of Las Vegas, just off of I-15. We arrived yesterday, Saturday the 26th from Twentynine Palms and checked in to set up. That evening we drove down to the "Strip" for dinner and a walk along the famous Casinos. "New York, New York", Bellagio, etc. Got back to the campground about midnight exhausted from all of the walking. Crowds were thick tonight and ran the gamut from old to very young, from every country in the world it seemed, and from polite to rude. Sunday evening we drove further on past the strip to "Main Street and Fremont". Free shows along the street (covered and foot traffic only), and characters in costume everywhere. Of course Elvis was alive and performing as well as Michal Jackson, and Wonder Woman. Carl got picked up by a pair of showgirls who seemed determined to carry him home as a plaything. Of course, Anna made sure that he was tied to her side.

June 22 - 25th Twentynine Palms California

Over the 22-25th of June we stayed in Twentynine Palms, California and explored Joshua Tree National Park. This is a different NP, joining the High Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert areas. Driving through the park you climb from about 2500 ft up to a high point (Keys Lookout) of over 5,100 feet. The land consists of desert sagebrush and Yucca plants transiting to Joshua Trees above about 3500 feet. The first day we drove around the northern loop from Twentynine Palms over to the town of Joshua Tree. The park is dotted with hugh piles of rocks, magma formed and cooled under ground and then brought to the surface by erosion. Across to the west of the NP is Mt. Jacinto in the San Jacinto range, still snow covered. This is a picture across the desert in the NP with the mountain in the background. We also drove up to Keys point and looked across to the San Jacinto range and the Santa Rosa range and down into a beautiful desert valley. Unfortunately, pollution from Los Angeles had come east and dimmed visibility. The second day we drove south through the park to the Cottonwood Oasis near I-10. We stopped at the Cholla Cactus Garden and walked the trails through the cactus. Very pleasant. At the Cottonwood Oasis we stopped and walked under the tall palms in the oasis. Drove the next day to visit a classmate of Carolyn's, Anna's and Carl's (Bev East) down in Lake Elsinore.