tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25243226802328538802024-03-04T20:18:52.458-08:00GregoryFrye.comGregory Frye's personal blog and life...Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.comBlogger951125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-90860460992525936272014-09-01T21:04:00.000-07:002014-09-01T21:04:56.043-07:00Vacation 2014: McCall Side Trip and Nostalgia Tour: Day 10<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Today wasn’t exactly an adventure after all. Gregory and I drove into McCall. A place we have ventured to a million times. And the routine is always the same. Have lunch, go to Mountain Java for a warming drink, go home. The most notable thing that happened was a crazy man, was shouting “Repent, Sinners!” from a street corner. Doesn’t he know fire and brimstone are so last century?</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOQvJFKPI6F9zglCnLf68GphUlVXbxZqGFBDgEEXyzmXWi7ZNx7mRTJQ15dca1LMbDrXPNc9E1_2BlDZEk7F1j9wz2f8pHUoic8W6eRSwry94cPOQlFN9LGo33nsIi6L19TTbZrHan5s/s640/blogger-image--1695024673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOQvJFKPI6F9zglCnLf68GphUlVXbxZqGFBDgEEXyzmXWi7ZNx7mRTJQ15dca1LMbDrXPNc9E1_2BlDZEk7F1j9wz2f8pHUoic8W6eRSwry94cPOQlFN9LGo33nsIi6L19TTbZrHan5s/s640/blogger-image--1695024673.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We had a tasty pizza and gigantic bowl of tater tots at Growler’s. It was arbitrary and pretty tasty. The pizza reminded me of Round Table, which is a good thing. I LOVE Round Table, and not just because of the King Arthur theme. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to that being one of the draws. Afterward, we walked down to Mountain Java. See? Always the same.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41t-FdXPmyoW9q6LylRB2wA2Rg3Q_mRu9jJXnBlCQiuN0qL9QDAsEtvV_47nYcmFRIIGrGZS8AculS0HQcLDsovzvr4Dc67M20vhH-MHutT4T2x7P4o6GUUtM4foFktiqIuPVUo9l0BI/s640/blogger-image-1155274927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41t-FdXPmyoW9q6LylRB2wA2Rg3Q_mRu9jJXnBlCQiuN0qL9QDAsEtvV_47nYcmFRIIGrGZS8AculS0HQcLDsovzvr4Dc67M20vhH-MHutT4T2x7P4o6GUUtM4foFktiqIuPVUo9l0BI/s640/blogger-image-1155274927.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z8BdbDR2FLmV-Oj5cuBHeiQ0YMzH6k7eV4rAI4ERT865W6J7OkyYodtBo5_dwKAkLWTygBdst10y3GErb2ver5A7AdK8cz7v2akSQ6WCRETUVZYE5uYtL3Z9IziIc1KfMSn4yJV_rCI/s640/blogger-image--237357729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z8BdbDR2FLmV-Oj5cuBHeiQ0YMzH6k7eV4rAI4ERT865W6J7OkyYodtBo5_dwKAkLWTygBdst10y3GErb2ver5A7AdK8cz7v2akSQ6WCRETUVZYE5uYtL3Z9IziIc1KfMSn4yJV_rCI/s640/blogger-image--237357729.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
On our way back to the car, we passed by the crazy religious dude who, it appeared, had just changed his sign to the “repent sodomites” sign. It’s like he knew we were coming! How sweet. Don’t make eye contact! They see that as a sign of aggression. If they charge at you, try to appear as big as possible and make lots of noise! If that doesn’t deter them, give them a bouquet of flowers cleverly accented with catnip and throw a bag of feral cats at them.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We passed by without incident, though my mind had raced in about a million directions.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We wandered into a couple of chatchka shops, and eventually returned to the car, then drove back to Pollock.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
On our way back we stopped in New Meadows for a quick "nostalgia tour." Gregory points out the houses his parents lived in, the house he grew up in, the house his friend grew up in, and the trailer they moved to. Then out to the old log house, then to see his dad's first house, the school, the depot, not necessarily in that order. Today they were having the logging show. We arrived at the end of it. There was something about the tear down frenzy of the art and craft exhibitors that felt a little melancholy.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Once back at the house, I repacked the car, did some laundry, and petted the cat.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ClQ3DMY2PQot5-qfiJgJaLxsFuVC95wa8P4PbjyoZFJ-XkeTmNQaj2KylV83BIkQKT-td2hhkkQxanduMX6J73eCj6JKMuKl6QgUz0NyERInvKOCCClXO4E5bPjuZtU8jzLFvKMkuAE/s640/blogger-image-1254568516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ClQ3DMY2PQot5-qfiJgJaLxsFuVC95wa8P4PbjyoZFJ-XkeTmNQaj2KylV83BIkQKT-td2hhkkQxanduMX6J73eCj6JKMuKl6QgUz0NyERInvKOCCClXO4E5bPjuZtU8jzLFvKMkuAE/s640/blogger-image-1254568516.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCiOPgNaqd14MCxdSjFooNqjBTuq_dLAcrMsXtAB_1mbJ13IYGWI-XkBFdLbvd1KJP7sYaFgsajoUa1ng2M9zcqyNfB8pVCtkV9NlXWXO0JBm42SU_cwDT79TCi4Fp-dvr60FniHYnzE/s640/blogger-image-2047698063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCiOPgNaqd14MCxdSjFooNqjBTuq_dLAcrMsXtAB_1mbJ13IYGWI-XkBFdLbvd1KJP7sYaFgsajoUa1ng2M9zcqyNfB8pVCtkV9NlXWXO0JBm42SU_cwDT79TCi4Fp-dvr60FniHYnzE/s640/blogger-image-2047698063.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The rest of the evening was spent visiting. Jill made a delicious seafood chowder, and served it with buttery toasted bread, perfect for dipping in the creamy, garlicky broth. Heaven!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Tomorrow we begin the long journey home. It is an 8-hour drive to Fallon and I’m not in a hurry to leave. But leave we must.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUIfaKdvDKssPjqMHCyrJrOTXdU4-2yfPpAZRCnAbYDmmUWUSIZhh3kh6RQVjk_YvbCLlQ1JGDzBY19d7AsdLlasfYZQPDbx8-G-xBVqXtwHKlKn61IYyJZ1ACtGfVE7ea0CfilTqMio/s640/blogger-image--1601856943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUIfaKdvDKssPjqMHCyrJrOTXdU4-2yfPpAZRCnAbYDmmUWUSIZhh3kh6RQVjk_YvbCLlQ1JGDzBY19d7AsdLlasfYZQPDbx8-G-xBVqXtwHKlKn61IYyJZ1ACtGfVE7ea0CfilTqMio/s640/blogger-image--1601856943.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm3dqI4QGU1Fktr4MNRSU-3KSlHDDlb2NtTqiSVTceyuU5q0K8xTaIat8Wz8nxL6B6snumrjLj4kvk5Aqt2dTD9WU_0evynN5nDR23Da32X2iWfqRxMlYexNIsz63U_7ZTEAI7mQbAxo/s640/blogger-image--1706658236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm3dqI4QGU1Fktr4MNRSU-3KSlHDDlb2NtTqiSVTceyuU5q0K8xTaIat8Wz8nxL6B6snumrjLj4kvk5Aqt2dTD9WU_0evynN5nDR23Da32X2iWfqRxMlYexNIsz63U_7ZTEAI7mQbAxo/s640/blogger-image--1706658236.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-22394248215785250022014-08-31T20:51:00.001-07:002014-08-31T20:51:25.383-07:00Vacation 2014: Relaxing in Idaho: Day 9<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This post is more pictures than doing. Because we didn’t do much today. Mostly talked about what we were going to do today. First I decided to walk up to the top of the knoll above the house and take a couple of pictures. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rUxrvtgMzj9EoSFYs8vnHVRN7uGWJN0fvR4sHm2RzGkDB2DJ-7WNQIKVaxuhe_tEOzBv4Gjdf3seu86hdy-acjQqfhHmBpbBC0imNA0u0lhlFHbrO5lchstS8niZrescXrD5iMnuDgk/s640/blogger-image--1349847042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rUxrvtgMzj9EoSFYs8vnHVRN7uGWJN0fvR4sHm2RzGkDB2DJ-7WNQIKVaxuhe_tEOzBv4Gjdf3seu86hdy-acjQqfhHmBpbBC0imNA0u0lhlFHbrO5lchstS8niZrescXrD5iMnuDgk/s640/blogger-image--1349847042.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbGHOoACY68IaSi7k9g7R_ujmR9Ujux1qZNccCCifjzcVXs_ao7sCx8UcwiMpDi2jumdwr9hjUAGMLlbDJdW9quWkALMqy1tLe1gRoYhPEOXWgsAe56Y3m_fgib2phc48MXu8kjG_J5Y/s640/blogger-image-1474301471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbGHOoACY68IaSi7k9g7R_ujmR9Ujux1qZNccCCifjzcVXs_ao7sCx8UcwiMpDi2jumdwr9hjUAGMLlbDJdW9quWkALMqy1tLe1gRoYhPEOXWgsAe56Y3m_fgib2phc48MXu8kjG_J5Y/s640/blogger-image-1474301471.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Finally we went up to a work site to help Gregory’s dad, Ron, clean up and collect his tools. The view from the top of the mountain above Pollock was beautiful and a storm was starting to form.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The work site was an addition that Ron put on a house he had built 10 years ago (designed and built!). The new work was a garage and apartment above, completely separate from the rest of the house. This was a log home and any attempt to describe it would be useless. It was just like what you see in the magazines. Beautiful rock work accents, which seamlessly became a huge fireplace. A loft workspace above a fully furnished kitchen, high ceilings and everything that mixed modern comfort and convenience with rustic log home living. I was afraid I would leave claw marks in the stone when they tried to drag me away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ88x4ytd9OvkhFVYIsOezuur3f2CQh5DLvnaxCT5WxhXb3CwvIa5VKVV02oiDktB3ZKy90VDoIi6zeoRt1OaDEcxZazgVh3FlQPplWhWTp6pu3VANWl01_9dgi4n0C-U1rWHbMAiCKM/s640/blogger-image--391536090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ88x4ytd9OvkhFVYIsOezuur3f2CQh5DLvnaxCT5WxhXb3CwvIa5VKVV02oiDktB3ZKy90VDoIi6zeoRt1OaDEcxZazgVh3FlQPplWhWTp6pu3VANWl01_9dgi4n0C-U1rWHbMAiCKM/s640/blogger-image--391536090.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWonSjiivz2-1aADIJfWuDEB5kFvRtavwnUMF75LeuVlZXpwo6YbFr9IfyiJpNjCf08FVNrhkF85l4ZDdTNu4yiaJXcSVjsBp1t0BN-s8LWiw3A5x9f0ayqSYEVcvhxukuewUL9C7Ye1o/s640/blogger-image--1212134991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWonSjiivz2-1aADIJfWuDEB5kFvRtavwnUMF75LeuVlZXpwo6YbFr9IfyiJpNjCf08FVNrhkF85l4ZDdTNu4yiaJXcSVjsBp1t0BN-s8LWiw3A5x9f0ayqSYEVcvhxukuewUL9C7Ye1o/s640/blogger-image--1212134991.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWtFJQwve6x8R20Ey0oG2wquEopQ0rvdvYIK9luRi5PHJSaqolHKRC_Wv8VLaiznDeO_5rrNNB7hsMQ9eaH_tlHpDOgWYBA1z0SrKSxqk_Hsej1xzylyKcN71y4YbjW7lDAqniti3N6I/s640/blogger-image-1296331804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWtFJQwve6x8R20Ey0oG2wquEopQ0rvdvYIK9luRi5PHJSaqolHKRC_Wv8VLaiznDeO_5rrNNB7hsMQ9eaH_tlHpDOgWYBA1z0SrKSxqk_Hsej1xzylyKcN71y4YbjW7lDAqniti3N6I/s640/blogger-image-1296331804.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7DSBWrdgYtHqdXkoX4E55suNtT5897sMFdFt5cPHTjbPQpxs0L_C2ejGE5EQb9NggU0UKVZ1i-Zt04FM0QI-tN3ZoJqRj0NZt5IByLdq8eaOyoUvkfG7iu1IWLXcpnwGkdASFx-JTdM/s640/blogger-image--1438356386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7DSBWrdgYtHqdXkoX4E55suNtT5897sMFdFt5cPHTjbPQpxs0L_C2ejGE5EQb9NggU0UKVZ1i-Zt04FM0QI-tN3ZoJqRj0NZt5IByLdq8eaOyoUvkfG7iu1IWLXcpnwGkdASFx-JTdM/s640/blogger-image--1438356386.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I could get used to having a front porch like this.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Then they told me what it was like up here in the winter. Ummm, maybe a summer home instead? I could make that work.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkOvpPnFUlTpOoYGGRFf_mBUadk3wqdh_eAQ4L5nL7S8XO1kuUaX5qd-caO3o_8MeDYDeUTaYbt682jndcVVABQycJe01vhkjuvCiilkIpyqwjHHbAz6YRSOQfeQ1y6U0aMbNKE_jKeQ/s640/blogger-image-12997036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkOvpPnFUlTpOoYGGRFf_mBUadk3wqdh_eAQ4L5nL7S8XO1kuUaX5qd-caO3o_8MeDYDeUTaYbt682jndcVVABQycJe01vhkjuvCiilkIpyqwjHHbAz6YRSOQfeQ1y6U0aMbNKE_jKeQ/s640/blogger-image-12997036.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We returned back to the house and basically spent the afternoon listening to the rain and sipping hot cocoa. Idaho in the rain is a magical place. Tomorrow we will have a proper adventure.</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-61737209581890267612014-08-31T11:44:00.000-07:002014-08-31T11:45:14.051-07:00Vacation 2014: From Winter to Summer: Day 8<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
At 1AM or so, someone’s car alarm started going off in the camp ground. I thought it was our car and jumped up, grabbing for the keys and fumbling for the off button. Before I could figure out which one to press, the alarm stopped. I peered out the tent flap and saw the offending vehicle belonged to our neighbors.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
