McEwen Farming and Family Stuff

Wednesday, 1^st July

One is never tired of the scenery, so seeing the Teton Mountain range again, in the early morning light was a joy. Yesterday, we returned to Jackson Hole as it was less expensive to stay outside the Yellowstone Nat. Park. than in it –even if we could have got a bed. Beautiful though the mountains are, we were impatient to arrive at the point where we turned north rather than west.

We followed the edge of the Yellowstone Lake for some miles, stopping for photos, wishing we could have just sat in chairs and just looked at it.  Coming upon the Le Hardys Rapids, my first thought was puzzlement – shouldn’t the river be running the other way. `all the other rivers we have seen have gone south’ No, no – remember we saw `Continental Divide’ on a sign and then on the map. Of course, the rivers now run north. The Lake is 7,733 ft above sea level and now the river is dropping hence the rapids. Looking into the water, we could see the `cutthroat trout’ trying to swim the rapids to reach the head of the river to sperm.

More sulphur caldrons along the river but with a difference, there were bison sitting contently on the cleared sulphur pans. It was a warm day and even warmer near the boiling pools – not to worry, the bison were very happy. Hundreds of tourists snapping away didn’t disturb them.

Ian wants to eat –wait wait we will look at these falls. No we will eat first! OK, Ok. We sat in the shade in the carpark and chatted casually to other tourists particularly to an irate gentleman ` You are parked in the wrong place!! We are in the RV section, where’s Ian?  Next thing a big RV squeezed into a parking spot behind us and outpoured Japanese tourists and they kept coming more and more of them. We followed them and the waterfall on the Yellowstone River was a fabulous sight. 300ft drop. We moved around to the Lowerfalls and were surprised with the feature of this place. The canyon walls, `Artists Paintpots’ are brillant colours – reds, sandy buff, yellows – 500ft high. Unexpected surprise.

Moving on, Ian watching the time, `I want to go for a walk’ – not sure that will work!?! We drive on diverting up to Blacktail Plateau – will we see a bear? We want to see more animals mainly a bear. – no bears but wildflowers – the higher hills/pastures/open grasslands are covered in beautiful wildflower s of all colours. – but no bears. Back on the main road and look a hundred cars are stopped on the edge of the road. Great a bear! We arrive on the edge of the crowd and there is a black bear – look very hard – look again – oh I can just make him out – a hundred yards away. We are not allowed any closer. We felt let down – but we take photos.  A commanding voice behind us tell us to step back we are too close!!!!! And if you are parked on the edge of the road there will be a $100,000.00 fine or 12 year jail sentence!! Party over, as we moved back to our cars to move them.

Over reaction – the rangers are anxious that they don’t have a death – at least one bear attack each year.  So we drove on and end of another wonderful day.

No, I didn’t have my walk – Ian thought the bears might get me!!!!!

We didn’t see elk, moose, grizzly bears – in reality we were looking at the wrong time of the day – we should have been out early morning or dusk. Also there was plenty of feed – bison up to their bellies in feed – no need for the animals to wander far for feed. – we will just have to go to the zoo!!!!!!!!!!!!