So I spent 3 days in Idaho but I cant really tell you much about any of it. Wasnt feeling too hot on Fri when I left yellowstone and drove to Twin Falls. Woke up the next day with the flu. Saturday I managed to drive 2 hours to Boise though I don't really remember driving and then Sunday I never made it out of bed. Not the funnest thing being stuck sick in a motel room eating soup out of a box. But at least I got caught up on some sleep!!
Yesterday I drove into Oregon because I needed a change of scenery. Finding beds for less then $50 is nice but laying in them for 2 straight days to recover really isn't logical. There's a reason that 90% of the occupancy arrive after 9pm and is gone before 7am. They're hazardous to your health!
Just wanted to post a quick update since I've been silent.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Yellowstone - Old Faithful
Last full day in Yellowstone.
Woke up and started packing up the car for the day and snapped my fishing rod. "But we were only just starting to get to know each other," I said. I really need to stop talking to inanimate objects huh??
I've started to grow weary of camping with an already full car so I've decided to make this my last day here. There is still much to see but now I have an excuse to come back soon! So instead of fishing in the morning I ended up doing laundry. Wa Wa!
Spent most of the afternoon sightseeing from the road and exploring on the trails. Was a good unplanned day to just roam around since fishing was off the table. Had a huge fire to celebrate my last day and stayed up way too late but all I had on my plate for the next day was roading it so...
Woke up and started packing up the car for the day and snapped my fishing rod. "But we were only just starting to get to know each other," I said. I really need to stop talking to inanimate objects huh??
I've started to grow weary of camping with an already full car so I've decided to make this my last day here. There is still much to see but now I have an excuse to come back soon! So instead of fishing in the morning I ended up doing laundry. Wa Wa!
Spent most of the afternoon sightseeing from the road and exploring on the trails. Was a good unplanned day to just roam around since fishing was off the table. Had a huge fire to celebrate my last day and stayed up way too late but all I had on my plate for the next day was roading it so...
Yellowstone - Indian Creek
So today was all abour fishing...or so I thought. Got up, packed up the car and was at fishing bridge before 8 am. Decided to sit down and have a little breakfast and met a nice couple one week short of their 50th anniversary. They were from PA and their gift to each other was a trip across country. They shared stories from their trip so far and I did as well. Funny thing, they told me a similar story about driving along a highway in Montana where they saw no cars for miles. She just about choked on her coffee when I told them my thoughts on no passing signs!!
After breakfast I geared up for fishing after getting advice from another guide. It didn't sound promising due to the temps and time of yr but who cares. Headed north and within a few miles i spotted some rapids I had to check out. And so it went most of the morning. Don't think there were many fish in there but any excuse to be wading out into the river was good enough for me. By noon I was up to Canyon where I loaded up on Jerky and fruit. That would be lunch and dinner.
A short drive out of Canyon was my first planned destination for the day - Canyon Lake. Was told it's not right on the road so I'd have to walk in my stuff. I'm thinking 2 birds with one stone right? A little hike and fish - Perfect! 3 or 4 miles later!!! Um I cant even run 3 miles an hr let alone hike it. Of course there is this big sign a half mile in... "Bear Country. Only hike in groups of 3 or more. Make sure you are equiped with Bear Spray. Use your Bear Bells regularly." Strikes 1,2,3. So onward I go. I finally arrive and I see two people doing some fly fishing from shore so I am pumped. Walked to the other side of the lake planning to work my way back along the shore. I notice its already 2:30 and I dont even have a campsite for the night. Fish for a few minutes and then BAM - Fish On!!! Got two more over the hr I was there and then decided I needed to head back. The river fishing up by Tower is my true destination after all.
I get up to Tower and the campsite is full. NO!!!! Ok well I'll just head to the next campsite (21 miles away) setup and then head back to fish. An hour later I pull in and guess what...FULL! Ok so now what? I start to panic. I'm about 3 hours away from a site I know I can get but its already 6:00. Luckily I find a smaller campsite that has a spot for me. I love Yellowstone!!! Did I say fish on today??? Why yes, yes I did.
After breakfast I geared up for fishing after getting advice from another guide. It didn't sound promising due to the temps and time of yr but who cares. Headed north and within a few miles i spotted some rapids I had to check out. And so it went most of the morning. Don't think there were many fish in there but any excuse to be wading out into the river was good enough for me. By noon I was up to Canyon where I loaded up on Jerky and fruit. That would be lunch and dinner.
A short drive out of Canyon was my first planned destination for the day - Canyon Lake. Was told it's not right on the road so I'd have to walk in my stuff. I'm thinking 2 birds with one stone right? A little hike and fish - Perfect! 3 or 4 miles later!!! Um I cant even run 3 miles an hr let alone hike it. Of course there is this big sign a half mile in... "Bear Country. Only hike in groups of 3 or more. Make sure you are equiped with Bear Spray. Use your Bear Bells regularly." Strikes 1,2,3. So onward I go. I finally arrive and I see two people doing some fly fishing from shore so I am pumped. Walked to the other side of the lake planning to work my way back along the shore. I notice its already 2:30 and I dont even have a campsite for the night. Fish for a few minutes and then BAM - Fish On!!! Got two more over the hr I was there and then decided I needed to head back. The river fishing up by Tower is my true destination after all.
