tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104786612024-03-07T23:31:47.785-01:00Te HaerengaMurray & Christine's record of their journey.
<em>"A day in a car in an English county is a trip to a fairy museum where all the exhibits are live and real."</em> Rudyard KiplingMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.comBlogger762125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-371064862264165592012-08-31T03:47:00.002-01:002012-08-31T03:50:11.366-01:00Once in a Blue Moon - 29 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zxCDdTVPMz8ijqjLQBcMnXETZvf_nx5FUme4-F6-fpW2wecougqCXCPt50xjyzt27fEaDTlIjiX6U9LkhpKvifZOKG_fm6f8H0rEtZeOyWxDNL3oHNV-7vpkAjFQHIDk1G-8/s1600/IMG_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zxCDdTVPMz8ijqjLQBcMnXETZvf_nx5FUme4-F6-fpW2wecougqCXCPt50xjyzt27fEaDTlIjiX6U9LkhpKvifZOKG_fm6f8H0rEtZeOyWxDNL3oHNV-7vpkAjFQHIDk1G-8/s400/IMG_3046.JPG" width="400" title="Breakfast overlooking Pismo Beach" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6muwBKB_8wkLQ7YHE2Tl0A8DViRjp34KQOclVndbJNbp1dWQaXfW8fztfdHXoTWqg6N-zVLFL8rs9Z_shcudVWDhawHqDNfKzgokhvJ9p1a_8TXI_Lhk26V445Q0N92ys39MN/s1600/IMG_3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6muwBKB_8wkLQ7YHE2Tl0A8DViRjp34KQOclVndbJNbp1dWQaXfW8fztfdHXoTWqg6N-zVLFL8rs9Z_shcudVWDhawHqDNfKzgokhvJ9p1a_8TXI_Lhk26V445Q0N92ys39MN/s200/IMG_3061.JPG" width="200" title="La Purisma Mission" /></a></div>
With two full moons this month it was a Blue Moon month and thus an appropriate month to end our eleven year odyssey. We decided that retracing our steps to Hearst Castle was not sensible so headed out to the coast to educate ourselves about the Spanish Mission heritage along this coast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ew1V1shjufab5jTjA7TEjjuz5Ipqx6OR9Rnk4lYay2vOr5ahBbmvkQyKK1cDWRBEtQ6k5WltxfJcqEfeIXpwMa3xNU1_43EU20aat-MoCb3qCpVxzXI4K3ee-hty2R0YcUXT/s1600/IMG_3074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ew1V1shjufab5jTjA7TEjjuz5Ipqx6OR9Rnk4lYay2vOr5ahBbmvkQyKK1cDWRBEtQ6k5WltxfJcqEfeIXpwMa3xNU1_43EU20aat-MoCb3qCpVxzXI4K3ee-hty2R0YcUXT/s200/IMG_3074.JPG" width="200" title="La Purisma Mission church" /></a></div>
Out first stop was thus La Purisma Mission State Park, one of about 50 missions that the Spanish Catholic church established along El Camino Real up this coast, this one being the 11th one established. As elsewhere in the world, the missions were secularised and then abandoned and this one was restored in the 30s as part of Roosevelt's plan to get people working after the depression. As such it was California's largest CCC project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz54_20dXTKprb5ovbQPs4b7XxzkyB_U_v80uh6R-VgSy64krrbuLooIiXb2kAbSG76nKxC9Z4DfzPuN0c0hpxXdTOD35abHEjJKj8lH1eJX_qhfQYZGAagpOQY8LkHlG-_KT8/s1600/IMG_3057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz54_20dXTKprb5ovbQPs4b7XxzkyB_U_v80uh6R-VgSy64krrbuLooIiXb2kAbSG76nKxC9Z4DfzPuN0c0hpxXdTOD35abHEjJKj8lH1eJX_qhfQYZGAagpOQY8LkHlG-_KT8/s400/IMG_3057.JPG" width="400" title="La Purisma Mission" /></a></div>
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In 1493 Pope Alexander VI granted Spain "all the firm lands and islands, found or to be found" west of the Azores. This was terribly generous of him, since they were not his to give away, but power does that to people - I guess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx1EC8O7f_OON9O97wMs2Q_bHoi6yMTvCK4MgeMfgZIPMKMhCehHRI-1WFnt5CJKNEpctMlPo2X6fCt0snAyjbLYdmcaoniH-UbT57EkqWNX5cpKlJZWqMx96UfR-zkUjwCzC/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx1EC8O7f_OON9O97wMs2Q_bHoi6yMTvCK4MgeMfgZIPMKMhCehHRI-1WFnt5CJKNEpctMlPo2X6fCt0snAyjbLYdmcaoniH-UbT57EkqWNX5cpKlJZWqMx96UfR-zkUjwCzC/s200/IMG_3188.JPG" width="200" title="Solvang" /></a></div>
Just a little further down the coast is Solvang, a "replica" Danish village where the architecture is quite out of keeping with the climate, but kitsch and quaint nevertheless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaiy89HcZhRdjCM0uZNjRLEhNlG_ZHXHRurI_XV9D8Fl4NIujDzlwo0TlNkXDcpIidZl1pUikKh-9s8HYgf45aCNeT_JLYbE01KctRyba7Onil6eUbBNRQ81ZW0NehmoGlxmm/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaiy89HcZhRdjCM0uZNjRLEhNlG_ZHXHRurI_XV9D8Fl4NIujDzlwo0TlNkXDcpIidZl1pUikKh-9s8HYgf45aCNeT_JLYbE01KctRyba7Onil6eUbBNRQ81ZW0NehmoGlxmm/s200/IMG_3175.JPG" width="200" title="Solvang" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83jtHw3tuHidstOntPz0GnjfXXCP_PYv82aP-O8VgPXaJsw6ulLiahY8gMpg4Y_uFlBrlePUcN_B0yoV6Zgemd8Bnaaq9uAQ44RePKTQvi8UzjQ_Hbj2e6pq4dYKsd2T6qc6b/s1600/IMG_3176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83jtHw3tuHidstOntPz0GnjfXXCP_PYv82aP-O8VgPXaJsw6ulLiahY8gMpg4Y_uFlBrlePUcN_B0yoV6Zgemd8Bnaaq9uAQ44RePKTQvi8UzjQ_Hbj2e6pq4dYKsd2T6qc6b/s200/IMG_3176.JPG" width="200" title="Solvang" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Lp8Ls79WjQp9exuNRgtIJw-bgNISEwB3J_DvTpdzWgMoevLBnUsiVW7woMmUiIn1OAuTDSoUSWrop11Vxa3chhw4zprN5Arwnckb-87oAcrhur1LOBIUepuFrLEWYYF9JldM/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Lp8Ls79WjQp9exuNRgtIJw-bgNISEwB3J_DvTpdzWgMoevLBnUsiVW7woMmUiIn1OAuTDSoUSWrop11Vxa3chhw4zprN5Arwnckb-87oAcrhur1LOBIUepuFrLEWYYF9JldM/s200/IMG_3200.JPG" width="200" title="Santa Barbara Courthouse" /></a></div>
Back on the road we were back in market garden territory all the way to Santa Barbara where we detoured to visit the magnificent Courthouse, built in 1929 and in an architectural style much more in keeping with the climate and surroundings. <br />
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Santa Barbara beachfront looked inviting as we drove along past the palms and bouganvillea but we had a few more miles of market gardens, vineyards and parched hills to get through before we could rest for the night within easy reach of Los Angeles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Vmj85efc5ijaXQH_dCVQilQttkEKMMqtKqh78wquk8ybJzU2g8N5B43nPPS1RCnzVg6NdOpdkT0k0agtcfxTegTHfxO9LoiN3rjS4MSOVRMzVMb3gIycIdEaWAedbB1AeJe/s1600/IMG_3213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Vmj85efc5ijaXQH_dCVQilQttkEKMMqtKqh78wquk8ybJzU2g8N5B43nPPS1RCnzVg6NdOpdkT0k0agtcfxTegTHfxO9LoiN3rjS4MSOVRMzVMb3gIycIdEaWAedbB1AeJe/s200/IMG_3213.JPG" width="200" title="View from the Santa Barbara Courthouse tower" /></a></div>
The next morning it was all go to get our belongings, which had expanded to fill the space available, back into the suitcases so that we could return the rental by 12 noon, to avoid another day's charge.<br />
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After that it was 12 hours to spend in scintillating LAX Airport waiting for a 14-hour flight. Oh, the joys of travel.<br />
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279 miles to LAX, total trip 7571.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-25793702849657119892012-08-31T03:16:00.000-01:002012-08-31T03:29:16.873-01:00Monterey Bay - 28 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCC1Js8YCqKaRjnQm33ZtXZwddh1palRXArOob1ZyGZ9KXKAXSYPTV6IS2GPRsWHfdP7cG5YgrhzHimB-sX2cWENRbA1wc8M8vf3zFzswaCLfHuC6fih8txzdZE1FyC-eqtja/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCC1Js8YCqKaRjnQm33ZtXZwddh1palRXArOob1ZyGZ9KXKAXSYPTV6IS2GPRsWHfdP7cG5YgrhzHimB-sX2cWENRbA1wc8M8vf3zFzswaCLfHuC6fih8txzdZE1FyC-eqtja/s200/IMG_2945.JPG" width="200" title="Monterey Bay" /></a></div>
The focus for today was the Monterey Bay Aquarium; we realised we would need a reasonable time to see this world class facility but woefully underestimated what a fantastic place it is. The entrance fee $US39.50 is a bit of a clue, but having seen it we did not feel that we had been overcharged.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIKuLQFYAK7wGeNIUWjWzydK6gz1FEue3YlJroSmO2aSf02uawjZFPnROfn1wigNv7FxmHMdsZZ2LvUtoJ76CLeDyBmc8YI68Q__v5TJ7Pv_SdGJ0hSrhHX2cFOvkuB39kgGa/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIKuLQFYAK7wGeNIUWjWzydK6gz1FEue3YlJroSmO2aSf02uawjZFPnROfn1wigNv7FxmHMdsZZ2LvUtoJ76CLeDyBmc8YI68Q__v5TJ7Pv_SdGJ0hSrhHX2cFOvkuB39kgGa/s200/IMG_2928.JPG" width="200" title="Anemones in Monterey Bay Aquarium" /></a></div>
We could easily have spent more than the four hours we did as so many of the displays are quite mesmerising and there is so much detail to see in every tank and display that it was not possible to take it all in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-485WKEPy9xbKu2ue0MiQgPatAfQCDYDikSU2DaS-1l5K-sctJa5t7l_W50NT59nmlG1Ifsei522XFePW10-ibwT80_DLLQRruGKc2tsYxZ65CJY1qcNqPVpHPBq6buDYWxg8/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-485WKEPy9xbKu2ue0MiQgPatAfQCDYDikSU2DaS-1l5K-sctJa5t7l_W50NT59nmlG1Ifsei522XFePW10-ibwT80_DLLQRruGKc2tsYxZ65CJY1qcNqPVpHPBq6buDYWxg8/s200/IMG_2911.JPG" width="200" title="Coral Reef" /></a></div>
When an aquarium can sport 3-story high kelp forest tank and an "open sea" tank with an absolutely huge unbroken glass viewing window, you know you are in for a treat. It is fantastically well geared for families with displays where you can touch sea-life that you could find in rock pools.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbxc3cCjRxgEAY2c3sL9obA3YX1lzZtROYcna2__SjDndEt3WaguYlP35hiTras8fc0g6osqBvCV8nyCm0nLxTNRP4SSoERNRdD1wbINXBgwc7t9d75VwnRGmaYkiwURZh_kK/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbxc3cCjRxgEAY2c3sL9obA3YX1lzZtROYcna2__SjDndEt3WaguYlP35hiTras8fc0g6osqBvCV8nyCm0nLxTNRP4SSoERNRdD1wbINXBgwc7t9d75VwnRGmaYkiwURZh_kK/s200/IMG_2853.JPG" width="200" title="The problems caused by plastics at sea, was highlighted by various plastic artworks" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A_rfurG5n7exFhZCh0x1KGKSx6FvmjkOuQ647AIcF85AQX_Y4cvroJI_nG-NFociWxmxH9wBIEUHERD-qiXt014dJuNTanAiDOXcjksj8bS9S4PSjFjoV3MKwYVaIGt6QrM1/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A_rfurG5n7exFhZCh0x1KGKSx6FvmjkOuQ647AIcF85AQX_Y4cvroJI_nG-NFociWxmxH9wBIEUHERD-qiXt014dJuNTanAiDOXcjksj8bS9S4PSjFjoV3MKwYVaIGt6QrM1/s200/IMG_2874.JPG" width="200" title="'The Great Wave of Kanagawa' by Chris Jordan is made of millions of pieces of plastic, the same amount that enters the ocean every hour" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsxQE3GSs6dKM7Bpol1t0a7mgbB9x9Wwfd7j1F2P88xNF1npeoRL-q5a2PBByTOAbV8zKm2KzjXtw0RffDB2s1Wi64isCCkDRCr53ow0_c72JQLfSXr-X3oxCP_XDthcSQA3u/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsxQE3GSs6dKM7Bpol1t0a7mgbB9x9Wwfd7j1F2P88xNF1npeoRL-q5a2PBByTOAbV8zKm2KzjXtw0RffDB2s1Wi64isCCkDRCr53ow0_c72JQLfSXr-X3oxCP_XDthcSQA3u/s200/IMG_2828.JPG" width="200" title="Sea Nettle Jellyfish" /></a></div>
One current feature was the jellyfish display with some they claimed were a world-first time that they has ever been displayed. Watching tanks and tanks of all sizes of jellyfish was simply addictive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG3VlLtryR18uyThhNST9V1WJsRLci9HK3GT2SdplvLsXEmQ13n_nWAOAm31eGiIPXrSSUuW1B2813jxRy7_zg5w8m-0FYa6u2s5Z58-koCHbSTaBeEIJ53IvF3bSfX_DBLls/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzG3VlLtryR18uyThhNST9V1WJsRLci9HK3GT2SdplvLsXEmQ13n_nWAOAm31eGiIPXrSSUuW1B2813jxRy7_zg5w8m-0FYa6u2s5Z58-koCHbSTaBeEIJ53IvF3bSfX_DBLls/s200/IMG_2885.JPG" width="200" title="Weedy Sea Dragon" /></a></div>
