Day 3: Beartooth Pass and Yellowstone

Best Western Dessert Inn
West Yellowstone, MT

We took 212 south just west of Billings, MT. Fabulous road up through the beautiful Beartooth Pass.

Steve wanted me in the front to be sure I didn't get car sick. (Not sure if I should tell him I didn't feel the least bit car sick. I think I've outgrown that.) Mom had the back seat, but there was enough to see in every direction that I don't think she felt cheated.

Near the top of the pass were glaciers (left) and pools (right). We figured even on the hottest day, they were probably too chilly for swimming.

I came off without my "real" camera. Everything you are seeing is from my phone. It does better than the real camera for general shots, but doesn't do zoom. The real camera was one of those things I thought of in the middle of the night, but didn't get up at 2 AM to pull out of the closet, so ... I missed it over and over today. The pointed rock that gave Beartooth Pass its name, shows up as a tiny nick in the mountain ridge. Not worth showing here.

From the pass we came down through the tiny tourist towns of Cooke City and Silver Gate to the NE entrance to the park. We stopped at the first picnic spot mainly because we needed the bathroom. It was fine, but a few miles down the road were a row of picnic tables along Soda Butte Creek that was much prettier.

The Lamar River Valley was gorgeous with yellow birches (junipers?), herds of Bison and wading fly fishermen. (Yes, herds of them, too.) I resisted making Steve turn off for pictures.

We turned right at Tower-Roosevelt since we won't get back that way. It was beautiful, but after Beartooth Pass, nothing special, so we cut back on Blacktail Plateau Drive, a one-way gravel road across the top. (The N/S from Gardener is closed for construction so that wasn't an alternative.) It felt like total wilderness (except when we came up behind other cars). Grassy plateau with mountain views.

Turned out for the Petrified Tree. Impressive, but disgusting to think there used to be three of these giant sequoia-type trees mummified in a volcanic eruption a million years or so ago. Tourists chipped  the others away for souvenirs. This one is surrounded by an iron fence like an old cemetery. Mom could see it from the parking lot without getting out of the car.

Heading south from Tower-Roosevelt, we got our first glimpse of the Yellowstone River canyon. (Mom stayed in the car.)

At Norris Geyser Basin, we dug out Mom's walker, but it was further than we were expecting and the path was pretty rough. When we got to the lookout, it had steps and there were no benches, so she decided to go back. Partly, it was in the shade and she was afraid of being chilly. A little ways further on there would have been a good place to sit and the steam from the hot springs made it hot and humid. (Also smelled of sulpher, but you could smell that in the parking lot!)

We decided to call it a day and head for our hotel in West Yellowstone. But we got caught in this traffic jam. :-)

Thank you, Lord ...

for safety on winding mountain roads.

for a car with a powerful enough engine to climb.

for $10 lifetime passes as senior citizens.

for breath-taking views from the pass.

for marvelous bubbling mud and pools that crackle with releasing steam.

that we didn't have to see it all in one day. We get to go back tomorrow!

Day 2: Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ledgestone Hotel
Billings, MT

We discovered Theodore Roosevelt National Park on our way to Alaska a few years ago. It is the North Dakota version of the Badlands of South Dakota--grotesquely eroded revealing fabulous stratigraphy.



On that trip, we explored the southern part of the park. I-94 goes right through it. If Steve hadn't been able to see fabulous landscapes from the highway, I doubt I would have been able to convince him to leave the main road. But I did, he enjoyed it, and it was his idea to go back. This time we drove an hour north to enter the northern part of the park. (There is no way to go north/south inside the park except on hiking trails.) The main park road makes our National Geographic Scenic Highways and Byways book which motivated us to go the extra mile(s).

It was worth it. I told myself that I took so many pictures before that I didn't need any today unless it was something totally unique. So I only took 50+.

Mom used her walker and joined us on the Little Mo Nature Trail for maybe half a mile.



She and Steve graciously let me walk on ahead and go further out into this awe-inspiring wilderness.



It's erosion that sculpted it with a little nudge from our Creator God. Still at work with the latest rains.



When we were here before, it was spring and the bison were shedding. They all looked as mangey as stray dogs. So of course, I needed more bison pictures today.



Right by the road. Here Mom watches one of the babies.

Then it was back in the car to drive five more hours past wide-open prairie with endless blue skies all the way to Billings. It was 83 degrees! (49 at home according to Steve's weather ap.) We passed field after field of white and oragne pumpkins ripe for pies and jack-o-lanterns. Then field after field of sunflowers with bowed black heads. When we changed states and the speed limit went from 75 to 80, Steve stuck with 75. 

