Day 5: Leaving Buffalo, heading to Yellowstone

8:55…Leaving Buffalo,Wy and the temperature is a cool 58 degrees. It was a great stay once again. The view in this part of the world is breathtaking. The mountain tops are covered in snow and the mountains themselves are majestic. The sky is thick with stormy clouds and yet the sun is peaking through. For a photographer, this is a dream sky. This is heaven on earth. I am determined to enjoy every second of it.
9:35…we are still heading west through the mountains and there is snow on the ground. As we wait to get through the work zone ( by the way, there are a lot of work zones over this part of the world), we spot a big moose!! He is totally bothered and confused by these humans disturbing his habitat. He turns and leaves. They are tall, big, and clumsy looking. They walk like they have too many legs! We are going through the Big Horn Mountains and the temperature has dipped to 48 degrees. I have a fleece on. We actually stop and take photos in the snow. We go up this hill and at the top there is snow. The wind is strong and the temperature is in the 20s! This is unbelievable. And so exciting. Greg and I are just like two kids on Christmas morning.
10:40… We pass Tentsleep. It is the first town since we left Buffalo.
2:33… Just passed Cody, Wy. We are 50 miles from Yellowstone!!
3:43…Welcome to Yellowstone National Park, baby. Don’t mind if I do! We have traveled 2,141 miles so far. It is AWESOME. It costs $25 to get in and it feels like money well spent. It also covers the Grand Tetons National Park. We drive around and the landscape is very rugged, with pines, firs, mountains, and beautiful views. The excitement I have been feeling for 2 years at the prospect of visiting this park was justified. It is paradise. We spend a little time exploring but need to go to the hotel in Jackson and check in. We will be back tomorrow all day. As we exit the park, we see the Grand Tetons and we gasp. Literally gasp…they are phenomenally beautiful…I can’t wait for tomorrow. We arrived at the hotel late, exhausted, but feeling such excitement. Greg and I find this really cool restaurant/bar and have a delicious dinner. It is almost 10 pm and the kitchen is about to close. Greg has his first buffalo burger and simply loves it. This is our first real dinner since the start of the trip so we devour every morsel. And Greg and his witty self has me in stitches. He also claims this is the best buffalo burger he has ever had. Of course it is.
About 11… We return to the Parkway Inn and rest. Tomorrow is going to be promising…Night.
PS: Trying to post some photos but the Internet connection stinks!

Day 4: Rushmore and Devil’s Tower

8:54…Leaving the hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is a nice 64 degrees.
Our first stop was at Mount Rushmore. I was always intrigued by this monument but nothing prepares you for the magnitude of it live. It is enormous first of all and it is hard for the brain to comprehend that humans, many years ago,without access to our technology could have built this sculpture. They have a list of all the men who worked along with Gutzon Borglum and his son to create this masterpiece. The list is long. Construction began in October 4, 1927. The likeness is stunning for three of the presidents: Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln. I did not think Jefferson was as close as the other three. It could be that throughout the hike you are looking up his nose. Washington is definitely the most prominent and whenever you go on the trail, he is watching you!! I do have to admit that I am not much on tourist magnet places like this. I like the raw landscape better.
1:00…Welcome to Wyoming! We are finally here. So,so exciting!
4:20… Just finished Devil’s Tower…it is surreal! Apparently the whole area was under water and there was a volcanic eruption. The lava cooled in layered strips. It looks like it was clawed to create those vertical ridges. We walked through the rough trail and I felt such peace. We sat on a bench just letting the sun hit our faces, totally calm and at peace .
5:14… We are headed to Buffalo, Wy. Although it is almost summer,the temperature is very mild. We have been traveling now for many miles and see nothing. No small towns. Just fields, and mounds, and more fields. Western miles certainly feel a lot longer.
6:23… We are still a few miles from Buffalo. We see mountains, actually a mountain range and the tops seem to be covered in snow. They are!! They have snow! It is getting closer to sunset and the light hitting those mountain peaks is exquisite. The photographer in me wants to stop and photograph them. No place to stop. I will never forget that view. Tomorrow, Yellowstone. I am exhausted. I want a glass of wine, some food, and my boots off. Tomorrow shall be even better.