After that, I laid awake for what felt like hours. I thought about everything. Our vacation, all the things we had done. Trying to remember it all for these write-ups. I thought about the music projects I had waiting for me back home, and new projects that I was eager to start working on. Ways that I want to try to reshape my life and routines to make everything better and more efficient.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I thought about mom. A lot. And dad. There are so many complicated feelings I’m still trying to work through. Not just what had happened, but larger questions of mortality and the purpose of everything. The rain had stopped pounding the tent (so glad, incidentally that we decided to put on the rain fly when we first set up the tent, just in case). But now that the storm had blown away, the clear sky also meant a drop in temperature. I was cold and uncomfortable and wide awake. I finally got up to take a short walk. I was too tired to be awake, but my mind was spinning, flipping from channel to channel, and I couldn’t seem to quiet the erratic stream of thoughts that kept vying for attention.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I returned to the tent hopeful I would be able to sleep. I shut my eyes for a moment and suddenly it was light and the alarm was going off. Time to end the camping and Yellowstone part of our adventure. We were able to pack up quickly, and a good thing too, as it was about 40 degrees outside. The cold rain from the night before felt even colder as we tried to shake it from the tent. My hands were ice.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We haphazardly threw everything in the car and hopped in the car to get warm. After my hands finally thawed, we mapped our next destination: Ron and Jill’s house in Idaho, a short 7-hour jaunt over hill and stream. We opted to take the north road through Montana and down into Pollock from the north, rather than approach from the south. It was only a little longer and way more interesting drive.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We set out and had three notable stops. Two are food related. The first was the Woodside Bakery in the city of West Yellowstone, Montana (incidentally, my first visit to Montana!).</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
State line!!! New area unlocked!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvxr9VTBseJNLtd7sB7dCaX4flkqL5QIXXLGkrUYmt7UFXbm3aKxqVxdqCPHTmoEQcEcHciqiz_N5yPELLc7zPOh7zNXct7qJ9aYPWZmwAx6u1fKbXseOckz-NoyLYRoBTDD0sRwlyXw/s640/blogger-image--929826087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvxr9VTBseJNLtd7sB7dCaX4flkqL5QIXXLGkrUYmt7UFXbm3aKxqVxdqCPHTmoEQcEcHciqiz_N5yPELLc7zPOh7zNXct7qJ9aYPWZmwAx6u1fKbXseOckz-NoyLYRoBTDD0sRwlyXw/s640/blogger-image--929826087.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
As soon as we walked in the place smelled of sugar and butter. A large inviting case filled with breakfast pastries welcomed us. We ordered sausage, egg, and cheddar croissants and they were THE tastiest ever! It took a while, but so worth the wait. You could really taste the love.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Next stop was in Bozeman at the Museum of the Rockies. I was a little underwhelmed, because I was led to believe this was an amazing dinosaur museum. I love dinosaurs, and am in a constant state of wanting to see them, but I feel bad in saying it wasn’t the most spectacular museum. The best part was the three archaeologists actually working on specimens behind glass. They were so life-like, chiseling, grinding and scraping away at their respective fossils. There were some cool displays, like the dino models that were half fully realized, and when you walk around to the other side, the other half was only bones, revealing the structure. But overall, I enjoyed the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah better.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
They did have a really cool gecko exhibit with 20 different geckos from all over the world in cool terrariums. It made me want a gecko. The only downside to that was a video with some guy, completely unaware of how creepy he sounded, talking about specialty breeding certain kinds of geckos, referring to them as living art. Whatever, Dr. Mengele.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The other notable stop was in Missoula at Caffe Dolce. This is the kind of place that could just serve bags of food. Everything was tasty even the dinky-looking little salad was not to be underestimated. It had big deep flavors between the arugula, walnuts and goat cheese. We devoured a lamb burger and a chicken burger, all the while growling at the other patrons. My lamb burger!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
After we were escorted out, we just headed straight to our destination, and state line!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiIEekfW95jFeOPKvHQINGF_vcXosoaqsjBjlefEh7dD_B4uKBAKpHNoLYh3k-mOEski1L86T2K846RWO_9oq6GaNpFGqVlsruZIoGWV72jVMXFUlVKyRuclswMvbSgcSxL0JtND5ue0/s640/blogger-image--370284444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiIEekfW95jFeOPKvHQINGF_vcXosoaqsjBjlefEh7dD_B4uKBAKpHNoLYh3k-mOEski1L86T2K846RWO_9oq6GaNpFGqVlsruZIoGWV72jVMXFUlVKyRuclswMvbSgcSxL0JtND5ue0/s640/blogger-image--370284444.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAfyEZMXtKaX4HrMLXTuiKkkt53_Vl-TtH2DJyz14ZHK9u_g58orMH5Vm4PbXXESV_JdT18Xeo6Ry3wV3UC6OIQfnjxhxI90p5ALUFzi30la6i-5flrpAe8FUQ7qG3bMnkMo_FlHLhQ/s640/blogger-image--1704778074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAfyEZMXtKaX4HrMLXTuiKkkt53_Vl-TtH2DJyz14ZHK9u_g58orMH5Vm4PbXXESV_JdT18Xeo6Ry3wV3UC6OIQfnjxhxI90p5ALUFzi30la6i-5flrpAe8FUQ7qG3bMnkMo_FlHLhQ/s640/blogger-image--1704778074.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We arrived safely. As we exited the car in Pollock, it was now 92 degrees! We were greeted by the Frye’s new cat. (They were forcibly ab-dopted). Gregory received a welcoming bee sting. We finally got a shower after three days, and did a bit laundry. We had a delicious dinner and dessert lovingly prepared by Jill, and got to relax a bit. I’m just looking forward to making up for the missing hours of sleep.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-71818363713483406802014-08-30T20:10:00.000-07:002014-08-30T20:10:24.068-07:00Vacation 2014: Yellowstone Grand Loop: Day 7<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The roads in Yellowstone are basically shaped like a number 8. We entered at the south part of the lower circle, and drove up the left side, passing by Old Faithful, which is about halfway up the bottom loop. Madison, where we were camping, is located on the left side, just before the bottom loop meets the top loop.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Today’s adventure was to drive the upper loop clockwise.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Gregory had today planned out that we would end at some of the prettiest stuff that Yellowstone has to offer. Our first stop was at Gibbon Falls. There were no monkeys involved here. Just water trickling over rocks. There is a cool wall though. The focus of this stop seems to be more about the history of the man for whom it was named, rather than on the feature itself. On the waterfall scale, I give it a 5.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGORBW6mYqO_RD8_oM8N7lXio_NGneFJR35hQ7tDu-phS_QJANE51ddu7HE8PuMzSywidcgvPyNrZjcqBvQOM5TJjWFHONwHI6a4dJhukjy3NESNpHIcAutE8Kr8F2BKpfOJ2qcfZH8z0/s640/blogger-image-1665880092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGORBW6mYqO_RD8_oM8N7lXio_NGneFJR35hQ7tDu-phS_QJANE51ddu7HE8PuMzSywidcgvPyNrZjcqBvQOM5TJjWFHONwHI6a4dJhukjy3NESNpHIcAutE8Kr8F2BKpfOJ2qcfZH8z0/s640/blogger-image-1665880092.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOvbCU7QWOvZno1Z61KjZ0b8CT1gtTOk9yA8CbB-MsFXyCFFQG7ySx1rXqEcDveKicVAgcRtMl4ID_fMRRtwHTnV4Vs382LhL2fIz3FP9yChGo5dSz-JmDuCjPnKCpNNk8M_NQjqJ_Qw/s640/blogger-image--993979063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOvbCU7QWOvZno1Z61KjZ0b8CT1gtTOk9yA8CbB-MsFXyCFFQG7ySx1rXqEcDveKicVAgcRtMl4ID_fMRRtwHTnV4Vs382LhL2fIz3FP9yChGo5dSz-JmDuCjPnKCpNNk8M_NQjqJ_Qw/s640/blogger-image--993979063.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
A couple of small stops later we arrived at the Artist Paint Pots, which are a variety of colorful bubbling mud bogs. White, red and milky blue pools dotted the landscape, and smelled more like an easter egg painting party. Big thick mud glopped and splatted with boiling hot goop. There was not enough parking here, so we triple parked, hoping the minivan driver would have enough prowess to get out without mangling all the cars in the lot. When we returned to the car they were apparently successful.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-WI5rAvMcWRRh8hkqo9Uve0iV73gxjKtf_1tjX7JilNyhLopBqu_-YOfYCaRj7cbIaVIA1X7Zpch4pOc3WYCYJt3xVquwMPAM47pqKNDOmL1AIc7Dl_4xZMpTo_NJh2E1TE8cLr60S4/s640/blogger-image-472791594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-WI5rAvMcWRRh8hkqo9Uve0iV73gxjKtf_1tjX7JilNyhLopBqu_-YOfYCaRj7cbIaVIA1X7Zpch4pOc3WYCYJt3xVquwMPAM47pqKNDOmL1AIc7Dl_4xZMpTo_NJh2E1TE8cLr60S4/s640/blogger-image-472791594.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDT3ouOhPvzpxT57V3_gSfwXStllg_t0_DdFj-x2Vd0y_O_YAonNHTyG1u-nh18x-cJlZbVVQELNAL4EeBHqCvEbEvenDYjgh6ncncuHXoF3DY0pMsnFNXXGVTkTTNhL3fLz-IXsUVIw/s640/blogger-image--1237824459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDT3ouOhPvzpxT57V3_gSfwXStllg_t0_DdFj-x2Vd0y_O_YAonNHTyG1u-nh18x-cJlZbVVQELNAL4EeBHqCvEbEvenDYjgh6ncncuHXoF3DY0pMsnFNXXGVTkTTNhL3fLz-IXsUVIw/s640/blogger-image--1237824459.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Our next stop was at the Norris Geyser Basin. There were some incredible colors here. Big pools of that mysterious milky blue with rusty edges, and also dark brown, white, yellow, and bright green lined the shallow waterways. Gregory remarked that if someone were Imagineering a Yellowstone Park re-creation and painted the rocks to match these colors, people would probably complain that it didn’t look natural.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEYY_OSvuyMACU0HX3A8UGOcg5JxeoTj5jJCsXuOh698Lk1W6YixoqqtxrRYdeme8IpIAOeH3IzfD0s1rhYs4pCDstHIIj6vpGQERrhlnCt9Px09o4tmyMYISXObVRwsqZJaYJonSj9c/s640/blogger-image-820759045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEYY_OSvuyMACU0HX3A8UGOcg5JxeoTj5jJCsXuOh698Lk1W6YixoqqtxrRYdeme8IpIAOeH3IzfD0s1rhYs4pCDstHIIj6vpGQERrhlnCt9Px09o4tmyMYISXObVRwsqZJaYJonSj9c/s640/blogger-image-820759045.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvp0O9uhg6doq8FvFrDmS6nohh5Eh5CmdiZHSqCYJHFDJut7_4ez9YfEG5kQ5OxYFeM-ZZysRGbKC6wYKt_dy4QJK0TveSyDKWW_JULNxcyPDeqB-MuYyXTQIOSaeuVBlkkqyHRqLBrY/s640/blogger-image--606771893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvp0O9uhg6doq8FvFrDmS6nohh5Eh5CmdiZHSqCYJHFDJut7_4ez9YfEG5kQ5OxYFeM-ZZysRGbKC6wYKt_dy4QJK0TveSyDKWW_JULNxcyPDeqB-MuYyXTQIOSaeuVBlkkqyHRqLBrY/s640/blogger-image--606771893.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Mammoth, our next stop, has some of the most iconic images associated with Yellowstone, which are those colorful terraced fountains. Being late in the summer, only one was really boiling over. The landscape was mostly white and gray with orange-rusty accents. By this time it was hot and the sun was rather unmerciful. Thankfully there wasn’t any shade and lots of stairs. Perfect! And I really had to pee.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykDj0z3lcwKNnqS9Y69QZSoH3huYcQPrRPZTChkz4WIZ1KuXw6su9_8COo6MmihN_JZ9Jc3o9gm5BxS-zO2F6zxVQNgCZjo8XiNCR-sw8WPe1w94bJR3BzDkhMqxeDFGoo9GRzIW9FVk/s640/blogger-image-7510030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykDj0z3lcwKNnqS9Y69QZSoH3huYcQPrRPZTChkz4WIZ1KuXw6su9_8COo6MmihN_JZ9Jc3o9gm5BxS-zO2F6zxVQNgCZjo8XiNCR-sw8WPe1w94bJR3BzDkhMqxeDFGoo9GRzIW9FVk/s640/blogger-image-7510030.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg_m4neQ4o6mat0iHgFgshfwrdgsu1xvU7nzXZToz0aSsyUXqigAYhcAtrT-g7IgLYKbLYIihyphenhyphenX-SYk_FZPjw7yw4Hb7KM0VPpPfAnVtFLdve_m74YZO8Fcn1trYK-4LYZ07w_4HtZys/s640/blogger-image-1723167253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg_m4neQ4o6mat0iHgFgshfwrdgsu1xvU7nzXZToz0aSsyUXqigAYhcAtrT-g7IgLYKbLYIihyphenhyphenX-SYk_FZPjw7yw4Hb7KM0VPpPfAnVtFLdve_m74YZO8Fcn1trYK-4LYZ07w_4HtZys/s640/blogger-image-1723167253.