Wildlife in the National Parks

I can't finish up with the posts from our visit to the National Parks without posting some wildlife!

While we were waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, the girls and I found a raised walkway that we could sit on, dangle our legs over the edge and still not be touching any of the geothermal area! Yippppeeee! All the benches were crowded and full. While we were sitting there, by the main outflow area of Old Faithful, Blossom said, "LOOK!" I, of course start scanning for anything new and exciting... "NO," she said. "Down there!!"

"An ANT!!!!!!"

I kind of wonder what happened to the many ants that we saw after the hot water from Old Faithful ran through this drainage area... Do they know to get out? Do they swim? Do they hold their breath? Do insects breathe? Are they unaffected by the heat or "wet" from the geyser water? Hmmm... looks like a science lesson we could explore. Does anyone know anything about this topic? I would sure like some help on this one, if you do!

OH! I couldn't pass up this wildlife!

It was hard to get pictures of them all still and together (Blossom and Nephew Baby are being held.) This was a rare moment, waiting for Old Faithful...

As soon as it erupted, these couple of monkeys were off and climbing and exploring these dead and down trees.

We often saw deer near our campsite. These were just across the drive from our tents. This doe was about 20 feet from the "comfort station" (read: toilets!) having her delicious breakfast of greens.

There were two bucks laying down about 20 feet north of that doe. These guys were harder to snap pictures of, hiding in all the branches.

The bison seem so "American" on the plain in front of these "purple mountain majesties"!!

I love the birds hanging out on the backs of the bison. They remind me of Blossom, who is always wanting a piggy back ride on Pops. I'll bet that he doesn't think that a bird is anything similar to our growing Blossom!

Oh, my! These just might be the wildest wildlife, yet!!

One evening, we were treated to seeing this cow moose and her calf. I had pulled our van over and hopped out to take a picture of them in the field on the other side of the road. I wasn't as fast as they were... and they crossed the road in front of my van! I was standing at the front and to the side of my van, and I had my zoom lens on... but they were fairly close! Not so close if mama moose decided I was too close to baby moose and charged, that I couldn't get back inside my van faster than her!! I am a cautious creature. I am not so fond of the idea of being charged, gored or anything of the like!

We later saw a video at one of the visitor centers that mentioned that a cow moose with a calf is the most aggressive and dangerous animal in the park. Even more so than a grizzly bear! Good to know... after the fact!

We saw this beautiful creature (whom I assumed was the most aggressive and dangerous animal in the park) as we were leaving the park. We were two miles from the exit and it was raining. I grabbed my camera and got this photo through the windshield. I was really beginning to think that we would not be getting to see a grizzly bear on this trip. I was happy to be WRONG!

I was brave enough to ONLY send the window down. (Staying inside the van was a good option, I thought. Perhaps I could have been closer with better pictures if I'd stood on the side of the road, but I know enough about the length of those claws to just stay put!!) Pops kept his finger on the button to send the window right back up into place if Mr. Grizzly decided to come and see if Dodge Caravans offer tasty treats of the human variety!

He wasn't terribly interested in us. He was on a mission to get somewhere! Pardon my Monet-inspired photo...

Apparently, he was after something tasty in a hole he needed to dig!

We were very excited to see a bear up close and well, personal! Blossom was thrilled to say the least and continued to say over and over and over and over (you get the picture), "That is my first time ever seeing a bear." She wanted to stop and tell everyone. She told everyone in the lobby of the hotel that we checked into. If you ask her about seeing bears on her trip... I am sure the excitement will keep bubbling right up and out!!!

Island Breakfast Cruise

Our last day in Grand Teton National Park, we took a scenic boat tour on Jackson Lake at 7:30 am that took us around the lake and made a stop on Elk Island for a full breakfast. I SHOULD have taken some photos of the "camp stoves" that the chefs were using!

We were served fried potatoes, sausage links, eggs, trout, french toast, yogurt, fruit, granola, pastries and muffins, campfire coffee, hot cocoa and juice all on picnic tables topped with traditional red and white checked tablecloths! (As a side note, I have to point out nephew #3... he is wearing the light blue Cabela's hooded sweatshirt. Check out his pants! It was quite cool that morning and mom and dad insisted he wear pants. HE had other ideas and wanted shorts. Mom suggested putting on the shorts and then covering them with the pants so that if it got warmer, the pants could easily drop and he'd be in shorts. Apparently, Moms know NOTHING, because he needed the shorts on the outside. Obviously not a fight worth fighting while camping, but I will one day rib him good when he has some cute girl around for some holiday thing!!! I'll make sure to enlarge a few photos of him in his "interesting" outfit!)

The big treat that morning was a pile of supplies for s'more making!! After some sausage and eggs were consumed, the kids cozied up to the fire and roasted some golden "meshellows" (as coined by Blossom). Then they put them on the graham crackers and chocolate pieces... yum! But, maybe a bit early for that sugar sweet treat?!?!

Maybe not toooooo early, if it will get you a smile like THIS! This gal loves her some "meshellows." And the chocolate? Yep, she likes that a whole lot, too!