The other current feature was seahorses and the range of shapes and sizes were amazing. We were especially captivated by the Leafy Seadragons that looked just like bits of seaweed floating about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5XZhRuJ5iQyCjDfUW4qr2MNhDrIGEu5HqIC-2Qtt5IIRfqpLsPAgR4oK4qWr5MWM7W-eR2t7q-LJMRpSwy1U3-Xp4McPOhKWaOuzO7E6DTFAQTioldTwsTDlRrHfw4VNMhh1/s1600/IMG_2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5XZhRuJ5iQyCjDfUW4qr2MNhDrIGEu5HqIC-2Qtt5IIRfqpLsPAgR4oK4qWr5MWM7W-eR2t7q-LJMRpSwy1U3-Xp4McPOhKWaOuzO7E6DTFAQTioldTwsTDlRrHfw4VNMhh1/s200/IMG_2964.JPG" width="200" title="Pelican at Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey Bay" /></a></div>
But, we could not stay all day so we rode the free trolley to historic downtown Monterey and wandered from the historic centre down and around Fisherman's Wharf then caught the trolley back to the expensive parking lot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY5cgjG7lzbRR0cYTFd2GfC0Sx45DSOIOBF5cQwkghQ4OROTmshg9oBY5zkGEUJtd5zVC7ZAS1GMB9KBBcu5K980kEmQMm1tUSqcz0v1IlvFvppNr0WpgG7M_aIYEw59bY8uH/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY5cgjG7lzbRR0cYTFd2GfC0Sx45DSOIOBF5cQwkghQ4OROTmshg9oBY5zkGEUJtd5zVC7ZAS1GMB9KBBcu5K980kEmQMm1tUSqcz0v1IlvFvppNr0WpgG7M_aIYEw59bY8uH/s400/IMG_3025.JPG" width="400" title="Lone Cyprus, this view is the symbol of Pebble Beach" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4qSTD-2Mel99sa5xHgtM7DgtctK98V3w4YkhyphenhyphenXRwmAcHrX3gnOrW2Qgv8FZF02miEq_rpQtKNGFpy6IsIOwQFHU9fcDm19_dHQCSvTrvQYm5wYB-mTJWC3GOnNKWLFLpYAc9/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4qSTD-2Mel99sa5xHgtM7DgtctK98V3w4YkhyphenhyphenXRwmAcHrX3gnOrW2Qgv8FZF02miEq_rpQtKNGFpy6IsIOwQFHU9fcDm19_dHQCSvTrvQYm5wYB-mTJWC3GOnNKWLFLpYAc9/s200/IMG_3028.JPG" width="200" title="18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Course" /></a></div>
Just over the peninsula is the Pebble Beach area, home of numerous golf courses, in cluing the famous Pebble Beach course, home of the US Open a number of times. To see this area you pay $US9.75 to drive along the "17 Mile Drive". originally set out in 1888 for the horse-drawn fraternity, <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JTrQl4hKxwGplrUq0j9b9gbdm-Sqk8zWpOxla8NAP5SIPsAx8A8a-TvBj5FXl_H8AjSCjr5UbRm7JpcSoD3Rv0VFG8XnVixg8hG4zsmvaZwHqi0ATBkWni6gPSB_o7UKYh5F/s1600/IMG_3022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JTrQl4hKxwGplrUq0j9b9gbdm-Sqk8zWpOxla8NAP5SIPsAx8A8a-TvBj5FXl_H8AjSCjr5UbRm7JpcSoD3Rv0VFG8XnVixg8hG4zsmvaZwHqi0ATBkWni6gPSB_o7UKYh5F/s200/IMG_3022.JPG" width="200" title="Expensive real estate along 17 Mile Drive" /></a></div>
this now draws a steady stream of the motorised fraternity who pay their toll to gawk at the expensive real-estate, look at the views and take a stroll through "The Lodge" to see the 18th Green of the Peeble Beach Golf Course; we did all three.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH-Vflmy4kTre6tkhjtzIRGfpda3y8YpFWwFhdGplCdBRL0UnpeRyl72FHv_2bGAr4RaRjFT0rhbXP8FyYS8eGRRdmcTOVpJ-oYF6x1nBknbJsJHb8bLk6pUty7rp4FFkH2iX/s1600/IMG_3035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH-Vflmy4kTre6tkhjtzIRGfpda3y8YpFWwFhdGplCdBRL0UnpeRyl72FHv_2bGAr4RaRjFT0rhbXP8FyYS8eGRRdmcTOVpJ-oYF6x1nBknbJsJHb8bLk6pUty7rp4FFkH2iX/s200/IMG_3035.JPG" width="200" title="Carmel Beach" /></a></div>
While in the area we went down to Carmel Beach and had a picnic tea on the sand and drove back through the obviously very chic and expensive shopping centre full of galleries and expensive clothes shops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGaDxbcuZv9hE6G2XYL6DvhtWW9G07opBseMkt6ViQdOaWvuOFXTKzdysbk3L6FU4qunP4jwZdPpn6xikyxO9aBE__vsNw9AAp17gMNn2O5LIx3bgOCy-d2fpeSwMUD0ZpHf/s1600/IMG_3042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGaDxbcuZv9hE6G2XYL6DvhtWW9G07opBseMkt6ViQdOaWvuOFXTKzdysbk3L6FU4qunP4jwZdPpn6xikyxO9aBE__vsNw9AAp17gMNn2O5LIx3bgOCy-d2fpeSwMUD0ZpHf/s200/IMG_3042.JPG" width="200" title="Carmel Beach" /></a></div>
From here we had to back-track a bit to get on Hwy 101 to head south to Santa Margarita, our destination for the night. We should have taken the coastal road as we intended to visit Hearst Castle en-route but unfortunately we spent too much time in the Monterey area and there was no time for another activity in the day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfunovqjSVo4RTefnoOvrZ7CUYvA9gGz4iJTO2OunxdXt6JiVQ1LaUzoalCHaJ7z-U9BSlcgtrcCub68B0zVDEcjwdI8fZCyvm_TMz1NiamG6o_-t-Fe3G9-eFUBhnYbpB7So/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfunovqjSVo4RTefnoOvrZ7CUYvA9gGz4iJTO2OunxdXt6JiVQ1LaUzoalCHaJ7z-U9BSlcgtrcCub68B0zVDEcjwdI8fZCyvm_TMz1NiamG6o_-t-Fe3G9-eFUBhnYbpB7So/s200/IMG_2864.JPG" width="200" title="Monterey Bay" /></a></div>
The drive down Hwy 101 was interesting in that the road was in the centre of a broad totally flat valley that was acres and acres of market gardens. A little further south when the terrain was not quite so flat, the vineyards took over until we dropped into another flat valley where it was market gardens again. The fleets of ex-school buses that must be used to ferry workers to the fields showed what a labour intensive undertaking it is providing fresh vegetables on this scale.<br />
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191 miles today, total trip 7292. States: California Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-77898107076791966922012-08-28T03:53:00.000-01:002012-08-28T03:53:26.979-01:00San Francisco in a day - 27 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi5f0myGNqSIZsLMnVmIyuFNXaucqSbZDTaf1CnAN3E4cspPMuyvLblLZgqxLdV_tnbzYuAdYOrsR1pv0_g9v-7U0xXe7_dFyrCEkXBuV9H9SjSH6Gclh67N6Gp-KKRn5SbN2/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi5f0myGNqSIZsLMnVmIyuFNXaucqSbZDTaf1CnAN3E4cspPMuyvLblLZgqxLdV_tnbzYuAdYOrsR1pv0_g9v-7U0xXe7_dFyrCEkXBuV9H9SjSH6Gclh67N6Gp-KKRn5SbN2/s400/IMG_2414.JPG" width="400" title="Golden Gate Bridge" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJ7NPoQjf-ORkrrGRmYQPEKNMEBK40Ol1WdaIxiItzi_rXo7BjfaYx5Przm88DR-dN4SnfPbIbHid_BfTGAhQrH2QFBmqDRsir58bAWbD8m8EQIHxwwo5xwdrg9J2oi9j4uK/s1600/IMG_2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGJ7NPoQjf-ORkrrGRmYQPEKNMEBK40Ol1WdaIxiItzi_rXo7BjfaYx5Przm88DR-dN4SnfPbIbHid_BfTGAhQrH2QFBmqDRsir58bAWbD8m8EQIHxwwo5xwdrg9J2oi9j4uK/s200/IMG_2607.JPG" width="200" title="Alcatraz" /></a></div>
Leaving Petaluma our first introduction to San Francisco was commuter traffic on the motorway heading into the city but fortunately we had two occupants in the car so could use the HOV Lane to make slightly faster progress onto the Golden Gate Bridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUkLDCfGm_4hoF1TGzwW9w25t1WtrycQx4qfKQs7C_hF_eurZDwfFwN8aBnK9dZg5_Z8wzXx6A3VDCgWk-9bQIZXXSuWdCKXkMsDuxVy8vnEJ9mXaQJiP-HeBAzCFShA8x8i/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUkLDCfGm_4hoF1TGzwW9w25t1WtrycQx4qfKQs7C_hF_eurZDwfFwN8aBnK9dZg5_Z8wzXx6A3VDCgWk-9bQIZXXSuWdCKXkMsDuxVy8vnEJ9mXaQJiP-HeBAzCFShA8x8i/s200/IMG_2436.JPG" width="200" title="Chinatown" /></a></div>
Pulling off at the first exit once across the historic span we stopped at the information centre to see the displays and take the requisite photos since the fog had just lifted leaving the bridge resplendent in full sunlight for us and all the other happy snappy tourists.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF5vUaWiui9jst4K4POoMOLpvjGmthwn91tLIB4f9RB9eJQHDW2G5Y62KcVvK2Z-LR8yVI9VfGtKOgcebvDhKY4KXidBiviH2tyb3eY9oZpqQrnY87PyvrENmayeuD27L8VxL/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF5vUaWiui9jst4K4POoMOLpvjGmthwn91tLIB4f9RB9eJQHDW2G5Y62KcVvK2Z-LR8yVI9VfGtKOgcebvDhKY4KXidBiviH2tyb3eY9oZpqQrnY87PyvrENmayeuD27L8VxL/s200/IMG_2583.JPG" width="200" title="Fisherman's wharf" /></a></div>
Photos taken; info boards read; facts noted: opened 1937, longest span, highest towers, 27572 strands per cable etc; we moved on. By lucky web searching we had discovered that a BART station on our way out to the south had 5-hour free parking so we headed for that, by-passing the city traffic and found the second to last park available. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzInWK98sh0s5KaoUDnojgR3utXybhC_zURigsD6RMbpfLbQDEk8nBsGzqxOBw_OFmGzVpZ0jF5FNIuaKdI6DxBAAydZmS7fWxbXCZc3q3jrGG_KIULrmQjqCGqgsz9Lulm9A/s1600/IMG_2426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzInWK98sh0s5KaoUDnojgR3utXybhC_zURigsD6RMbpfLbQDEk8nBsGzqxOBw_OFmGzVpZ0jF5FNIuaKdI6DxBAAydZmS7fWxbXCZc3q3jrGG_KIULrmQjqCGqgsz9Lulm9A/s200/IMG_2426.JPG" width="200" title="Cable-car" /></a></div>
$3.50 (each) bought us a return BART ride to the city centre which compared to $33 in town was cheap all-day parking, and so we rode the rail to Embarcadero Centre to start our 5-hour whistle-stop tour of San Francisco highlights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCCe7vJPH3RpWR-mL0kN2Qmyi8V10nOytT52pWKzVb4ijQbvVBnQtMfjbtBCOVzuYG3MVtU6yZg8uvYGPUi3rehEANVKhiF-rD-ZGZHzWG5r5SeH2eH6i8Uh9jUHXyJc43bTA/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 00em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCCe7vJPH3RpWR-mL0kN2Qmyi8V10nOytT52pWKzVb4ijQbvVBnQtMfjbtBCOVzuYG3MVtU6yZg8uvYGPUi3rehEANVKhiF-rD-ZGZHzWG5r5SeH2eH6i8Uh9jUHXyJc43bTA/s200/IMG_2471.JPG" width="200" title="Lombard St" /></a></div>
There was a cable-car waiting at the bottom of California St when we exited so we rode that to the top and down the other side as far as Leavenworth St (item 1 ticked) and walked along to look up Filbert - possibly the steepest street (item 2 ticked) and on to Lombard St to look up at the "crookedest street" (item 3 ticked).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9I-G30yJdHs9WsWAT4MJOFqq4CM_7b7C2kYbRvKiuTQAV1uyA8cl0SFjZulwGF-uVd9wrryA-4NvQ31gjBNk7Uv-QPlCo2DfFyeKN1da09ETaVRMgM7KVdUTVh3JAmuyFa9w/s1600/IMG_2493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9I-G30yJdHs9WsWAT4MJOFqq4CM_7b7C2kYbRvKiuTQAV1uyA8cl0SFjZulwGF-uVd9wrryA-4NvQ31gjBNk7Uv-QPlCo2DfFyeKN1da09ETaVRMgM7KVdUTVh3JAmuyFa9w/s200/IMG_2493.JPG" width="200" title="Balclutha built in 1886, was open on our National Park ticket" /></a></div>
Continuing down we arrived at the waterfront and headed left to Ghiradelli Square for a famous ice-cream (item 4 ticked). We then picked of the maritime museum exhibits since we had free entry with our National Park pass (item not on the list) before heading along the waterfront Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 (items 5 and 6 ticked). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuInQhQPqe2B6WMrLo-lhRXHMmaHazNfyl8qbGJoXWZROg0tQjw5PJBY7dW7N29-LU_uVrBfJII3_NMTjIBFxem5kltTWpnqLF_3ONYbPJqAYCwPP2E597nYo1vU0zIbJa3qF/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuInQhQPqe2B6WMrLo-lhRXHMmaHazNfyl8qbGJoXWZROg0tQjw5PJBY7dW7N29-LU_uVrBfJII3_NMTjIBFxem5kltTWpnqLF_3ONYbPJqAYCwPP2E597nYo1vU0zIbJa3qF/s200/IMG_2519.JPG" width="200" title="Our National Park ticket also gave us entry to tug-boat 'Hercules'" /></a></div>