I get up to Tower and the campsite is full. NO!!!! Ok well I'll just head to the next campsite (21 miles away) setup and then head back to fish. An hour later I pull in and guess what...FULL! Ok so now what? I start to panic. I'm about 3 hours away from a site I know I can get but its already 6:00. Luckily I find a smaller campsite that has a spot for me. I love Yellowstone!!! Did I say fish on today??? Why yes, yes I did.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yellowstone - Bridge Bay
First full day in Yellowstone. Woke up this morning to frost on my car. So nice to be cold again!! Broke camp and headed more towards the center of the park. Talked to one of the rangers about fishing and got a pretty good feel for the scene. Alot of the creeks and rivers are closed for fishing because the water levels are too low. In the larger bodies the trout are down deep so its gonna be tough going from the sounds of it but I think I've got it handled. Will likely head up to the north end of the park and hit some of the rivers up there.
Got a site at Bridge Bay on Lake Yellowstone. While I was setting up my tent I heard a large noise behind me and turned around and there was this big old Bison checking me out. See what I said about the facial hair (see Denver post)? Even wildlife are checking me out. Course maybe he/she thought I was one of them :)
Did some exploring and some hiking today. There is so much to do and see. There are like 8 main hub areas in the park. I spent time in Grant Village, Fishing Bridge and Canyon Village. They each have visitor/information centers. Also got to see the Mud Valcanos and Sulphur Caldrons. Amazing to look at but man do they stink! Makes me wish I was better at science cause its very interesting but I don't really get it. Saw a ton of bison today in the fields and a really cool Hawk in a tree. No bears yet which I think I'm OK with. Decided to check out the ampitheater show tonight. It's on cutthroat trout which is fitting cause I am planning to meet a bunch of them tomorrow.
There is virtually no cell service in the park so I'm gonna try to write a little each day and when I get a chance I will post whatever I have.
Trip log - DAY 15
Miles Driven - 87
Day Rating - 8
Got a site at Bridge Bay on Lake Yellowstone. While I was setting up my tent I heard a large noise behind me and turned around and there was this big old Bison checking me out. See what I said about the facial hair (see Denver post)? Even wildlife are checking me out. Course maybe he/she thought I was one of them :)
Did some exploring and some hiking today. There is so much to do and see. There are like 8 main hub areas in the park. I spent time in Grant Village, Fishing Bridge and Canyon Village. They each have visitor/information centers. Also got to see the Mud Valcanos and Sulphur Caldrons. Amazing to look at but man do they stink! Makes me wish I was better at science cause its very interesting but I don't really get it. Saw a ton of bison today in the fields and a really cool Hawk in a tree. No bears yet which I think I'm OK with. Decided to check out the ampitheater show tonight. It's on cutthroat trout which is fitting cause I am planning to meet a bunch of them tomorrow.
There is virtually no cell service in the park so I'm gonna try to write a little each day and when I get a chance I will post whatever I have.
Trip log - DAY 15
Miles Driven - 87
Day Rating - 8
Yellowstone - Lewis Lake
Arrived at Yellowstone. Hooray!!
Suffered my first setback on the trip on the way in. Amazing since I'm starting my 3rd week. Construction was crazy on the outskirts of Teton and there was new rock laid so speed limit was 30 and there were no lane lines so it was no passing. Some idiot with a trailer comes barrelin around us (I was behind 3 cars) and the rocks start flying. I slam on the brakes and move off to the shoulder hoping to save the windshield. It survived but I got 4 pretty little holes. Oh well, hoping they don't spider soon.
Drove through Teton for a awhile and then on to Yellowstone. Found a little campsite on the south end of the park at Lewis lake. They just had a Grizzly walk through camp 3 weeks ago today!! Dont worry I got goldfish in case one pays me a visit!! See what a good planner I am? Got me a cool site right on the edge of the woods. The grounds are pretty empty except right by the entrance so there is nobody around. Got a bunch of lit for the park so just trying to make me some plans. This park is sooo huge. It's good to be back to the tenting again :)
Trip log - Day 14
Miles Driven - 186
Animals seen - 0 (Except on my windshield)
Suffered my first setback on the trip on the way in. Amazing since I'm starting my 3rd week. Construction was crazy on the outskirts of Teton and there was new rock laid so speed limit was 30 and there were no lane lines so it was no passing. Some idiot with a trailer comes barrelin around us (I was behind 3 cars) and the rocks start flying. I slam on the brakes and move off to the shoulder hoping to save the windshield. It survived but I got 4 pretty little holes. Oh well, hoping they don't spider soon.
