Thursday, July 3 Mt Rushmore Fireworks

We do not have pictures of this only the ones in our mind. We drove to Mt Rushmore around 1 pm. We parked about 2-1/2 miles from the parking ramp and walked up hill to the monument. We picked out a spot to view the fireworks on a rocky hill overlooking a parking lot across the road from the parking ramp. it is a great view of the mountain and away from the 30,000 people that are at the park. We sat down about 2;30 PM. the firworks go off at 9:15 and run for 30 minutes. prior to the fireworks, we were entertained by a variety of comedians, folk singers, and army reserve band. We could see the large screen set up in the parking ramp. it was a very patriotic afternoon. We also saw a stealth bomber go over slow and low. F16s went over head fast and noisy. Spectacular.

it is hard to describe the beauty and awesomeness of the fireworks. There were many many fireworks going off at once. There had these star fireworks that they used often down low and big rounds up high and cascades. You might have seen the finale on July4 on TV news shows. You just sat there with your mouth hanging open.

when it was all done, the large crowd just walked down the highway to their cars. The people in the parking ramp were going to be the last ones to be let go (it was announced). it you were parked down the mountain, you could go as soon as you got to your car (we were). If you were parked facing up the mountain, you had to wait for the crowd to clear. We made it to our car in 45 minutes. Driving 5 miles an hour it took us 10 minutes to reach the end of the parked cars.

Even with the crowd, I would not have missed it for anything. Philip has already said this morning that he wants to be here next year!

This was the 11th year they have done the fireworks. It started as a present to the South Dakota people after the new visitor center and walk of flags was completed. it has continued.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WE ARE FEELING VERY PROUD TO BE AMERICANS!! WE THANK GOD FOR THE WORLD HE CREATED FOR US TO ENJOY!!

Wednesday, July 2 Bear Tooth Highway and Drive back to Black Hills

We left Yellowstone via the Northeast entrance. The Lamar Valley is beautiful. other visitors had told us about seeing wolves in the valley but we did not see them. We did however see a coyote, which is what Philip wanted to see on our trip. It seemed confused wondering around a pull off area....but he got to see a wild coyote.

At the top of Bear Tooth Highway (the pass) we were suddenly enveloped in the clouds. the north side of the mountains were all cloudy and rainy where it had been sunny on the south side. the boys thought that was cool. There was also a lot of snow and ice still on the lakes up around the pass. In some places the snow drifts were above the car!

On our drive through Montana and Wyoming we encountered sleet that was accumulating on the roads. it kinda looked like bubbles/suds from a laundry.

It was a long drive home to the camper. We are tired of driving!

Tuesday, July 1 Old Faithful

We spent the night at Old Faithful Inn. We spent half of the day back at Yellowstone. We saw Old Faithful go off 3 times from different angles. We were a little tired of driving so we just hung around the Inn and played cards and read and relaxed.

The Inn was built in 1904 if I remember right. We had no TV or telephone. the boys were alarmed and didn't know what we would do! The old house part was built out of lodgepole pines. The newer part (built in 1937) had plaster walls and bathrooms have been added to rooms in some parts of the Inn. It was a lovely night. We didn't see much unusual wildlife--no moose.

Tuesday, July 1 The Tetons

The Tetons were marvelous! We did not have enough time to stop and enjoy this place. There are several campgrounds in the park that we will have to take advantage of in the future. You just drive and hike in this backdrop for 50 miles. It reminded Steve and I of the Alps when we were in Solden Austria, except there were alot more peaks like this.

Steve saw lots of places to stop and fly fish. he left his gear back at the camper. We never saw the classic shot with the barn in it. It must have been on the main road not the scenic drive.

We spent the night in Jackson, WY. It is a ski town and had lots of places to shop and the ski resorts are right there in town. It was the most civilization we had seen for about a week. At the main entrances to the park, there were arches made out of antlers!

Monday, June 30--Yellowstone

We got up early and drove the scenic 52 miles to Yellowstone. The mountain view and river valleys and rock formations are amazing! Yellowstone lake is larger than I imagined. It seems to go on for ever and ever.

We saw buffalo in Hayden Valley. We ended up seeing lots of buffalo herds so Steve's trip wish came true.

We hiked the south rim trail in the Yellowstone Canyon area. it looks like the grand canyon on a much smaller scale. the Falls were beautiful. This picture is the lower falls but the taller of the two falls. A storm blew up while we were hiking so we got wet. it was a cold rain. The weather has been in the high 70s during the day and the 50s at night. Real nice. the day temperature depends on the altitude. It can be 70 degrees at 5500 feet but 59 degrees at 7700 feet.

After exploring yellowstone all day, we drove down to the Tetons and spent the night. We ate dinner at Signal mountain over looking Jackson Lake with the Grand Teton in the background. it was quite the sight.

Sunday, June 29 Drive to Cody, WY

We drove over the Big Horn Mountains on the way to Cody. It was beautiful. The wildflowers were blooming everywhere.

Then up on the Pass at 9500 feet there was snow. This is the boys in their bare feet!

We got into Cody before dinner. This is the home of Buffalo Bill. There is a big Museum on Buffalo Bill and a Rodeo every night. We ate at Buffalo Bill's Hotel, The Irma Restaurant. There were big game trophies everywhere--buffalo, elk, moose, antelope, big horn sheep--you get the picture. Another "West looking town".

June 28--Deadwood and Sturgis

This day we drove the scenic Highway 14A. It shows off the many rock formations found in the black hills. We started in Sturgis, SD off I-90. This is home to the largest Harley Davidson bike rally in the US at the beginning of August. There were Harley's everywhere. Spearfish, SD was having a Combat Vet Rally so those bikers were everywhere on our drive. Nice guys and gals.

Deadwood was a gold mining town. It is Wild Bill Hickok's burial place as well as Clamity Jane's. We ate at a sports bar that turned out to have Kevin Costner movie memoriabilia all over the walls. Deadwood has kept the old store fronts and looks very much like an old tymie place.

We hiked to a Roughlock falls that was about a mile off the road. We saw beaver dams on the river and trout in the clear water.