Richards Travels

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Bison - Buffalo

Tomato tamato. Bison Buffalo. Yellowstone call them Bison. Generally, "buffalo" is used informally; "bison" is preferred for more formal or scientific purposes. That is their story and they are sticking to it.

The first two days we only saw one buffalo and kept hearing about a huge herd of them, I thought they were crazy until we got to the eastern side and hello we found them. 100s of them.

Leaving Yellowstone

Yesterday I was so excited to see one Elk. I was satisfied but look what we found on our way through Yellowstone to go out the East Entrance. THREE ELK with these huge racks. I can't believe it.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

I felt safe as long as he was eating but then he decided he had had enough and I decided to get in the car.

You see this man well I got closer then he is. We pulled out and around him and I got out and walked by the car to make pictures of him. I just couldn't believe how big he was and that rack, o my goodness.

Coyote and Elk

When we left the Canyon Village area we took the road that cuts the park in half, We were 1hr to 1 1/2 hrs to get back to the coach and the girls had been there over 6 hrs. so we need to get back.But ad we got to the Norris area and turned south we saw cars stopped and of course I had to see. and take pictures. It was a Coyote. He is in the middle of the picture. He is so far from me I couldn't pull him in any closer. So I made my picture and we left and didn't get to far when look what went walking across the road. Now I get up close and personal with him, not smart but remember the elevation was effecting my brain.

Top picture is taken at the same viewing area just looking the other way. If you look back at the picture before this one you can see the Upper Falls. There is a lower falls and the upper this is as close as we got to them. I couldn't have walked down to them and live to tell about it.
As we were going out of the viewing area there is this Boulder just in the woods on top of the world. It is supposed to be left by a glacier. I know one thing Man didn't carry it in.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

I have walked down to a viewing area while Sonny was trying to find a parking place. Someone was trying to take a 1900s Trailer through the parking area and was having a hard time getting around parked cars. I think the sign said NO RVs but back then they didn't call them RVs so he didn't know I am sure, RIGHT. I didn't realize how far down I had walked till I tried to go back up and my elevation problem took over. I couldn't talk I was so out of breath and I didn't think I was going to get to the car had to stop several times. Now I said I had walked down to the viewing area, we are only talking maybe 30 steps down if that many. When you have this problem two would have been a problem.

Elevation 8859 ft. I wish I could say I have gotten use to the elevation but I haven't and it has done a number on my body. I know drink water, well I have drank and drank till my eyes are sloshing. But this dizziness and being out of breath it really getting to me. Besides all of that I love it.

Lamar Valley as we are heading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. I wish this car wasn't in my picture, but you can only tell just so many people to LEAVE that they are obstructing your view. And besides Sonny would have left me there if I had and there was a Bear not to far back.

The Yellowstone River running below the Basalt Columns.

Tower Fall

This formation was formed by a basaltic lava flow that cracked into hexagonal columns as it slowly cooled. Not only do I have eye overload also brain overload. These are called Basalt columns.

Needless to say I am glad he turned and went right in front of us instead of right beside me. This way we got to see him better and he was beautiful. His or Her fur was just glistening, sure would love to have touched it and loved on him or her, NOT. Well maybe a little. I still cant believe we saw a Bear our first trip to Yellowstone. We have been to Gatlinburg a hundred times and only saw a bear the last time we were there.

Now my window is down and I am hanging out of it taking as many pictures as I can, now going through my mind is at what point do I get my self in and close the window. You see the nose of OUR CAR and I don't know where he is going.

Black Bear in Yellowstone

We have driven through more beautiful valleys and we came around a corner and the cars were stopped in both directions and this is what we saw. I couldn't believe it a real live Black Bear. Sure do want to get out, NOT.

You can still see the destruction of what the wild fires did in Yellowstone. It is reseeding its self and you can see small trees coming back, but it is awful to see all that was destroyed

The Petrified Tree

This is a petrified tree that is a redwood, just 6 miles southeast of this tree is the largest concentration of standing petrified trees in the world. You cant get there by automobile, so I guess you know what that means you don't get to see them, sorry. This one is near the area they call Tower-Roosevelt.

Left Hot Springs and on our way to Canyon Village. Would you say the place is Huge. There is no way to see it in one day, not even two, although we tried. There is just to much to see. We saw a lot but couldn't spend a long time at anyone thing or me couldn't see all that we did. Our eyes were in overload.

I was making this Elk nerves so he got up and keep a close eye on me. Wasn't going to let me get to close.

Still in Mammoth Hot Springs just past the visitors center, there was a heard of Elk just laying around and grazing right here at the Village. Yea they are wild not tame. It was so hot today that you can see them laying up next to the building to get out of the sun, it looks like.

This last picture is looking back at the Terraces before we head into the Village of Mammoth Hot Springs.

We are at Mammoth Hot Springs and these pictures are unbelievable. That a place like this excites on this plant. I see things like this I think of Mars or some far away place. I know Hollywood!