Have left Mt. Rainier National Park. Lots of hiking (100+ miles in the past 4 days, more or less). Camping and backpacking. Lots of great camping meals. Okay, some good meals, some mediocre meals. Since some of you are interested in the menus, the past few have included: taco salad (made with TVP (textured vegetable protein), real cheese, salsa made from a dehydrated packet (I added fresh garlic and fresh red pepper) and lettuce. And of course tortilla chips. Yum yum. Topped it off with the wine given to us by the B&B hosts at our last stay (anniversary wine). Stovetop [View Full Entry]

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We’ve been contacted by the Department of Gnomeland Security regarding the suspicious activities of one, Homey bin Gnomey. We disavowed any knowledge of such a personage, but then we discovered that we had unwittingly been transporting Gnomages across state lines. Somebody set us up and we’re in no little amount of trouble. If the DGS finds out about our aiding and abetting fugitive Gnomes we could end up between a Gnome and a hard place. We would appreciate any information you can provide on the masterminds behind this Gnomestic conspiracy. DGS believes there is a Gnome Cell in ou [View Full Entry]

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Since we began this trip, we have traveled through areas experiencing drought, heat and now fire. The signs in WY read Fire Danger is High. Then, the Fire Danger is Very High. We thought, well, what’s next, Really Super High? Then, outside of Riggins, ID, there was, the Fire Danger is EXTREME. Now that has to be it because outside of Riggens there were actual fires. The only thing left is a burning sign. The smoke was so thick during our drive on ID route 12 that you couldn’t see over ¼ mile. Nevertheless, we are doing great, the road opens [View Full Entry]

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Okay, I really just wanted to add another pic. John made it to the airport and should be on his way home. I could take this opportunity to tell the "real story" of the past 10 days since John is gone and Jim is loading the car. However, whatever happens in Yellowstone, stays in Yellowstone. Farewell Dear John (pic attached). Next update will be from Idaho. Susan [View Full Entry]

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Well, I guess things come full circle. We are now in Bozeman (motel night, so bathing and clean underwear). Taking John to the airport in the AM (at dawnthirty per Jim). Hiked up to Mt. Washburn this morning. Great dinner this evening (Thank You John). Granted, I had an ice cream sundae for lunch. Not very fufilling, but yummy still the same. Camped last night. A bit chilly last night and very windy and chilly this AM on top of Mt. Washburn. First I want to share a few observations from the past few weeks. 1)Jim is a tree perv. I [View Full Entry]

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NOTE: we thought the previous entry was published on the 29th--sorry!] 09/04/07 Okay, we didn't think we would have wi-fi here in Grand Teton NP, but we do. And I'll try to be brief cause Jim and John need to add their two cents worth. We decided to stay two nights at Signal Mountain Lodge versus the one night we had planned. Two days camping and two more nights backpacking is a LONG time. I'm glad to report John arrived and is having a swell time also. Alas I am sad to say he does not care for his name of [View Full Entry]

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08/27/07 Yellowstone National Park. Very spectacular. We had to wait until John was on his way before we talked about how beautiful this place is. He should be leaving shortly (will be 08/28/07 before we are in Bozeman and can be online; currently typing this from our campsite, Tower Campground). We have had two good hikes with great views of the Yellowstone River. Great weather (mid 70s during the day, low 40s at night). We tend to be on the lookout for bison all the time and today we were trying to decide if there were bison ahead of us or [View Full Entry]

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Warning: Long blog ahead. What can I say, I had some time to blog into a word entry and copy/paste. Below is a typical camping day. Last night (08/26/07) was a hotel night. "The Pollard" in Red Lodge, MT. Very nice. We had a queen bed (nice), running water (though Jim took a tepid bath cause he was impatient and wouldn't wait for the water to get hot). Breakfast included (full hot breakfast). Last night we had bison spring rolls, a lovely salad (Jim had chowder) and we had our first real dessert on the trip (vanilla creme brulee that was [View Full Entry]

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Friday, August 24, 11:15 am, Burgess Junction, WY. We score Moose! And not just one, not just two, but 3 Moose at once. Granted they were 300 yards away, but there they were. Now we're after up-close Moose. As this is a quick blog-in-route to the Little Bighorn, I'll be brief. We also went to the Medicine Wheel at 9800', which was very cool except for a couple things that I'll mention another time. While there we saw Pikas, small rodent-things that look like guinea pigs with huge ears. Another first. Then, while hiking off-trail in the Bighorn Mountains, we saw [View Full Entry]

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Sheridan, WY and Story, WY have provided us a needed respite from the road and the hazards of a wet sleeping bag or another night at the New Bates Motel. First we found Doug Estes at the Sheridan Tent & Awning Co. who agreed to make a light-weight tarp to our specs with grommets and a flap for $35. We pick it up Friday morning to replace our leaking rain fly. Thank you, Doug! Second, we found the Story Pines Inn, a small family run place with cozy rooms, laundry, wi-fi and popcorn! It's great. There was even a little card [View Full Entry]

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