Heading back inland we wandered up the hill and down again to have a good look at the Trans-America tower (item 7 ticked) then headed back up hill to walk through Chinatown (item 8 ticked) and back down to Embarcadero to look at the very different fountain there before catching a train back to Glen Park and our parking lot with 2 minutes left of our 5 hours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqapw1n2MK8u-nKdGcmkjPWNVJyknDARSOFXmc5vA1VmxU20SCj3u4JjshjG6ND_CRPPnX71jqffWrb5lpHO2lnqSGPQ8OGxO8CGmjH1bsB4rImOVZeOSthxPYwva6uYAGSYCS/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqapw1n2MK8u-nKdGcmkjPWNVJyknDARSOFXmc5vA1VmxU20SCj3u4JjshjG6ND_CRPPnX71jqffWrb5lpHO2lnqSGPQ8OGxO8CGmjH1bsB4rImOVZeOSthxPYwva6uYAGSYCS/s200/IMG_2548.JPG" width="200" title="Passenger & boat ferry 'Eureka' - this was the only way accross the bay in San Francisco before the Golden Gate bridge was built" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPkIVN5f4QmJT9H2BOBuvXt_OKPGKErysNppfDSNJFOFmU_ucBCOectgC0GBBSFFe7XJIB0nr9jujThkPqYCToLbliaVRc9_BdPlQyd0q1IRmO7gpAg4WynO9Ej_EMaUXB2OQ/s1600/IMG_2549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPkIVN5f4QmJT9H2BOBuvXt_OKPGKErysNppfDSNJFOFmU_ucBCOectgC0GBBSFFe7XJIB0nr9jujThkPqYCToLbliaVRc9_BdPlQyd0q1IRmO7gpAg4WynO9Ej_EMaUXB2OQ/s200/IMG_2549.JPG" width="200" title="Eureka also was complete with vehicles from its era" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag7JQa4-3R6CG1ckpliu3UFs9SPZyTkkppxqLLpzJSnj3YvJHxj4fCXFKp9uc33s9PXHbu5welmEO3S71GkLJw88fx8rWz1d2KkxQkZaCFRxXCJV6dG8dHZxNFLJIrstVsgVL/s1600/IMG_2694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag7JQa4-3R6CG1ckpliu3UFs9SPZyTkkppxqLLpzJSnj3YvJHxj4fCXFKp9uc33s9PXHbu5welmEO3S71GkLJw88fx8rWz1d2KkxQkZaCFRxXCJV6dG8dHZxNFLJIrstVsgVL/s200/IMG_2694.JPG" width="200" title="We found this fountain while searching for Murray;s elusive fountain" /></a></div>
The only memory from Murray's 1984 San Francisco trip that was not re-visited was a fountain that could be walked down into, and which had featured in the film Logan's Run. A bit of web searching later revealed that this particular fountain was actually in Fort Worth and seen on from Murray's 1987 trip. This may explain why we did not find it in San Francisco! Oh well, you can't remember everything!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_6JDrd6ySa0MTop-DrMY0pjlv9hiSTLX2DmcPCedB4HXGsCsq03764Oy5lwaXkFMENlXe4KbQwG0xI4i37IPu9BMoUK3dteE_mkzuDo7_h39jxoQP0fDX14whOxRHvbx5-7Q/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_6JDrd6ySa0MTop-DrMY0pjlv9hiSTLX2DmcPCedB4HXGsCsq03764Oy5lwaXkFMENlXe4KbQwG0xI4i37IPu9BMoUK3dteE_mkzuDo7_h39jxoQP0fDX14whOxRHvbx5-7Q/s200/IMG_2589.JPG" width="200" title="Fisherman's wharf" /></a></div>
The other reason for picking our parking lot was that it was about 100m from a motorway on-ramp and so we were back on the move south in minutes and once again, used the HOV Lane to speed past all the other commuters on motorways that were at times 7 lanes wide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZUndA5vXKKErDbMgJjLxkF-clWpHQeLLWY5FZLTEkgqEQGFgNaYBRGXhZgUx19KL9F6qZqpRIUZoXXrQrChgVEdnsThLtk_XEEe_lNNL06PU8CSf1SZLOHe1nOU-49pdRqF8/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZUndA5vXKKErDbMgJjLxkF-clWpHQeLLWY5FZLTEkgqEQGFgNaYBRGXhZgUx19KL9F6qZqpRIUZoXXrQrChgVEdnsThLtk_XEEe_lNNL06PU8CSf1SZLOHe1nOU-49pdRqF8/s200/IMG_2641.JPG" width="200" title="Transamerica Pyramid" /></a></div>
The commuter traffic was a fixture all the way to Santa Cruz where we exited to check out the coast; inaccessible without paying for State Parks or expensive parking, so we moved on to our campsite. This was the absolute worst campsite we have stayed at in 38 days across America. Santa Cruz KOA is ridiculously expensive and for this you get a pocket-handkerchief of dirt that is so hard you cannot hammer tent pegs into it: extremely bad value.<br />
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135 miles today, total trip 7101. States: CaliforniaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-22983280518032563872012-08-27T14:29:00.001-01:002012-08-28T03:51:40.426-01:00The Lost Coast - 26 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8ka3z1RirfW99UEZnaCzrKud2ZjUWKKJLDvHNbpf01Z2v44_Ls992NoOpopeCIeo8Vpdb75t4tNc0ZVQ7dFffkgV13mbvfLbYDxPmQ0icQQSfnxlIDPibIAI9_zcPaqVOTUM/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8ka3z1RirfW99UEZnaCzrKud2ZjUWKKJLDvHNbpf01Z2v44_Ls992NoOpopeCIeo8Vpdb75t4tNc0ZVQ7dFffkgV13mbvfLbYDxPmQ0icQQSfnxlIDPibIAI9_zcPaqVOTUM/s400/IMG_2240.JPG" title="There were beautiful coastal scenes like this, all along the coast" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtmdQcDRrGHibqdYowxmvIg4pfx1sfetsPj6Yym7zFuoAHVBKSPHDoX1b2eMv0vo_glECkLJKU9OXkDQqNOajBsxUetAL_FjdDf5Z6TBhHd-PMMeyzkLt98_mPNlru-NGjlH7/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtmdQcDRrGHibqdYowxmvIg4pfx1sfetsPj6Yym7zFuoAHVBKSPHDoX1b2eMv0vo_glECkLJKU9OXkDQqNOajBsxUetAL_FjdDf5Z6TBhHd-PMMeyzkLt98_mPNlru-NGjlH7/s200/IMG_2100.JPG" title="Al pleasant paved walkway ran along the coast at Fort Bragg, passing over this disused railway bridge" width="200" /></a></div>
Between Rockport (just above last night's stop at Westport) and Bodega Bay is a section of largely undeveloped and sparsely populated wild coastline, known as The Lost Coast, which Hwy 1 hugs as it twists and turns around the cliffs and bays. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFdMlazOtVnXJDcLwR0t1BXimXMGpQyFmbMrMw9rL8a_6XwQFDOvFeuSBpm2j3kv4inju_KS2AcRTpl_y6AVtZscVXbIofoMRi8YYvJgl7TjAB-p9oR9JRB5xkB1comz-1WVT/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFdMlazOtVnXJDcLwR0t1BXimXMGpQyFmbMrMw9rL8a_6XwQFDOvFeuSBpm2j3kv4inju_KS2AcRTpl_y6AVtZscVXbIofoMRi8YYvJgl7TjAB-p9oR9JRB5xkB1comz-1WVT/s200/IMG_2129.JPG" title="Point Cabrillo Lighthouse" width="200" /></a></div>
There are a few small towns and only one large city, Fort Bragg which has cheap (for California) petrol, very welcome as we were running out. After a refuel and coffee stop we began our day with a walk out to Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOxkvqiJ77uQHpw_m-F2Yh1ulZs29FEjtt-XBQXhKVvfAzEEbyd6f-Xe4DUX_1FQN6cs1DE_L7BTF-wjqzcUB5Ay6jGG0zvBSBBCV2VssnsFmI8lMWdP3kgCRnQsv4t7umttt/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOxkvqiJ77uQHpw_m-F2Yh1ulZs29FEjtt-XBQXhKVvfAzEEbyd6f-Xe4DUX_1FQN6cs1DE_L7BTF-wjqzcUB5Ay6jGG0zvBSBBCV2VssnsFmI8lMWdP3kgCRnQsv4t7umttt/s200/IMG_2125.JPG" title="First Assistant Lighthouse Keeper's house" width="200" /></a></div>
The First Assistant Lighthouse Keeper's house has been restored to the way it would have been when the Lighthouse Station was constructed in 1909. The station was established after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake damaged a number of lighthouses along the coast leaving this area totally "in the dark".<br />
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The house is open to the public and was an enjoyable diversion. 12 of the original 15 buildings at the station remain and most are restored but with different uses now. The lighthouse which is functional once again, after being retired in 1972, is open as a information centre and gift shop to raise funds for the restoration project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7-lRjfRzh-cpYTxpEQl0-qjI8xK_MdEpMhnoG50D7RhFOoFvj8deoerrfGoXxsWrNex-vJ09nTnOcA7sBzeHm3S1bLtR0sPmwjfu1fI8EnklBwgUOXGrCBZdvj8fCOO9NHaU/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7-lRjfRzh-cpYTxpEQl0-qjI8xK_MdEpMhnoG50D7RhFOoFvj8deoerrfGoXxsWrNex-vJ09nTnOcA7sBzeHm3S1bLtR0sPmwjfu1fI8EnklBwgUOXGrCBZdvj8fCOO9NHaU/s200/IMG_2219.JPG" title="Kelly House, Mendocino" width="200" /></a></div>
The next significant settlement down the coast is Mendocino which, again, is proud of its historical buildings and provides a walking map to showcase them. The interesting difference is the number of towers in the town.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl1_nFeYJtC-TYG2UeiT7RDvE4Mc4L72Fqpib7DIIJIqSa-Ck_uqinxaqSgCWyCB9BGAls2OYN1fAYTA8mdQiWuLVnGHslZy2gNClaesjheHz12l4VxfM2moZcX78VpRnZpw6/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl1_nFeYJtC-TYG2UeiT7RDvE4Mc4L72Fqpib7DIIJIqSa-Ck_uqinxaqSgCWyCB9BGAls2OYN1fAYTA8mdQiWuLVnGHslZy2gNClaesjheHz12l4VxfM2moZcX78VpRnZpw6/s200/IMG_2204.JPG" title="Mendocino" width="200" /></a></div>
Originally the town was dotted with then, each topped with a windmill to pump water up into the header tanks in the towers. Only a few remain some, still with water tanks but most have been converted to viewing platforms for looking out to sea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMiNSWzEE3AaPpONmj3KG9hT4ytNgwNMvuUJF2ak4XqZIMtN3uLJFoiVEUNOqcNWeRhm4Z9e-lBx7HR1XGSMAmR-cmpN0IUakhsbyucMmfJWsPQgmKU8N5f9s5Ht1QX9vH1ce/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMiNSWzEE3AaPpONmj3KG9hT4ytNgwNMvuUJF2ak4XqZIMtN3uLJFoiVEUNOqcNWeRhm4Z9e-lBx7HR1XGSMAmR-cmpN0IUakhsbyucMmfJWsPQgmKU8N5f9s5Ht1QX9vH1ce/s200/IMG_2212.JPG" title="Sunshine Car in Mendocino" width="200" /></a></div>
While looking around Mendocino the morning sea-fog finally lifted leaving us with another brilliantly sunny day to journey on down the coast spotting a wide variety of coastal dwellings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq18WGBpjnJDYjE54Jml9-3sZUEfRbI-FJERyriZYlCYxOrfhl50P6LbO-wmdgRBHH0hRniHlDJhzjgVsMFIS8tjl8N56LLptYpAvBRCNzBXqeWXMV3jhWU6OjniNuHljt96X/s1600/IMG_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq18WGBpjnJDYjE54Jml9-3sZUEfRbI-FJERyriZYlCYxOrfhl50P6LbO-wmdgRBHH0hRniHlDJhzjgVsMFIS8tjl8N56LLptYpAvBRCNzBXqeWXMV3jhWU6OjniNuHljt96X/s200/IMG_2215.JPG" title="House with tower, Mendocino" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXIMsNn4jdFsxE_2ZqkaxkClBqcy1GWCHIDV_VkiD3gLjbHDIWD-0teA4uzOFoP6RMQ9M8K4iOkYc3CKWBhJqcKW_t3vqzbpamYdDPMd71FZ2W__AYTRQ5CkHOsv5IwU73eNI/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXIMsNn4jdFsxE_2ZqkaxkClBqcy1GWCHIDV_VkiD3gLjbHDIWD-0teA4uzOFoP6RMQ9M8K4iOkYc3CKWBhJqcKW_t3vqzbpamYdDPMd71FZ2W__AYTRQ5CkHOsv5IwU73eNI/s200/IMG_2225.JPG" title="'Time and the Maiden' carved out of a single redwood trunck, on top of the old Masonic Lodge in Mendocino" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjca_nZW5n4M-pXYjbuQLM_xEtEiMauRj_mf7CxM1hZIa7cyaFIaWfwYz01_vtURE1fHzzRIVM7F7QJ5MsOvKCyjq2Q9O7M1M3ZzZmxw4DRuU1anFh7poK4UeK9fGBtArxyme/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjca_nZW5n4M-pXYjbuQLM_xEtEiMauRj_mf7CxM1hZIa7cyaFIaWfwYz01_vtURE1fHzzRIVM7F7QJ5MsOvKCyjq2Q9O7M1M3ZzZmxw4DRuU1anFh7poK4UeK9fGBtArxyme/s200/IMG_2298.JPG" title="Russian Orthodox Church at Fort Ross, this was rebuilt after it broke in half in the 1906 earthquake" width="200" /></a></div>