When Mom stopped at Wallmart for more hearing-aid batteries, I picked up a couple short sleeved T-shirts. (I was expecting more fall weather. Not 83!) I know which shirt Bella would have chosen for me. I know which shirt Alex would have chosen for me. But I chose the other one.

    

Tomorrow? Yellowstone, part 1!

Thank you, Lord...

for a chance to stretch my legs in the midst of your incredible world.

that Mom could enjoy a short walk too.

for yellow juniper trees in the valley of the Little Missouri.

for the awesome formations of stone and gravel.

for the colorful stratigraphy of the rocks.

for those endless blue skies.

for Walmart prices.

for KFC extra crispy even though it isn't healthy.

Day 1: Unexpected Adventure

Microtel
Dickinson, ND




Today was supposed to be the uneventful day. Just a ten-hour drive to get west where the fun stuff would begin.

We left home yesterday. I had a Minnesota NICE (local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers) meeting last evening in Saint Paul. After the meeting we stayed all night at our daughter Katie's. This morning we saw her husband off to work, but left before Katie and the kids got up.

We drove to Cambridge to pick up Mom and were on the road a little after 9.

The goal is Yellowstone National Park. Mom and I were there several years ago. We kept thinking how awed Steve would be as well. This is the first chance we have had to get back. Of course, we will stop a few other places along the way like Grand Tetons. And who can drive past Theodore Roosevelt, the Badlands, Black Hills or Mount Rushmore without a stop?

But our first stop came today. Unplanned. It was an incredibly windy day. 30mph we heard. That made for challenging driving and terrible gas mileage. About 1:30 we were driving west on I-94. Steve was feeling around the dashboard, trying to figure out what was rattling so badly so that he could stop it, when the tire blew out. So that was the rattle!

He kept the car under control and pulled off to the side. Of course, the spare was in the trunk under all our stuff for the trip. The spare is one of those little temporary things that looks like a toy, but gets you there. You hope.



I pulled Mom's walker out of the back seat so she would have some place to sit. A sweet local lady saw Mom clinging to the front of the car (in a wind that threatened to blow her into the ditch) and me struggling to get the walker out), and she pulled over, assuming we were alone. Steve was invisible down on the ground pumping the jack. I was glad to be able to tell her we were not alone. Steve asked where we should go to buy a new tire. (It was definitely not a matter of repair. The tire was shredded.) Her instructions were excellent. We limped to Valley City, North Dakota, and bought a new tire.

Tonight we are in Dickinson, ND, propped in bed, watching the pre-game show. And I'm not talking football. Oh, yeah. This place that houses so many oil workers, keeps a pot of soup in the breakfast room, so we pulled out our cheese and crackers and veggies to supplement.

The view from along side the road while Steve changed the tire. You can see how the wind bends the reeds.

Thank you, Lord...

that the blowout didn't happen in rain or snow.

that it was a rear tire with less impact on steering.

that it was the right rear tire so Steve could change it from the shoulder of the road, not the middle of the highway.

for the kind lady who stopped to see if we needed help.

that semi's pulled over and didn't hit us.

that the Goodyear people didn't say, "We can get to it in a couple hours."

for yummy beef vegetable soup for supper.

Saturday, Day 29: Headed Home

Last day before we head home. I’m going to miss this little guy who when asked who is going to help him get ready for bed, passes an “arrow” from one to the next several times before stopping at Grammie. I’m going to miss his crawling into bed with me of a morning or begging to see pictures of himself or his cousins on my computer. I’m going to miss his eagerness to race when challenged to see who can go to the bathroom quickest or get their shoes on fastest. (Don’t knock it; this alternative to a defiant “no” or tearful “I don’t want to”, is hard to beat.)

Next time I see him I know he will be taller. His vocabulary will be bigger, and he'll probably get those Ls that he is working so conscientiously to pronounce. The things that send him into temper tantrums will be fewer (I hope). He will recognize more printed words or at least be able to sound them out. Hopefully, he will still love sharing stories and cuddles and talking to Jesus.

I am grateful that I can spend this time with him. My parents had far less time with their grandchildren when my kids were his age and we lived far away in Brazil. Next week I will be able to hear his voice and see his smiling face via Skype if I want to (and if he can pull himself away from play long enough). Skype didn’t exist when my mother would have loved to see my little ones and interact with them as they became more and more themselves.

I will miss hanging out with my daughter and crossing paths with her very busy husband. I’ll miss meeting their friends and seeing them interact with the people in their everyday lives. But at least when Erika mentions someone, there is a good chance that I will know who she is talking about. When she says what a good time they had at [fill in the blank], I might have been there and be able to picture it.

