Thursday, July 7, 2016

An Epic, Poorly Photographed, Day Trip and A Shameless, Very Proud, Plug

I guess when I made the Cody reservations I was in a hurry to move further north - because we're only here four nights instead of a week.

One drive through town after we set up on Tuesday, and remembering everything everyone has told me about the area, and clearly we don't have time to do/see it all. Oh well, we'll come back.

We're staying at Abaroka Bay RV Park because the favored Ponderosa RV Park was booked this week. Abaroka is a nice park, but we are jammed in here. Very clean, friendly staff, nice green grass (teeny, tiny) at each site, and although on Hwy 14 it is quiet. The gravel pad is level, but the grass is very uneven and we have to be careful not to fall in a hole :-) Stay at Ponderosa if you can.

Priority is getting the Jeep fixed and our appointment is at 8 AM Wednesday. Per usual the service tech is very nice, sounds very competent, gets it "right in". 

We hang out in the comfortable waiting area until we're updated with the expected "nothing specific shows up", and some new "we're getting hidden codes". There are updates needed (we now suspect the Longmont dealer didn't bother to do them), and they make other suggestions with no guarantees. Arrgh.

Bill tells them what he wants done, and to keep it until tomorrow. Around 10 AM we pick up a rental car and head north. If we're going to do the 200+ mile loop we want to drive, let's put those miles on a rental!

I soon realize I forgot my camera! There's always the one on my phone. Before the day is over I'm sooooo mad I forgot it!!

The plan is to take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, cut down to Yellowstone Lake and catch a corner of Yellowstone Park, then return to Cody on Hwy 14.

16 miles later we're in gorgeous country. The route is a steep climb, and the layers of colors and textures in all direction is magical.





At the summit the wind is blowing so bad I'm afraid I'm going to lose my phone - then how will I take pics????

Even bigger views from the top
Our road down the other side
Beartooth Mountain
I only looked at the map to find roads that would make a loop, and I thought that we might catch a corner of Yellowstone National Park. Instead, we enter the park not long after we descend from the summit, and drive nearly 50 miles through even more beautiful everything. And I don't have my camera!!!! 

You only have to drive a few miles to "get it"
I'm surprised how low the small ponds are
Just over the Montana border the road is lined with Lupine
We enjoy lunch in the tiny burg of Cooke-Silvergate. All the buildings must be built of logs, it's a quaint spot.

Soon we enter a huge meadow with the Yellowstone River running through it. And a herd of 100 or more buffalo. It is incredible to see them in the beautiful wild expanse before us. Here we find the crowds - lining the highway and standing (far from the animals) in the field. We don't look for a place to stop, and I don't attempt a shot with the phone.

A few miles later and there is a traffic jam. Rangers are directing several people back to their cars. All are pointing cameras and binoculars toward the trees.

And then I see it. I'm so moved! I point out the window like so many others. Bill sees it too, he can't believe it. I don't even try to get a photo as it's too far for the phone. How could I have forgotten my camera today?!

Because this is the day that we see a baby Grizzly Bear playing on a log in the forest. No sign of mama.

We move on with the line of cars. 

A couple bachelor buffalo are hanging out by the road. There is even one in front of the RV campground sign that I almost miss because I think it's a big rock. Bill points him out as we pass by.

They are such intense animals
They have a very sweet view
The crowd at Tower Falls and the smaller geysers are the reason I didn't make plans to see Yellowstone this year. But because we're able to get past them on the highway I'm still very glad we ended up here. Except of course for the whole camera thing I may have mentioned......

The hillsides above and below us are covered with wildflowers
The Yellowstone is the longest un-dammed river in the lower 48 states
The acres of trees destroyed by the 1988 fire are still very evident
With the high winds Yellowstone Lake has choppy white caps and large waves crashing on shore. Except for a lot of Canada geese, nothing is on the water.

Yellowstone Lake
When we leave the park we have about 65 miles back to Cody. Before long we realize the Wow's haven't ended. The Buffalo Bill Scenic Highway is completely different and just as incredible as the rest of the day.

But my eyes hurt and I am so overwhelmed from absorbing it all that I only take a couple final photos. 

Perhaps we'll come back to this area on Friday :-)


We've heard back from the Jeep dealer, they've done the work, and it's running just fine. I attempt optimism. 

Before you go, let me tell you about a wonderful (truly) opportunity to read unique fiction from a talented young writer. My son, Jeff Ellis. His writing has surprised and delighted me for years, and now I am very proud to recommend that others enjoy it as well. Of course you should feel free to share it as well, if so moved :-))

You can find Pretendious by Jeff Ellis here.