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZRh5W-yktpNJRYuUePLp-A3cNfo1djqg7tUTeY2wWaFcWdhKNqA2UUxCZpABIPO1SWmsPti75CR6pHIHB1uqDzK9fbwNxX6VcsMf2mJNneNX6R4TE_X9Zpfy5gaQ7-SbQmGKOyzCBWM/s640/blogger-image--276160924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZRh5W-yktpNJRYuUePLp-A3cNfo1djqg7tUTeY2wWaFcWdhKNqA2UUxCZpABIPO1SWmsPti75CR6pHIHB1uqDzK9fbwNxX6VcsMf2mJNneNX6R4TE_X9Zpfy5gaQ7-SbQmGKOyzCBWM/s640/blogger-image--276160924.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJFwyTUN_wABt4_TFUf2iDmPwWN7x9S2IJA4x8v0KIXrIvBkSw3ovjMOrGjr2dZ6DOEXKFpvfsorKRfo3ND8wgMNhkyEdK3Um7Z35td6fxUEw72lfqfa7aNWsUGHwmK7V8WbXpNBNCL4/s640/blogger-image-243146595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJFwyTUN_wABt4_TFUf2iDmPwWN7x9S2IJA4x8v0KIXrIvBkSw3ovjMOrGjr2dZ6DOEXKFpvfsorKRfo3ND8wgMNhkyEdK3Um7Z35td6fxUEw72lfqfa7aNWsUGHwmK7V8WbXpNBNCL4/s640/blogger-image-243146595.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Along the way to the next location we stopped occasionally to admire the scenery and breathe in the incredible fresh mountain air. There was a fire several years ago, and the remnants of it are still evident as dead limbless trees rise eerily above the dense copses of eager new growth.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8TcliM9EGdpOTmSihj09RAF0FSohzWhEzoINPQ8mqtkIZouhJvXof82XaYYsKcSCIpLRbxf1PVAmrdj8dE3UcyImf8YqnTYOxZm1xUkRwz5i52jXVecVedm1gWJDYou_Tc80kYRrIRs/s640/blogger-image-423845132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8TcliM9EGdpOTmSihj09RAF0FSohzWhEzoINPQ8mqtkIZouhJvXof82XaYYsKcSCIpLRbxf1PVAmrdj8dE3UcyImf8YqnTYOxZm1xUkRwz5i52jXVecVedm1gWJDYou_Tc80kYRrIRs/s640/blogger-image-423845132.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ_g5EAuF9OXERFOXNNP70mV6iF41dPJWJMrwmzMIlDM_j-99Z2Myd2X0UOpZOLrG_8flpX5ENahnJRhGyMhCSiGx8klDtVvJqj_aiGLnhHEaiTIbUG4bBnVaHbmcgAHW970Hor3jqUI/s640/blogger-image--1924988756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ_g5EAuF9OXERFOXNNP70mV6iF41dPJWJMrwmzMIlDM_j-99Z2Myd2X0UOpZOLrG_8flpX5ENahnJRhGyMhCSiGx8klDtVvJqj_aiGLnhHEaiTIbUG4bBnVaHbmcgAHW970Hor3jqUI/s640/blogger-image--1924988756.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1prQrOYf-VJqmfOHQqvwqzCEZiaKLybPO6ZXnPmS7852xn5v6jMMRjCKIZoP2zXgZoSEL1UA0jzD8GFEYuE4KI5BCOnMjpWdhohxip_6pWMVcZLGjupHzjh9nGTsZucoDiBB8gn4G0E/s640/blogger-image-399243249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1prQrOYf-VJqmfOHQqvwqzCEZiaKLybPO6ZXnPmS7852xn5v6jMMRjCKIZoP2zXgZoSEL1UA0jzD8GFEYuE4KI5BCOnMjpWdhohxip_6pWMVcZLGjupHzjh9nGTsZucoDiBB8gn4G0E/s640/blogger-image-399243249.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzuxe1kzOfWqnYD0Exz-4QD4GKAKM1FWng-qTl5iU5Y0VStX7ivPO9zEaFmd0wt6N8zu3RG40ozFh3_KXib05pe_eb5G6S-t5k1o6X82_CH21rLOTFzDaw22zUrMgIsXPMhHScZH8nYE/s640/blogger-image--2035875524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzuxe1kzOfWqnYD0Exz-4QD4GKAKM1FWng-qTl5iU5Y0VStX7ivPO9zEaFmd0wt6N8zu3RG40ozFh3_KXib05pe_eb5G6S-t5k1o6X82_CH21rLOTFzDaw22zUrMgIsXPMhHScZH8nYE/s640/blogger-image--2035875524.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92EaDIlVMVipuN779m0OrnZ4xx5Bu5fVIpOXGwrucyFSf8GonFxv39eUuJq16NAdT3L2zsBSG9x-drL-tK21oVWPLyqhbzKB-ceJYvJTpKyxbxFpFFkNYak_luQ-PkgFQtoha69lIYMk/s640/blogger-image-1266614045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92EaDIlVMVipuN779m0OrnZ4xx5Bu5fVIpOXGwrucyFSf8GonFxv39eUuJq16NAdT3L2zsBSG9x-drL-tK21oVWPLyqhbzKB-ceJYvJTpKyxbxFpFFkNYak_luQ-PkgFQtoha69lIYMk/s640/blogger-image-1266614045.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The next several stops were along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and here the reason for the name of the park became clear. The walls of this incredible canyon are comprised largely of yellow stone and large dramatic falls cascade down the river in bluish-green. We stopped at Tower Falls, (waterfall scale: 8) and a couple of other overlooks, one of which included an appearance by a couple of female bighorn sheep.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDHq3Div7cZbkgoS1DRL0xlk0PmbFcgRbGw1J8qp2Q_LwuKdv5uRBaVL9I73MxLv9mPb3Ko4cDCKUTbYiNncM4g_cbfdajnM9c9Dk99-LgMpnFdFxqAd6QnyctpUVHB398JAJNJqHJ9U/s640/blogger-image-1949727146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDHq3Div7cZbkgoS1DRL0xlk0PmbFcgRbGw1J8qp2Q_LwuKdv5uRBaVL9I73MxLv9mPb3Ko4cDCKUTbYiNncM4g_cbfdajnM9c9Dk99-LgMpnFdFxqAd6QnyctpUVHB398JAJNJqHJ9U/s640/blogger-image-1949727146.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHkNQbFbEYTBkNBjaDCKI_nuJ640_D-fZs3EtSpbNSKf2MzIfTfM-U2jrPVq3M7Ro6ympNLM0C8Y-Azs7s14LwPvFfgVNGSLmTks9tWK76KI_sIiwsxxexrsQZx_IR1LxMjSWGCQ9lrY/s640/blogger-image-2091205458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHkNQbFbEYTBkNBjaDCKI_nuJ640_D-fZs3EtSpbNSKf2MzIfTfM-U2jrPVq3M7Ro6ympNLM0C8Y-Azs7s14LwPvFfgVNGSLmTks9tWK76KI_sIiwsxxexrsQZx_IR1LxMjSWGCQ9lrY/s640/blogger-image-2091205458.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KDqohzn9xhWjkEmc0rzNPJespynZCK8VK8V6l1zmVY1Jry-BoZmrc4nOyGBaAvYOdY5IzFtM9SYax_7Pm1Zv95n9LirvcCy5P9_4p2G-poDjLlkiaFI3GTcHSgGLZLUoiBUV23oyDeA/s640/blogger-image--83972403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KDqohzn9xhWjkEmc0rzNPJespynZCK8VK8V6l1zmVY1Jry-BoZmrc4nOyGBaAvYOdY5IzFtM9SYax_7Pm1Zv95n9LirvcCy5P9_4p2G-poDjLlkiaFI3GTcHSgGLZLUoiBUV23oyDeA/s640/blogger-image--83972403.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jcx6XUqm-i6S9qHf4DNgIpxMJlx-IblQ7vs-rjK7_9VfAohuDdEQaD1e9N-6_9-8-JkA3fYQ3W6ZhPmhd2Y9B1sByhKUu5cnzdvR7QQ5-5tQyNKHLnOBSVeRrisfy_0eUk5lxuJtg5Y/s640/blogger-image--1758384284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jcx6XUqm-i6S9qHf4DNgIpxMJlx-IblQ7vs-rjK7_9VfAohuDdEQaD1e9N-6_9-8-JkA3fYQ3W6ZhPmhd2Y9B1sByhKUu5cnzdvR7QQ5-5tQyNKHLnOBSVeRrisfy_0eUk5lxuJtg5Y/s640/blogger-image--1758384284.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd6IDPymafTIrAIjoSXdXbmx_OQDEkjG2D7-QpZwAyy0NYFjT9aNO1E4Px-eHK2RBmyDiC9SSkfZy4JjNW4BZ1xC4WEt0JjP_PXKIa_fE_SntN6gK26igxrsoQdrzrosgzes66F1nuKs/s640/blogger-image--1187647152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd6IDPymafTIrAIjoSXdXbmx_OQDEkjG2D7-QpZwAyy0NYFjT9aNO1E4Px-eHK2RBmyDiC9SSkfZy4JjNW4BZ1xC4WEt0JjP_PXKIa_fE_SntN6gK26igxrsoQdrzrosgzes66F1nuKs/s640/blogger-image--1187647152.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaOZU_MzGWgK_iRXudlsbzdmm633ySf9DYjKJO6n5vWT1TvOfvkEW_vLdXT7jWWRp6x_RWDtwpV743dZIgNSWQkMb-z6wYOCV2IvCpo_7JS6UkHZWhXCFh-dwPDx6hxkYuVcR3IXv_ws/s640/blogger-image--35273983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaOZU_MzGWgK_iRXudlsbzdmm633ySf9DYjKJO6n5vWT1TvOfvkEW_vLdXT7jWWRp6x_RWDtwpV743dZIgNSWQkMb-z6wYOCV2IvCpo_7JS6UkHZWhXCFh-dwPDx6hxkYuVcR3IXv_ws/s640/blogger-image--35273983.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The grand finale for the day was the upper and lower falls at Canyon Village. This is just a spectacular part of the park, and I was so thankful that Bear had saved it for last. We decided to start out along the south rim first and would back track to the north rim later (and eat dinner there too).</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We stopped at the upper falls (waterfall scale 9) and it was an okay view from across the river, decided to hike down “Uncle Tom’s Trail,” which provided a view of the lower falls. Don’t be put off by the name; this is a different Uncle Tom. And don’t be fooled by the map, which shows a small straight line. That shit is straight down for what feels like three miles.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzhA4PcJH4sx_yZGJ_2slPR6tCuhMcj32VYk7JtohlrYLQl7rGXQNVwc5w5YPDIzgk2Fca8ri9n0M1j-siKv0aLJi2U7_FzUG63ObTiY18i1SbO3SlkAO-T6J6M4Taz7GE4cP3xUZJvE/s640/blogger-image-57728934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzhA4PcJH4sx_yZGJ_2slPR6tCuhMcj32VYk7JtohlrYLQl7rGXQNVwc5w5YPDIzgk2Fca8ri9n0M1j-siKv0aLJi2U7_FzUG63ObTiY18i1SbO3SlkAO-T6J6M4Taz7GE4cP3xUZJvE/s640/blogger-image-57728934.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Just before we headed down, to the bottom, there were a couple of fawns, still with their spots, at the top of the mountain.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFo9fgkS5TD44q7nBeCP-wrm1vOC0Za6Y7jAwAS0VOCcZt8ukuWkO2A7JSzWD51V1eNsN8P2zjQnyUhK0V6VJ4BKJhhfZAYAiz-wf8sDLQKmSps-NtIdnLsd6cqCJlhR4LKbRZpo645Q/s640/blogger-image--1013070246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFo9fgkS5TD44q7nBeCP-wrm1vOC0Za6Y7jAwAS0VOCcZt8ukuWkO2A7JSzWD51V1eNsN8P2zjQnyUhK0V6VJ4BKJhhfZAYAiz-wf8sDLQKmSps-NtIdnLsd6cqCJlhR4LKbRZpo645Q/s640/blogger-image--1013070246.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
And with mama.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1XLAhurrJF6LlPBPF5d6Gan41E1mnZAnH2czFDCr7JGqV5mdogGYjuwp2dAdEhNSe8vGm9f6RHF4CWYIyCF9KNZ6YaCSoUlnPAwEE6uh1X6q0_yfl6TdTZ2_KG2lPydxZdnLEr8X1K4/s640/blogger-image--2080834928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1XLAhurrJF6LlPBPF5d6Gan41E1mnZAnH2czFDCr7JGqV5mdogGYjuwp2dAdEhNSe8vGm9f6RHF4CWYIyCF9KNZ6YaCSoUlnPAwEE6uh1X6q0_yfl6TdTZ2_KG2lPydxZdnLEr8X1K4/s640/blogger-image--2080834928.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The trail was originally constructed from ropes, which after traversing the 328 steps down on an easy metal stairway, I can’t even imagine. And heading down was the easy part. The landscape was lush from the humidity of the falls, and the air was full of delicious pine and mossy earth. It was intoxicating.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
At the bottom of the stairs, the view was spectacular. I have never seen a waterfall like this! There was so much water! And it fell so far! This was the most amazing waterfall I have ever seen. As a bonus to the experience, there was a cute chipmunk trying to get into a girl’s backpack.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
So just to the right of the falls at the top, there is a small platform, and that was where we would go next, right after Artist Point, which is just a bit further along the south rim. But first we had to reascend the 328 steps, and they were super steep, by the way. Lots of rest stops and taking it slow and steady.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHKsQO52t2dMsgzvYRSFP209qvK5xwuJnsL78pzCOCr6PY4oaZThFeXbqHjh9gd_ko_FXwaNerqaHI3D_rlYHyguSMnugZEXUYgRCi2f5qwFVt93o9tMsFiHMamkGHvd4yrxsfRnKXPw/s640/blogger-image-101897427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHKsQO52t2dMsgzvYRSFP209qvK5xwuJnsL78pzCOCr6PY4oaZThFeXbqHjh9gd_ko_FXwaNerqaHI3D_rlYHyguSMnugZEXUYgRCi2f5qwFVt93o9tMsFiHMamkGHvd4yrxsfRnKXPw/s640/blogger-image-101897427.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLx-3GeWhdh57blkOjAw9nCTLQzIScSHIXsI9LBZKbBW5IeDRS_bzoCLmSSiug7CBoitYFOJtR5P___6amp9bDCnbjAz56DBa4oP-j49FIS1LJMUld8PS4i7imMvA2lg2VQGEsPN5dG8/s640/blogger-image--201721096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLx-3GeWhdh57blkOjAw9nCTLQzIScSHIXsI9LBZKbBW5IeDRS_bzoCLmSSiug7CBoitYFOJtR5P___6amp9bDCnbjAz56DBa4oP-j49FIS1LJMUld8PS4i7imMvA2lg2VQGEsPN5dG8/s640/blogger-image--201721096.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Here is the view from Artist point, a little further down river and much easier to get to than the bottom of Uncle Tom’s Trail.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubxpqJMSDEELHTtoRfBdw4kGEWm1oRRqgV-jUWZpTu3y3thoeD7gN_OopYLTKZKcNS9yJL4lvs8Xqa6GRP6MZp6FwUX0eJhfcYMpq3YhFje28BA7dyBKTmERYiK2ZiErAWwkGOzXNEqc/s640/blogger-image-2122160857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubxpqJMSDEELHTtoRfBdw4kGEWm1oRRqgV-jUWZpTu3y3thoeD7gN_OopYLTKZKcNS9yJL4lvs8Xqa6GRP6MZp6FwUX0eJhfcYMpq3YhFje28BA7dyBKTmERYiK2ZiErAWwkGOzXNEqc/s640/blogger-image-2122160857.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We decided to back track up to the north rim, and check out the falls from the different angles. So we hopped in the car and headed back to the appropriately named North Rim Drive. Getting to the upper falls was a short walk, but it required walking down some stairs I can only call “treacherous.” They were very uneven and the hand rails became our friend.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqn_SbLxkFBj9-fHDl7KSkYEm5AdmvAa7MREV0HOHuMu8dt5yJD6fYDxL4EDYTTqmPZ0_HCG2iTbwjR_SaD1VOwACAYNwCS0zxZmkP5CcCU3RFLDrjgxsX_jsD_39SFjaP9IsKYZmg84s/s640/blogger-image--1137921978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqn_SbLxkFBj9-fHDl7KSkYEm5AdmvAa7MREV0HOHuMu8dt5yJD6fYDxL4EDYTTqmPZ0_HCG2iTbwjR_SaD1VOwACAYNwCS0zxZmkP5CcCU3RFLDrjgxsX_jsD_39SFjaP9IsKYZmg84s/s640/blogger-image--1137921978.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The lower falls, once again had the more challenging hike. After about 12 switchbacks on a shakily paved path, we made it to the top of the lower falls, with nothing but a chain link fence separating us from a seven-mile plunge to our doom. I don’t know how high these falls actually are, but it was such a spectacular view.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Finally blind from having used up our eyesight by looking at too much amazing stuff, we decided it was time for prime rib at the dining hall. Unfortunately it wasn’t nearly as good as last night’s, but we had the help of a bold spicy Syrah to get us through. While we were eating a storm had rolled in over the park, and as we drove through the night, lightning gave hints to the surrounding landscape and horizon, and intermittent rain made that amazing air smell even more amazinger. We rolled down the windows on a number of occasions until it got too wet or too cold. Eventually we would warm up and the windows would have to be rolled down again.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Once back at our campsite, we quickly got ready for bed knowing we would sleep well, after the fifty miles of walking up and down a million stairs. Once comfy in our blankets and sleeping bags, we drifted off to the sound of rain.</div>
