Yellowstone!

WE  drove from Calgary to Bozeman, MT.  We got singled out at the border to have a talk with the border inspection group but after a pleasant conversation with border patrol, we were on our way.

There is a lot of nothing along the road we took.   The occasional elk but a lot of tumbleweeds and desert.

Right inside the park, we came upon a herd of Elk resting in the shade, unconcerned about people like us snapping their pictures.

Anita at the Paint Pots.

We stayed in Bozeman for two nights while we traveled in the park.  We did the upper loop first and the second day headed down to see the lower part of the park and the Tetons.



We saw a coyote running through the park right away and then a bear and a bison and so many others!  The flowers were out and so were the hot pots and the geysers and every kind of mud pot you can think of.

We also went to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.  Angela and I walked down (600 feet in 3/8ths of a mile) to see the falls up close and personal.  The slog back up was a chore but the view down below was worth it!

Geysers are everywhere blowing off steam.

Different colors tell the story of thermophiles.  How hot they like it being one thing.  I think this would make a great webpage background, no?

Some of the pools look so cool and inviting but the smell tells a different story!  Hot water that would cook you up in a moment!

Old Faithful blowing her top a few minutes before the scheduled time.

That line around the top looks man made, eh?  But it is naturally occurring!

Be cool in the shade of any tree you can find!

And if you cannot find a tree then get some shades that make you look like you're some kind of sports car guy!

These Bison own the place.  They get right up in your face!

A migrating herd got in the way of traffic!  Make sure you notice the one scratching himself on the white sign post on the right foreground.

Really a car stopper!

Mammoth Hot Springs are very cool!

 

And to think I just washed the car!

Zoom in and see the critters!

They don't call it the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for nothing!

Rainbow at the top of the lower falls.

I was always taking pictures of flowers for Angela and wondering where Janet Nelson was!

Tenacity!

Up from the ground came a bubbling pool....

Hanging on for dear life!

Pretty hot stuff?

Do you like my hat? Yes, I like your hiking hats!

Top of the canyon, the wind was howling!

Yeah buddy!

A day at the Zoo

We all went to the Calgary zoo which is a very nice zoo.   We had fun with Aubreah making the sounds of all the animals.  She enjoyed herself immensely and we enjoyed watching her watch the animals.  

Grantie and Aubreah both were sporting hats!

I don't want to sit on that lion!

Anita and the pink flamingos.

She loves to pick flowers.

A ride along the Bow River!

         Look here to see the trail map http://www.mtbguru.com/trip/show_static/1209-calgary-west-hillhurst-to-chinatown-via-bow-river-bikepaths

This is what the trail should look like!  We enjoyed it last time we came in the summer and expected it to be a breeze.

The trail used to go under this bridge but as you can see, the trail was being swallowed up by the river!

There were places where the trail was overgrown but it was very ride-able and summer like. The second page shows Angela Portaging over part of the trail that was washed over up to my calves.  I know that because I barreled through it to the other side of the trail!  She was more prudent than me!

Angela coming out from under the bridge where the trail had been washed out.

Angela was our navigator since we were not using my phone or Harriet our GPS!  We only got turned around due to detours four times!

It is a beautiful park and trail system-Ride it if you can!

Calgary

 We have had a great time getting to Calgary.  The mountains have been beautiful and with wonderful traveling companions to share the road with, life is pretty darn good!   Our purpose of heading this way has been to see Aaron (our second son), Jen (his lovely Canadian wife) and our first granddaughter, Aubreah.  We see too little of them so we make every effort to swing by no matter the season and enjoy their company.

She likes to play games with her Grantie!

She loves to cuddle between Anita and me.

She likes her books and she likes to read them in the lap of her bear!

She enjoys dancing with Grantie.

Aubreah loves to climb.

Happy family!

What a cuddly cutie!

I am trying to teach her Office 2010!