The Grand Canyon

Well, we made it to the Grand Canyon! Stopped and saw the IMAX film of the Canyon at the National Geographic Center...it was great. We drove up with no problems and found parking quite convenient. We did a bit of hiking along the rim trail and had a great encounter with some rock climbers. As a public service they were over the rim picking up stuff thrown by tourists...they had gotten two 5 gallon buckets of coins! The condors eat them and die...they also found dog tags, a blackberry, an ammunition box with someone's ashes and other things! We had a delightful lunch at Bright Angel Lodge right on the rim of the canyon. http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/bright-angel-lodge-408.html

As usual...run by Xanterra! They do a great job.

We also stopped at a crafts fair put on each weekend by the Navajo Indians...the little girl was dancing to her grandfather's drum and chanting...of course, we had to put money in the tip jar. Some of the jewelry was beautiful, but I'm looking for something to knock my socks off...and we're going to Sedona tomorrow! That's Monday....keep watching!

A great time in Moab, Utah!

We loved Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park, all near Moab, Utah! Our picture was taken at Canyonlands. The arch and the Three Gossips stone columns are at Arches National Park. The stone is literally shaped and formed by water, erosion and wind. The park is quite impressive. Dead Horse Point is where horses were rounded up, driven through a 30 yard opening onto a bluff, where the landscape provided a natural corral…unfortunately, someone forget the horses and the story is that they died of thirst or jumped to their death trying to get water…gross! Canyonlands is fascinating and the river you can see is the Colorado. We stayed at a great KOA camp just outside of Moab.

We left Moab heading to Las Vegas where we celebrated our 24th anniversary by going to see Jersey Boys, a fabulous musical based on Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Turns out Bob Gaudio who wrote most of the songs is living in Nashville and has a boat at Commodore Yacht Club! Or at least that's the hint we interpreted! I gambled at the new Palazzo that is part of The Venetian...it's beautiful but I still lost...well I won a lot and put it all back so Woody says I have to say I lost! We had a wonderful dinner with Paul and Margaret at The Capital Grill...Woody is still raving that he had the best steak he's ever had. Thanks Paul and Margaret for a wonderful dinner and great company! We left Vegas this morning in 95 degree heat! What happened to chasing 72?

Tomorrow we head to the Grand Canyon and then on Monday to Sedona. We're staying in Williams, AZ and plan to drive to both...they are each about 60 miles from here so it's cheaper to do it in the car at 25 miles a gallon than at 8 miles a gallon in the RV! Plus the boy's get to stay in air conditioned comfort while we're gone. Thank heaven for Andy's blue pads and Harley's litter box...it allows us some flexibility! We'll update you on the latest trips later!

We are outta here!

Bright and early on Sunday morning, we headed out south...just to wish us good-bye on Saturday night while we were working our last night in the store, we had hail, driving rain and now it's cold! This is the Buffalo outside our store! We'll be on the road until around the 7th of October so watch for our posts.

We have to say many thanks to Brenda for allowing us to work at Buffalo Trading Company http://buffalotradingcompany.net/index.html this summer. It's been a wonderful experience and let us know we weren't cut out for a gallery! We loved staying at Fort Jax RV Park [623 Madison Ave West Yellowstone, MT 59758 (406) 646-7729] and Justin and his dog Marley are wonderful! We highly recommend it if you can get in...the RV park stays full but he also has a cabin for rent that is precious!

Brenda also has a cabin for rent too! http://www.vrbo.com/173846 Phone: (406) 646-1026 (Montana, USA) or (610) 212-1623 (Pennsylvania, USA)
Please say: "I saw your listing #173846 on VRBO". It's listed on Vacation Rentals By Owner and you can see tons of pictures. If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone, it's a great place to stay!

We'll miss our friends Dave and Geri, but we're already planning for future meetings! After all we worked together in Florida and now Montana! Who knows where we'll end up.

We're in Park City, Utah tonight at the Park City RV Resort www.parkcityrvresort.com It's a great RV park...we stayed here tonight so we could go to WalMart...remember, we lived in a city of less than 1500 for five months without one! Once we get our prescriptions filled and pick up a few essentials, it's on to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah! More great photo ops!

By the way...we know we're old...we wore our house shoes all day as we drove down to Park City...we did put on shoes when we got out!!

Just a few more cool pictures!

Be sure to read the previous post, but here are three more pictures that are cool! This is the Lower Falls in Yellowstone, the White Dome Geyser in the Firehole Geyser area in Yellowstone, and a bugling elk...he was not happy with us.

Busy Busy Busy

It just dawned on me that I missed posting last week! Things have been hectic as we wrap up the last few weeks in West Yellowstone! We had dinner at Henry's Fork Lodge in Island Park, ID http://www.henrysforklodge.com/ that was divine, and at our boss's house with some new friends and our friends from last summer, Dave and Geri! Brenda and Ernie's house is to die for...right on Hebgen Lake with fabulous views of the mountains. If our kids and grandkids weren't so far away, they might have some new neighbors. We went out on the porch after dinner and heard hundreds of coyotes howling in the woods! A bit spooky. Henry's Fork Lodge is world renowned and has some of the best fly fishing in the world!

We've been moose hunting again..still no luck finding a moose with horns. So Sunday we followed the Snake River all the way to Jackson, WY as we had heard there were moose...there was one...female of course...no horns. So I bought a necklace with a moose! Who said I'm not flexible? We do so love Jackson Hole! We also had to hug on a bison of course! I'm kissing him good-bye! On our way back to West, we passed this incredible sunset over Lewis Lake! I've seen a lot of sunsets on beaches all over the world, but this is the most beautiful one I've seen in a long time! This is straight out of the camera...no editing! Can you believe it? We also hiked a bit...by the way...notice the sweaters! It's already cold here and tomorrow we're expecting snow.

This summer has been unbelievable. I love the mountains...maybe even more than the beach! We've been so blessed to meet lots of wonderful people, see scenery that is really almost like a movie, and enjoy small town living. Last week we went to Bozeman to the WalMart...as you recall it's 90 miles away! We went Christmas shopping. Our adopted town of 1500+ people is not that affluent and many of the locals lose their jobs at the close of the summer season until snowmobile season starts in late December and January. We purchased toys and donated them to the Social Services Agency here in West Yellowstone...they promised to hold them until Christmas and share them with families who need toys for their children. Sort of like Toys for Tots but we had the fun of picking out the toys! We love this town and feel it only appropriate to give back a bit before we leave. Of course, Woody keeps buying things in the store and giving them to kids who come in! So I guess we've been playing a bit of Santa all summer! When you're blessed...pass it on! We may not be the "churchiest" people you know, but we try to walk the walk!

Today we had a massage that made us feel much better! It was a present from Brenda...she's about the best boss we've ever had! Tomorrow we're going moose hunting again...this time in Yellowstone. There is one lake that is supposed to be a moose hang out...so we're going to hang out! The bison and elk are getting a bit...shall we say...randy...have to watch out if you get to close! We've been excited at how many pictures we've sold from here...from the cards in the store to online sales...I really thought I was doing good until I went into a photographer's gallery in Jackson yesterday...wow...I'm a rank amateur! I can see that I have tons more to learn.

Get ready! Dancing with the Stars starts next week! Go Julianne! and Derek and Mark...you know what a fan I am!

We're heading out of here on the 21st of September and right now will be back in H'ville around the 9th of October. We're going to Arches National Park, Las Vegas (well duh!), the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and of course...Murfreesboro, Ark to dig for diamonds!!! and a few other things along the way if the mood strikes us! We'll post at least once more from here...keep your fingers crossed that I get my moose!

Hugs to all of you!