We had some fun last weekend. Here in Ocala Florida they had the high school rodeo area championship. Here are the kids getting ready for the big parade.
Our trip out west with the grandkids. Started 6/14/11
Our first stop was at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western N.D. It has 77, oo0 acres of pristine badlands, grasslands and thousands of animals., and encloses Teddy's old ranch.
Our three grandkids. Nikita, Timber and Jordan just overwhelmed with it all. Look at the beautiful sagebrush.
A herd of feral horses found here in the park.
Look Buffalos! A herd of fifty some of the parks herd of 500 or so wild animals. Now this is what we came to see!
Look at this magnificent beast! (Taken from INSIDE my van)
After a full day of driving and looking and hiking and playing in the weird mud they have here, not to mention a visit to the Cowboy Museum, we lucked out. Today is flag day, and they were having their annual all horse parade in downtown Medora N.D. Here are a group of rodeo queens.
I probably will not add more tomorrow, we're spending the day driving to Bozeman MT to see the best dinosaur museum in the world, with a stop in Billings MT to grocery up and hit the thrift stores. Someone wants to read the Hobbit.
We went to the Museum Of the Rockies in Bozeman MT, and the dinosaurs were great, but what we really loved was the old homestead cabin outside. From a family that homesteaded nearby in the 1870s, the cabin was moved intact. To see our whole visit, go to my blog, bluedogantiques.blogspot.com
6/16/11
6/17/11 Bozeman to Yellowstone
6/18/11 Yellowstone!
Here is the historic North Entance, built in 1906. Yes, I know it looks kind of gloomy. Those are snow clouds, there was snow in the ground in half the park. 4' tall in our campground! In June!
Old Faithful, worth the wait.
Old Faithful Inn, a historic building at the park. Very decorative inside. Sorry the pictures are not too great, I just couldn't get a feel for the immensity of the place. Its just so immense, or grand or something my poor little phone could not capture.
6/19/11 Grand Teton National Park
It was supposed to rain or snow all day in Yellowstone, so we drove down to Grand Teton for a day trip (400 miles!) Here is the famous Jenny Lake. We had a great day, saw 2 bull moose, 2 moose with calves, a grizzly bear and 2 cubs, trumpeter swans, herds of elk and bison, and well just about anything you could mention. It was great, or maybe sublime is a better word.
Here's the inside of the old Inn. Look at all the decorative woodwork.
I think this guy was lonely, he kept hanging around the parking lot entertaining the tourists.
What a perfect evening!
South of Grand Tetaon is Jackson, WY. Here is the famous plaza with the antler arches, one of each corner.
Here's the famous Cowboy Bar on the plaza in Jackson. You can sit on saddles at the bar.
On the way back to Yellowstone we spotted this mother and calf.
6/20/11 Yellowstone
Colorful Primsatic Springs, the fog was just magnificent.
Look at the falls. We actually stopped to look at the mountain goats.
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Look at the young coyote. He was just hopping along by the road, and pouncing on something, maybe a snake.
Herds and herds of buffalo and elk. Wish I could show you the pack of wolves we saw, but too far away.
6/21/11 Yellowstone Fishing, sorry no pics.
6/22/11 Driving from Yellowstone to Cody, WY
6/23/11 Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, Cody WY
One reason the museum is one of the bsst in the world. We met a father and son outside the museum who compete in Cody's nightly rodeo. The son, here demonstrating to grandson Jordan, is one of the top 5 gun twirlers in the world. Did you know you could make a living twirling guns? Neither did I.
The museum is really five museums in one building, the Firearms Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Wildlife Art Museum, the Buffalo Bill Cody Life and Times Museum and the Wildlife Museum, focusing on the ecosystem of Yelllowstone. Oh, and there was a special exhibit on the evolution of western wear. Oh, and yes, more there was a talk and demonstration on snakes with a live rattler. A lot to see in 1 day.
Cody has a live "shoot out" every evening with great renactors and good gun safety info. All volunteers, all for charity. Don't these guys look like outlaws?
Here's Jordan with Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok.
What do you think?
Vacation's almost over, more driving back to MN to take the kids home, family visits, and heading home to CT. Love to travel, but can't wait to get home.