Drove through Teton for a awhile and then on to Yellowstone. Found a little campsite on the south end of the park at Lewis lake. They just had a Grizzly walk through camp 3 weeks ago today!! Dont worry I got goldfish in case one pays me a visit!! See what a good planner I am? Got me a cool site right on the edge of the woods. The grounds are pretty empty except right by the entrance so there is nobody around. Got a bunch of lit for the park so just trying to make me some plans. This park is sooo huge. It's good to be back to the tenting again :)
Trip log - Day 14
Miles Driven - 186
Animals seen - 0 (Except on my windshield)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Wyoming
Um does anyone even live in Wyoming?
So I'm driving down a two-lane highway like 5 hours into my trip aned there's nobody around. Now this thing they call GPS was the bomb when I was driving around Denver. But then again I was sightseeing so it didn't matter when it took me a little out of the way. Buy here in Wyoming I start to think it's gone bonkers and i'm lost. There are signs along the highway and little yellow lines down the middle but its just me. So I take note of my odometer just in case I need to turn around so I know how far lost I am. 31 miles later a car passes me going the other way. 31 miles!!! I kept laughing at the "no passing zone" signs... I mean who am I gonna pass????
So I get to my destination town and head for my motel. After obeying all her directions she finally says "location is on your right." So I glance over and all I see is a trailer and whole bunch of...well let's just call it "antiques." So I talk back to her explaining that she can stay there if she wants but not me. So I keep going and she says "go 300 feet and make a u-turn." To which I respond, "there is no place to make a u-turn here." Every 10 seconds she continues to emplore me to turn around and it seems like her voice is getting louder. It's like she is getting angier that I am not listening to her! So I finally listen to her and head back in the direction I came. After a bit she says, "destination is on your left" but it's the same trailer. Surely I'm not gonna pull over and ask for directions cause I have a GPS! and I'm certainly not gonna go knock on the trailer and ask for a room!! So i finally pull over and check the website and the address for the motel was different then what the GPS had. If I would have just continued about another mile down the road originally I would have made it. That's what I get for listening to a broad!! :)
Pretty uneventful day! Tomorrow is Yellowstone!!!!
Trip log Day 13
Miles Driven: 384
Coffee/Coke consumed: 3/4 (there is no scenery in Wyoming)
Day Rating:5
So I'm driving down a two-lane highway like 5 hours into my trip aned there's nobody around. Now this thing they call GPS was the bomb when I was driving around Denver. But then again I was sightseeing so it didn't matter when it took me a little out of the way. Buy here in Wyoming I start to think it's gone bonkers and i'm lost. There are signs along the highway and little yellow lines down the middle but its just me. So I take note of my odometer just in case I need to turn around so I know how far lost I am. 31 miles later a car passes me going the other way. 31 miles!!! I kept laughing at the "no passing zone" signs... I mean who am I gonna pass????
So I get to my destination town and head for my motel. After obeying all her directions she finally says "location is on your right." So I glance over and all I see is a trailer and whole bunch of...well let's just call it "antiques." So I talk back to her explaining that she can stay there if she wants but not me. So I keep going and she says "go 300 feet and make a u-turn." To which I respond, "there is no place to make a u-turn here." Every 10 seconds she continues to emplore me to turn around and it seems like her voice is getting louder. It's like she is getting angier that I am not listening to her! So I finally listen to her and head back in the direction I came. After a bit she says, "destination is on your left" but it's the same trailer. Surely I'm not gonna pull over and ask for directions cause I have a GPS! and I'm certainly not gonna go knock on the trailer and ask for a room!! So i finally pull over and check the website and the address for the motel was different then what the GPS had. If I would have just continued about another mile down the road originally I would have made it. That's what I get for listening to a broad!! :)
Pretty uneventful day! Tomorrow is Yellowstone!!!!
Trip log Day 13
Miles Driven: 384
Coffee/Coke consumed: 3/4 (there is no scenery in Wyoming)
Day Rating:5
Denver
Whew I need a vacation!! Oh that's right....
So I settled into my temporary home for 5 nights and hit the road exploring Denver. Looked at a bunch of rentals in a variety of neighborhoods. Turns out Denver is pretty small so there is a TON of traffic. I forgot what that was like living 7 miles from work. Found some pretty cool locales but they were pretty small units and very expensive per square foot. Spent some time in Aurora and Loveland (suburbs) which had more reasonable rentals and also in Boulder (which I liked alot). Checked out the downtown area and drove by all the major sports venues. Took a ton of notes and think I got what I needed to make a decision when I'm ready.
Some nights I got home pretty late and popped a meal in the microwave and just crashed. Boring I know. Other nights I wandered across the parking lot to the local watering hole. Met some very interesting people :) Either I look better with some facial hair (haven't shaved since I left Arizona) or the locals have lower standards.
Overall Denver seemed more like work then an adventure because I was so busy every day. I definitely liked Denver so we will see how it compares to Seattle.
Miles Driven: 437
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