A particular surprise was to stumble into Russia at Fort Ross (from "Rossiia"). Originally founded 200 years ago (the celebration was held yesterday) as a trading outpost to supply food to Russian-American Company employees in Alaska and as a hunting post for sea otters, it was "de-commissioned" in 1848 as it was no longer economical. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzhxV4X7ujeCMDcQYc8ifWV3DUx-GizUIjAaq7j7C9VCYoHoVGC8LXs4dghfrN7dflcor0q1pfsLHckKVwh2D2SuB6FeS2MIyUp4TaH96WJ3tr5ZCCrugfgNbtHG-pDXzIbJY/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzhxV4X7ujeCMDcQYc8ifWV3DUx-GizUIjAaq7j7C9VCYoHoVGC8LXs4dghfrN7dflcor0q1pfsLHckKVwh2D2SuB6FeS2MIyUp4TaH96WJ3tr5ZCCrugfgNbtHG-pDXzIbJY/s200/IMG_2356.JPG" title="Beautiful workmanship made the redwood buildings snug in the howling coastal winds - this is Rotchev House which is 70% original" width="200" /></a></div>
The site had a number of subsequent owners and uses until it was created as a State Park. Only one original building remains, the others have been reconstructed, or repaired after damage in the 1906 quake, such as the quaint little Russian Orthodox Church. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH030RziQOWK7DcmqWNzVRrxmCiW0BwwcrXXklKLzYCc0ClQQ_aqxkuUCIwwmVUALy4Y-Pw6QgYZku4x0CsunhSmxcQzZPm66VGIypLcyH-W2Arm0RXsIlr3X8mFbocgERY7JJ/s1600/IMG_2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH030RziQOWK7DcmqWNzVRrxmCiW0BwwcrXXklKLzYCc0ClQQ_aqxkuUCIwwmVUALy4Y-Pw6QgYZku4x0CsunhSmxcQzZPm66VGIypLcyH-W2Arm0RXsIlr3X8mFbocgERY7JJ/s200/IMG_2296.JPG" title="Kuskov House and Chapel" width="200" /></a></div>
The Russians established friendly relationships with the local Indians, brought with them some Aleutians from Alaskan, maintained a deterrent threat to the Spanish from the south and never had to fire the cannon situated in the fort's defences. They left of their own accord and the whole time appears to have been entirely peaceful unlike most other colonial outposts established in that era.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJhNa_Bpt3KyUDNbDfkk68gOfRdijRhGBEeMo878oyAZc7Zy4Gic-yGBLYoW8muPQrQEyNPUJ3iLWgkIQasVmbQeHzgp0wnoY53s5sipiDaaK28nqTVYhC0B0Sd1smFsYMzzF/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJhNa_Bpt3KyUDNbDfkk68gOfRdijRhGBEeMo878oyAZc7Zy4Gic-yGBLYoW8muPQrQEyNPUJ3iLWgkIQasVmbQeHzgp0wnoY53s5sipiDaaK28nqTVYhC0B0Sd1smFsYMzzF/s200/IMG_2273.JPG" title="Sea Ranch Chapel" width="200" /></a></div>
Driving south our attention was caught by an amazing building and turning back we discovered that we could drive to it as it was a Chapel open to the public. The Sea Ranch Chapel is an absolutely stunning piece of design, beautifully executed by local contractors and craftsmen. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxMyX4AkNKj3HGj6yEAhNZM3TxgBleeGlwl-g9dT5JQwMmVEberMdGfKN2yBwJK9JP4AQC1bi7Gghc1Fco7rdSulc8L21SLLl0FUSxdTrCDkNsrQAOPB69rqOa11caIjlcvIU/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxMyX4AkNKj3HGj6yEAhNZM3TxgBleeGlwl-g9dT5JQwMmVEberMdGfKN2yBwJK9JP4AQC1bi7Gghc1Fco7rdSulc8L21SLLl0FUSxdTrCDkNsrQAOPB69rqOa11caIjlcvIU/s200/IMG_2270.JPG" titlee="Window in Sea Ranch Chapel" width="200" /></a></div>
It was a gift of two local residents who wanted to provide a non-denominational space for prayer, meditation and spiritual renewal; and simply entering the building lifted the soul, it is so inspiring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPGWvTHeh7Kv6lTu8xyYrpGoSm9zBRG62skZjKjGjKOxMSGr5RpwfF2qvUFSLEMyjdbCyshNBKeifQYhBtJTQLU56FxDSNcEgoOjosNqZ5OFMVZ5pc-7dJPeRKwaZ792DlGc0/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPGWvTHeh7Kv6lTu8xyYrpGoSm9zBRG62skZjKjGjKOxMSGr5RpwfF2qvUFSLEMyjdbCyshNBKeifQYhBtJTQLU56FxDSNcEgoOjosNqZ5OFMVZ5pc-7dJPeRKwaZ792DlGc0/s200/IMG_2390.JPG" title="Final village before Bodega Bay, where the houses appeared to be about to fall into the bay" width="200" /></a></div>
After a few more miles of coastal twists and turns it was time to head inland to Petaluma, just north of San Francisco, our stop for the night. <br />
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170 miles today, 6966 total trip. States: CaliforniaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-16783305627514318352012-08-26T15:54:00.002-01:002012-08-28T03:53:13.753-01:00Avenue of the Giants - 25 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVht4XI2A4aDtofN2wq82ALf4qSjEUiv908RWSe5nyY0m4UnrISKMGTWfbCkiAIEGeXRlJfhbhENdg8GP8kziStbx-WuuxVBm2r7Pvvu9kg-k-ty6Uam2gVceytNkC2S_b6_P4/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVht4XI2A4aDtofN2wq82ALf4qSjEUiv908RWSe5nyY0m4UnrISKMGTWfbCkiAIEGeXRlJfhbhENdg8GP8kziStbx-WuuxVBm2r7Pvvu9kg-k-ty6Uam2gVceytNkC2S_b6_P4/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" title="Carson Mansion, Eureka" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOTqis7-xCniavlOpGCRSo2VyF-U34tUlbPtZ_2JY1zXkZxmg3wuGUMldXDaggT5KSy1yAwupTPjrWJSuF12TDQgi7wozojXNKtRnzzJLJg4bE9-KKeFQ4iolS8g2BZbV3z-W/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOTqis7-xCniavlOpGCRSo2VyF-U34tUlbPtZ_2JY1zXkZxmg3wuGUMldXDaggT5KSy1yAwupTPjrWJSuF12TDQgi7wozojXNKtRnzzJLJg4bE9-KKeFQ4iolS8g2BZbV3z-W/s200/IMG_1794.JPG" ttitle="Villa in Eureka" width="200" /></a></div>
Although another redwoods "feast" was on the program for the day we took a while to get back to the trees as we started off with the wood, as in wooden Victorian buildings. Eureka has a significant area downtown of old Victorian era buildings. Clearly there has been a drive to highlight this area as the architectural details of the buildings have been highlighted with great colour schemes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUMFQIPRODBxdqBZBaj25LwdR0KahVlPilh0gEm-U202pcK_Ato0dTD_RZpSn0WBu05nMa4TQKqz-p3PGOMg_1Ug8w-QHw9kLNhprcN5_9OcYc8GRJR0km-bfsMny27YfNrYE/s1600/IMG_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUMFQIPRODBxdqBZBaj25LwdR0KahVlPilh0gEm-U202pcK_Ato0dTD_RZpSn0WBu05nMa4TQKqz-p3PGOMg_1Ug8w-QHw9kLNhprcN5_9OcYc8GRJR0km-bfsMny27YfNrYE/s200/IMG_1793.JPG" title="Old trains at the back of Eureka on a siding, attractively covered in graffiti" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcXu_CYZ_t9EGvN68G9nvuw6fRMli4H86wn1q3ob8aePJrzYo73spANmcvIUosCVhWYUDtC3h9N0BSW4sbAIzQTVk1z6s0jvnjtnTEsUKRQQC1MN2l4hsGDBmNPOnzoB9NHQ4/s1600/IMG_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcXu_CYZ_t9EGvN68G9nvuw6fRMli4H86wn1q3ob8aePJrzYo73spANmcvIUosCVhWYUDtC3h9N0BSW4sbAIzQTVk1z6s0jvnjtnTEsUKRQQC1MN2l4hsGDBmNPOnzoB9NHQ4/s200/IMG_1783.JPG" title="Breakfast was on the Eureka Boardwalk" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lx1o7etbGid55pWs0hW39pp9Sto8DB42Auxkf2KDEf8hKeOcp3Tyqp2vj0n6b6TTQ3eH2Y351KzQhTWrQqU9frepxFiqAEdupqnzzyMFqFJrfVe7Os99_RdDUySY7M7lojDt/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Lx1o7etbGid55pWs0hW39pp9Sto8DB42Auxkf2KDEf8hKeOcp3Tyqp2vj0n6b6TTQ3eH2Y351KzQhTWrQqU9frepxFiqAEdupqnzzyMFqFJrfVe7Os99_RdDUySY7M7lojDt/s200/IMG_1814.JPG" title="Mr Carson's wedding present for his son" width="200" /></a></div>
At the top end of town is the crown jewel, the old Carson Mansion, now a club. Mr Carson was a pioneer lumberman and his house is an 1888 Victorian timber extravaganza, totally overshadowing an otherwise impressive villa across the road that he built as a wedding present fro his son.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYI3QbSebh9lYkmXj4CctqywDuQ-TaaCdBZaHAXcNUrZll4MeTdb1azQK_JSaJOCJ2u3zno36MDj5jYd0vzefu6nHtGFbYXAk6c1xAl8zwraOXuO0q-Jqvw58xSe_uo1b6eVLJ/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYI3QbSebh9lYkmXj4CctqywDuQ-TaaCdBZaHAXcNUrZll4MeTdb1azQK_JSaJOCJ2u3zno36MDj5jYd0vzefu6nHtGFbYXAk6c1xAl8zwraOXuO0q-Jqvw58xSe_uo1b6eVLJ/s400/IMG_1762.JPG" title="This 'Murray Field' mural in Eureka caught our attention" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvhIJ2N5PwQ03xPXJMX3XEhxdDSVPUYG-umTbGf1Qf6ke0HpOSOLQW0H4L_puE2Qjy8IOXKBsLhrcWm2y1V0i8QGFSIe4lx4xFeELvTv05BXTPo4FxCljelu0JUAfDFWMtIva/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvhIJ2N5PwQ03xPXJMX3XEhxdDSVPUYG-umTbGf1Qf6ke0HpOSOLQW0H4L_puE2Qjy8IOXKBsLhrcWm2y1V0i8QGFSIe4lx4xFeELvTv05BXTPo4FxCljelu0JUAfDFWMtIva/s200/IMG_1863.JPG" title="The 'Victorian Inn', Ferndale" width="200" /></a></div>
A few miles down the road is another town that prides itself on its Victorian era architecture, Ferndale, so we detoured to visit that as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPdgzd5gBw0wXYOZtRqg8rtpGqZS2LA_wbZYTa7G9H6U6043G9wgjwDCm_fjlAGB2XVR5H6LyEis07wEhaFr61Ak5cJOCkuwlCp-swBKdRPD_HjBvulhA2bVzh0HoqU_4Mo1Y/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPdgzd5gBw0wXYOZtRqg8rtpGqZS2LA_wbZYTa7G9H6U6043G9wgjwDCm_fjlAGB2XVR5H6LyEis07wEhaFr61Ak5cJOCkuwlCp-swBKdRPD_HjBvulhA2bVzh0HoqU_4Mo1Y/s200/IMG_1835.JPG" title="Decorative top floors of commercial buildings in Ferndale" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhst2NWhUer0or6Tcpm3ZOJgoL5QqoEQmpgy5RrQb5Mvqs65L9gf4VmG5ObqXI54wtuTJ__EdRhjHRAOVavZvyFBAzUY_FSaVOxStF9JH4IvfgckWYRrl0v1enC_cB4eVTVEnNi/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhst2NWhUer0or6Tcpm3ZOJgoL5QqoEQmpgy5RrQb5Mvqs65L9gf4VmG5ObqXI54wtuTJ__EdRhjHRAOVavZvyFBAzUY_FSaVOxStF9JH4IvfgckWYRrl0v1enC_cB4eVTVEnNi/s200/IMG_1862.JPG" title="Decorative top floors of commercial buildings in Ferndale" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphn8YI81ob2NIqABckpR37-83NPJySm6GWK6ZD3r5Dm-IVLlCOrJbr6h9GzThIxTP-C4hPIcEgyamtHgzpipeUmVb-wTJOjpr8_AUAPBiobCZsxw4HgdstitHYOJlO8DiGb5L/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphn8YI81ob2NIqABckpR37-83NPJySm6GWK6ZD3r5Dm-IVLlCOrJbr6h9GzThIxTP-C4hPIcEgyamtHgzpipeUmVb-wTJOjpr8_AUAPBiobCZsxw4HgdstitHYOJlO8DiGb5L/s200/IMG_1983.JPG" title="Avenue of the Giants" width="150" /></a></div>
After rejoining Hwy 101 briefly we left to take the Avenue of the Giants road which more-or-less parallels Hwy 101 but allows stopping and excursions into the trees. There are various significant tress to walk to: Big Tree; Tall Tree; Giant Tree; Flat Iron Tree; Founders Tree; and the fallen, Dyerville Giant so we walked to them all. Dyerville Giant toppled in 1991 and as you can walk the length of it, gives a sense of scale to the height of these fantastic trees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4DL3mepGfOZSynpk5yNk9CbZKwRk9jaQ3ln7MHhD_qUbdilYWXsLogwg0Skao6NVflxGRcdO7UpdijqDEP5hw4a0moXMDLUbI2tgJmdpLUXzGvwHMTVhCTeVX6b4VgcweFQC/s1600/IMG_1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4DL3mepGfOZSynpk5yNk9CbZKwRk9jaQ3ln7MHhD_qUbdilYWXsLogwg0Skao6NVflxGRcdO7UpdijqDEP5hw4a0moXMDLUbI2tgJmdpLUXzGvwHMTVhCTeVX6b4VgcweFQC/s200/IMG_1951.JPG" title="'Tall Tree'" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6cbIZ1UhM7a7triFkCDay_Aff7juA_btnASDExrm5RrFufIEiA1SZHEtP_wjZIJYs6JvUBqNTsZUUu2XKiTEaBMMq6Z-_E4Gb1EV3e08Kt4FOyFYYUkHWK9dn_rkiuojCb7q/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6cbIZ1UhM7a7triFkCDay_Aff7juA_btnASDExrm5RrFufIEiA1SZHEtP_wjZIJYs6JvUBqNTsZUUu2XKiTEaBMMq6Z-_E4Gb1EV3e08Kt4FOyFYYUkHWK9dn_rkiuojCb7q/s200/IMG_1916.JPG" title="The village of Dyerville stood on this site, but was swept away in a day by the Eel River" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R1IvWZIBahdHHe8gLzE_eHVb74Bdvek6Z82tfqwUYRGP6s2d_O9odVQcs4AIEEEjzUCy4ySX7WZH0VinP6y7VPos8Kx5DT_d7Gymuk1VkU3vj2Qy3DwFyNZONZpBaZykk-U_/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R1IvWZIBahdHHe8gLzE_eHVb74Bdvek6Z82tfqwUYRGP6s2d_O9odVQcs4AIEEEjzUCy4ySX7WZH0VinP6y7VPos8Kx5DT_d7Gymuk1VkU3vj2Qy3DwFyNZONZpBaZykk-U_/s200/IMG_2080.JPG" title="Log House" width="200" /></a></div>
