Our Final Westbound Destination -- Spectacular GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Picked up two more states -- Wyoming and Montana ....

1. ... and now gotta cowgirl hat I wear ever'where!  Dang it!  I

We began our three week odyssey in Jackson Hole ... and found yet another incredible river walk!

This is how we drive tow car.

Jackson River Walk

There was also a HUGE dog park with a doggy fountain, a shaded pavilion, loads of trees, benches and grass.   Most of the Jacksonites don't even uses leashes.  Dogs are simply family members. 

One day when we were at the dog park, a double rainbow appeared; ran back to get my camera but the second one left when I was gone.

When exploring town we came across this.

Of course, we had to explore ... here it is closer up

And, inside we drove ... quite a way beneath the mountain, this is all gorgeous light wood

And,  this is what was on the other side.   Was a luxury condo community; developer went bankrupt. You see so much of this across the country.

[I couldn't remove this, so here it is again]

A week into our stay at Jackson Hole (they dropped the Hole), my dear friend Jaz flew into Jackson Airport (which just so happens to be an int’l airport IN Teton National Park) to spend two weeks doing three national parks.  This is how she looked when she arrived.  Ms. Demure.

This is how she looked the next day.



Yup, she’s a cowgirl too.  We even found some cows to hang out with – albino cows!

Jackson was a great town, really enjoyed it there.  

The plaza at Jackson Hole (Elk horns adorn each corner)

Hard to believe,  but Jaz and I started gabbing and missed the Tetons, ended up 36 miles in the wrong direction in a little town called DuBois.  The lodge there has a sticker for weirdos like us  that says, “I missed Yellowstone Park and Ended up at Lava Mountain Lodge”.  It's on tow car now.

We did finally make it to the Tetons which were stunning, and spent several days there.

Leaving Teton just as it was about to POUR ....

And ... yup, here's the new beau driving my coach.

We took the boat across Jenny Lake, hiked around it and ate at the lodge ....

And turned into real pioneers

This is Jackson Lake

We took the tram, as all good tourists do ...

Saw a real live great horned owl ... Incredible!

Great Horned Ows ... so mysterious!

And, of course, took the float trip, which was excellent, down the Snake River.  

The weather was perfect, as were all our days together.

 And the view of the Tetons spectacular from our float trip.

             And we ate at their best local restaurant, Sweetwater.  Excellent food.  A must do.  

              Then, we headed for Yellowstone.  This is how we travel in the coach.

And, this is the bus as a home ....

And spent each night with Jaz in the great room instead of with me!

We saw Yellowstone in one day, but felt we saw the major areas.  It was amazing.  And, we saw Bison (aka buffalo) ...

He's looking at me in this photo, below

.... and, Mr. Bison liked us so much .... he walked into traffic in front of my coach and led us through the park. Below is a photo and a video ...  He's beside the coach here, then he walks right in front of it

... and strolls, and strolls and strolls with my coach following him ....

Here's the video Jaz took as I drove in disbelief ...  Remember to click on the icon for 'whole Screen'.  The last part of it is no video but us laughing our heads off.  Couldn't figure out how to edit.

That one was hard to beat ... But Old Faithful was pretty cool.  She goes off about every 45 minutes.

Spectacular upper falls

Below is The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

And, Jaz, photographer extraordinarie took these pictures of the most interesting hot spots

We went to the Grizzly Discovery Center almost across from our campsite ... 

And made friends with one BIG bear ...

And hung out with Carolina's wolf family ...  They expressed the gentleness that Carolina has  ...

And the incredible bears

Carolina in grey

 Biting ... playing ... and sleeping

And, here's a brief video.  Carolina sure shares their traits because she is a descendant of the wolf.

Glacier National Park was next on our agenda.

It took us a few days to get to get there.  Stayed in Bozeman (where Kendricks stayed) and Missoula.  Liked both towns very much.

Our site, $90 a day, at the West Glacier KOA (2.5 miles from the park) was humungous with its own stainless steel barbeque, slate dining table and copper chairs, new slab, nice umbrella, loads of grass and landscape.  This photo doesn't do it justice.  

A little pause to say hello to Carolina in B & W taken by Dr. Swain who should be a photographer next life. 

Lake McDonald which was our base for exploring the park.

Lake McDonald Lodge view of Lake

Glacier was over the top incredible, amazing, gorgeous.  Favorite park of all time.    The Going to the Sun Road which traverses the park up to its peak is an amazing architectural feat.  

Going to the Sun Road goes all the way up here, 16 SHEER miles!

You can see the Going to the Sun Road forging its way through the mountains.

A closer view of Going to the Sun Road.

Our transportation.  At Lake McDonald, 9 miles up, you transfer from a larger shuttle to this smaller one to negotiate the amazing but thin mountain road. 

Another way to get around in Glacier, the Red Bus.   One of the reasons for Glacier's popularity, other than it's sheer massiveness and beauty, is how accessible it is both my roads and trail and shuttles to drive you from point to point. 

This is a photo of the valley floor from about 2/3rds up.

And, Jaz and I watching from inside the shuttle bus ....

Another photo we took showing the road up.

So, what's at the top of Logger's Loop (the high point)?

The Cowgirl and the hiker!

The Boardwalk at at the mountain top.

An amazing view of the highest peaks still partially covered with snow.

I just love my new travel spot with bunny from Cappy.

Surreal waterfall en route to Aluvial Lake.  Here's a quick video.

the Buck that sometimes escorted us to Aluvial Lake.

Jaz has headed back to her world psychiatrist-ing.  We're now headed due East to a unique little place called the International Peace Gardens which just so happens to be on the border between Canada and US in North Dakota. Thanks for coming on this amazing Westbound trip with us.   What an incredible adventure -- and more to come!

Love to All.