I look forward to my own bed, my own kitchen, my own routine, but mostly I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity.

Friday, Day 28: Seoul Forest

The day started with breakfast at the Original Pancake House, not far from the base. We were meeting friends from the distant past. Mark and Sherri Harrington's daughter Tamar is marrying a Korean she has known since college days. Sherri was at Oberlin College with Steve. Mark was his housemate in Ann Arbor before we got married. They were both at our wedding, but didn't meet until later. We have all wanted Erika and Tamar to connect since both will be living here in Seoul. It was a fun talk fest. Great omelets.

 We were on our way to Seoul Forest for the day.  It was a short jaunt by subway. Simeon is an old hand at lining up to let other passengers get off first.

We had heard Seoul Forest was the Korean equivelent of New York's Central Park. Beautiful spot for a relaxing day.

Erika and I were coveteous of these apartments that open directly onto one of the plazas next to an area of hip restaurants.

Simeon (and a bunch of other kids) loved the water park. Now that it is summer, the fountains, which come and go at a variety of heights, always surprising, come on for half an hour out of every hour. We arrived in time for the last five minutes or so of one segment. A soaking wet Simeon waited patiently for 30 minutes for the next water time. He had a half dozen wet Korean teens trying to practice their English with him while they waited.

Here's a still in case you have trouble with the video.  I was sorely tempted to join him.

When we left at the end of the day, we had to be sure we passed this area during one of the off times, or we never would have gotten away.  

The other favorite activity at the park was this slide that he went down at least a dozen times. Mom and Grammie did join him on the slide.

When we visited Nami Island on a previous trip, I was impressed with the mini-libraries everywhere. They were here too, including at this sand area where Simeon played for about half an hour while we sat in the shade. I read my e-book; Steve did crossword puzzles; and Erika identified with Korean culture by catching up with Facebook on her phone.

Very relaxing day. Lots of fun for Simeon, who survived without a nap and stayed cheerful most of the time.

Thursday, Day 27: at home

Another relaxig day between outings. Plenty of time for silliness with grandpa.

And playing on the playground. Why is climbing up the slide so much more fun than coming down?

Wednesday, Day 26: Korean Folk Village

We visited the Korean Folk Village the last time I was in Korea, but Steve had never been there, so we were eager for him to see it.  Erika looked up the route on the computer last night. We could spend an hour on the subway to connect to a half hour shuttle bus that goes every half hour, plus needing to get to the subway, for a total of probably two hours. Mapquest said the Korean Folk Village was half an hour away, but that didn't take into acocunt Seoul traffic. It really was a debate, but in the end we decided that the car would allow us to take the stroller more easily. In fact, the drive took a little over an hour, and the return during rush hour, just under an hour and a half, so driving was the right decision although at one point as we sat totally stopped in traffic we wondered.

Unlike our previous visit, there were not 10,000 children on school outings. It was easy to see the shows and traditional houses. Front row seats for the farmers dance that I still find awesome.

Simeon wanted his picture taken with one of the guys with a "string," the ribbon on his hat.





He also enjoyed helping "make food" with a mortar and pestle not unlike the ones we used in Africa. Erika is carrying a water jar in a kind of backpack. African style on the head looks simpler to me.

There was also a baby carrying back pack, but we didn't figure out how you could do that without the baby falling out. There weren't re-inactors and English signage didn't answer all our questions. There were sometimes manikins in the houses like these in the nobleman's house where the traditional wedding ceremony took place.

I loved this garden in the middle of the scholar's house.

 And even more this scent garden.

Midday I saw teens sprawled in one of the gazebos, sleeping or on their phones. That looked like a good way to avoid pooping out mid afternoon. 

We left at 4. Simeon was asleep before we reached the highway. Steve and I sat in the car with him while his mom went into the commissary to buy vegies for supper. Then I sat in the car and read my e-book in the parking lot in front of the apartment while he continued to sleep. Pretty tiring day.

Last night we watched Planes. Tonight we watched Planes 2: Fire and Rescue, "Red Dusty" as Simeon calls it.  He has watched the first Planes movie at least a hundred times, and is well on the way with the second. He watched it at least five times on the iPad over the weekend. I saw the ending multiple times in the car as he kept rewinding to see Dusty turn red (as he becomes certified as a fire fighter), but we had never actually seen the movie start to finish until tonight. His favorite Wii Resort game is the flying one. I wonder how many little boys will grow up to be pilots thanks to Disney.