<br />
<br />Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-51541538233330674382014-08-30T11:16:00.001-07:002014-08-30T12:44:16.598-07:00Vacation 2014: Old Faithful: Day 6<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Well the night’s sleep was not great. I opted for a cheap sleeping mat, and boy did it suck. I was too cheap to spring for an $80 mattress and my regret-o-meter was up to maximum. I was ready to shell out twice that to make the evil ground stop its uncomfortableness. Sadly there was nothing I could do, but try to get through it. It’s a first world problem, but I’m fucking blogging about it, and you’re reading this on a computer, so whatever.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
As we set out for our first destination we encountered big banks of fog. As the geysers and steam vents flow throughout the night, the cold air keeps all that close to the ground and so you get beautiful views of foggy mystery in the morning sun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wnJ2z906TvVLGqhkR9hKHnPqu-OFCT8xAAtKI_lO9KlXqqHhjalQ0tIINe3sF54Dn-6tufH1fxu4m6zbHO6_n9i1ny5cFv83ybiOzAicsUQZU75mNwCM1aEc9zih-84z-TbCNJB1P6w/s640/blogger-image--563806271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wnJ2z906TvVLGqhkR9hKHnPqu-OFCT8xAAtKI_lO9KlXqqHhjalQ0tIINe3sF54Dn-6tufH1fxu4m6zbHO6_n9i1ny5cFv83ybiOzAicsUQZU75mNwCM1aEc9zih-84z-TbCNJB1P6w/s640/blogger-image--563806271.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Today began and ended at the Mona Lisa of Yellowstone: Old Faithful. There is much more than just this old geezer—I mean, geyser—here. Boardwalks take you all around the area to all sorts of bubbling burbling boiling water spouts. There were a couple of bison wandering cluelessly through the fields. It is quite a large complex with stores, a grill (fast food, counter service), cafeteria (self serve) and dining (a traditional restaurant-style table service). There is a store, gift shop and hotel.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqM9AZuvnrT9zX7dfBVX5gyX-OZRWhXRvsK2LZHr-aesw9Q5PcuzsESk1QPEW64WIwZjlcnR4p9OTE2xOYaHJxM0T0cFC9TP_yxKtfs0xe9gynYBWz2rdrILhcD5j99toqEsNni2iyviQ/s640/blogger-image-294697121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqM9AZuvnrT9zX7dfBVX5gyX-OZRWhXRvsK2LZHr-aesw9Q5PcuzsESk1QPEW64WIwZjlcnR4p9OTE2xOYaHJxM0T0cFC9TP_yxKtfs0xe9gynYBWz2rdrILhcD5j99toqEsNni2iyviQ/s640/blogger-image-294697121.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB5Zy1dV6Ct47UjwpGXDAbbAnc152Os5Iar6_fzmy-d-3BN2xGUAB9AcAMn23MHEowB2ggCja40WCLDcKi8QB-b6sgRnWYc82p71eTA7gvskaMprby0zJ8jrMSmGkkfyFeFKloje3i3g/s640/blogger-image-229944669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB5Zy1dV6Ct47UjwpGXDAbbAnc152Os5Iar6_fzmy-d-3BN2xGUAB9AcAMn23MHEowB2ggCja40WCLDcKi8QB-b6sgRnWYc82p71eTA7gvskaMprby0zJ8jrMSmGkkfyFeFKloje3i3g/s640/blogger-image-229944669.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The Yellowstone hotel inspired Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Disneyland. The lobby has a huge ceiling probably five or six stories. I could look up exactly how high it is, but that would require typing, and looking and thinking. Here I can just type a bunch of garbage and speculate on assumptions. You know, like the news.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32j4fbdHeKWdQrLDPKka3Llp2gtTeKGIW8P2ma0vRsQdXCDQBwra-jBmGyJ0iO3EHQlzZOe1Na5PruDwJlazMIEjMp64ffx5oXSCAmjafXm6aZXfClhVRGwD_smOrsjyEtRiSEcvhsmo/s640/blogger-image--298924110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32j4fbdHeKWdQrLDPKka3Llp2gtTeKGIW8P2ma0vRsQdXCDQBwra-jBmGyJ0iO3EHQlzZOe1Na5PruDwJlazMIEjMp64ffx5oXSCAmjafXm6aZXfClhVRGwD_smOrsjyEtRiSEcvhsmo/s640/blogger-image--298924110.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Another thing that is interesting about Yellowstone was its diversity. There are people here from all over the world. I heard German, French, Chinese, Japanese, and possibly Korean (I’m not familiar enough with the nuances between Chinese and Korean), Spanish, Portuguese and Indian. I heard British accents, Southern accents, and unitentifiable eastern European accents. Even in the restaurant our waitstaff had listed next to their name where they were from. Our water girl was from Taiwan and our waiter was from Czech Republic. I saw rugged camper types, rich people that were not dressed appropriately, from tourists to locals, and we were right in the middle.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It is amazing to consider this is all volcanic activity at its source. it is also surprising there aren’t more sulfurous vents in the Earth. Besides, seeing a steaming river is entertaining. If only I had my bikini…</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKVyMQvIUQvBF7RJUdBDsnVHDeKDApPXN9uUs6Z3YFzuz0NnZWArSWMzkXKZvmXdyQgLs123ZzuU6PdB7T_-qdF5uYLXxvSKU75gVd6CZ4h5NRmemCK7j0V56Ggu4DJHNDe2ahmQ6njE/s640/blogger-image--52019948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKVyMQvIUQvBF7RJUdBDsnVHDeKDApPXN9uUs6Z3YFzuz0NnZWArSWMzkXKZvmXdyQgLs123ZzuU6PdB7T_-qdF5uYLXxvSKU75gVd6CZ4h5NRmemCK7j0V56Ggu4DJHNDe2ahmQ6njE/s640/blogger-image--52019948.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS0UY6ViVCtuwfT8vgHn3rs4a6HxitjQlyCGvhSL3HNkkwHIfRZpFAMulw8_qzU_Iuc-b4JgrNighrcCHCoWys6yQDrtIeDck-dqbAb9RdJnoFfPnZk6t8Yvm3GeMrnPeKcc2cio3ZjM/s640/blogger-image--1180352802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS0UY6ViVCtuwfT8vgHn3rs4a6HxitjQlyCGvhSL3HNkkwHIfRZpFAMulw8_qzU_Iuc-b4JgrNighrcCHCoWys6yQDrtIeDck-dqbAb9RdJnoFfPnZk6t8Yvm3GeMrnPeKcc2cio3ZjM/s640/blogger-image--1180352802.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It was time to head to a new spot, and so we headed up to Midway Geyser Basin. We ended up spending about five hours here and it had the most spectacular hole. It was hard to see it so Gregory pointed out a hill across the road and figured there would be a really good view from up there.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBwYarwEDu3qmJmHOndubKjUrgBIOLCWyasX6a9POB7EUc3Rd5V9gNReeaPWrmVKxUej_paG6B0mylJ7JFb2dmKjpN4XLux9PDECc5nnMMxtd2bxD8ArFrMoXmNeJCeAqkUPoUvLXRQo/s640/blogger-image--2040626128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQEhg5ZqXYS1NuMq0jLpWToL9KPjvm7-rTDFBSvF1vldddSq-lhfhrt7izNagYDFiD_JSDn1F9HFdtBRuSDdx-NFf5mOrsS40bp7_URgtQLJ3jDLmYtVxPoGZ4fZnoIT_saRjLCW6veM/s640/blogger-image--630867422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQEhg5ZqXYS1NuMq0jLpWToL9KPjvm7-rTDFBSvF1vldddSq-lhfhrt7izNagYDFiD_JSDn1F9HFdtBRuSDdx-NFf5mOrsS40bp7_URgtQLJ3jDLmYtVxPoGZ4fZnoIT_saRjLCW6veM/s640/blogger-image--630867422.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBwYarwEDu3qmJmHOndubKjUrgBIOLCWyasX6a9POB7EUc3Rd5V9gNReeaPWrmVKxUej_paG6B0mylJ7JFb2dmKjpN4XLux9PDECc5nnMMxtd2bxD8ArFrMoXmNeJCeAqkUPoUvLXRQo/s640/blogger-image--2040626128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBwYarwEDu3qmJmHOndubKjUrgBIOLCWyasX6a9POB7EUc3Rd5V9gNReeaPWrmVKxUej_paG6B0mylJ7JFb2dmKjpN4XLux9PDECc5nnMMxtd2bxD8ArFrMoXmNeJCeAqkUPoUvLXRQo/s640/blogger-image--2040626128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">There was plenty of stuff to see up close. Great orange and brown streaks made up of bacteria and worlds too small for the naked eye to see, thriving in a colorful terrestrial system, radiating in colorful bands from the blue orb was something both otherworldly and yet, more connected to the earth than we are. We simply rely on its location in the solar system, its gravity and the sustenance it provides. Trifle. But this seems like essence of the earth itself. The interesting layers and plant and microbes that live on those small worlds that make up the varying colors, fed by the waters from the vast boiling blue sun.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBwYarwEDu3qmJmHOndubKjUrgBIOLCWyasX6a9POB7EUc3Rd5V9gNReeaPWrmVKxUej_paG6B0mylJ7JFb2dmKjpN4XLux9PDECc5nnMMxtd2bxD8ArFrMoXmNeJCeAqkUPoUvLXRQo/s640/blogger-image--2040626128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBwYarwEDu3qmJmHOndubKjUrgBIOLCWyasX6a9POB7EUc3Rd5V9gNReeaPWrmVKxUej_paG6B0mylJ7JFb2dmKjpN4XLux9PDECc5nnMMxtd2bxD8ArFrMoXmNeJCeAqkUPoUvLXRQo/s640/blogger-image--2040626128.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It’s like, super, mega existential…and stuff.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We walked away from the crowd drawn to this marvel, and sat beneath a super swell pine tree to have lunch.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoO_VJXK3R5TAyc8TYbNJ9TbkKNUOE91WO15SRIK-Wmb9XxF0S3nIMUbqRjeUVKMkCgbXCyaVdaUnZcewrtzS-1d6HdUuiSc7u0h1_Y28zXsq6f4HdnvzseiF9g2o8VG20-d8XlnjfYU/s640/blogger-image-695793967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoO_VJXK3R5TAyc8TYbNJ9TbkKNUOE91WO15SRIK-Wmb9XxF0S3nIMUbqRjeUVKMkCgbXCyaVdaUnZcewrtzS-1d6HdUuiSc7u0h1_Y28zXsq6f4HdnvzseiF9g2o8VG20-d8XlnjfYU/s640/blogger-image-695793967.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">After a bit of cloud watching, we walked across the road and hiked to the top of the hill for that better view. Wow.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhWUAqVlEAzOJ4x6xtzw8_xMzxStr1soa04dWnYIG4Bi3IVvG73gY6zQL_tlOXuNdUxs0gVpX8PQ8GYgbx7XxUvKO7r6-s9Kh_4GtU8FzqNiRuzlvppNrXZGYD1QgbERXPGkBUH5cBUs/s640/blogger-image-2058996856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhWUAqVlEAzOJ4x6xtzw8_xMzxStr1soa04dWnYIG4Bi3IVvG73gY6zQL_tlOXuNdUxs0gVpX8PQ8GYgbx7XxUvKO7r6-s9Kh_4GtU8FzqNiRuzlvppNrXZGYD1QgbERXPGkBUH5cBUs/s640/blogger-image-2058996856.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn6IAMs6KlKjPP5Zb9nB7o85d1AzbwC8wLTDOS4ptIsrYTrVcqMYXo5K49lqJ_FrqmNmY11Dn2upJctr7qho4ehGCXFVgH9Evv2j3oOe5cCQzjwnmbCQ896R7RY172FafJ0sNq1X7Mu0/s640/blogger-image-597877298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn6IAMs6KlKjPP5Zb9nB7o85d1AzbwC8wLTDOS4ptIsrYTrVcqMYXo5K49lqJ_FrqmNmY11Dn2upJctr7qho4ehGCXFVgH9Evv2j3oOe5cCQzjwnmbCQ896R7RY172FafJ0sNq1X7Mu0/s640/blogger-image-597877298.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Just wow.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFwvtY0ybU3mVm19chh4vuST_4SX1dzTRBJrymSmUO1gNr9sPTZcr-x6688w_89wE3p9CLzfoKptTWGCb7zzXg7OWOKHOrtcgwBoDxk9_-J2w-3e5mBj8d4EqWZdG5HHT2TmoWntrH5Q/s640/blogger-image-797014340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFwvtY0ybU3mVm19chh4vuST_4SX1dzTRBJrymSmUO1gNr9sPTZcr-x6688w_89wE3p9CLzfoKptTWGCb7zzXg7OWOKHOrtcgwBoDxk9_-J2w-3e5mBj8d4EqWZdG5HHT2TmoWntrH5Q/s640/blogger-image-797014340.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
