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To Montana, >To Kansas, >To DC, >To Jersey, >To Vermont, >To 50th Reunion, >To Maine, >To Great Lakes, >To Minnesota, >To Glacier Park, >To HomeTo Kansas
From the Wilds of Yellowstone to the Fields of Kansas
A Symbol of Yellowstone and the West
A hike into the park turned up a herd of mountain sheep, rams, relaxing on a hillside just off the trail.
The Boys Enjoying a Siesta
Pronghorn antelope were abundant and willing to pose.
Female Pronghorn
Bear were more reclusive. This one had had enough of our pack of photographers. Spotting animals in Yellowstone is easy–just stop where the crowd has stopped. If spotting scopes and huge camera lenses are out, then there is probably something good around.
Yellowstone has hundreds of water falls, a favorite site with us. Here is Tower Falls carved out of sandstone hoodoos.
This waterfall was featured in paintings by Thomas Moran, paintings that helped secure park status for the headwaters of the Yellowstone River.
Thomas Moran, Tower Falls at Yellowstone
Artistic Imagination in Action
We left Yellowstone late in the day and hit Cooke City, Montana, at dusk. Feeling not much like stopping (a mistake because we missed the scenic Chief Joseph Byway in daylight), we headed down the 46-mile-long Chief Joseph Highway to Cody. The GPS showed the route like one hairpin turn after another. The route on the GPS screen looked like blue spaghetti thrown at a yellow wall.
Chief Joseph from Yellowstone to Cody
Here is a daytime view of Sunlight Creek bridge, the highest over water in Wyoming.
A rainy night, a late enquiry at a motel in Cody, Wyoming, turned up to be surprisingly expensive for such an out of the way place. The clerk failed to reckon with us as the campers we are. The GPS said there was a camping ground in town. We cruised in to enjoy a much cheaper location complete with power for our induction hot plate, hot showers and all the comforts of a motel with the benefits of a room with a view.
5/16/14 Friday...Last night we camped at Ponderosa Campground in Cody, Wy. This morning we toured the Buffalo Bill museum, a 5-star museum featuring William Cody (find Paul Newman movie "Buffalo Bill and the Indians."). BB was a buffalo hunter, scout, rancher, entrepreneur, showman, actor, producer, "Man of the World." Besides the William Cody and Native American history, the museum featured a wonderful Natural History Exhibit: animals, geology, mountain forest. We departed Cody about 3:30 pm and headed south. 
Plains Indian Headress
Eagle Claw Necklace
Grizzly Bear Claw Necklace
The bear did give up their claws without a fight. It took a lot of skill and bravery to make one of these.
Exquisite Beadwork Vest
Arr Thermopolis, WY, by 4:55 pm. Had to find city library to get wi-fi. Librarian helped us find possible camping, lodging locations. Most were full, one no longer in business. We found Fountain of Youth campground with thermal pool. Set up tent and ate dinner. It started to rain so we headed for the pool. We chatted with a Swiss man and his Korean wife. They live on Vancouver Island, BC.
Pool heated by thermal fountain
One of the hot pools (bathing not allowed).
Ammonite Shell
After departing Fountain of Youth campground, we toured Thermopolis' Dinosaur Center. 
Trilbolite Fossils
This 108-foot dinosaur skeleton is the largest found in North America. The head of the skeleton is on the top edge of this photo and the tail disappears in the distance down the hall. The visitors give scale to the photo.
Stopped for lunch at a roadside shelter along Wind River Canyon. Continued SE to Casper, S to Cheyenne, then to Loveland.
West to Estes Park and Rocky Mt Nat'l Park. Overnight at Ponderosa Lodge.
May 18: Awoke to a beautiful day. Decided to stay a second night at Ponderosa Lodge so we could do two hikes in Rocky Mt National Park.
On Trail Ridge Road in Early Summer when Most of the Road is Closed by Snow
Long's Peak–The Diamond Face
Trail Ridge Road, was our first: plowed clean of snow for easy walking, but not yet open to cars, excellent views of Long's Peak and other mts. Walked about 3 km, and returned to the car; drove to Cub Lake Trailhead. 2.3 mi. to lake. We passed several groups of elk grazing in the meadows. We returned to the Ponderosa Lodge where Jim prepared dinner from remains in our cooler.
Elk Herd in Rock Mountain National Park
Two Owls Formation on Lumpy Ridge above Estes Park
May 19: Up and packed and on the road to Denver. Stopped in Estes Park so Jim could show me the "Twin Owls." They are rock formations, part of Lumpy Ridge, and popular with rock climbers.
Wild Iris below Boulder Flatiron Pinnacles
Continued south toward Boulder, CO, to see the University of Colorado, where Jim spent a summer quarter studying genetics and cell biology, and discovered a paper written by a professor who became his major advisor for his doctoral program at Purdue.
Third Flatiron above Chautaqua in Boulder Colorado
Nearby, within blocks of the college, was a large foothill to the Flatirons, uplifted strata heavily eroded by climbers's boots. The foothill was interwoven by trails and filled with hikers. We joined them for an hour before heading on to Denver and Ben (son of long-time friends) and his wife Brianna.
Jim had been communicating with Ben, who was tightly wound around some business meetings, and would be late meeting us. Brianna, who owns a bridal shop, would meet us at their home. Our GPS got us there a bit early, so we had a chance to chat through the door with "Rhubarb," their Lab mix dog. Brianna arrived a short time later, helped us park our car in their garage, we settled in, and headed out for a delicious dinner. Ben was finally able to break free from his work later that evening, and we had a long visit.
May 21: arose from a solid night's sleep, breakfasted with Ben and Bri, packed the car, shared hugs goodbye, and headed for Kansas. We arrived in Mayfield about 10:30 pm, and were welcomed heartily and graciously by Larry and Jo Heasty.
May 22: After breakfast, Jo headed to an appointment in Winfield; Larry took us for a tour of Mayfield, the fields, the lake. There has been very little rain in western Kansas, and wheat is barely a foot high; corn crop (used for feed) will be limited as well. Farmers in west & central Kansas have a poor harvest prospect this year.
May 22: We returned to their house and Larry went fishing for dinner; Jo, Jim, and Dianne drove to Oklahoma so Dianne could say she's been there; photos were taken at the state line. We stopped for lunch (4-inch tall club sandwich) at Red Barn, then credit union to pick up some cash. Back to L&J's for a yummy fish dinner, thanks to Larry's catching the fish, and Jo's & Jim's cooking skills. Meanwhile Dianne worked on Trip Tales.
May 23: Walked with Jo. The four of us drove to Wichita to see the Indian Museum. After the Museum and a short tour in downtown "Old Cow Town" (Wichita), we returned to Mayfield for a delicious dinner. Cloudy skies raised hopes for a healthy rain, but it did not arrive.
At the Mid-America All Indian Center
Larry and Jo Heasty with Dianne and Jim
Heasty Homestead on the Plains
May 24: We departed Mayfield and Larry and Jo's home about 8:45 am. Drove east toward Joplin. Stopped briefly in Coffeyville for (expensive) gas & Redwing Shoestore for some cheap sandals for Jim. Redwing and cheap do not belong in same sentence. Ate a quick PBJ sandwich & stopped two blocks down the road at the Dollar Store; Jim bought clogs for $5. Back on the highway we aimed for Branson, MO. 
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