Disappointed in Yellowstone

09-02-2010

We left last Monday morning on a trip to Montana and see Yellowstone and all of its beauty. I have to say there is a lot of it and I only had one week to stay. I got pictures of a grizzly, bald eagle, elk, deer and lots and lots of scenery. There is so much to see out there that if it would have been me by myself I would still be a long ways from being through. If I had more vacation time and money I would be out there for a very long time.

The Beartooth pass coming out of Yellowstone on the northeast side is an adventure in itself with the winding roads on the edge of the mountain with very few places that had guard rails. At one good looking place I yelled at my brother-in-law Johnny to STOP! and he wheeled our rental car right over to the edge. About that time my sister-in-law Debra started screaming and sliding way down in the seat. "DON'T DO THAT! You don't have to listen to everything Wayne says!" and would not look over the side.

After getting to the top of the almost 11,000 feet elevation a couple of men flagged us down at a pull-off. After stopping we discovered an elderly man sitting under the steering wheel of his car with his left hand folded into a tight fist and pressed up against his chest. His wife said they had been to all of the states but four and this was the last one to visit. He complained that he didn't feel right and collapsed where he was sitting. We helped get him to the passenger side of their Virginia vehicle and tried to get her to let me drive them back down the steep mountain but she insisted on doing it herself. Someone had went ahead and called 911 and they met them about half-way. We followed them down and came on back to the cabin in Ennis, Montana.

The Buffalo out there are roaming all over the place and we almost ran into a Grizzly and a couple of deer. I watched as two elk were feeding and gradually got too close and started to rub their antlers together. I don't think they were actually fighting - more of a pushing match than anything until the smaller one had enough and walked off.

The Grand Tetons are amazing and I really could spend a lot of time making pictures of them all times of the year.

We flew 2,500 miles and met a couple that live in Pierce County about 20 miles from home in Georgia. Max and Molly live in Montana part of the year and Pierce the other part. They took us to places that I would probably never have found and really enjoyed what they did for us. The cabin was wonderful and everyone we met around the small town was so nice.

Bonnie didn't get to shop as much as she would have liked on our trip which is totally my fault. For her first time flying I think she can handle it from now on. She kept me straight once we reached each airport and found where we needed to be with no problems.

My biggest disappointment about Yellowstone was having to leave the place and come back home.......but I will be back.

wayne