Our Alaska Adventure, Summer 2014

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Chapter 2 

Beginning day 4 of our Alaskan Adventure, we left the Badlands of South Dakota, and headed west toward Yellowstone National Park.  Our travels took us through South Dakota, Wyoming and arriving in Gardiner on May 29th



Mountains along our route give meaning to "Rocky Mountain High." 



 

 

 

Gardiner, MT is situated on the Yellowstone River just a short walking distance from the North entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Founded in 1872, it has the status as the world's first national park, and it continues to be an international travel destination. 





This is the view from our campground overlooking the Yellowstone River, the town of Gardiner and the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  We frequently saw Dall sheep, elk, and deer from this spot.  When the picture is enlarged you can see an elk resting in the meadow by the river's edge.
 



The Roosevelt Arch makes a grand welcoming to visitors of the park.  Inscribed at the top is "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people."  This is the only gate that remains open year round.
 

We and our mascot, Gracie, begin our first day's adventure in the park.
 
 



On our first morning out we were excited to see a black bear and her cub in a stand off with an elk.  



Tower Falls

Firehole Falls
 
Many of the park's waterfalls are easily accessible by a short walk.  Firehole and Tower Falls are just two of them.  Because of its 132 foot height, on sunny days rainbows can be seen at the bottom of Tower Falls. 
Small acrobatic birds called swifts entertained us at Firehole Falls.
 
 
 

Bison, more commonly known as buffalo, have free range in the park.  They can be found wandering, on the side of the road, lounging along the roadside, and in the road creating traffic jams, seemingly oblivious to us tourists.
 

 

Bison nap time.
  

Contrary to first impressions, this shaggy looking elk is healthy.  He has been rubbing against trees and shrubs to shed his itchy winter coat.  He has the beginnings of new antlers.
 
 

We waited over an hour past the predicted time for Old Faithful to erupt.  The grand dame of the park has become fashionable late.  Eruptions intervals vary from 44 to 125 minutes apart.
 
 
 





 



Beautiful views of Yellowstone Lake reflecting the Absaroka Mountains.  The ice is just breaking up on the lake.
 

 





Yellowstone has the largest concentration of geysers and hot springs in the world.
 


 

Yellowstone River from Fishing Bridge
(from which you are no longer allowed to fish)
 
 



Beautiful Swan Lake with the Quadrant Mountains in the background.
 




Trumpeter Swans migrate through the park and some stay over for the summer.
 
 

Eons of erosion from the flowing river have exposed these layers of colorful rock formed by lava flow.
  

We saw these two young male elk practicing their sparring skills to win the ladies' hearts.


 

There was still deep snow in the upper elevations (8,000 + feet) in the mountains.  The rivers in the lower elevations were torrents due to melting snow, which will keep the rivers, creeks and streams running for many weeks.

 

Sure footed mountain goats ewes make climbing look easy.

 

Sunset silhouettes an elk on a ridge.  We were always rewarded by entering the park early and staying late.

 

Sunday, May 25 2014

 

Chapter 1

While getting ready for our Alaska adventure, Bob & Donna stayed at "The Harbor" campground on Lake Pomme De Terre, about 3 miles from Tom & Jan's home. 



Lake Pomme de Terre, Hickory County, Missouri
is where Bob and Donna met up with Jan and Tom on May 14, 2014.

 

Camping and boating are popular along the lake
and it is known locally for its large mouth bass, crappie and white bass fishing. The most popular lake fish is Muskie which doesn't reproduce naturally here and has to released each year by the Conservation Department.

 


Lake Pomme de Terre control tower. Pomme de Terre translated from French means "earth apple" which in English is an potato. 


 


 

The dam which created the lake was constructed

by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood

control between 1957 and 1961. 




We are ready to hit the road to Alaska!!



 

 


Onawa, Iowa: our first night "On Our Way" was at
On-Ur-Wa RV Park.



 




Lewis and Clarke State Park in Onawa, Iowa. We viewed a full-size replica of the type of keelboat used by Lewis and Clarke on theirexpedition up the Missouri River.




Taking a break before crossing the "Mighty Mo",
the Missouri River at Chamberlin, SD.

 



Teepee lodge poles mark South Dakota's rest areas.

 



Causeway across the Missouri River.





Badlands National Park, Wyoming.



 

 

 



The Colors of the Badlands.






Once near extinction, the American Bison, or more commonly known as Buffalo, are protected and the populations are growing.

 


A curious antelope takes time to sniff the wildflowers.

 



Prairie dogs enjoy their own sanctuary in the Badlands.



 

  

Rubbing off last winters heavy coat.



A short hike on the boardwalk revealed amazing views of the colorful, rugged Badlands' terrain.




The reason we stayed on the boardwalk. 
 




Twisted rustic posts line sidewalk outside Wall Drug.


 



The famous Wall Drug.  Purchased in 1931, by a Nebraska pharmacist, business was very slow until his wife go the idea to advertise free ice water to parched travelers heading to the newly opened Mount Rushmore.  They still offer free water and 5 cents cups of coffee.