| This is becoming my trip for losing things. Does it count as Alzheimers if you remember you forgot the items later? First, I throw away the package for the XM Radio which contains a UPC I'll need for a free offer. Then, I lose my daily journal at lunch in Colorado. Now, I've lost the Golden Eagle Pass. ARGH! I believe the rangers at the southern entrance of Yellowstone never returned it. Hopefully I can get into the parks before the entrances are staffed. |
| I sneak into Yellowstone before the ranger station opens and plan on riding the eastern road. The northern section of this road is closed, but I should be able to get to the areas I want and then detour around. |
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| As I mentioned this park is huge and packed with
natural wonders. Geysers are venting steam everywhere. During the fires
it must have been difficult to tell the difference between a geyser and
smoldering fire. It is said that the lake bed has been rising every year
leading people to believe that there will be an eruption soon. Many of the lodges were threatened by the fire which also burned right down to the shores of the lakes. The shear volume of the destruction is beyond my comprehension. How do you stop something that big? It's clear that you don't. |
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| The bison are out this morning. First I pass a couple and later a whole heard. I wish I had some metal around me. |
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| Further up the road is the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Lower Falls. After a short walk a wonderful view of the falls appears. Wow. Again the diversity of the park is apparent. |
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| Many roads are under construction and have been stripped of their asphalt. Fortunately there isn't much traffic. A park ranger gives me a break as I'm clearly over the speed limit by just waiving at me to slow down. Whew. |
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| After a couple of hours I'm filling up at the north entrance to the park. One of the attendants is a teacher from Florida working here for the summer. We laugh at the people who are literally running around in the service station and comment on how it is already too late to start the day in the park. Yesterday I got a taste of the traffic in the afternoon. Even though it was heavy, it's still lighter than I remember in the past. |
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| As I leave the park, I pass under the original stone arch entrance. Now it's time for Montana and Hwy 89 north. The road passes through a nice valley and has a 70 mph speed limit. Well alright! |
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| Since it's going to be a 500 mile day and I've just used 2 hours for the park
with lower speed limits, 70 mph will help to make up time. In Livingston I eat
breakfast and hop on I-90 west. They sure are taking this Lewis and Clark
celebration seriously. I pass on the Lewis and Clark Beer. Aging should be kept
to wine. There seems to be a gambling casino on every corner and Lucky 'Lils is
doing a booming business. |
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| I-90 is a 75 mph blur to Whitehall. Here I take Hwy 69 north to Boulder and the
I-15 north. Unfortunately, I can't find a way around Helena and am forced
through the city which causes me to take "Hell"enas name in vain several times. US 12 connects with Hwy 200 and 83 north. At a construction delay, I meet a couple going to the MOA National in Spokane. They've taken Hwy 200 all the way across from Wisconsin. Hwy 83 is first time they've turned. I decide that Montana can post speed limits, but they are no longer allowed to do road construction. We sit for 20 minutes waiting for a pilot car. When it comes we travel 5 miles before the construction begins. Then there is a 3 mile section of gravel and another 4 miles to the end of the zone. I'm 1st in line as the pilot car pulls off and the line of vehicles behind me fades into the distance. |
| This road is great. I'm in a valley paralleling two mountain ranges. There are several lakes including Salmon Lake in Swan Valley. I could live here today, but not six months from now. All those signs for tire chain installation pull offs is freaking me out. |
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| After pulling into the wrong campground, I end up at the correct one in a nice wooded site only 1 mile from Glacier National Park entrance in West Glacier. Now, if I can only get in without my pass. I want to go into the park to get a map and explain my situation to the ranger. She is nice and will let me in without my pass this one time. I've only come for the map and thank her anyway. Tomorrow will be the true test. |