12 great iPhotos Yellowstone and Big Sky Montana

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Rain as we leave the Tetons.

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Lake Yellowstone

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Steam in the basin

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More basins

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Leaving Yellowstone

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Farn in Montana

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Big Sky and clouds

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Leaving Big Sky

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Our last day sight seeing.  We  arrived in Bismarck in the rain and somewhat cold.   But we are enjoying our daughter, Sharon, and 3 grandkids.  

This will be my final letter of this trip.  We will arrive back in CA the first part of Oct.  We are going through Colorado and then Arizona to visit friends and family and  LaVerne and Lancaster to visit friends 

Here is to your health and enjoying life.  Thanks to you who have responded to my e mails.  I appreciate hearing from you. With Facebook it is harder to keep in touch via e mail. But I will try as many of you are not on Facebook. Do keep in touch.  Blessings to each and everyone. 

Ric and Jan(ice)

8 great iPhotos Wyoming and Jackson Hole

Goi

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The whole valley where we were headed is shrouded in clouds. 

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Far upper left was where I took the previous picture of the cloud cover.

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Lots of horns in Jackson Hole

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Middle of town

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Outside the Visitor's Center

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buffalo preserve

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8 great iPhotos Grand Tetons

  Heart Six Guest Ranch in the heart of the Tetons. 

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Where we stayed

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 Mt Moran- see the glacier

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Jackson Lake which is very large. 

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you can several glaciers on Mt. Moran in this picture. 

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August 22, 2011

This was 2 days ago after we left Idaho and  the Craters of the Moon Park.  We first drove through Jackson Hole. WY which is the south end of Teton Nat'l Park.  They also had a very informational Visitor's Center in Jackson.  I had no idea they were so close to each other.  John D Rockefeller Jr. made many contributions to the Park, in fact 24,000 acres.  The scenery was magnificent in all of its glory.  I am so happy we decided to visit there this year. 

We stayed at the Heart 6 Guest Ranch in a rustic cabin in the middle of the park with no TV, Microwave, Refrigerator and no good reading lamp but we read a lot anyway. There was also no phone service or wi fi.  You do get used to those things.  About 8:00 PM it started to rain and it sounded wonderful on the tin roof.  It was still raining in the morning and we had a dirt path down to our car and it was not easy for me to navigate.  Oh the fun we have on some of our adventures.  Ric went to the car and brought me the umbrella so I survived.   After breakfast in another rustic building, we headed north to Yellowstone National Park just up the road.  More about that in next letter 

love to all, 

Ric and Jan

13 great iPhotos Idaho

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Back road and interesting cloud formations

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Sawtooth Mountains (can you tell?)

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Lava rock coming into the park

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An obviously healthy tree rising out of the lava

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White flowers-not rock

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Upper part looks so smooth=tiny rocks

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Cones

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In the town of Avon

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Driving through Avon

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9 great iPhotos Columbia River Gorge

The magnificent Columbia River Gorge

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Interesting formations

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Beautiful mountains in Gorge

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More do the river

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Mountain rock formations and it is getting dryer

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One of the several dams we passed.

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Store room

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east  of Pendleton

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Seattle to Idaho Falls

August 19, 2014

Hi all,

 It has been a while since I have written and  am back at it at least for now.

We just spent a month and a half in Seattle and after the pleasure of getting to take care of Sasha (4) several times, we are now on our way to visit our daughter Sharon in Bismarck and three of her children. 

 

We left Sunday morning and on the way out we went to the Unity of Bellevue Church where we attend when we are there.  We then drove south to Portland and took I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge.  It was breath taking beauty and the river is massive.  There were several dams that we passed and again we marveled at the power of the dams and their usefulness,  We saw several falls but did not stop and hike to see them well,  but they were pretty from the highway. That even we stayed in The Dalles which was drier than it was earlier in the day.  We were hoping to see some cherry orchards but never did.  It was pretty hilly there, however. 

Monday was a good travel day.  We passed through some mountains and valleys and on into Caldwell.

 

After a good night's sleep we started for Idaho Falls and along the way decided to take a "back" road (Hwy 20) to get there.  We stopped at a Visitor's Center and asked advice and we were advised to do it. Now we are grateful that we did.  

It took us through the hills and mountains where we saw the Sawtooth Mts. and where Stanley ID is.  We did not go there but now we have a good idea where it is.  A dear friend 

of ours and some of you (Rod Romney) came from there and we heard him speak about it often.  He also mentioned Arco and we did go through there on our way.  

We also went by the Crater of the Moon National Monument and learned much about  lava and volcanoes.  We did the seven mile loop and saw various sights.  I will send pictures in a few as soon as I get them downloaded.  The most recent eruption was 2,000 years ago.  There was not one volcano but a series of deep fissures known as the Great Rift. Beginning 15,000 years ago lava welled up from these fissures to produce this vast ocean of rock. NASA's Appollo Astronauts learned basic volcanic geology here in 1969 as they prepared for their moon missions.  There are many hiking trails and some are made for wheelchairs.  It was a fascinating place and a "back" road treasure. 

We are in Idaho Falls and will travel to the Grand Tetons tomorrow.  

Our best to each and every one.  

Ric and Jan(ice)