Another way to understand the scale of the redwoods is to visit the house built entirely inside a log; kitchen - dining area, two single beds and a lounge area. It was originally toured around America on the trailer upon which it still sits. It is a little short on utility areas like laundry, bathroom and toilet but fascinating nevertheless. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ZL-wChyVB1MtQPpNAuOdDKbbPLP3PXQL9byccqjfS6soz2Z0H9eJgPZsIaRA8mCG1aWP2wNN_Bex98816NPQ9hgxEPD3BSTcpNDZM5aPQVnpqVs3j65wIDc0vMibDr0i4__/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ZL-wChyVB1MtQPpNAuOdDKbbPLP3PXQL9byccqjfS6soz2Z0H9eJgPZsIaRA8mCG1aWP2wNN_Bex98816NPQ9hgxEPD3BSTcpNDZM5aPQVnpqVs3j65wIDc0vMibDr0i4__/s200/IMG_2052.JPG" title="Travel Log" width="200" /></a></div>
Equally interesting is Mr Kellog's "Travel-log" truck, a sort of motorised caravan that also toured the States. The entire body of the truck was hollowed out of a single log and mounted on a truck chassis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3fob1LXHXXrViaYt3jLacd2VMhU5j6Mqki8RIkU-9Bj3isCfq5rMpKueC3ICL2q5hSqwVEgRXjcUQVLaMKksXPN38_jmBddxmxLTc_2XFC6coRffq2OR3VweonQsWPQFsT8/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N3fob1LXHXXrViaYt3jLacd2VMhU5j6Mqki8RIkU-9Bj3isCfq5rMpKueC3ICL2q5hSqwVEgRXjcUQVLaMKksXPN38_jmBddxmxLTc_2XFC6coRffq2OR3VweonQsWPQFsT8/s200/IMG_1754.JPG" title="Banana slugs are a feature of this area, we saw this one by our tent this morning" width="200" /></a></div>
Leaving Hwy 101 we took California 1 over a torturous route to the coast, the most fun driving route so far in the USA.<br />
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The day started at 50F, and as we finished the Avenue of the Giants suddenly shot up to 89F then as we headed out to the coast dropped rapidly back to 55F.<br />
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152 miles today, total trip; 6796; States: California. <br />
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Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-64678603836869242952012-08-25T03:59:00.000-01:002012-08-25T14:16:07.830-01:00Sore Necks - 24 August 2012<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRxn7gThguoVe9xAnfqSc8S-Agk8DJ_-F19epslsP7GyS5XSb4h51OU6ecKTfLVNk9ftuTmO2BU-7I1bNDDnHGnjX7b6TGoYPbRF55rf9M8y0t5HwY2N38X3bQfs_FpF1lCLi/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRxn7gThguoVe9xAnfqSc8S-Agk8DJ_-F19epslsP7GyS5XSb4h51OU6ecKTfLVNk9ftuTmO2BU-7I1bNDDnHGnjX7b6TGoYPbRF55rf9M8y0t5HwY2N38X3bQfs_FpF1lCLi/s200/1.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpBhyaOStMQbuOszBsHMgfFpCs2wvPy56IySokVVdxEiLi_51bO4cYuUtWj0FyFm_y1KCKOcTMGBug1b8RFqHKEaYKaPpWbzd0i_uXi7W8EfhpKFlrKPvO5FJVNY87jNNi08S/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpBhyaOStMQbuOszBsHMgfFpCs2wvPy56IySokVVdxEiLi_51bO4cYuUtWj0FyFm_y1KCKOcTMGBug1b8RFqHKEaYKaPpWbzd0i_uXi7W8EfhpKFlrKPvO5FJVNY87jNNi08S/s200/2.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYMVYf9wiSyI3leaVe8A8goF0h68QQ3yDEGfjon7C1mplRu7lrmu0m16XUc9_ddmbbWHWNs5HCiNhBfPtL0esqR7YkcG_k-T4BwexV5-ubUHBGstaQ2WBUQXsBkfDKYtqaDbw/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYMVYf9wiSyI3leaVe8A8goF0h68QQ3yDEGfjon7C1mplRu7lrmu0m16XUc9_ddmbbWHWNs5HCiNhBfPtL0esqR7YkcG_k-T4BwexV5-ubUHBGstaQ2WBUQXsBkfDKYtqaDbw/s200/3.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MUvf41inKxSVeVYU9wQmS7WL8XAlN7qMiixvql9y083DWCas-i3ZZsK1irVcDHeYvix_Ut4kcgvbZn3i5lNFgSNsSW7wbGP0ogkXTNmO1vRzZXbMxFHZvR2m0T__2T9Q_2nc/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MUvf41inKxSVeVYU9wQmS7WL8XAlN7qMiixvql9y083DWCas-i3ZZsK1irVcDHeYvix_Ut4kcgvbZn3i5lNFgSNsSW7wbGP0ogkXTNmO1vRzZXbMxFHZvR2m0T__2T9Q_2nc/s200/IMG_1525.JPG" title="Breakfast view at Crescent Bay Overlook" width="200" /></a></div>
Our intended route for today was 90 miles which GoogleMap said would take under 2 hours: we managed to stretch that by 50% and take all day.<br />
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Our first diversion was to an overlook at the mouth of the Klamath River; the unexpected treat here was the fleet of small boats on the river with fishermen tending their nets. The Yurok are permited to set nets in the river to catch Steelhead Salmon and they were busy hauling them out of the river. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteLiiDk9XmEM1WAsWch6rOMsGMXr08-zNP1utdSAbOt4qtTrKZ-lv695JzltnOsvlzlb9aTr7KeKfjeO9ExKhUOceR_l4rSlui7dSdZ-3pvIwJ34KxLZzeT5NMwbpY5e-Ow51/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteLiiDk9XmEM1WAsWch6rOMsGMXr08-zNP1utdSAbOt4qtTrKZ-lv695JzltnOsvlzlb9aTr7KeKfjeO9ExKhUOceR_l4rSlui7dSdZ-3pvIwJ34KxLZzeT5NMwbpY5e-Ow51/s200/IMG_1534.JPG" title="Mouth of the Klamath River from the north bluff, partly obscured by fog" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjn1rjMbAhRMvrZ6Y9SiA8YK1XQiwlhi9pHLBPC7Nmvsat_5ORY0z7WTCaZS0lRySI54CVEDQabzXknnzrmyVQ9J4__C-AxBfv5abFp7ii8HVc9NmTMZSjnAfcOj4_pFHSq9R/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjn1rjMbAhRMvrZ6Y9SiA8YK1XQiwlhi9pHLBPC7Nmvsat_5ORY0z7WTCaZS0lRySI54CVEDQabzXknnzrmyVQ9J4__C-AxBfv5abFp7ii8HVc9NmTMZSjnAfcOj4_pFHSq9R/s200/IMG_1549.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCRABVlp9GZiftsGrXsTEB4qO48RWxr3hyphenhyphenXX0__kO9il2RSrJNY6xPuCCiw0m1hfOXDfTlfKFj3FMwxo_ojK3KIhEyiuwcYmYAqym3xbzh1VQbsnH6Q9TTUNsy2rxF7UuBrJf/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCRABVlp9GZiftsGrXsTEB4qO48RWxr3hyphenhyphenXX0__kO9il2RSrJNY6xPuCCiw0m1hfOXDfTlfKFj3FMwxo_ojK3KIhEyiuwcYmYAqym3xbzh1VQbsnH6Q9TTUNsy2rxF7UuBrJf/s200/IMG_1566.JPG" title="Mouth of the Klamath River from the south bluff - no fog" width="200" /></a></div>
Back on the main road for a mile or two and then off again to undertake an activity that I had first read about in a book as a child; a tree big enough to drive through. For a mere $5 you can drive through (more than once if there is not a queue) a Coast Redwood. The mirrors on the rental did not appear to want to fold in so, with a few cms to spare on each side, we idled through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-sEF_m4vXkSmeBwvTrvTO36Im96iuwmOUoOGTujwWZRDOl8sat7FPgzQyin9RQ5dxJXHL6IN_Z0q9dwv03U2onqKNf0Cg66MlT0pEWRfAen308pQUWp6xZj_BXpJaJQCoULV/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-sEF_m4vXkSmeBwvTrvTO36Im96iuwmOUoOGTujwWZRDOl8sat7FPgzQyin9RQ5dxJXHL6IN_Z0q9dwv03U2onqKNf0Cg66MlT0pEWRfAen308pQUWp6xZj_BXpJaJQCoULV/s200/IMG_1594.JPG" title="Murray gives a perspective in size with this hollow tree" width="200" /></a></div>
Our next stop was to walk a short trail at Ah-Pah where they have completely removed and rehabilitated an old logging road. Even with before and after photos it is impossible to see where the road once was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ76Yi40hH2hyphenhyphen-KknjmuZ6qV4YlnUa2l6Rwt6reGv-f9YnnbjGD450Bmw3Te7To9Uq8eiwFCz9FRsm2L2OnRJOPwOo2O-wmQtfjAvPza_iwj3hcGChxaGZBF-OoQK81NdPN_O/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ76Yi40hH2hyphenhyphen-KknjmuZ6qV4YlnUa2l6Rwt6reGv-f9YnnbjGD450Bmw3Te7To9Uq8eiwFCz9FRsm2L2OnRJOPwOo2O-wmQtfjAvPza_iwj3hcGChxaGZBF-OoQK81NdPN_O/s200/IMG_1618.JPG" title="'Corkscrew Tree'" width="150" /></a></div>
Ah-Pah is a short way up an alternative route to Hwy 101 which is entirely through old-growth redwoods thus providing stunning vistas at every turn. Just before the other end is the pull off for "Big Tree", a 300ft speciman that is actually missing the top section of the main trunk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMp9VCJeEwkIlMhQ5n-qYrWyUIgigGZiq73IxB3yA_5CqHnbJ4-dRs-o6hJWZ-KBTvrFqyz_moVfzWhTTV3LQX09jXczHMwkQulH7V_w25G-7MHcVFK3D0_vw9VTNeX1JVAHu/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMp9VCJeEwkIlMhQ5n-qYrWyUIgigGZiq73IxB3yA_5CqHnbJ4-dRs-o6hJWZ-KBTvrFqyz_moVfzWhTTV3LQX09jXczHMwkQulH7V_w25G-7MHcVFK3D0_vw9VTNeX1JVAHu/s200/IMG_1640.JPG" title="'Big Tree' - 24 ft diameter" width="150" /></a></div>
After lunch it was time for some serious walking so from the Visitor Center we walked along the Prairie Creek trail as far as Big Tree, then took the Cathedral Trees trail back to our starting point. Wandering along through these forest giants was the source of the sore necks as one is constantly craning to see the tops 200-300ft above the trail. A walk like this is not recommended for those suffering vertigo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcOLNyyXhwmR-d7XMysRZrorVaLqVrWPeb8DN6mgZEjCJw3gm_XneScNS392WXrFGBIHXmC0D7eFWpgEz5qYsx0LvKcrwTjEW4e-Xnv1H4K-FsOh3yd4FOSEp7loQ5R_jqcKU/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcOLNyyXhwmR-d7XMysRZrorVaLqVrWPeb8DN6mgZEjCJw3gm_XneScNS392WXrFGBIHXmC0D7eFWpgEz5qYsx0LvKcrwTjEW4e-Xnv1H4K-FsOh3yd4FOSEp7loQ5R_jqcKU/s200/IMG_1692.JPG" title="Lady Bird Johnson Grove" width="150" /></a></div>
Although the coast redwood is the tallest living entity, the cones are ridiculously small, about the size of an olive, and not the source of most new trees. Around the base of old trees are root burls and if the old tree is stressed, new shoots sprout from the burls and because they share the established root system these new trees grow very quickly - compared to seedings from cones. Thus it is common to see older trunks surrounded by younger trunks and on the Cathedral Trees walk there was one group that comprised at least 28 significantly sized trees plus other much smaller shoots. All seperate trees but all the same tree.<br />
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Up Bald Hill Road is the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and interpretative walk which was most informative.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSum5ZKL8FhYRnHt-dKEU7lkxtucQgwYNsUj2ccnDI4RATsKVxQn3eaPwxV3dEKvT1UePosoSxj5Cso0A-50bmHn28ItUljbP_xGXZtXEkzVMs5pMmsFn2h3LTqzktXUUEwiRB/s1600/IMG_1724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSum5ZKL8FhYRnHt-dKEU7lkxtucQgwYNsUj2ccnDI4RATsKVxQn3eaPwxV3dEKvT1UePosoSxj5Cso0A-50bmHn28ItUljbP_xGXZtXEkzVMs5pMmsFn2h3LTqzktXUUEwiRB/s200/IMG_1724.JPG" title="Replica lighthouse above Trinidad harbour" width="200" /></a></div>
Tired out for the day we headed back to Hwy 101 and stopped in at Trinidad, a cute little spot overlooking the harbour with a copy of probably the shortest lighthouse in the world, 25', enhancing the vista.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoZm5gWegbM2ypzu-AQdtnTrNV8POUB3zY6t8Lr2rleXa7w-kyssQ5wrkneVZhS9v8j4GXkpKS4bHutyKV8MApAgjiEm983cgU3roD-xAXp9o57prFV7wAPMjP3KcZ2e7mKqA/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoZm5gWegbM2ypzu-AQdtnTrNV8POUB3zY6t8Lr2rleXa7w-kyssQ5wrkneVZhS9v8j4GXkpKS4bHutyKV8MApAgjiEm983cgU3roD-xAXp9o57prFV7wAPMjP3KcZ2e7mKqA/s200/IMG_1745.JPG" title="The meal at Samoa Cookhouse - even though there was more than enough, they offered seconds after each course" width="200" /></a></div>
