7/9/14

Penny went with some of our co-workers to a 4th of July parade in the town of West Yellowstone on Friday. We both had to work on Saturday, so we didn't stay up late enough to go see the fireworks display in West Yellowstone. Saturday evening Penny was able to go on a bus tour called Twilight on the Firehole. It was one of the free tours that the company provides for employees throughout the season. It started at the Old Faithful Inn, where everyone met at the fireplace.

 

She got to ride in one of the old 1930's open top yellow busses.

 

They drove and walked around some of the thermal features near Old Faithful, like Grand Prismatic Spring.

 

Then the drove north along the Firehole river where they saw pelicans.

 

There were just enough clouds to make for some good sunset photos.

 

On Tuesday, our next door neighbors (and coworkers) went to Mammoth for a five mile hike on the Stage Coach Road to Gardiner.

Looking south at the Mammoth Hot Springs, at the beginning of the hike.

Looking north east across the Gardner River and the North Entrance Road.

 

We need to get a book that will tell us what the flowers are, that we are taking photos of

 

We had a couple of critters show us the way down the path, near the crest of the hill.

 

This is looking north towards the town of Gardiner.

 

Along the way we saw the remains of what we think was an elk.

 

Though mostly dry, there were a couple of water features in the hills along the hike,

 

and more flowers we haven't yet identified.

 

Although this looks very much like a dandelion seed pod, these are about 50 times larger.

 

In one of the lakes, there was a bird sitting in the tall reeds.

  

There's also quite a few prickly pears along the path and they are starting to bloom.

 

 Another flower we can't identify. The bee seems to be enjoying himself.

 

Still more unidentified flowers.

 

Near the end of the path.

 

On the drive home, Penny saw a pair of geese with their gosslings

 

This morning, we drove down to a turnout only 1.5 miles from the campground and hiked into Harlequin Lake, a one mile round trip. Along the way we saw more flowers we can't identify.

 

The beginning of the hike, before we disappeared into the forest.

 

The lake has quite a few Lilly Pads growing on it and they are in bloom

 

There was also a duck preening herself, with six ducklings, near the lake shore where the path meets the lake.

This is a shot looking out of the forest, back towards where we parked.

 

Our calves were sore after two days of hikes, so we took it easy the rest of the day. Back to work tomorrow.

It looks like we will have a volunteer position in Shedd, Oregon this winter, at Thompson's Mill. It sounds like an interesting position. In addition to giving tours of the mill and working on restoring it, we will also control the flow of the river during the rainy season.

With the limited bandwidth they have up here for internet service, I have to download the blog before 8 a.m. or it just can't be done in a reasonable period of time.