Thursday I remember my camera for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. You've been warned :-)


22 comments:

  1. The photos are great! Don't beat yourself up about it :-)
    I agree, put extra miles on a rental. Our A/C in the truck went out last week. Fortunately the shop fixed it up in a couple of days. It's wonderful when you can find someone who can actually fix whatever may be wrong with a complicated car system.

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    1. It's hard to find a mechanic anymore - they're all computer techs now who only know what the codes tell them :-( Glad you liked the pics!

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  2. Hope the jeep is good to go!
    What a beautiful day and drive. The last time I saw Yellowstobe Lake it was frozen! And we were on a Harley...burr! I sure hope to get back there one day to explore again.

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    1. That's a lot of lake to freeze! I know we have to get back here to see the rest of it.

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  3. Ponderosa RV park isn't the greatest either...tight sites and lots of road noise (we backed up to the highway).

    Forgetting the camera is the WORST! Accidentally deleting a days worth of photos is just as bad...avoid that at all costs!

    With every one of your posts I am reliving our time in the area!

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    1. Good to know that about Ponderosa - all of the parks are full here so I imagine they can put us as close together as they can and we'll still pay to stay :-) Oh the very thought of deleting photos make me cringe!! So glad you're coming along!!

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  4. Hope the Jeep is fixed, good mechanics are hard to come by anymore. Phone pics are better than no pics, didn't get to make those drives yet, someday. Bummer about no pics of the grizzly cub, just glad we didn't see any on our hikes in Yellowstone.

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    1. There are so many bear warning signs everywhere along the river here, I'm surprised we haven't seen lots of them!! Engine light back on today but so far running okay - ugh!

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  5. Awe!!! I hope when you go out again you're able to get the wildlife. Particularly the baby bear. Just putting in my request. Lol... Sending positive vibes the jeep is running perfect. Hugs and love.

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    1. Keep those thoughts coming! Definitely bummed I missed the bear pic, but seeing it was incredible :-)

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  6. Envy envy, I’ve always wanted to do Chief Joseph highway. Your pictures are just beautiful phone or not and now I want to do it even more. A baby grizzly playing on a log. Be still my heart. Boy do I feel for you having forgotten your camera. And such gorgeous wildflowers and the totally wild and free Yellowstone River. Wow what a day you had! Good luck to Jeff with his first book! How wonderful to have a writer in your family.

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    1. You definitely have to do this road when you come west. It's wonderful to see your kid's dreams and hard work come to fruition :-)

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  7. This whole area is just too hard to describe. You really need to be there. But you did a great job sharing it:) Thanks for the wonderful memories:) I so understand why your eyes hurt. The phone does a nice job, but it doesn't zoom!!!! Why do we forget the camera on the best days when the zoom is necessary! How cool a baby grizzle!

    Congratulations to Jeff! How exciting for you:) Brag all you want!!

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    1. Like Page, I definitely didn't give us enough time here - next time for sure!! Thanks, he's pretty special.

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  8. Stunning territory...loved the BIG vistas. I am glad that you saw that cub...it was something you're never forget! How special...
    Congrats to your son!

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    1. It truly was a lifetime experience - still wondering where mama was :-) Thanks Cindy P :-)))

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  9. You did an amazing job of capturing the beauty of the landscape with your phone, Jodee. But I can imagine just how painful it would be to leave your camera at home. :-( I know you'll return, though! We loved our time in Yellowstone a couple of years ago. We were there in October, and it wasn't crowded—although there were still bear/elk/bison jams. So crazy how people just abandon their vehicles! We saw tons of wildlife (including young grizzlies). So wonderful that you saw a grizzly cub! We want to return, too.
    Congratulations to Jeff on the publication of his novel. That's something to be proud of!

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    1. Thanks Laurel, I'm glad I at least had the phone to capture our day. I think October would be perfect, if maybe not as green.

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  10. Yes you do need to come back but not at Absaroka Bay RV. We were there for a week imagined Betsy crammed in there with everyone else.
    There is still more to explore and beauty to discover in the area.
    If I forget my camera, I will be dead, for I don't have a smart phone:) and you did a great job with your phone.

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    1. Thanks ML :-) We definitely want to spend at least a week next time!

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  11. Oh yea, I'd be pissed at myself forgetting the camera on such a ride but you captured the essence of a huge and magical landscape. And most exciting to actually see a Griz!

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    1. You can bet I haven't forgotten it since! I'll never forget that baby :-)

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