And wow again.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl5m2OxFO9yTVRA6l6IGE4nJDX7Rp8h4nz3kq4Zi18gRXjeqFlS18YM3Q3WpL5CXPg-9P2Z3c3F4kZx9Vj1C0iJuMVLUurWmFVOxbzoDKFexX4RWOQc9u-1vgmZ7taqGOp7l9SvG9t-0/s640/blogger-image-1702738309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl5m2OxFO9yTVRA6l6IGE4nJDX7Rp8h4nz3kq4Zi18gRXjeqFlS18YM3Q3WpL5CXPg-9P2Z3c3F4kZx9Vj1C0iJuMVLUurWmFVOxbzoDKFexX4RWOQc9u-1vgmZ7taqGOp7l9SvG9t-0/s640/blogger-image-1702738309.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">After we had a few moments to enjoyed the vista, and take enough pictures to document it better than Google, we were shortly joined by a group of elderly Asian ladies dressed in their finery, each one seemingly color coded, which it would have been hilarious to see them trying to climb up that hill.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We decided that it would be a good idea to return to the Old Faithful area for dinner and wander around to some of the other things we missed, have dinner and watch the sunset. Gregory ordered an amazing slice of prime. I had some cordon bleu thing that was good, but couldn’t come close to the quality of that prime rib. It was a nearly perfect slice. I didn’t take a picture of it because pictures of food often look gross.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
They are either too shiny, which makes it look greasy, or someone takes a picture of soup or chili which almost unfailingly looks like vomit or diahrreah. I’m sorry to kill the mood, but it does. Please stop taking pictures of soup, chili or sauces of any kind. Unless you have studio lighting, and plastic models, please ask yourself, “will this picture make someone gag?” before you take that picture of your plate of slop.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvqIKGmLSve_RW3mDKVyvqWRYUbFkPI-r4ajOQGQV6lMcI7dq8bri-fJdVfisNfITlEfInmvXmV6DS1A6hgB1OhRVPNvtAaN4BQDyKRCh3Ne5QSteG4GmoFLVXZg16ypUlP8rKbh774Q/s640/blogger-image-1964507494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvqIKGmLSve_RW3mDKVyvqWRYUbFkPI-r4ajOQGQV6lMcI7dq8bri-fJdVfisNfITlEfInmvXmV6DS1A6hgB1OhRVPNvtAaN4BQDyKRCh3Ne5QSteG4GmoFLVXZg16ypUlP8rKbh774Q/s640/blogger-image-1964507494.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Instead here are pictures of the incredible sunset.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbjVc64Val_ekj8kQQr7Z34ZLTOlptTMBY3N-yRSRMfsZcfU5h5YcK9-kKxzdeIDj4pV2UEqbpJT5lug4DxlwnN0k7Snxha6hPShqDx8Eo59UGwaxfu7pfsR3z6F4yAN3DlGTDbocJDw/s640/blogger-image--1673938057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbjVc64Val_ekj8kQQr7Z34ZLTOlptTMBY3N-yRSRMfsZcfU5h5YcK9-kKxzdeIDj4pV2UEqbpJT5lug4DxlwnN0k7Snxha6hPShqDx8Eo59UGwaxfu7pfsR3z6F4yAN3DlGTDbocJDw/s640/blogger-image--1673938057.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTxVTAMqs_9ek6O8b3Bsb_kfjEDi__mk5uJ1v-yP-IpOR3YL3qRcKh1wUxChSaCqMm8nzY3VA9s9jacafUdsrkt5lKNOcJGRCags1BXMpWtzJ5J0jPdawStwDwImIvH20MtSCYuHWLBQ/s640/blogger-image--85801393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTxVTAMqs_9ek6O8b3Bsb_kfjEDi__mk5uJ1v-yP-IpOR3YL3qRcKh1wUxChSaCqMm8nzY3VA9s9jacafUdsrkt5lKNOcJGRCags1BXMpWtzJ5J0jPdawStwDwImIvH20MtSCYuHWLBQ/s640/blogger-image--85801393.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-P5o0Qn9JOEuuuEsQg8l92Xc2FRSg_a82vtjqZxjF7lbd44D9Q7akW51CoqB_eR693BbZHZmK8uRbItoO_qbVPOfjQ32O2ZtFakgkNVZcwS3QWwUlfMyAQtEZATtsNZ7acRBODsdpdk/s640/blogger-image-1131975285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-P5o0Qn9JOEuuuEsQg8l92Xc2FRSg_a82vtjqZxjF7lbd44D9Q7akW51CoqB_eR693BbZHZmK8uRbItoO_qbVPOfjQ32O2ZtFakgkNVZcwS3QWwUlfMyAQtEZATtsNZ7acRBODsdpdk/s640/blogger-image-1131975285.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It gets noticeably cold about a half an hour before the sun sets, and even colder once it disappears from view. The cold air does increase the drama of the geysers erupting however. All that hot steam in the cold air made Old Faithful look so dramatic just after sunset. There was enough light for Gregory to get a couple of pictures of it. I watched, contentedly sipping hot cocoa.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
And with that, it was time to call it a day, and we returned to our humble campsite near Madison.</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-73729831014852955672014-08-29T23:15:00.000-07:002014-08-29T23:15:42.266-07:00Vacation 2014: Teton Tapas for a Yellowstone Entree: Day 5<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Today we woke later than anticipated. Either the bed was that comfortable or we were that tired from driving. Sadly we had to bid farewell to our White Buffalo Club room. Suite. Thing. It was very nice, and while I will miss its luxury, I won’t miss paying for it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We turned in our keys, and checked out. As we ambled down the block to find a cute local breakfast place, we passed the ski fence, made crudely in the most endearing way possible of alternating downhill skis, and board slats. It was quite cleverly done. For breakfast, we settled on The Bunnery. I was hoping for bunny-themed food, like rabbit roadkill omelet, or bunny benedict, but no it was fairly standard fare. And the buns they were referring to were of the “hot, cross” variety.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Unfortunately it was not as exciting as I had hoped. My bacon omelet had lot of bacon, but the eggs weren’t great and there weren’t enough other things to balance the flavors. I’m not trying to say there was too much bacon, NO! but …well, yes I am. Because! Their bacon was super cheap diner bacon and not some gourmet bacon experience. There weren’t enough fresh tomatoes and melted cheddar to overcome the cheap baconaeity of the this eggy disaster. The hashbrowns were good, though, and they have some special bread they make there, called OSM (Oat, Sunflower Seed and Millet) and it was quite tasty, even with cheap orange marmalade.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
After that we walked around to some of the galleries we missed last night. There was so much incredible artwork, and many of them ran the gamut in terms of style from classic to modern. There was a fairly limited subject matter, though, being the old west. They were all landscapes (lot of aspens), Native Americans, cowboys, horses, and wildlife, and combinations thereof. It was very western art, not that I don’t enjoy that. I do, but we both reached our saturation point and decided it was time to continue the adventure.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We grabbed a quick selfie at the famous piles of antlers, and headed out of town toward our actual destination and the reason for the whole trip: Yellowstone!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
But it took us a helluva long time to arrive at our campsite because we kept having to stop every 10 minutes to take pictures of all the beautiful crap. Oh and first there was that whole Grand Tetons thing on the way.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5Y0UEtnlHtw6hKAauN6qyaiQwcwRS8o55MF7xfFsoJU2dvSsu1QWvA6FSV0JEumKnII5Z46Luj4OyzySIe-v67FvzUvU9pqyaYZout_vlGLryXhUie7YftGnict43YXPpZG8MuF1Qu8/s640/blogger-image--1391580969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5Y0UEtnlHtw6hKAauN6qyaiQwcwRS8o55MF7xfFsoJU2dvSsu1QWvA6FSV0JEumKnII5Z46Luj4OyzySIe-v67FvzUvU9pqyaYZout_vlGLryXhUie7YftGnict43YXPpZG8MuF1Qu8/s640/blogger-image--1391580969.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHE-NXjlsn3Tq9W2FySq_OfAF7EtJD3F4IwSrnz-CSKY9Ud6pPi0aHV2gaMmFysfl41DJxMEu8CGnGB9S5WddWBdBMxuiJZG2YPeGfs_krYGUKJQlrr8fKytrRjrDf4_tqQAH5EMwBEY/s640/blogger-image--1413481982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHE-NXjlsn3Tq9W2FySq_OfAF7EtJD3F4IwSrnz-CSKY9Ud6pPi0aHV2gaMmFysfl41DJxMEu8CGnGB9S5WddWBdBMxuiJZG2YPeGfs_krYGUKJQlrr8fKytrRjrDf4_tqQAH5EMwBEY/s640/blogger-image--1413481982.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Yep. They are pretty grand ’n shit.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfdoi0o1FohvxW2MRXk-ryr4eMyYcoIpu3xRzbeIHolYmHRoSf5grO66t3_YIVhuYcb8LiZhfwlpigKnQgbHyHXFZFHAXTZhCvdyJ-Q_exAr9nKmCiXto_40zNICZTdE2zvYd5IYHfro/s640/blogger-image-365023889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfdoi0o1FohvxW2MRXk-ryr4eMyYcoIpu3xRzbeIHolYmHRoSf5grO66t3_YIVhuYcb8LiZhfwlpigKnQgbHyHXFZFHAXTZhCvdyJ-Q_exAr9nKmCiXto_40zNICZTdE2zvYd5IYHfro/s640/blogger-image-365023889.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7v0hSnQtnbalsTR2KF4PtLYJ8QU2YNBPjFRfwthBF4WERrxtH71Kc_9oziWIu5Yhbf2ChL4-PE5QRrZ65bngSt4KLokt7jNRzRdLfRdwv0HiSIOorFGDeSvbGBnyfphtD43EqJQH0NM/s640/blogger-image--1003741732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7v0hSnQtnbalsTR2KF4PtLYJ8QU2YNBPjFRfwthBF4WERrxtH71Kc_9oziWIu5Yhbf2ChL4-PE5QRrZ65bngSt4KLokt7jNRzRdLfRdwv0HiSIOorFGDeSvbGBnyfphtD43EqJQH0NM/s640/blogger-image--1003741732.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb5JM_i1ELDyQgYVIwEvJIKbdvqLgUrjggC4F05BWf7IqqK_t-jAX8C0HsAh1vzp19-ATZZt25ROlYKiu2LDuZ9HHbx-Xmw97x1Ifj_ZP7CJKDnef7eKn38rs9gs31EDTs8bXmfynX9g/s640/blogger-image--2009911032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdb5JM_i1ELDyQgYVIwEvJIKbdvqLgUrjggC4F05BWf7IqqK_t-jAX8C0HsAh1vzp19-ATZZt25ROlYKiu2LDuZ9HHbx-Xmw97x1Ifj_ZP7CJKDnef7eKn38rs9gs31EDTs8bXmfynX9g/s640/blogger-image--2009911032.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We officially entered Yellowstone!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ILCDuTPW_qJYXVbO4iwK0xaoo0eZus6AenXpB5uUtkP3rXKHg2ujoMVRGdJnZi-XceGUCV7FJJ6Z29qaSkOT-payRkGrByjrb1tgHQH8cSKfuG6aIwMxLf606Km8MB6aPWssaU6wxSk/s640/blogger-image-1685654854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ILCDuTPW_qJYXVbO4iwK0xaoo0eZus6AenXpB5uUtkP3rXKHg2ujoMVRGdJnZi-XceGUCV7FJJ6Z29qaSkOT-payRkGrByjrb1tgHQH8cSKfuG6aIwMxLf606Km8MB6aPWssaU6wxSk/s640/blogger-image-1685654854.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We came in through the south entrance and passed all kind many vistas, pull-outs and looky-loo memory-capture points. Yellowstone is a hot sexy model. You want to take pictures of everything from every angle. You want to document every pore (she has several and they are steaming). It is difficult at times to remember to take a moment in between pictures and actually feel the experience for yourself. Let it wash over you. Breathe the fresh air. Check out that hiker’s sexy legs.. or whatever.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBttdEHKIZnwY5P3Iy-e5RGImPV59WYPH9LgoTPOeEhCuRienMr1oDecHV2x4RW-xxEnSbB7O-s05DzcFDhdmZwQmc0hqUpeZQIH6flCnPykdUktkaCzgIiH6yleTlKGQgInKfgh-nRc/s640/blogger-image-1029463891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBttdEHKIZnwY5P3Iy-e5RGImPV59WYPH9LgoTPOeEhCuRienMr1oDecHV2x4RW-xxEnSbB7O-s05DzcFDhdmZwQmc0hqUpeZQIH6flCnPykdUktkaCzgIiH6yleTlKGQgInKfgh-nRc/s640/blogger-image-1029463891.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wEgKgxmm_6XzyAWODsCmpfdJ09Lpe5xBej34kXFitt0E15DiMZCqIJobxUiTrC5trVWNY9RdYqOG9UMEskjz22Et9-WyeVQ3-mnYD6CDPL4MfCWEKdnJNd_IoSdyBRfz27pkoOqpuZQ/s640/blogger-image-1433432146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wEgKgxmm_6XzyAWODsCmpfdJ09Lpe5xBej34kXFitt0E15DiMZCqIJobxUiTrC5trVWNY9RdYqOG9UMEskjz22Et9-WyeVQ3-mnYD6CDPL4MfCWEKdnJNd_IoSdyBRfz27pkoOqpuZQ/s640/blogger-image-1433432146.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