Dinner was a particular treat; The Samoa Cookhouse is the only remaining cookhouse in the west. Originally built around 1893 to feed the employees of the lumber company it was opened to the public in the late 1960s as a restaurant with a difference. It is still run as a cookhouse so the meal you get is the meal they are cooking that night.<br />
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The choice is to eat it or not. The portions are lumber-jack size and although we had put in a long day in the forest the cookhouse bread, soup, salad, chicken parmesan, slab of pork, potatoes, peas and desert were a challenge and seconds were respectfully declined. It was all you could eat for $15.95 - great value and a totally different experience.<br />
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144 miles today, total trip 6644. States: CaliforniaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-32510339416721567512012-08-24T02:52:00.000-01:002012-08-24T03:08:57.405-01:00Rocks to Redwoods - 23 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqth1U_fcol6jpuXYLVCNgXjRvobbANnXkDgYCZDTytJzcsWdQUbueLj-8sDFP7O6GxbVpgvSZ42t88fOBZS6Q1mBFVEXvrQQvJR9PpdTFaNvIpve9-82eK-vLJf8O4mH8fOH/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqth1U_fcol6jpuXYLVCNgXjRvobbANnXkDgYCZDTytJzcsWdQUbueLj-8sDFP7O6GxbVpgvSZ42t88fOBZS6Q1mBFVEXvrQQvJR9PpdTFaNvIpve9-82eK-vLJf8O4mH8fOH/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" title="View from Otter Point" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsx-OjYGoseaI2Qg9pzCgDlvjBr8L3ue0Q5sbJpPUoYVe9-Rop9q6mEwaYubg62zOck0iWLiqSIVbQrf_jzb769lzoRKAtFLQCIRJpfhjV0piLn87rfLYQJwY56kGUTNcfBkc/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsx-OjYGoseaI2Qg9pzCgDlvjBr8L3ue0Q5sbJpPUoYVe9-Rop9q6mEwaYubg62zOck0iWLiqSIVbQrf_jzb769lzoRKAtFLQCIRJpfhjV0piLn87rfLYQJwY56kGUTNcfBkc/s200/IMG_1363.JPG" title="Breakfast at Port Orford - Battle Rock" width="200" /></a></div>
We have thoroughly enjoyed the Oregon coast road and today was a particular highlight as we meandered from bay to bay. We began the day with breakfast at Port Orford overlooking Battle Rock, rather reminiscent of Lion Rock at Piha. Port Orford is rather a grand name for what is essentially a wharf onto which they lift all the fishing fleet each night.<br />
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There is clearly not sufficient shelter available for the boats as southerly winds can reach 120mph and occur around three times per winter. There are apparently 5 other harbours in the world where all the boats are lifted from the sea each day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMAnOo-nDFcQzq3HgpS1uNZo_Pvyj90OegtHyAK8eFuHEagla8yF0zh1a9n7drLdTraLm1oNmUKCq0AmijQAy3vH6Vlhx7fETUOWi45zS1azmE-jxujYNJyjA7BopheYTXQYq/s1600/IMG_1371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMAnOo-nDFcQzq3HgpS1uNZo_Pvyj90OegtHyAK8eFuHEagla8yF0zh1a9n7drLdTraLm1oNmUKCq0AmijQAy3vH6Vlhx7fETUOWi45zS1azmE-jxujYNJyjA7BopheYTXQYq/s200/IMG_1371.JPG" title="Wetland filter at Port Orford" width="200" /></a></div>
Port Orford also has an interesting wetland boardwalk through a marsh area that has been enhanced and now functions as a filter for stormwater run-off before it feeds into a lake. It is well done and an interesting diversion.<br />
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Hwy 101 provides viewpoint after viewpoint, some beside the road, others down short side roads. Otter Point was a wild wind-swept landscape with erosion eating away at the cliffs and another sea-stack well on the way to completion by the relentless waves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNywFQd4FUgwqukAM2Bqhl2OMLijjCMpjNqTCzQmtDNK8SOLLF1937UHnQzA4CpVkch54SUqeFtovgKd5PezgJaXIXMHDazAADdqU6uLZ3eHx2R4oE-OTYohEt8d5K7GmPVdu/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNywFQd4FUgwqukAM2Bqhl2OMLijjCMpjNqTCzQmtDNK8SOLLF1937UHnQzA4CpVkch54SUqeFtovgKd5PezgJaXIXMHDazAADdqU6uLZ3eHx2R4oE-OTYohEt8d5K7GmPVdu/s200/IMG_1416.JPG" title="Patterson Memorial Bridge with decorative pillars typical of the McCullough designs" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw_OSqbiQrTY6aGHowMWoWRmviJoSLcTpPIgQNQZcYyOmGHWssKj9E8pZx3_osfwx37ZNBhcKG6HmN0t0RaBRPgDbKy5BHNffmloxsX2qwHIXU_s1h4B01YVPqWFeblLmKE1L/s1600/IMG_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw_OSqbiQrTY6aGHowMWoWRmviJoSLcTpPIgQNQZcYyOmGHWssKj9E8pZx3_osfwx37ZNBhcKG6HmN0t0RaBRPgDbKy5BHNffmloxsX2qwHIXU_s1h4B01YVPqWFeblLmKE1L/s200/IMG_1392.JPG" title="One of the many lookout points" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42Nnsdt0cdfZMQBTXc52PSWcLSsNWbKlbtxD_1JZvUFJPQVkxRmsaU0q5nGHTOmh6owxgwuiBsrtOQXZRmzt9xG82zShhe44BahRDAutTOjpE4Bcy_wrANiQf4mleT21WKVi7/s1600/IMG_1436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42Nnsdt0cdfZMQBTXc52PSWcLSsNWbKlbtxD_1JZvUFJPQVkxRmsaU0q5nGHTOmh6owxgwuiBsrtOQXZRmzt9xG82zShhe44BahRDAutTOjpE4Bcy_wrANiQf4mleT21WKVi7/s200/IMG_1436.JPG" title="View from Sea Arch lookout" width="200" /></a></div>
Sea-stacks are a feature of this section of the coast, providing great habitats for the seabirds. Although the wind got fairly brisk early on, we were still able to pick out the occasional whale spout.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNh0Lw5cCa38NkezknmNP5KiweBPXb_QlWOQXaPNowoZ4L37UWt7GQbFeniTen5I5o1q7VnQXafnqarVfmbAIqQhyEwqyxRnv08GcW5RBmDwlHU5HKRKoEsTDZiLTQn0LtZY/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvNh0Lw5cCa38NkezknmNP5KiweBPXb_QlWOQXaPNowoZ4L37UWt7GQbFeniTen5I5o1q7VnQXafnqarVfmbAIqQhyEwqyxRnv08GcW5RBmDwlHU5HKRKoEsTDZiLTQn0LtZY/s200/IMG_1448.JPG" title="Natural Bridge" width="200" /></a></div>
We walked all the way down to the Natural Bridges, hoping for a better photo angle than was provided by the easily accessible boardwalk; only to find that the track took you to the top of the bridge allowing access to walk across the two, if you so desired, but we were still well above sea-level and obviously it is rather hard to take a picture looking out to sea through the natural arches when you are standing on top of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeDVBXdyPUYN2-9d8pjkMtIOj3UarboGy15N3EyLdx313QBW9bFWs6qiKWSa1L9-arYPHkjLU7sya1XgK9fMZ0ebwi7hDkZOstKXUCSwHXP80a8xZhfCWSZdKksXyCpiRnWAC/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeDVBXdyPUYN2-9d8pjkMtIOj3UarboGy15N3EyLdx313QBW9bFWs6qiKWSa1L9-arYPHkjLU7sya1XgK9fMZ0ebwi7hDkZOstKXUCSwHXP80a8xZhfCWSZdKksXyCpiRnWAC/s200/IMG_1447.JPG" title="View from the top of the Natural Bridge" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVp_7ZV216B73Y50Yu7A2YmgrdwyZ6cTJLG_4LRu3VZws8hFk5avb1e1IqBghh1Q8_EOKAucGGFSb3eeMV4wyrr1CbcSXUCv7Yev0lqMNukAqqWMkw1lK7BISnsm0hEE2GRd8/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVp_7ZV216B73Y50Yu7A2YmgrdwyZ6cTJLG_4LRu3VZws8hFk5avb1e1IqBghh1Q8_EOKAucGGFSb3eeMV4wyrr1CbcSXUCv7Yev0lqMNukAqqWMkw1lK7BISnsm0hEE2GRd8/s200/IMG_1429.JPG" title="Sea Arch in the bay before the Natural Bridge" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1HzjAF2nsOzn2-1zNentR3K0uatsKR1Nd_GpWaiub3g8LKBajruWgolNrXzcN_b7t5Rybv4J_ZR5R8C_PXc9N36UamnViC8TKzZrPMVD785w2pDjFSKyjCiGpTIX2eCWhWS/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1HzjAF2nsOzn2-1zNentR3K0uatsKR1Nd_GpWaiub3g8LKBajruWgolNrXzcN_b7t5Rybv4J_ZR5R8C_PXc9N36UamnViC8TKzZrPMVD785w2pDjFSKyjCiGpTIX2eCWhWS/s200/IMG_1457.JPG" title="Sea fog rolling in near the California border" width="200" /></a></div>
Just as we approached the state border we could see the sea-fog forming offshore and billowing in across the land, obliterating views ahead. It is amazing how localised this effect is here and it is a significant factor in the presence of the Redwoods as we learnt in the introduction video that the sea-fog supplies 50% of the redwoods' moisture for the year, even though 100 inches of rain fall in the winter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujMo0346YW7cyXUKRwxOiARBLdBERo42Tgh7ycMbI6uIRI251iIl3trfPJux-FTtnuTttVi31j20oReal6VRGT4zYI382amu6fZ_CPlP3AA6DS7pbHHUnPN9PJltVq6108EOk/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujMo0346YW7cyXUKRwxOiARBLdBERo42Tgh7ycMbI6uIRI251iIl3trfPJux-FTtnuTttVi31j20oReal6VRGT4zYI382amu6fZ_CPlP3AA6DS7pbHHUnPN9PJltVq6108EOk/s200/IMG_1475.JPG" title="First view of the Redwoods" width="200" /></a></div>
All to soon we were over the border into California, until we arrived at the first petrol station and saw the price. A quick u-turn and we retreated to Oregon for petrol that we had previously considered too expensive; it was now an absolute bargain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjParb5JuYLsSJnVn2ja0Tk6R70NRlVTVHKAoke99bRShwbo-63kvSxzKbczJNmKYBl_06Kp87e1nODJrux2sLrmTq5Lg2GjuGkr2aS3Wse8Nmg32tMukD_zBEnG1BwwP_A0xNs/s1600/IMG_1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjParb5JuYLsSJnVn2ja0Tk6R70NRlVTVHKAoke99bRShwbo-63kvSxzKbczJNmKYBl_06Kp87e1nODJrux2sLrmTq5Lg2GjuGkr2aS3Wse8Nmg32tMukD_zBEnG1BwwP_A0xNs/s200/IMG_1503.JPG" title="Size comparison of Redwood and Murray" width="200" /></a></div>
With the tank full, we set off to enjoy a fabulous drive through the Redwood State Park and then an easy interpretative walk amongst these forest giants. They really are most impressive and we look forward to seeing more further down the coast tomorrow.<br />
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151 miles today, total trip 6500. States: Oregon, CaliforniaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-56705366185922104612012-08-24T01:20:00.000-01:002012-08-24T01:53:52.552-01:00Oregon Coast - 22 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4hF81uEJCxje8X_vY2JfqZ-hRmj9S9-kJcPOt6Jdge_qkPbp7nhfSNTs5Bq59cj7rVJQmFSS3ze795OiuzJcWq9SYBe2xGDdIRHi25E9huQ3vylcVZD1HjW-IUWzR1rebOjF/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4hF81uEJCxje8X_vY2JfqZ-hRmj9S9-kJcPOt6Jdge_qkPbp7nhfSNTs5Bq59cj7rVJQmFSS3ze795OiuzJcWq9SYBe2xGDdIRHi25E9huQ3vylcVZD1HjW-IUWzR1rebOjF/s200/IMG_1311.JPG" title="This tree near the coast has had a tough life!" width="200" /></a></div>
Hwy 101 clung tenaciously to the cliffs for much of today and at one point we read about the first three-foot wide track that was put through where the postal men crawled on their bellies clutching their horse's tail to stop being swept off in the fierce winds and lashing rain. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzSyOmcGokbGKZAFC8t8sELKgAq2zHiyZ7fkqIm1IGsyyIvEUZhQ_OepD7aGmtY7Kt2IOmkpGD8VuSEfwBV6b9xq5WtFRNRSpdnA7-3CiMF06VGTA3C_UHB9WCLFLl0xNOt1I/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzSyOmcGokbGKZAFC8t8sELKgAq2zHiyZ7fkqIm1IGsyyIvEUZhQ_OepD7aGmtY7Kt2IOmkpGD8VuSEfwBV6b9xq5WtFRNRSpdnA7-3CiMF06VGTA3C_UHB9WCLFLl0xNOt1I/s200/IMG_1237.JPG" title="Yaquina Head Lighthouse" width="200" /></a></div>
