8/28/2013 ^ Yellowstone to Atlanta

This is the third Yellowstone to Atlanta email that was originally sent out as separate emails to family members to let them know where we were, what we were doing and give tidbits about our activities. I have copied the original emails and added some pictures for viewing. The trip started in August and ended in October.  This is the first of our extended stay trips in the Adventurer.

Please enjoy and feel free to share the link to the blog site with family and friends that might like to read and see the pictures.

Subject: Time for another update

We have been busy the last few days.  But are taking a little time off this morning to do laundry and send this email.

We have been fortunate to see lots of wildlife on our short forays into the wilderness.  One of the rangers told someone the black bears go high up into the mountains and rarely venture down to the lower areas this time of year.  So we probably will not get the opportunity to see one in the wild while here.  But here are some of the animals we did see.

Sometimes they are hard to see

Sometimes a little easier

Sometimes they are on land

Sometimes near the water

...or in the water

or like these otters both in and near

sometimes there were so many, you could not miss them

sometimes solo and majestic

or if really fortunate, you see a Bull Moose by being in the right place at the right time!

We visited Old Faithful and enjoyed it immensely.  David and I scoped out a good place to take pictures and agreed to hold the selected viewing place for around an hour until the next scheduled eruption while Sophie and Beverly checked out the gift shop.  It was a terrible but necessary sacrifice on the men's part to give up a trip to the shop but we survived.  Especially since we happened to be sitting right where a Ranger came and gave short talks about geysers, Old Faithful and the history of the area.  Very informative and found out that Yellowstone has approximately 500 of the world's 900 known geysers.

It is also, interesting that some Ranger in a building uses a stopwatch to time Old Faithful's eruptions so they can estimate the next time it will erupt.  While we were listening to the Ranger, we found out that Old Faithful is not the most spectacular geyser in the park but it is the most 'faithful'.  One of the more spectacular geysers in the area erupts only once every 5 to 10 years.  It went off on July 31st this year.  Unfortunately, not many folks saw it because it happened during a thunderstorm.  But, Beverly and I have made our reservations for the next predicted time 'cause we do not want to miss it.

Thar she blows - Old Faithful and right on time

We explored another 'thermal area' and found a geyser set to go off sometime between 11 PM and 3 AM.  We decided to 'pass' on viewing that particular eruption.  Interesting to see so much steam and hot water coming from the ground.  The next day, we passed the same area to go see the Teton National Park and it was approximately 55 degrees outside when we rolled through.  It was almost foggy looking with all the steam showing in the air around the springs, geysers and breaks in the ground.

Photography does not realistically depict how this really looks.

As we returned to the RV park, we spotted an eagle with a fish in its talons flying right above us on the road.  He veered off to the right towards the river and we did the same, anxious to get more pictures.  Beverly got a real good shot of it through the windshield.  We had a hard time spotting him but eventually saw him or another eagle flying around.  The next sequence of events (and photos) are unique.  A smaller bird (Osprey) decided the eagle was too close to something and was going to do something about it.  The osprey would fly above the eagle and dive bomb the eagle (who was not at all concerned about this bird and its attacks) but just as the osprey approached, the eagle would flip over on its back and extend its talons as if to say, 'bring it on big boy if you think you are big enough'.  This went on for about a dozen times with the birds climbing higher and higher.  Finally, they were too far out of eyesight to take pictures or watch the show.  Amazing!

Eagle with fish in its talons from the river

Eagle is upside down with talons extended as other bird swoops down

We plan on going back to Yellowstone Canyon later on and exploring the other side before we leave.  But yesterday, we took an all day trip to circle the Teton's by going through Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  It was a bright and sunny day and God gave us a scenic, pleasurable drive.  It clouded up and rained for a bit on us in Jackson Hole but not before we got our picture taken under the arches made of Elk Antlers on the town square.

The crew with Teton Range in background

Jackson Hole, WY

The Grand Teton mountain is 13,700 feet tall and massive.  Not something you could ski on but beautifully rugged and something to see.  As we passed through a community named Moose Junction, I commented that a place with a name like that should have some moose hanging around.  As we curved around the road and was heading across the Snake River, we noticed a huge traffic jam.  Well talk about surprises, there was a Bull Moose down in the river munching on some grasses with a bunch of folks taking pictures.  Our three photographers jumped out and ran like wild Banshees to get pictures.  Evidently it is very difficult to spot a Bull Moose in the wild but there he was.

After some time, the three intrepid photographers began a return trip.  Somewhat disappointed they were a long distance across the river from the subject being photographed.  Well, not to be deterred from the 'perfect' picture they descended the river plain on the same side of the river as the moose.  Of course, they took all the necessary precautions to protect themselves from a charging Bull Moose by making sure someone slower than the slowest person in the group of three made the trek with them.  I am happy to report that all made it safely back from the river with the 'perfect' picture of the subject moose.  (See picture above)

The trip back was interesting too.  We left Jackson Hole and headed through Teton Pass (a 10% grade up and down) for about 3 to 6 miles before we were on the 'other' side of the Teton range.  We drove through Idaho as we went back to West Yellowstone.  Saw huge farming operations on the east side of the range in country that looked vastly different than the west side of the range.  Eventually we climbed back into the higher elevations and West Yellowstone after traversing Montana, Wyoming and Idaho during the day.

View from Teton Pass looking back towards Jackson Hole, WY

Well, time to hang up clothes.  Seriously, you did not think I meant me did you?  I just want to watch.  Will send another update later.