While we explored the area near our campsite, we stopped at the bubbling pots, and we also got some amazing pictures of a bison that was close enough to model for Gregory. I can’t wait for you to see those pictures. Many of them turned out great!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KCBELnaQTZ21pYAInkNFig50Q1ejModQiO8XVs7AqcIYs3yde3apH5yI34albVbr1At7OJqVZkckQBHAuO4VC0HRh5uiMakJfBzN9_HT8EDbKTsk8iKpCgm_GUmL4WWXzj3_c2SJe5k/s640/blogger-image-197778626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KCBELnaQTZ21pYAInkNFig50Q1ejModQiO8XVs7AqcIYs3yde3apH5yI34albVbr1At7OJqVZkckQBHAuO4VC0HRh5uiMakJfBzN9_HT8EDbKTsk8iKpCgm_GUmL4WWXzj3_c2SJe5k/s640/blogger-image-197778626.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Before sunset, we traveled back to Firehole Lake, and got a few fun pictures there. There was family with two young kids who were so loud. They were just of a loud age, probably about 9 years old. They were playing and happy, just too rambunctious and it got a little grating. And they somehow seemed to be following us from site to site. But eventually they passed us by, and so, figuring there would be no need, I put the tranquilizer gun away.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKogi8g-Piim_7eeWn8442cw9tAcLYB7Ffu8A55vys5DJ38zQ8xRvIcgREB4zZZIOdsXyLkqabvDMILLXtt9nmEqL4CasPkOkD8I9HZsM_4_P2bXZgQVQTpGzQEchYFLRLUGAj-gdPiwE/s640/blogger-image--1620644007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKogi8g-Piim_7eeWn8442cw9tAcLYB7Ffu8A55vys5DJ38zQ8xRvIcgREB4zZZIOdsXyLkqabvDMILLXtt9nmEqL4CasPkOkD8I9HZsM_4_P2bXZgQVQTpGzQEchYFLRLUGAj-gdPiwE/s640/blogger-image--1620644007.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeahKLacrdjkgi57BFHg5N1oJxF0Brck6sHIhH9eaVzYCzsGxzUWnzGbaAwj7WGCLOKpivcJ9lRlyCuZvcobiplOWIhelfMrRodlH53-yVf4gH3suU_5ruO8Rzjy6x7Glc_vwX1PDAWk8/s640/blogger-image-1350344947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeahKLacrdjkgi57BFHg5N1oJxF0Brck6sHIhH9eaVzYCzsGxzUWnzGbaAwj7WGCLOKpivcJ9lRlyCuZvcobiplOWIhelfMrRodlH53-yVf4gH3suU_5ruO8Rzjy6x7Glc_vwX1PDAWk8/s640/blogger-image-1350344947.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Once the sun went down, it got cold and we felt the need to return to our campsite. I was a little nervous leaving a lot of our stuff there, for fear of being robbed. You never know with campers. But all was well, if a little cold. The jammies got put on immediately and I started settling in for the night. I knew the weather would get cold, but I had plenty of blankets it if got unbearable. So excited for tomorrow’s adventure!</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-78835412143797926652014-08-25T22:31:00.000-07:002014-08-25T22:31:46.561-07:00Vacation 2014: Journey to the Center of the J'Hole: Day 4<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Today was the first day of the rest of our lives. We took care of some family business with my brother first thing, hit up the Starbucks for some sustenance, and then hit the road from glorious Elko to Jackson Hole.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0vbBf6uyXpF1hRaGqjA34GwoxoOg8mSHhElpHPUkWvBOFoy_KctvrpWIqByC4r3zse2vOWfxoDsds8SlEJn_goFuzV-Mj_lWino6Bvuh1NaGkU3vPVca8HAofY_ON-MsNvQcaaej8uk/s640/blogger-image--1289800493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0vbBf6uyXpF1hRaGqjA34GwoxoOg8mSHhElpHPUkWvBOFoy_KctvrpWIqByC4r3zse2vOWfxoDsds8SlEJn_goFuzV-Mj_lWino6Bvuh1NaGkU3vPVca8HAofY_ON-MsNvQcaaej8uk/s640/blogger-image--1289800493.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This rest stop rocks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WuTH7vqUHK2Pns3LQ9P0jzCQg7pYSeXpknJnSCoiij5svB60KSpgzV2B0nqM5nIjlVUwLiE-DYqgj7GlkZzb2IXh7WPmRJl1E09teCXnAYRq8pxMo6reZxMei9M_66qFQIDa0eofaHw/s640/blogger-image-1216541038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WuTH7vqUHK2Pns3LQ9P0jzCQg7pYSeXpknJnSCoiij5svB60KSpgzV2B0nqM5nIjlVUwLiE-DYqgj7GlkZzb2IXh7WPmRJl1E09teCXnAYRq8pxMo6reZxMei9M_66qFQIDa0eofaHw/s640/blogger-image-1216541038.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We hit up the “Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe” aka Twin Falls Sandwich Company, which sounds way more broadway than it was, when we hit Twin Falls, and this</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> place is definitely worth checking out. Tasty everything! And you can even get a cold sandwich served hot! They make their own potato chips, which are frankly a little weird, but I think that was because they were real. Adventure. Do it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWnsFXOA2lldONsLQaKihV9_9-kDlmwkW7MjtSGH-wepOIL4szV4wnPO2wE4sjBBYMbHycSkINGDWd4bYSjL0RabPK9MQfqLYFDGsWyyhFi0by8Vi1Aa6zrAhbr265NpKS-RIncL2G6Y/s640/blogger-image--92722050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWnsFXOA2lldONsLQaKihV9_9-kDlmwkW7MjtSGH-wepOIL4szV4wnPO2wE4sjBBYMbHycSkINGDWd4bYSjL0RabPK9MQfqLYFDGsWyyhFi0by8Vi1Aa6zrAhbr265NpKS-RIncL2G6Y/s640/blogger-image--92722050.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We stopped at a random rest stop near Idaho Falls that had these nice lava rock trails. Well maintained, paved paths, elegantly designed. It was a really interesting lava-rocky and lichen accented landscape, and the overcast sky made our explorations breezier. It had recently rained and the sage and juniper made the air amazing.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrgcUkDf79pxBnAG-X90znJuL0OsC05mnRx3uIf5kghyAG7dhf4JnPTrZWe_HS_fD9EaXwnDs9SDnWJ9q7fbuozLH6i0lTw3G59lAbrQkpdijsfGv3NZlb7rvHURE3Fsc_Sxwqn0DXCo/s640/blogger-image-1638967058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrgcUkDf79pxBnAG-X90znJuL0OsC05mnRx3uIf5kghyAG7dhf4JnPTrZWe_HS_fD9EaXwnDs9SDnWJ9q7fbuozLH6i0lTw3G59lAbrQkpdijsfGv3NZlb7rvHURE3Fsc_Sxwqn0DXCo/s640/blogger-image-1638967058.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PqevbOuFYKD-kyU87QySd2KAysMPwOdQGkxz6uXdKNaBmCJJ12pIt8lCDwmdB-hGfmPhHi_7hvncVsXte3dpdLsbeqPJr30X9OCaxSQ2mOMfeARZ6bi466lTYyYUeYWpjq2n3UWvlPc/s640/blogger-image-1476995550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PqevbOuFYKD-kyU87QySd2KAysMPwOdQGkxz6uXdKNaBmCJJ12pIt8lCDwmdB-hGfmPhHi_7hvncVsXte3dpdLsbeqPJr30X9OCaxSQ2mOMfeARZ6bi466lTYyYUeYWpjq2n3UWvlPc/s640/blogger-image-1476995550.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQ2Ml_sGzSq7f6BnxiXSFmtVGdbNaUCNY-gDSq5IZXS8YnzbHkGORMbVCHnsnycOeSl3lLzcvOJN9U-G465NF3wTb-U6ubdTv4nNzRJMb_THCFIM8hOgqQd_2sdnR55X0DCYo5ak_pk/s640/blogger-image--588664805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQ2Ml_sGzSq7f6BnxiXSFmtVGdbNaUCNY-gDSq5IZXS8YnzbHkGORMbVCHnsnycOeSl3lLzcvOJN9U-G465NF3wTb-U6ubdTv4nNzRJMb_THCFIM8hOgqQd_2sdnR55X0DCYo5ak_pk/s640/blogger-image--588664805.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Ll6IanjzRx7CzvXVa1nYfWZlM_YCb7KZCDJ-9I4hSOZsQTRjGP-SR4mB4uw1WNdk8_eaKhyBTMal-0EYvi41EpSjKiBVKRtCB57Uw7peT-irlAeBz3X4luEkZ515wjMIgkt2BNr_8o/s640/blogger-image--119134532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Ll6IanjzRx7CzvXVa1nYfWZlM_YCb7KZCDJ-9I4hSOZsQTRjGP-SR4mB4uw1WNdk8_eaKhyBTMal-0EYvi41EpSjKiBVKRtCB57Uw7peT-irlAeBz3X4luEkZ515wjMIgkt2BNr_8o/s640/blogger-image--119134532.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We walked the short and long loop trail.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnm1Rv67KKmpsaYxNXrcMnjxd1uhIfwdM7ARiEFYo1kW-6Hs3pnSVEkKgZrTISezNPGx5eMcxH1x8adOLaISUm6lQSp9fEFg-h5qY38qy25Y8EwuBimiQ56CJAvH7sZNlpaiXvo6u3GM/s640/blogger-image-591708299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnm1Rv67KKmpsaYxNXrcMnjxd1uhIfwdM7ARiEFYo1kW-6Hs3pnSVEkKgZrTISezNPGx5eMcxH1x8adOLaISUm6lQSp9fEFg-h5qY38qy25Y8EwuBimiQ56CJAvH7sZNlpaiXvo6u3GM/s640/blogger-image-591708299.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInX6AFJT9vR2SXUPmZeT-wmh4Sw_XGAMeg1lvo077BuwXK__u0tQn5-gF_gXHpwDksQQFa3A4IgAaFyCzGs1i0rSFJ-7ekSNNs-FWpIKRrA-SW3vtEKZuhC0l_C2e8URT2ipztB0YLFw/s640/blogger-image-1937805395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInX6AFJT9vR2SXUPmZeT-wmh4Sw_XGAMeg1lvo077BuwXK__u0tQn5-gF_gXHpwDksQQFa3A4IgAaFyCzGs1i0rSFJ-7ekSNNs-FWpIKRrA-SW3vtEKZuhC0l_C2e8URT2ipztB0YLFw/s640/blogger-image-1937805395.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsdI5sFi0kntXEXLVlFs3G_YRtFB_4fDY2yHJHMt1LV1Opq0RLhW0ROtQcnJ5e_mKxyNcY0RbVYEqQCadf418WeSp2B4BB4HaO5HqaDFTtrwvLyiZDfroQLAJmL3SvUehmlFF3ShZBw8/s640/blogger-image--443841565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsdI5sFi0kntXEXLVlFs3G_YRtFB_4fDY2yHJHMt1LV1Opq0RLhW0ROtQcnJ5e_mKxyNcY0RbVYEqQCadf418WeSp2B4BB4HaO5HqaDFTtrwvLyiZDfroQLAJmL3SvUehmlFF3ShZBw8/s640/blogger-image--443841565.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p7ynyh-E6FsRN_kohSmCJFb082GxBg6QbJOBPDn8tCHzVh8QPgSALyeuzT5692Gyp8OIYB2o-LawHB3CAvNfAr-3O7kd0PegOcXP6sWaBhgtPgPCnd9WxKv5_DzLjvq9QWHywp6GE14/s640/blogger-image-42682332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p7ynyh-E6FsRN_kohSmCJFb082GxBg6QbJOBPDn8tCHzVh8QPgSALyeuzT5692Gyp8OIYB2o-LawHB3CAvNfAr-3O7kd0PegOcXP6sWaBhgtPgPCnd9WxKv5_DzLjvq9QWHywp6GE14/s640/blogger-image-42682332.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF895X9MRJsxuBsGrowrMuAj4OmS7aKPCrH63GxgNQLRn2bw53UJKjkA81ws0SgzzmXYMyYbIroObvFbPBf7_DLsxTQNvlIw89rhliP8AbrtvBj_F9iqujcm92pkQaN_vlK8c7R7aVH-Q/s640/blogger-image--1151945037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF895X9MRJsxuBsGrowrMuAj4OmS7aKPCrH63GxgNQLRn2bw53UJKjkA81ws0SgzzmXYMyYbIroObvFbPBf7_DLsxTQNvlIw89rhliP8AbrtvBj_F9iqujcm92pkQaN_vlK8c7R7aVH-Q/s640/blogger-image--1151945037.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqCEW3VsjxodRcmivBzBzHx3DhqFEReimGf-0psWasrlzzGuwW-1396zFnWlvMBXmGmkT-jGygFurkgXf2NA6nQ2-A3twEGpa-cAOsWR5A7q6aDVTtYuqzc4yaIlcdwycqWkBYAKhcVY/s640/blogger-image-960260618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqCEW3VsjxodRcmivBzBzHx3DhqFEReimGf-0psWasrlzzGuwW-1396zFnWlvMBXmGmkT-jGygFurkgXf2NA6nQ2-A3twEGpa-cAOsWR5A7q6aDVTtYuqzc4yaIlcdwycqWkBYAKhcVY/s640/blogger-image-960260618.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The country in eastern Idaho is actually quite beautiful. I was surprised how green everything was. Especially this late in the summer. I’m used to things being green in March/April for a few weeks, then turning brown and catching fire shortly thereafter.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We stopped at another rest stop which had some incredible views, and more tasty air. You just want to fill your lungs to capacity with each breath. It is almost as though I feel myself getting healthier breathing this wonderful air. I have spent so much time in L.A. that the ubiquitous smoggy soup that they use for air has so permeated every fiber of my body that the clean refreshing air is like wet lettuce to the face, surprising, leafy and a little confounding.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzYX_VGWwZu9n8-C6cc4d2T8mG6RCMFd1EcfgXS5ReMnKdK06CIKjV8qkOGlTOVlj6NOZDRH2_b5VS9miFsimNBog63xoWzLkamAzY3N2MhyIzhzha9ciCHKSswtYeOthbmQw_7Wr1V4/s640/blogger-image-1541494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzYX_VGWwZu9n8-C6cc4d2T8mG6RCMFd1EcfgXS5ReMnKdK06CIKjV8qkOGlTOVlj6NOZDRH2_b5VS9miFsimNBog63xoWzLkamAzY3N2MhyIzhzha9ciCHKSswtYeOthbmQw_7Wr1V4/s640/blogger-image-1541494.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBIvtZxSLeLqYFMv5NrTSyxuaK2p4yoQKHHzNLQDHpeXpNBBdqwCL480SHNOjUGxZDUNj-nWpb3ybLMTLgXx5RV68ptukznYpYOhuR5Oj_H7ILYVCOgx5Mr8WMlswyVWfdekAYCWqTOI/s640/blogger-image--430687401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBIvtZxSLeLqYFMv5NrTSyxuaK2p4yoQKHHzNLQDHpeXpNBBdqwCL480SHNOjUGxZDUNj-nWpb3ybLMTLgXx5RV68ptukznYpYOhuR5Oj_H7ILYVCOgx5Mr8WMlswyVWfdekAYCWqTOI/s640/blogger-image--430687401.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3AD0jGz6Myt99z74bjDdg3zzRTcxeIY4a4VJ357p2r31uGa5diB3ZhTzfz5W4eYC3LavKlqZF-IkRGU2abt36g9UiCVMNxbQCrSqC6w2ozkFbMLAWTBqnw6nJJlubSz6BhMSyZDGo3M/s640/blogger-image-159447191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3AD0jGz6Myt99z74bjDdg3zzRTcxeIY4a4VJ357p2r31uGa5diB3ZhTzfz5W4eYC3LavKlqZF-IkRGU2abt36g9UiCVMNxbQCrSqC6w2ozkFbMLAWTBqnw6nJJlubSz6BhMSyZDGo3M/s640/blogger-image-159447191.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniA-nquDZfwdi-K8DeqQdwxcryJGIBvsKYXeV30vHtZ_vMkzRc9WX385nxo2OdHSmWJSN6KAzO-KwfXo5O7dBK7RGtHRS88wtWVoTBLZRpxkZOZN8Yj2anQxr0nbseVNb_9fvO4Z9-dE/s640/blogger-image--466759559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniA-nquDZfwdi-K8DeqQdwxcryJGIBvsKYXeV30vHtZ_vMkzRc9WX385nxo2OdHSmWJSN6KAzO-KwfXo5O7dBK7RGtHRS88wtWVoTBLZRpxkZOZN8Yj2anQxr0nbseVNb_9fvO4Z9-dE/s640/blogger-image--466759559.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R2S-4X3i_W8L6rVZ5bnn9eZCLRmnENSy2a0BrY_nrFW8kfM_vtduuVMRe8WbDZcIFomSd5QLMRWkEPb7nPgOQPetE42BQlR7IhYzBGa28AURdzPCt8iZ8nqIJUVO51-oW5knSv9r1jk/s640/blogger-image-159380761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R2S-4X3i_W8L6rVZ5bnn9eZCLRmnENSy2a0BrY_nrFW8kfM_vtduuVMRe8WbDZcIFomSd5QLMRWkEPb7nPgOQPetE42BQlR7IhYzBGa28AURdzPCt8iZ8nqIJUVO51-oW5knSv9r1jk/s640/blogger-image-159380761.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We made it to a new place I have never visited. I’m slowly filling in the void between Salt Lake and New York. So even though I’m still west, I’m more north, and right now I’m excited because there were deer!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Smell the deliciousness of bambi.