We enjoyed cruising around the lake and learning about the Teton Range and Jackson Lake.

I think it would be fun to take a boat there one summer and tool around a bit. However, there is a fifteen (yes, one-five, 15) year waiting list for getting yourself a dock to rent at Colter Bay. That puts us at... hmmmm, maybe we need to get on that waiting list! Blossom will be 19 or 20, our littlest will by then be 15 - THAT might be a whole lot of fun! Camping and boating without worrying about a squirmy kid falling over the edge, wonder what that would be like!!!!

Every 90 Minutes, plus or minus 10

That is how often Old Faithful Geyser erupts!

One day of our visit we all headed to Yellowstone to see good ol' Old Faithful spout off a few times.

Blossom was telling me how HIGH the water reached! She stretched and stretched and then said it went even higher!!

We all walked around the walkway surrounding Old Faithful and found this cute little ground squirrel that had found a little nut. It was  quick little guy and when he was finished being photographed, he jetted off like a flash.

After that walk, Branch, Blossom and I went into the lodge and had a little treat and played cards while watching and waiting for Old Faithful to spout again! The rest of the troop went on a much longer walking tour, hoping to wear out all those BOYS!!! It seemed to work, as they slept all the way back to Grand Teton National Park and our supper!

It was a fun little day trip and good for the kids to see again! A long time back, people used the geyser as a laundry... and would drop their clothing into the geyser and it would be in there with all that hot water churning around and when the geyser erupted, their clothing would fly out clean as could be. I guess I should have brought the last week's worth of clothes along... Bummer, I guess I will have to find the guest laundry here at the hotel.

Must See List

Grand Teton National Park is stunning. Have you visited? 

Oh, my... I'm sure it is a far drive for everyone (since I don't think that anyone I know lives within an hour or two of Jackson), but it is worth it. THis park is definitely on my "Must See" list.

There is something so surreal about these majestic mountain peaks towering over the valley without any foothills in the way. Some low lying clouds were interesting, though!

We stayed and camped at Signal Mountain Campground for two nights with Pops' Brother, Sister-In-Law and 4 crazy nephews! We had a great campsite within a short walk down to the edge of Jackson Lake.

Here is the youngest nephew... he'll turn one year old next month. He is such a happy, easy going little guy. Even though he IS so happy, I think that mom and dad are very brave to go camping so far from their home in Western Nebraska with a baby!! I am not certain that I would be so brave!

We had a great fun time camping... more pictures soon!

TTYL

I think that in IM/texting speak that means "Talk To You Later" and I hope it does... because, we will be out of Wi-Fi range for a while. We are headed to the campgrounds to spend some time with aunts and uncles and cousins. It will be a great fun time and then I'll fill you in once I get a shower!!!

Off to the Tetons!!!

A Diamond by the Crater...

Grandma and Grandpa's last full day of visiting, Sunday, June 7, we went on one more big adventure. We took them on a trip to visit Crater Lake National Park. On our way, we passed through Glide, Oregon, where you can stop and see "Colliding Rivers" - a unique geologic phenomenon that causes the North Umpqua River and the Little River to meet head on. Some sources say that this is the only place in the world where this happens, others say the only place in the United States. I haven't done quite enough traveling to discern which source is accurate!

Which ever it is, it doesn't really matter! It is really interesting to stop and see it and read many of the signs about the rivers and the Umpqua people who inhabited this area long before it was "settled."

We brought along a picnic lunch and enjoyed it at Diamond Lake. This is Mt. Bailey and in the winter months, some people are crazy enough to take a snowcat up the mountain and do some back country downhill skiing. But, you are not going to find me there. Don't even go searching for me there... I will NOT even be considering it!

We stopped for a photo at the viewpoint for Mt. Thielsen. It was a gorgeous day with not a cloud in sight!

We made our way into Crater Lake National Park and made our first stop at the Pumice Desert. Bud had to run out and have a look at some of those rocks. He's been bulking up just so he could toss a boulder or two! Oh, the fun of a lump of pumice!

We pulled into a parking area to view the lake... there was still a bit of snow cover up there in JUNE!  Just a weeeee bit, though!

Apparently, SOME ONE wasn't expecting there to be much in the way of snow and wore her their best walking shoes! Yes, their tootsies were a tiny bit numb as we piled back into the van!

Oh, but the view... The view at Crater Lake, the color, the surroundings, the sounds - everything makes it an enjoyable trip even if you were wearing sandals in 12 feet of snow!

That BLUE. It just makes my heart sing. I just could sit and stare at the color - how is it possible for it to be soooooooo blue?!?!

If you haven't been... and you live NEARBY - GO GO GO GO!!! It will be worth your while to go have a peek! I promise. And if you are headed to Southwestern Oregon on a trip, make sure to put it on your to do/see list!

Staying closer to home

Saturday, June 6, we decided to stay a little closer to home. We had a bit of a lazy slow morning with a big buttermilk pancake breakfast (with no smiley fruit faces). The kids wanted to show Grandma and Grandpa our local berry picking field, so we went and spent a bit of time hunched over the strawberry plants collecting a delicious treat which we ate for dessert after our lunch of BLTs!! We had our first try of the kids' home-grown lettuce.

