Month: August 2016

Olympic NP is big! Took me over 3 days to get to the temperate rain forest, Sol Duc hot springs and waterfalls, and the Pacific Ocean beaches. Then I stopped at the Natl Fish Hatchery in Quinault and went onto the Klondike Gold Rush NHP in Seattle. Now struggling to get this posted while at McDonalds on WiFi. This is my second try as the first one never saved-yuk. I’ll try one picture and hope for the best

Joined WA state parks for a year-the Discover Pass-$30/yr vs $10/one visit-went to 3 state parks today! Fort Casey State Park, Ebey st park, and Deception Pass Park and Overlook. Beautiful sunset at Deception Pass tonight-sky was alive! Lighthouse at Ft Casey and the hidden fort there was cool. Ferry to San Juan Island tomorrow-hooray! Great journey to all-​ [note that I’m having difficulty uploading all the pix, sorry🤗

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Today & yesterday in mountains-big mountains in North Cascades, Lake Chelan, & Ross Lake; also Grand Coulee Dam with evening light show and Lake Roosevelt. Before that stayed with friend Toni in Hot Springs MT taking a daily soak, chatting, and playing cards-just fun! Tomorrow is San Juan Island in WA, then to Olympic NP taking the car ferry to both, I hope.

 So grateful to be alive!

From Bowman Lake to Apgar, Logan Pass, and St Mary-absolutely gorgeous! Logan Pass took my heart with the animals and Going-to-the-Sun won first place in “wow” viewing!

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Another beautiful day at Glacier, starting in the 40s temperature. Only one place has internet access, Agpar Vis Ctr, so this is short

So sad, the Battleground, Nez Perce Indians wanted to stay in their homeland but US wanted them to go elsewhere. Rangers on site very helpful, video good. Many sites maintained by NPS and MT. Drove Scenic Byway looking for Crystal Park to dig quartz crystals, but couple I met said it’s 30 miles in, it was late, so I went to hot springs at Fairmont-great soak! MT is lovely! Through the forest someone has decorated a small tree for Christmastime-funny in August! Sad that so many hot/warm mineral springs are commercialized so heavily. It’s so nice to sit in mineral springs outside. Then off to Butte to Staples to get a printout of insurance ID card which I need from eSurance website-mission accomplished! I’m really tired, as I tried to stay up all night to watch for Perseid meteor showers- saw 6 amidst napping-cool! Great day to all, and ponder this: what if love is really all there is? Not just the mushy romantic love, but the strong, creative and sustaining love that builds a better world for all-let that be our intention.

Old Faithful live yesterday to experience her amazing talent! Glorious is Yellowstone and huge-about the size of our 2 smallest states. Geysers, hot springs (but too hot to soak in), fumaroles, mud volcanos, forests, lakes, natural bridge, waterfalls galore, caldera, canyons, bison, elk, coyote, mountains, valleys, creeks, Yellowstone River, petrified tree with 20 feet of height still standing, rock formations, and more! So big it has its own post office and court; its magnitude overwhelmed me at times, but mostly “no service” on iPhone.

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See ya North Dakota-it’s been great; hello Montana! Battlefields still affect me adversely, falling into the category of, “What were we thinking?” I heard all the details and find it amazing we couldn’t find a better way than this.  The Bighorn Canyon Natl Rec Area and Yellowtail Dam are quite amazing, containing 4 climate/vegetative zones in a very short distance as would normally occur. The Crow Indian Reservation abuts the property and Fort Smith is just before it when heading South. Tomorrow: Yellowstone!

An older post just being posted: 8/3  explored voyageurs Natl Park in MN just 7 miles from Canadian border-lovely, yet remote for cell/internet use. But, from around 8 pm 8/2 night forward I’m enjoying ND with its unusual, yet stunning views. Miles of blooming sunflowers smiling at me! Sunset remarkable, and a chance at experiencing the northern Lights (I fell asleep and don’t know if I missed it or not), perhaps I’ll get another shot at it tonight even though rain forecasted. I experienced Earth Mound dwelling Indian life, as Sakakawea (known as Sacagawea  by most) may have lived at the Knife River Indian Villages Natl Historic Site, even taking a trail to the upper Missouri  River. Then off to Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park to be wowed by the painted canyon and amused by the prairie dogs, of which there are many! Hoping to view a bison tomorrow or sometime this next week while I’m staying here. A wonderful surprise is that on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm, the North Unit hosts their Badlands Star party, setting up telescopes at the OxbowOverlook-I’m excited about it! I forgot about the change to Mtn time, so got an extra hour to work with!

Yes, it’s bumpy! As close to the original as possible! More bison, bunnies, bird, deer, and prairie dogs. Gave myself a Little Missouri mud pack and my skin feels so smooth!

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