Not far into our journey was Cape Foulweather, the first geographical name assigned to the American west cost by Captain Cook, so it is clear what the day was like when he was here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRXAJJLC7ByfDMv41t7Uzvrp7f7qXZykHzRYx07mDEdgS3s43PF8CbHyy_839zJtC9R3bAA7mRyXlfcH6MrI33JB0Io-bIbAM7CivzP9VLZ8krlTgrvvxM7fK4fvZz0tq2TJV/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRXAJJLC7ByfDMv41t7Uzvrp7f7qXZykHzRYx07mDEdgS3s43PF8CbHyy_839zJtC9R3bAA7mRyXlfcH6MrI33JB0Io-bIbAM7CivzP9VLZ8krlTgrvvxM7fK4fvZz0tq2TJV/s200/IMG_1246.JPG" title="Crabing off the pier in Newport" width="200" /></a></div>
However, we had none of that; we enjoyed a cloudless sky, no wind until late afternoon and amazing visibility; 70 miles down the coast and 37 miles out to the horizon at the best vantage point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmy-E9SFmOxryeYSDLxWZ65Ooc03nIfjD-MjatdHzFJsdC48rPe2g2mLQa52GUCZxsaIVqifKZab2YwNtPZ6wwwjCQw9_RYMG8wQgLqrdqMj2BdojwgCw03hBnCJGm1rooh7I/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmy-E9SFmOxryeYSDLxWZ65Ooc03nIfjD-MjatdHzFJsdC48rPe2g2mLQa52GUCZxsaIVqifKZab2YwNtPZ6wwwjCQw9_RYMG8wQgLqrdqMj2BdojwgCw03hBnCJGm1rooh7I/s200/IMG_1210.JPG" title="Depoe Harbour" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1631525594"></span><span id="goog_1631525595"></span>But before that came the little hamlet of Depoe where they claim to have the smallest navigable harbour in the world. Now, I have not measured any but I have seen quite a few tiny harbours in Cornwall that I would judge were significantly smaller than the harbour at Depoe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAZVgUTYtdLR0zsgIeMbDRHmEeKI5vGZ-So9SHGY21urUZ2YX3H-5HVlhVAfiynp3T9ZL3OEMRUhAmWeOwJ-3IQHj21K_BidtmWho9k4YZs51mPDOl4nEOJD44fEW0RxV_73O/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAZVgUTYtdLR0zsgIeMbDRHmEeKI5vGZ-So9SHGY21urUZ2YX3H-5HVlhVAfiynp3T9ZL3OEMRUhAmWeOwJ-3IQHj21K_BidtmWho9k4YZs51mPDOl4nEOJD44fEW0RxV_73O/s200/IMG_1231.JPG" title="Devil's Punchbowl" width="200" /></a></div>
Not wishing to start a trans-Atlantic dispute we moved on south to Cape Foulwind where there were 4 (?) Grey whales swimming off-shore. For a closer look we dropped down to the Devil's Punchbowl and the whales, obligingly, came in closer as well and put on a great show with their water-spouts and one even treated us to a display of it's fluke.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWkS__GPY3uxsbFfzteNpEbrTEtnebgytp8BSrkmPjV_9mEV0gTwsAJm9XcVb-DPkNMK0YghcRfQkPiYDGdS60m4qej2FkSZB5qld24DFYMBdyd3FavX7DEq2FA1DfJHIrWC8/s1600/IMG_1302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWkS__GPY3uxsbFfzteNpEbrTEtnebgytp8BSrkmPjV_9mEV0gTwsAJm9XcVb-DPkNMK0YghcRfQkPiYDGdS60m4qej2FkSZB5qld24DFYMBdyd3FavX7DEq2FA1DfJHIrWC8/s200/IMG_1302.JPG" title="A short walk from the Highway lead to 'Darlingtonia State Natural Site' where insect eating pitcher plants grow wild" width="200" /></a></div>
Grey whales normally migrate up this coast to feed near Alaska in summer and then back down again to breed near Mexico in winter and we were not here for the times when those trips are made. However, some juveniles stay in this area and so sightings are common all year round.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrKNh_57dIILuLEbutQlpBfbrBlI5nb8AMV1mlLPQFbrYaGoDUFPMkg-PXq8D-7MhQIArFpypq-RUfKvFLsyW5V9jW-osnmfZFRg74i92dmy1OctJpbbDxMCD_QC3L52XzhyZ/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrKNh_57dIILuLEbutQlpBfbrBlI5nb8AMV1mlLPQFbrYaGoDUFPMkg-PXq8D-7MhQIArFpypq-RUfKvFLsyW5V9jW-osnmfZFRg74i92dmy1OctJpbbDxMCD_QC3L52XzhyZ/s200/IMG_1282.JPG" title="Viewpoint at Cape Perpetua" width="200" /></a></div>
Cape Perpetua is the location of the best viewpoint on the Oregon coast, at over 700ft above sea-level the views are extensive, 70 miles down the coast and 37 miles out to sea. The view thus encompassed over 2000 sq miles of sea and there was not a thing to be seen in it; no fishing boats, no ocean freighters, nothing at all - just blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7XQF73nFtnTwSNMuX9eCjMoaHx-enmU61C_8_-s46uQwUfblpcmliw3P9OlabuIRBLbuXRZcBvwhOQzypszo6q91FcaUhtHnk8Je33gUvoeZzwOrt9guV9Wk4CteAj0iKQCG/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7XQF73nFtnTwSNMuX9eCjMoaHx-enmU61C_8_-s46uQwUfblpcmliw3P9OlabuIRBLbuXRZcBvwhOQzypszo6q91FcaUhtHnk8Je33gUvoeZzwOrt9guV9Wk4CteAj0iKQCG/s200/IMG_1260.JPG" title="Purple Sea Urchins in the tidal pools at Cape Perpetua" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p2s4hWJVhbLtdPlOFCRdDN-E7hD3rB3YyrEURyxxxHY_hNIYHEjM0baJsimu4RpbVldYJZwD8eEaaI-4QZRLptE-TjVWMBGOsE-TNZoEUlysiqFx0cEljuIWUdmThhPsF7N5/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p2s4hWJVhbLtdPlOFCRdDN-E7hD3rB3YyrEURyxxxHY_hNIYHEjM0baJsimu4RpbVldYJZwD8eEaaI-4QZRLptE-TjVWMBGOsE-TNZoEUlysiqFx0cEljuIWUdmThhPsF7N5/s200/IMG_1263.JPG" title="Sea Star & Green Anemones in the tidal pools at Cape Perpetua" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvPF0J9MdGe78UoPKg7wlOkDNPrUFlYpdbZUBn18wIojQBpILbC2jaa0XB7hc_IAAxCfFWZE8DxsA4luot2pCi97G_bU04alTEM0YI3rYIAvojqkvUXsE56j0ia8qEZZc6YAY/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvPF0J9MdGe78UoPKg7wlOkDNPrUFlYpdbZUBn18wIojQBpILbC2jaa0XB7hc_IAAxCfFWZE8DxsA4luot2pCi97G_bU04alTEM0YI3rYIAvojqkvUXsE56j0ia8qEZZc6YAY/s200/IMG_1339.JPG" title="'Oregon Dunes Overlook'" width="200" /></a></div>
For a few miles the cliffs stop dropping straight into the sea allowing a totally different geology, topography and ecology to develop; the Oregon sand dunes. Acres and acres of huge dunes, creating lakes, swallowing mature pine forests, and at one point coming within feet of covering Hwy 101.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcpfYCn063I9A0jw08Soeyxc9Z7jrRdVimTf4NwuJsWYcaw-QlFQF3RpyrmR3PQKiCNcaWAnTbs5GbOGbKdnZ_mSDGjnr-xbkllj2_zV9IyUOu5EnCcWqmiUI0JGT3XpCGJxk/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcpfYCn063I9A0jw08Soeyxc9Z7jrRdVimTf4NwuJsWYcaw-QlFQF3RpyrmR3PQKiCNcaWAnTbs5GbOGbKdnZ_mSDGjnr-xbkllj2_zV9IyUOu5EnCcWqmiUI0JGT3XpCGJxk/s200/IMG_1330.JPG" title="Sand dunes come right down to the road in some areas" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3JWJ21CqAVxPA_huZSVjWoTSdSkA8Rz2bZLo0kAJcQXPVPVF4GoQPdIWsPga9fBvidWvMCybT7Q1OUfIFPImMWqWfvO1xDx3jlsvssdVrhTQlHar2PtKoYexVmvVAZeB3vRX/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3JWJ21CqAVxPA_huZSVjWoTSdSkA8Rz2bZLo0kAJcQXPVPVF4GoQPdIWsPga9fBvidWvMCybT7Q1OUfIFPImMWqWfvO1xDx3jlsvssdVrhTQlHar2PtKoYexVmvVAZeB3vRX/s200/IMG_1338.JPG" title="Walking is popular in the sand dune areas" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU3nQ6C43xQsJNSXwV3pNDyPaDvi9Hw6dtGnDgTEOysswuTl4LiSOjUk9R2oK83I6fpYhVJsPb9uNWCdX_UmZquwhjmFh1YZcI4qfjpvBNDmzvheHO4XkFyXcjmep2I5xsFsH/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU3nQ6C43xQsJNSXwV3pNDyPaDvi9Hw6dtGnDgTEOysswuTl4LiSOjUk9R2oK83I6fpYhVJsPb9uNWCdX_UmZquwhjmFh1YZcI4qfjpvBNDmzvheHO4XkFyXcjmep2I5xsFsH/s200/IMG_1353.JPG" title="Our evening picnic site at Bandon State Park, with one of the McCullough designed bridges" width="200" /></a></div>
The man-made features of note through the day were the lighthouses and the bridges spanning the larger rivers along the route, all different and quite stylish.<br />
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203 miles today, total trip 6348. States: Oregon.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-10039780263707570612012-08-22T03:30:00.001-01:002012-08-22T03:40:40.184-01:00The Pacific at last - 21 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikocNcU7WC06oNlxVGm-6Ij7Y7QQU-HDz8-7DQyV3ZULTJw1s6hmlhSoNkKllTm_tLZiqN26l21OFX1RLnDfXIsU85IoZnbCkPRyt6F0lwSEUeMtDLs-67Bnmq35Ypshd6Au9Z/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikocNcU7WC06oNlxVGm-6Ij7Y7QQU-HDz8-7DQyV3ZULTJw1s6hmlhSoNkKllTm_tLZiqN26l21OFX1RLnDfXIsU85IoZnbCkPRyt6F0lwSEUeMtDLs-67Bnmq35Ypshd6Au9Z/s400/IMG_1070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today we finally had our first glimpse of the Pacific, even though we have been on the coast for a few days, we have been in inlets such as Puget Sound and Willapa Bay. Today there was nothing to the west of us until Japan.<br />
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Not far from our overnight stop was Long Beach (WA, not CA) where each August they hold the Washington Kite Festival so we detoured to have a look. Not being the weekend it was a little quieter than it might have been but nevertheless there was still sufficient colour in the sky to make quite a spectacle. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21wtiTcbeB6tMOL5-uokHjJRra3rHYScgnPKJWynIwcC2DgwG8lmdbywhZQ3yqvzbVftocpEqyljaivduCS5QyWZtmAbwLOB-zXg9fVoAIwDezcpOf_3dMoerqF06yXquf6cN/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21wtiTcbeB6tMOL5-uokHjJRra3rHYScgnPKJWynIwcC2DgwG8lmdbywhZQ3yqvzbVftocpEqyljaivduCS5QyWZtmAbwLOB-zXg9fVoAIwDezcpOf_3dMoerqF06yXquf6cN/s200/IMG_0929.JPG" title="A large group of 'pirates' had a colourful display" width="200" /></a></div>
We were able to watch Ray Bethell, holder of 11 multiple world records, flying three stunt kites simultaneously; one in each hand and one controlled by strings attached to his belt: most impressive. His record is 39 kites simultaneously - not sure how he manages that!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw201W0LDgaap4xWrr-wS_qWfdYBSi7iD6tRgYkvddEER-wmdCuihex8zQqd0ZxyyRg14wGI4Vub07pQJv2HqXAeSezG5oNeOkjS-l0nleX9LTzKtV7_xR6FZTsk6Ow6WXuoYc/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw201W0LDgaap4xWrr-wS_qWfdYBSi7iD6tRgYkvddEER-wmdCuihex8zQqd0ZxyyRg14wGI4Vub07pQJv2HqXAeSezG5oNeOkjS-l0nleX9LTzKtV7_xR6FZTsk6Ow6WXuoYc/s200/IMG_1035.JPG" title="Flying ghost kite" width="200" /></a></div>
There was a team of six guys flying stunt kites in formation as well as all manner of tube, box, delta, wing, and fantasy kites colouring the sky.<br />
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But we could not stay all day, we had to move along and we continued south to Astoria. Named after, but never visited by the first multi-millionaire Astor, it is has a historic Finnish section and many Victorian era buildings and a fantastic viewpoint up on the hill overlooking the Columbia and Young Rivers which meet here. Lewis and Clark finally reached the Pacific Coast on the north bank of the Columbia before they turned back to report their findings to President Jefferson. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQEFIypAraBtkG8KvctD8eCcpUgqYXKKyzzXXwo8K66AVWQ_33aAVNTo4WnWKQj7d6IqCGh4-LLtf7MjceR8Tliv98_ZSW_LFNqgaZsMpde30uvYT0HCQbRS0sR-2VKEMNrN0/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQEFIypAraBtkG8KvctD8eCcpUgqYXKKyzzXXwo8K66AVWQ_33aAVNTo4WnWKQj7d6IqCGh4-LLtf7MjceR8Tliv98_ZSW_LFNqgaZsMpde30uvYT0HCQbRS0sR-2VKEMNrN0/s200/IMG_1121.JPG" title="Bridge across the Columbia River" width="200" /></a></div>