Bud, unfortunately, was not impressed. He claimed that it tasted like soap. I am not sure where that idea came from. I don't know how he knows what soap tastes like! I, however, thought that our sandwiches were delicious. I never turn down a lovely BLT! We like ours with cucumber slices on them, too. Don't turn your nose up at that! Try it sometime - cucumbers are a great fresh addition to a BLT (as well as many other sandwiches)!

After our lunch, we went to the local sheep show... what fun to watch some of these kids show their sheep for the first time!

Next door, at the BBQ there was a display of all sorts of woolen items. There were many spinning wheels on display where we could watch people actually spin some wool! It was fascinating. I wish I would have thought to take a picture of the gal's socks who is spinning the wool, there, they were pretty little socks that were so bright and cheery. She takes the wool, washes it, dyes it, cards it and spins it before knitting it into a usable item! I applaud her efforts. I like my Hanes Athletic socks well enough, though...

The Oregon Dunes, Florence, OR

After we finished our fun in Bandon, we headed north up the coast to Florence. The Oregon Dunes are definitely something to go see if you've never been! We rode in a BIG truck with HUGE bald tires and roll bars - uh, and the seat belts? hmmmm... not the best functioning order. Sand and rain will do that, I suppose.

The pictures don't really do the dunes justice. It was cloudy, sprinkling, and so the contrast from the sunshine and shadows just wasn't what it could have been to see the depth and breadth of it all.

There are five little lakes in the dunes and around the lakes grow these islands of trees. It is sort of shocking, actually to see these huge pine trees in the midst of all this sand! They are protected areas that you can not go into with the buggies, four-whellers and such.

This is a scary steep drop... and it occasionally happens that a sand rail will slide down there and splash into the water. Uh, I'm glad that I wasn't on THAT ride!

We had a great, fun, semi-scary ride and enjoyed getting off the truck for a bit to feel JUST how small we are in this world.

Of course, some of us had to explore a bit more than others...

One last picture ... about that semi-scary bit. We went STRAIGHT down this hill. Seriously I thought I might flop up over the seat and go heel over head as we SLOWLY slid down this hill. These are our tracks! Somehow, looking at the picture it isn't nearly as frightening as being on the rig!

If you ever get a chance to visit the Central Oregon Coast... don't miss this stop!!

Face Rock Beach, Bandon, Oregon

The bulk of our adventure began on Friday, June 5. We ventured out to Face Rock Beach in Bandon.

Please tell me that you see the "Face Rock." right?!

Grandma and Branch wander on the path and enjoy the coastal sounds.

The family eventually makes it down to the beach and off of the cliff. Bud has already taken off running and is far ahead exploring... SOMETHING! Anything, really!

Grandpa had found a big walking stick and wrote Blossom's name into the sand. She loved seeing it form into the sand. She was awful proud of her name being there. I didn't tell her that hi-tide would wash it all away!

She tried so hard with that great big stick to make her letters... but she wound up with lots of squiggles and goofy lines. She was happy with making her mark on the beach.

Bud and Pops found another "keyhole" to explore and found that this particular (huge) rock was riddled with tunnels that led to other areas that the ocean was rolling in! They insisted that we journey through to see it all.

If Bud wasn't running ahead to find something interesting he was probably climbing onto a rock somewhere...

We found an unfortunate dead sea lion on the beach. A dead baby sea lion was several yards away. Someday I will try to write the story that we devised about what happened. When you see something like this, don't you wonder what happened? Pops laughs at me and says, "Uh, living things die. If it was living in the ocean, it will be carried to shore by the tides." Yea yea yea... but what, how, why?!?!  I like a story. Who wants to be told, "died of natural causes" when you come upon a LARGE sea lion like this with a baby yards away? I WANT THE STORY. (Maybe I should've been a reporter!! I could SO join in with the sensationalized journalism! Sign me up for the new "Web Enquirer" - uh, I now have copywrite on that title. Don't steal it. It's a good one, eh?!) Anyway, this photo was staged for Pops' brothers... I don't think that anyone sent it to them, though. Maybe they should check this blog thing now and then.  We'll see...

Bud had climbed atop of this rock and found a small tide pool and a beautiful hiding crab inside! Everyone had to climb up and have a look-see! (On a side note, when you "tide pool" you are supposed to leave the living things alone and not touch! That is a very difficult task for our children. When we visit a store with a bunch of fancy things to look at, I always tell the treekids to put their hands in their pockets, if they have any. If they have no pockets, then it is praying hands to keep their fingers to themselves! I think that maybe Bud is trying to put his hands in his pockets, here so that he remembers to leave the crab alone!!)

It was a fun morning that we finished up on the docks in downtown Bandon with an assortment of delicious good things to eat, fresh from the ocean at those great seaside shacks! Oh, we saw a super cute harbor seal, but I was giving myself a camera brake while I enjoyed a bit of downtown! Here is the one downtown picture... it is the old lighthouse.