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MHoA5cIUw38iXiPnyQ1iBzuLg5FoygaQ7pmzCYrx0fXF_59fQWcFFF7igSNrjvZTN6pqRfYA29ZvlZ40Z9GXvVnxGWnp4ZNn-LOuXljeN4-wRumBPb_lS5bLi46pEFR40d6sBhI_Y-4/s640/blogger-image--1429738225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MHoA5cIUw38iXiPnyQ1iBzuLg5FoygaQ7pmzCYrx0fXF_59fQWcFFF7igSNrjvZTN6pqRfYA29ZvlZ40Z9GXvVnxGWnp4ZNn-LOuXljeN4-wRumBPb_lS5bLi46pEFR40d6sBhI_Y-4/s640/blogger-image--1429738225.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlSQF2qRPawayPiDHui-ir3inR8V8aOyFxDRLhyphenhyphenYmXOnBWA-qLR1nuqCxrDA_HoPtT_dhvDQlOJGq54wmazebfUwEFl-M62Wu3VezVTDPi7zhRBM7iw_EkEWnawfDmpDrKuoDeczRQho/s640/blogger-image--797652657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlSQF2qRPawayPiDHui-ir3inR8V8aOyFxDRLhyphenhyphenYmXOnBWA-qLR1nuqCxrDA_HoPtT_dhvDQlOJGq54wmazebfUwEFl-M62Wu3VezVTDPi7zhRBM7iw_EkEWnawfDmpDrKuoDeczRQho/s640/blogger-image--797652657.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloZOGwVgUeYhRyJPmBGOxFTvM08mqTWV1uje0Iosc-XnNo_TsPQ5TNEWUds7UAt6xCeSWuf2-WGSSCYqM4YEFm6sOO8pNp9-gsmiyyDp1HWTZvNDq5NPX5P9vIcMdqVcNMO79_l5mkCc/s640/blogger-image--1784486902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloZOGwVgUeYhRyJPmBGOxFTvM08mqTWV1uje0Iosc-XnNo_TsPQ5TNEWUds7UAt6xCeSWuf2-WGSSCYqM4YEFm6sOO8pNp9-gsmiyyDp1HWTZvNDq5NPX5P9vIcMdqVcNMO79_l5mkCc/s640/blogger-image--1784486902.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG7lYkDArL_KIExko13fDAM-1WTvJCTlfMLp1-9MTRmqEco8V8-X1ZbBpPP1shxWJbSc5Hscr-rDTho1AU0xshmHyAKVBjF0H8b8zc19NE_q8y2fvQiR_GmpxLNZbA5ddR9zHVo0Qifk/s640/blogger-image-1183806021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG7lYkDArL_KIExko13fDAM-1WTvJCTlfMLp1-9MTRmqEco8V8-X1ZbBpPP1shxWJbSc5Hscr-rDTho1AU0xshmHyAKVBjF0H8b8zc19NE_q8y2fvQiR_GmpxLNZbA5ddR9zHVo0Qifk/s640/blogger-image-1183806021.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We finally descended into the movie-set town of Jackson Hole. Everything looked like it had just been built, and all the people walking around had some kind of air of familiarity to them, like a “featured extra.” The line up of shops is as such: bar/restaurant, gallery, trinkets, bar, gallery, trinkets. We zeroed in on a wine and cheese shop as we drove through town to our hotel.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Our room had been upgraded to a suite which was really nice. Definitely one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in. Everything was clean, elegant and just so much more fab than I was prepared for.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We put on warmer clothes and wandered the few blocks to the wine and cheese shop. Our waiter was hot. There is no skirting around this fact, so there it is. He was also very knowledgeable and helpful with the menu, ready to offer suggestions and by the end, had taken over our order. We basically had put ourselves entirely in his capable hands. When we had enough, we wandered down the street and found our way into a stuffed animal shop and bought a huckleberry chocolate bar. Wandered through the famous antler arches in the park and back to the room for sleep.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Tomorrow we head into Yellowstone to find our camping spot—yes we are roughing it, but before we leave we’ll probably do a bit more wandering through J’Hole, as I’m now going to call it. There were a few art galleries that were closed that have some incredible looking art in them, and we are eager to investigate them further.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
One gallery had a photo-realistic oil/airbrush of a Native American with a skinned cougar as a head dress and it was only $24k. It was hard not to see it as a photo. The color and lighting were so perfect. But I left my spare fortune in my other pants. So its purchase will have to wait for another trip.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
In the next few days, I do not know what kind of connectivity I will have so if there aren’t posts, there will be toward the end of the week, perhaps Friday or Saturday. I will simply have to play that by ear.</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-34882902899119689662014-08-24T23:04:00.003-07:002014-08-24T23:08:21.551-07:00Vacation 2014: Yellowstone Meat in a Family Sandwich-cation, Day 3<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Today we continued the sad task of sorting through mom’s things. Dad spent most of the morning struggling with his oxygen machine, a concentrator which plugs into the wall and sucks oxygen from the air, and like espresso is to coffee, shoves delicious oxygen up one’s nose.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
My brother and his wife, and my sister, finished going through the clothes, and marveled at the intricacy of mom’s wardrobe. Scarves, hats, and socks for days. It seemed like a lot more than it was, I think mostly from the overwhelming emotional aspect to what we were doing. It is hard to reconcile the absence of someone so integral to your existence. And it will likely continue to be so for a while.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Around 1pm, it was time to say goodbye to my sister. She needed to return to Reno, and took my dad and aunt with her. Patsy enjoys the occasional trips out of town and Dad had doctors appointments this next week, so the timing was good.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
For lunch we split a burger at McAdoo’s next to Cowboy Joe, which used to be so big-city espresso for a small town, until the inevitable sporing of Starbucks, which also carried a JoAnn’s, Home Depot, Ross, Marshalls, and of course, Walmart.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We relaxed in the afternoon, at the house just watching the sun cross the sky and relished the slight chill in the wind that carried the waning of summer, a rather wonderful reminder that autumn was just around the corner. Yes, Elko actually has that season. L.A. is just horrible blue skies all year, and occasionally you need a jacket, other than that, there are no seasons, and really no weather to speak of.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
For dinner we joined my brother and his family for some good old fashioned Nevada sushi. It wasn’t bad. I have had way worse in Los Angeles, but have also had amazing, and I would say this was solidly good, right on the verge of really good. Ultimately we ate too many things, and drank to many sakes. I’m just not used to the generosity of places that offer all you can eat sashimi. Especially with a huge bottle of sake, billed as a single serving for $8.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
After we went back to his house and had a drink and talked more about our family, causing boredom for everyone around us. We thought about dragging out the evening, but given it is a school night for several of those in his house, and we need to be at the bank early tomorrow to take care of some family business, we decided to call it a night.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I know it seems strange to start a vacation with such a heavy task, but really there was no other time that worked for the three of us. While we barely made a dent in the true task of clearing the house of its excesses, there is still the sense of accomplishment of a good start to a difficult and meaningful part of life. There is an inevitability that we all face that someday, someone will judiciously go through all your crap. And that the measure of your value has little to do with the actual small things that were so important to you, but to whether or not your sorter will know the difference: what is important, valuable and worthy of preservation, and which garbage and secrets deserve to stay buried. Because THAT, among all the other things, is love.</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-31413753430252145012014-08-23T23:30:00.001-07:002014-08-24T14:19:08.043-07:00Vacation 2014: Before Yellowstone Destroys Us All: Day 1 & 2<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This year, we are skipping Burning Man. We have several friends who are going and there is a ton of great art we also will be missing, but we need to do something else that is just us. We have a bit of healing to do and the Burn would be too much right now, too emotional and we are too raw. Ultimately rather than the crowd, we need each other.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
So we decided to visit Yellowstone, before it destroys us all.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I have never been, Gregory hasn’t been since he was a young lad. And since, according to the news, it is the end of days every other day, we figure we better hop to it. We have stops planned along the way, family bread to our bison and wolf meat vacation-wich.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We begin on Friday: we set out from LA hesitantly. I was hesitant, only in that I was waiting for the dishwasher repair person to show up and he gave me the window of basically the exact time we were scheduled to leave. Having a dishwasher is important, and a fully operational one, even more so. I feel like part of the point of having a house is to have your own dishwasher and laundry to use and abuse as much as you want. Of course you have to pay for it eventually, but it’s a personal excess/accomplishment I’m happy to chuck money at…eventually. When is not getting something a victory? When the thing you aren’t getting is quarters for laundry, because you can do as much laundry as you want! Victory!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Gregory was fed up with waiting, so he packed the car and drove away. After a brief run to catch up with him, we were officially on the road.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This is our summer trip 2014, and possibly our only real vacation in 2014, so it’s a big deal and I’m going to document it as best as I can. The good, the bad, the indifferent.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It was about 3PM on a Friday and our first real waypoint was Bishop, and the freak-ass tourist-trap deli, Erik Schaats. When you see all the gooey bread confections upon entering, you’ll nearly schiit your pants. They have an impressive selection of sandwiches and Sheepherder bread, and a number of other kinds of bread (bacon-cheese!), and also cinnamon roll-type monkey-bread-pull-apart yumminess topped in candied pecans and diabetes. Given their sandwich counter was closed, and the available sandwiches were limited to tuna salad and roast turkey, I insisted on roast turkey. There were burners on the road, and I didn’t want to compete with them. At the prospect of the coming 10 days with a diet of protein bars and weed, their radical self reliance may extend all the way to “cut-a-bitch-for-a-sandwich” and I’m not prepared to go there just now. I just want to get the sandwich and leave.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
But we have one last stop: Vons. I need a birthday card and gift certificates for my 17-year-old nephew. Starbucks and iTunes will fit the bill this year. He’s a great kid and now he’s a senior in high school. I really wish him the best. This year is going to be so amazing for him and I’m excited for him. Oh to relive those awkward high school days.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Gag me with a spoon!</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
With our gas, greeting and gift card mission complete, we set out to our next waypoint, a mysterious camping spot between Gabbs and Austin in Nevada. We have camped here before. There’s a little service road that goes around a hill and it is a great private spot for stealth camping. When we got there, though, we realized we were only 3 hours away from our actual destination, and neither of us were particularly tired.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
So after a few amazing night shots (the night sky with all its stars was incredibly accommodating) we braved the night drive and arrived in Elko safely at 1AM. My sister was meeting us at Dad’s house and offered to make up the pull-out sofa so we could just stumble in and crash. We did just that.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
