Good Day,

Quick Note:  Today I changed the Home Page photos and am learning how to create some portfolios that can be accessible.  So…more to come.  The Home Page photos are of Yellowstone as of today and will change as the trip continues.

It’s great to get your comments!  Keep them coming! 

Our first real day in Yellowstone started off with Gary finding a great coffee stand and getting me a much needed, soy latte with sugar free vanilla….ahhh.  The only way to start my day.  Thank you!!!!

We decided last night to hike the “Beaver Pond Trail.”  According to the book it is a popular hike and has meadows and beaver ponds.  We expected masses of people and we encountered a total of 5 or 7 (if you count a duo that we saw on a ridge).  This was in fact one of the more secluded hikes we’ve done since our adventure started.  Lots of pine forested gulches and heavily wooded areas.  This prompted us to continue to “chat” and holler out loud before big bends in the trail that we couldn’t see beyond.  There a signs everywhere warning hikers to be “Bear Informed and Ready.” 

We both carry bear spray and in fact tested it on this 5.2 mile hike.  The spray comes out of the canister at 70 miles per hour and has a very noticeable orange hue to it.  Note:  Testing the direction of the wind prior to firing is CRITICAL!  

It was very steep as we started this hike, then it became an up and down trail leading to a gorgeous beaver pond.  Gary’s pictures, inserted, do it justice.  Just prior to the beaver pond we saw 3 female elk in the forest. 

Then onward we continued.  At this point my feet and Gary’s knees were starting to rebel.  Dang those feet and knees.  Onward and we came to the plateau area of the hike that brought its own beauty and new vistas.  

Back at the cabin I soaked my feet in ice water that I poured into the recycle trash bin (washed out of course), while Gary applied ice to his weary knees.  We just need to toughen up! 

Showers and off we went on a phenomenal car ride to the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone.  Oh the glory!  We saw a “bison jam” where essentially the herd takes control of the road and everything in the vicinity so they can “get to the other side.”  They are NOT afraid of cars.  Fun to watch and there are a few pics on the home page.  We also got to see a Park Ranger run after two idiots who thought there was a bison in the river running through the Lamar valley that was being attacked by wolves.  The ranger did not look pleased. 

Back to the cabin and we had a wonderful dinner at the Dinner/Lounge.

Another day of adventure and fun,

Love to all,

Ellie and Gary