barking dog

13900 miles. 80 days. 61° longitude. 50 blog posts. 32° latitude. 5 reasons not to camp. 4 nights camping. 1 arctic circle.

One homecoming. One barking dog.

shift to the ordinary

We've seen it all before, of course, but never has it seemed so ordinary. Tomorrow we hit the permanent campsite with all its attendant troubles and cares, traded for what has become our routine. I'm interested to see whether we are energized or enervated. There will certainly be plenty to do. One last entry tomorrow, then its time to refocus my thoughts.

green Chile flavored pistachios

The blog title says it all. If you are reading this blog, chances are you'll get a pound for Christmas. Very strange restaurant for dinner. Named Oles but they had no curds. Go figure. I guess this ain't no dairy state. The states get less green as we go.  From here, we know the way.

skyscapes and shadows

Wyoming. The equality state. The first state in which women achieved the vote.  The sky is full here; the horizon low; the land empty. We are experiencing reverse sticker shock. Food and gas are cheap. Prices are low. A very active rail yard here. Our accommodation is large, and we responded by relaxing into an extra day here in Cheyenne.

During the latter part of our trip, we saw light from a sun low on the horizon.  Much different from the first part of the trip, going into the north, with the days longer and the sun revolving around the sky to our south day after day.  No darkness forever.  No long shadows.  No refuge for sleep.  That changed as we came south.  The shadows in Wyoming were magnificent; and when we came to the thicker atmosphere closer to home - I pulled out the sun glasses and put them on to combat the glitter and glare of the sun in the thicker atmosphere of Oklahoma.  

wagon ho

Travel day today. Bring the heat and the big empty. After visiting the Evergreen state and the Treasure state, we'll see if Wyoming's nature reveals itself.

Cody center nice. Cody itself clean and friendly. Another town that requires a longer stay to float the river, go Chief Joseph's way and visit the bighorn.

Shoshone river meanders almost unmolested through town. I guess at time of development flooding kept the close approaches clear.

circling the drain

Cody, wy; sept: 68°F. Couldn't be nicer. Donated to the stockman's fund. Chowed on a NY strip and tater loaded. Clean and prosperous town just through the tunnel from the dammed up Shoshone river. They must have really wanted that lake because the stretches of that river still running free are beautiful at the bounds of description, right up there with the most beautiful places I've ever seen. And that's after driving through Yellowstone park earlier the same day.

Grand canyon of the Yellowstone is a beautiful fairy tale - set off for its safe keeping just beyond barricades. It didn't sneak up on me like the first time I saw it. We visited the north rim sites, including a hike down to the verge of the lower falls. It is more spectacular than any of the falls we saw up close in canada, with the Athabasca falls a different, but close second. The canyon gets it the first place vote.

We also visited along the river in the expansive Hayden valley. It is seductively large, and brings home the value of the national parks, as no subdivisions clutter the view. My biggest surprise was Yellowstone lake as it floated, a dreamlike emerald expanse, at 7000 feet. I heard tales of the fishing bridge from someone who was there before the spawning run was protected in 1973.

I'm not really sure when I first visited west Yellowstone, but I remember it as little more than a single street of motels and services. Development marches on there. A travesty in the making.

Next - prelude to the home stretch. Can we find our way down the drain - to home?

PS. Due apologies to the Madison river and the western approach to the park, which are also spectacular.

escape from seattle

Okay - Seattle wasn't my best moment. Got lost there. Never really got found. Very sobering. had a great Italian meal - if it was easy, everyone would do it. Seattle art museum was (for me) just OK. Liked the abstract modernism anyway.

We escaped on 90E. Crossed the high desert to Spokane. Had to detour from near ellensburg to vantage. Route took us past whiskey dick (no kidding) mountain. Saw columbia river and took a moment to regret we weren't going to view the grand coulee dam.

Trees magically appeared about 20 miles west of spokane. Arrived on a lovely early September day. Woke up in a cloud that followed us almost to Missoula, so we missed Idaho scenery. Stopped for lunch in Missoula. Found it so lovely we decided to stay for the night. Spent time at the Monte dolack gallery, the new Radius gallery, and the marvelous Dana gallery.

Tomorrow night west Yellowstone - are you ready for some football?