At about 5AM, Gregory could take no more and went to the car to retrieve his sleeping bag and pad and set up camp in the living room, unable to bear the discomfort of the sofa bed.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Saturday morning arrived and the first order of business was to pick up Dad from the hospital. He checked himself in a couple of days before, after he experienced shortness of breath, and general difficulty in breathing. So as his condition worsened, he did what anyone in that situation would do: he drove himself to the emergency room. Because not breathing while driving is fun apparently. His oxygen was dangerously low, and it turns out his lungs were filling with fluid and he also had congestive heart failure.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
After getting all that drained off, he was given a prescription for oxygen and new drugs. Yay! Our favorite! MORE pills (he already takes a pharmacy, so what is the harm in a few new ones?)</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
So after he was outfitted with a tank and hoses and a carburetor we went home so we could watch him breathe. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Actually our real reason for visiting Elko at the beginning of our vacation was to go through mom’s stuff and figure out what we wanted to divide up, what should stay with dad, and what should be thrown out—or better yet—donated to a group that could really use that. It has been a few months since her death and it is definitely time to think about dad and what he will need going forward.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
He is an organized person and mom was only sort of organized. She had a system…for some things. I think some of this is for closure, piece of mind, and a new way of looking at the world each day. We all have finite time on this plane and we each have a right to putting our house in order so we can enjoy that time to our personal satisfaction. I think this part of the journey is helping all of us—not just dad—do exactly that.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
So we went through her clothes first, planning to donate most everything to the women’s shelter. There were a few things, my aunt and sister wanted. We went haphazardly through the rest. We all wandered room to room, not entirely sure what we were doing, scared to put too much or too little importance into a small pile of papers, or a bowl or basket. She had little post-its filled with notes or instructions, references to things only she knew, very important bits of information whose reason for existence faded completely in her absence. I was overwhelmed with ambivalence as I glanced through a small collection of post its about a picture she planned to paint, referencing photos, colors, and a future that didn’t exist. I threw them in the garbage bag, feeling just fucking sad. These were so important to her. And I though of all the bullshit that is so important to me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
We were bailed out of the sadness spiral by the promise of cake. It was my nephew’s birthday and that meant some laughs, good food, tasty drinks, and did I mention the cake?</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br></div>
<br>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I had Hendrick’s gin. It’s over. They won. I’m going to have to go Hendrick’s. Sapphire has a special place in my gullet, but Hendricks just threw down and stole my heart. Also I made this tasty corn-stuff with parmesan and lime juice. It was the bomb. My brother barbecued beef steaks and lamb shank. I had some of each, because vacation. Vaaacaaationnnn!</div>
Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-25208535451884389952013-09-28T10:30:00.002-07:002013-09-28T10:30:41.502-07:00Nice<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.funnyordie.com/embed/67a61e3024" width="640"></iframe><br />
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0; text-align: left; width: 640px;">
<a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/67a61e3024/between-two-ferns-with-zach-galifianakis-james-franco" title="from Zach Galifianakis, James Franco, Andy Samberg, Ed Norton, The Lonely Island, Scott Aukerman, BJPorter, Brian Lane, Between Two Ferns, Funny Or Die, Betsy Koch, Comedy Deathray, and Antonio Scarlata">Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: James Franco</a> from <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/zachgalifianakis">Zach Galifianakis</a> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?app_id=138711277798&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funnyordie.com%2Fvideos%2F67a61e3024%2Fbetween-two-ferns-with-zach-galifianakis-james-franco&send=false&layout=button_count&width=150&show_faces=false&action=like&height=21" style="border: none; height: 21px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; width: 90px;"></iframe>
</div>
Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-40517499338622462812013-09-06T22:12:00.002-07:002013-09-06T22:12:46.935-07:00AtlasNifty new Coldplay video...
<object width="575" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USUV71301984&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USUV71301984&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961 &playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="575" height="324" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-66219849018899184452013-06-19T18:59:00.004-07:002013-06-19T19:01:02.197-07:00I want a Piñata filled with hot dogs...<object height="324" width="575"><param name="movie" value="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USRV81300234&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False"></param>
<param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param>
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=USRV81300234&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961 &playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="575" height="324" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-73037122682800834812013-06-19T18:54:00.001-07:002013-06-19T18:54:52.344-07:00Cups<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cmSbXsFE3l8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-55122135252610543202013-05-09T20:33:00.002-07:002013-05-09T20:33:58.687-07:00Jinkx MonsoonI love me some Jinkx Monsoon
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XVZKjyyfeaA?list=UUsRsI7oxuO0D7Kvhm-_QAvw" width="560"></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-86647954559683082532013-05-09T19:50:00.002-07:002013-05-09T19:50:40.326-07:00PanhandlerThis is basically what it's like riding the subway in NYC. Last visit at least 4 different people on different train rides asked for money...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/47e3vjA_4uc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-64300770170969751782013-01-08T23:24:00.001-08:002013-01-08T23:24:23.304-08:00Burning Man 2012 - Long & AwesomeA really long video, but totally gives a full idea of all the crazy amazing totally wild and wacky there is to behold at )'(
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cjZnCPZosOs" width="560"></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-4709761861004871442012-11-19T22:49:00.002-08:002012-11-19T22:49:49.174-08:00P!nk - Blow Me Music Video<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5NQ1YViEgMs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-30176135405494423272012-11-19T22:42:00.002-08:002012-11-19T22:42:32.049-08:00P!nk - Try Music Video<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yTCDVfMz15M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-3297127169799717962012-11-05T23:03:00.003-08:002012-11-19T22:50:01.590-08:00SAME LOVE<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hlVBg7_08n0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-2290814120697467562012-10-11T00:43:00.001-07:002012-10-11T00:48:07.394-07:00Cat vomitYou shut up.<br />
No, YOU shut up.<br />
No, I throw up and you come around the corner and lick it up.<br />
<br />
Ah, the grammar school exchange. A fourth grader's version of fuck off. Only relevant at the moment because I have two cats. One of them, the girl, Lily, just threw up in the hall. Our boy cat, Roman, immediately ran over and ate it. The embodiment of juvenile witchcraft. The hex made real and reenacted by cats.<br />
<br />
The vomit isn't nasty, well, relatively. She does it semi regularly, and always right after she eats, so it still looks like dry food, just slightly digested. I'm sure there is a similar technique in French cuisine, where you soak meat in an acid for a moment so it is perfectly tender. No wonder why he likes it.<br />
<br />
Not that I feel a tabby cat is the most discerning animal when it comes to food. We tried many kinds of cat food, fancy, expensive cat food, a variety platter of wet and dry, trying to find food they would eat. Turns out Purina dry food is their preference. The boxed wine of cat food.<br />
<br />
Whatever. Works for me. But I'm not going to pretend the vomit eating isn't disturbing on some level, but at the same time, I have to some degree, fooled myself into thinking this small furry creature is a person in a cat suit. Sure they have different personalities, distinct things they do and "say," ways they express themselves. But I am convinced in some way that they share a friendship with me, that nuzzling and headbutts mean "I like you," when it probably means "let me mark you as my property, tall food giver."<br />
<br />
They have never once offered to clean up the apartment when I'm at work. They seem to resent trips to the doctor, when I'm only trying to help them. No, they are not friends or surrogates for anything specific, only wild or wild-adjacent animals I have put up in my home, with food and water, and a litter box. Yes a wild animal shits in a box in the corner of my house daily. They have permeated the very fabric of my shirt. The lint trap is filled with a smattering of lint and enough cat hair to knit an Abyssinian. <br />
<br />
Still I find myself seeking and comforted by their company. Regardless of how occasionally revolting I may find them. And I get an insight into parenting. Hopefully my someday toddlers will not eat vomit of any sort, regardless of how tasty it looks, or how Frenchly it was prepared.Joseph Carrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305724381195412092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-36862099690369000172012-10-07T10:21:00.002-07:002012-10-07T10:21:59.508-07:00Why Obama Now?<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U9G8XREyG0Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-78468745649268602372012-09-27T00:03:00.001-07:002012-09-27T00:03:18.761-07:00Les Misérables - Extended First LookThis is going to be fucking amazing...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wwgQjfg0hZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-15369663680537433742012-09-24T23:09:00.002-07:002012-09-24T23:09:59.198-07:00Burning Man Has A Kiki<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sDnmnRThTQs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-10727497075745342682012-09-16T21:43:00.003-07:002012-09-16T21:43:42.379-07:00This Week In Unnecessary Censorship<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IFkHVlbbCiw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2524322680232853880.post-30224524129223892562012-09-13T23:54:00.003-07:002012-09-13T23:54:47.682-07:00Another amazing aerial Burning Man video<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/49193945" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/49193945">Burning Man 2012, Aerial, overview</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7910164">ZM Interactive</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Gregoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11301865271938534614noreply@blogger.com0