But, to reach Astoria, we had to cross the longest trestle bridge in the world, 4.1 miles across the Columbia River with an absolutely enormous ship passing under us as we crossed, giving a sense of scale to the bridge.<br />
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Our next stop of note was the neat little seaside town of Cannon Beach where the attraction is a fabulous golden sand beach and a string of sea stacks, huge rock outcrops left behind as the sea has eroded the land. The largest, Haystack, is off the beach at Cannon Beach but others can be seen dotted up and down the coast.<br />
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Having had a thoroughly enjoyable relaxing day we needed to cover some miles to our destination at Lincoln City so there was only time for occasional photo stops as we motored south.<br />
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173 miles today, total trip 6145. States: Washington, Oregon.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-78922829585093103932012-08-21T03:25:00.000-01:002012-08-22T03:38:43.929-01:00On the road again - 20 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9iJ-M0dy7KonCMrNImAEV_LCpNV-aCpDJ9BNAMPx7-WiAeXaHIchLjpjVMpe935W-76JJRc5R0iHwG9nPiZjPgwJT_9KvgteYCi0a8_JFnT2wQ54CENueRFtKHFLYjrNPQEe/s1600/IMG_0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9iJ-M0dy7KonCMrNImAEV_LCpNV-aCpDJ9BNAMPx7-WiAeXaHIchLjpjVMpe935W-76JJRc5R0iHwG9nPiZjPgwJT_9KvgteYCi0a8_JFnT2wQ54CENueRFtKHFLYjrNPQEe/s200/IMG_0468.jpg" title="Family group with both sets of grandparents" width="200" /></a></div>
One of the reasons for a road trip across America was to catch up with family in the Pacific Northwest. So we took a few days out to spend time with Bradley, Susan and Linnea as well as a side trip over the border to see our good friends David & Rachel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tlv8Mq9nggREzip8Trc5_baD5FEc7wH4iklEQVNauN-X-o6ItUTrNxevBkE1z66T7TtLdAcgTzXRsIpjcZo1qCfkC4lsnPFIA0ezGSNhb2tKLQMmeRoNWNuVevsp0vNwpHN0/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tlv8Mq9nggREzip8Trc5_baD5FEc7wH4iklEQVNauN-X-o6ItUTrNxevBkE1z66T7TtLdAcgTzXRsIpjcZo1qCfkC4lsnPFIA0ezGSNhb2tKLQMmeRoNWNuVevsp0vNwpHN0/s200/IMG_0701.JPG" title="Linnea with her huge bear" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0nf10cq0tZhh7PiaowfScezQ0cGCbRvmhxNbLeQktkLWSp46o8HYxSeh06jakPieqes1qfVNUFhQJJbWKdDwCCZ4ID5t5UwHC7kH4xjzP854dtlnMCMRJ0Sadk4Bz0tYr6T1/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0nf10cq0tZhh7PiaowfScezQ0cGCbRvmhxNbLeQktkLWSp46o8HYxSeh06jakPieqes1qfVNUFhQJJbWKdDwCCZ4ID5t5UwHC7kH4xjzP854dtlnMCMRJ0Sadk4Bz0tYr6T1/s200/IMG_0732.JPG" title="Linnea enjoying the whale watching" width="200" /></a></div>
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Bradley had arranged a whale watching boat trip from Anacortes which we enjoyed on Saturday but the rest of the time was simply spent relaxing.<br />
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This morning saw the start of the second leg of the trip as we changed from a westerly heading to a southerly heading down the Pacific Coast bound for Los Angeles. Bradley suggested that we should leave the I-5 at Hwy 20 and take the Deception Pass bridge to Whidbey Island then the Coupeville to Port Townsend ferry back to the Olympic Peninsula, thus completely avoiding all the traffic snarl around Seattle. It also meant that most of the trip was along various coasts, bays or inlets and thus much more scenic than a motorway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPPQnBXkfHwvqCwgwX0Fuf7diPGmUC1MLEXYZvyb-IF_xibfQfj_I45RvdYSzxFU8CuAlSgflbKeka-kg-cDQzMJimY44sQNEtl9orerR1hHh83XGeKJkRD3CdjRo_HNMBWdS/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPPQnBXkfHwvqCwgwX0Fuf7diPGmUC1MLEXYZvyb-IF_xibfQfj_I45RvdYSzxFU8CuAlSgflbKeka-kg-cDQzMJimY44sQNEtl9orerR1hHh83XGeKJkRD3CdjRo_HNMBWdS/s200/IMG_0764.JPG" title="Lowering the inflatable lifeboat" width="200" /></a></div>
Curiously, the ferry captain announced that they had to perform a Coast Guard mandated safety drill and, so mid-channel, the ferry came to a dead stop, they lowered a rigid inflatable lifeboat, put two crew aboard and they set off for shore while we got under way again. Apart from proving that they could deploy this boat and that it was operational in the water, I have no idea what the exercise actually proved. Nevertheless it was an interesting diversion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo5D1pAqHfcNgDNftYI2JTb1JaL6n5Jpu-GwqQK7mvtcvazNKIQWyUc68nqBKUWlmj5sSpQhXNGZSs2c7gbDAhaGeN2-CYLelaEZMJfhXKEWjbvK7HY4ufu4434Ol9b0z_CDg/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo5D1pAqHfcNgDNftYI2JTb1JaL6n5Jpu-GwqQK7mvtcvazNKIQWyUc68nqBKUWlmj5sSpQhXNGZSs2c7gbDAhaGeN2-CYLelaEZMJfhXKEWjbvK7HY4ufu4434Ol9b0z_CDg/s200/IMG_0807.JPG" title="Port Townsend" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjclG1zw-1nbRygbrCgvPjdTZVvkeRypJ8zSHTNgpgLIRr8hdpX6-CeaAwjo2ncOoZ_1ptP5j3bkaR095XjYorTFwv3iX0ZozwAGOdOEpQNDq8FtCQd5xiVP_j0bMi7_AwZaY8/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img beautiful="beautiful" border="0" had="had" height="150" many="many" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjclG1zw-1nbRygbrCgvPjdTZVvkeRypJ8zSHTNgpgLIRr8hdpX6-CeaAwjo2ncOoZ_1ptP5j3bkaR095XjYorTFwv3iX0ZozwAGOdOEpQNDq8FtCQd5xiVP_j0bMi7_AwZaY8/s200/IMG_0817.JPG" title="Port Townsend has many beautiful Victorian villas" width="200" /></a></div>
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We spent a little while browsing the shops in the historic part of Port Townsend, all of which were full of wares designed to part tourists from their dollars; we resisted. After that there was a long run alongside the Hood Canal which does not actually seem to be a canal, more a sizable inlet; and then over to the Pacific Coast and our stop for the night at Willapa Bay<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzk1lMTGixghAEJrpx3y77QR2Uop0_H3PaZoOpLDq6BHkV6QDaEa3MxyvGjsSiVjG0wGzcUNYmzIj7P9cHgErNqHPDEIPfc-NhGO86bMQOfOC1I7MLij96msgJEV0jQxRACQs/s1600/IMG_0877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzk1lMTGixghAEJrpx3y77QR2Uop0_H3PaZoOpLDq6BHkV6QDaEa3MxyvGjsSiVjG0wGzcUNYmzIj7P9cHgErNqHPDEIPfc-NhGO86bMQOfOC1I7MLij96msgJEV0jQxRACQs/s200/IMG_0877.JPG" title="Willapa Bay" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZnz56LQU8YHQ3yIxhP09nTYPAspl_Zsw81-GPP4RQxJH2Vd1i-j3Fk_lwF-PCb7yfi1r9DPK7Kv7SioNamzGlb_DMk-QepBH7rPUHnRao1GSayfFdsKV9mwqY4mp88R81zAY/s1600/IMG_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZnz56LQU8YHQ3yIxhP09nTYPAspl_Zsw81-GPP4RQxJH2Vd1i-j3Fk_lwF-PCb7yfi1r9DPK7Kv7SioNamzGlb_DMk-QepBH7rPUHnRao1GSayfFdsKV9mwqY4mp88R81zAY/s200/IMG_0884.JPG" title="Willapa Bay" width="200" /></a></div>
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231 miles today, total trip 5972. States: Washington (and British Columbia, briefly)Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-41811872436437332732012-08-17T20:58:00.002-01:002012-08-17T21:08:15.662-01:00Cascading into Washington - 15 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mHjcwCC7ZhpshOIOUnMNZH16DqbLp0hXNLHARsXEHN7niSrbaIUdgTIA2fwT_cpUS0uBBE4b2s3AI72hnB22WZ3Kikm3StZX59rZK0llmA87jsN9y5L1bG4q2dEzbeKI7LoG/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mHjcwCC7ZhpshOIOUnMNZH16DqbLp0hXNLHARsXEHN7niSrbaIUdgTIA2fwT_cpUS0uBBE4b2s3AI72hnB22WZ3Kikm3StZX59rZK0llmA87jsN9y5L1bG4q2dEzbeKI7LoG/s200/IMG_0470.JPG" title="Winthrop" width="200" /></a></div>
An interesting morning was spent exploring the Winthrop enviorons. Firstly the town itself has re-invented itself as an early 1900s Western town with wooden sidewalks, hitching posts, old fashioned signwrighting as mandatory, wooden sidings, corrugated iron roofs and so forth. It looks kust like the set from a Wild-West movie apart from the absence of horses and stetson (being worn, plenty to purchase) and presence of modern transportation..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8aOe-b-HR1br6Xe9GIdTMgk2riHLDL2w2SMCxbdEq1QJ0nPQYiIaQuhej_6BkMP6rI6zVyUpuhrIqmwVf8HF1iLRIZAk95pz0ms0ALhXl8BG3eG75fa6cGqBow2EORv7nG9Z/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8aOe-b-HR1br6Xe9GIdTMgk2riHLDL2w2SMCxbdEq1QJ0nPQYiIaQuhej_6BkMP6rI6zVyUpuhrIqmwVf8HF1iLRIZAk95pz0ms0ALhXl8BG3eG75fa6cGqBow2EORv7nG9Z/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" title="Winthrop" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98iswmrl2RPVtkkF8tMmazbxNIQhGu-KcHKB59j13JRX3FnNWOMbuRNtchkvV8pmUg0drhTI-zVAW9bnFJn8t4z3L5sMrtkpVQeGjjXr64TvIvVSalB5rUoTvj4JERjOiXI4Y/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98iswmrl2RPVtkkF8tMmazbxNIQhGu-KcHKB59j13JRX3FnNWOMbuRNtchkvV8pmUg0drhTI-zVAW9bnFJn8t4z3L5sMrtkpVQeGjjXr64TvIvVSalB5rUoTvj4JERjOiXI4Y/s200/IMG_0546.JPG" title="Winthrop" width="200" /></a></div>
Above the town is the Schafer Museum which was quite an amazing and interesting collection of historical buildings and memorabilia from the area's history, from the gold-mining and apple growing past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqKcmlDIgwXJrlGTKM6ucAxOGN09mYNn5JuSTvVEZD4Ed7aG-jv8t0sUdx9qNG6-0_P-hExzM8q8pNesvbltlP6eiJpsPgNzs9JMDXC2Lagqv7Tqz07hdtzjGzzdU8H9i_IYT/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqKcmlDIgwXJrlGTKM6ucAxOGN09mYNn5JuSTvVEZD4Ed7aG-jv8t0sUdx9qNG6-0_P-hExzM8q8pNesvbltlP6eiJpsPgNzs9JMDXC2Lagqv7Tqz07hdtzjGzzdU8H9i_IYT/s200/IMG_0488.JPG" title="Schafer Museum" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8YvKh2TROK5JQASye8vsHVHuOWAg4wzE0iymq5j2TtOzLLZLmtsYqODx4TmdQxwMD3RTkm9edOJXTD3vLwNKMJSMLe02VbiYmONCFrtktl6nMK8WCfGlNKCDc3tvdlI_Wgz4/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8YvKh2TROK5JQASye8vsHVHuOWAg4wzE0iymq5j2TtOzLLZLmtsYqODx4TmdQxwMD3RTkm9edOJXTD3vLwNKMJSMLe02VbiYmONCFrtktl6nMK8WCfGlNKCDc3tvdlI_Wgz4/s200/IMG_0543.JPG" title="Schafer Museum" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBjJtHccckfr4SyCn4sxk8TYlJhPJc-UVx3-z8JpcAbDZ_jKbUlTQSO3NFBqskySlhAYNktLFkqbeBOGemdlS55ZkX4JsSCwhsLdxSa9CaQd5l3C4vwlltSZhz_HvA7TlUera/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBjJtHccckfr4SyCn4sxk8TYlJhPJc-UVx3-z8JpcAbDZ_jKbUlTQSO3NFBqskySlhAYNktLFkqbeBOGemdlS55ZkX4JsSCwhsLdxSa9CaQd5l3C4vwlltSZhz_HvA7TlUera/s200/IMG_0559.JPG" title="Smokejumpers Base" width="200" /></a></div>
A few miles from Winthrop is the original Smokejumper base and we were privildeged to have a personal tour and explanation of this fascinating facility. The base is very self sufficient, as they make, on-site, all the specialized equipment, jumps suits, packs, etc and repair (but not make) all the parachutes. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoaleM5YLr5hZICL-dvhvIdvBnx3WwxvcMeeON_Bdya6Kvkm2BCQNNnPZWXSc8lKS-rTzIEe72ZPYvWP5RkPur6NTk9r2k8SryD_4pJ0n8Qm6yiFXhNICNJKRNKdUgj6jpoqf/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoaleM5YLr5hZICL-dvhvIdvBnx3WwxvcMeeON_Bdya6Kvkm2BCQNNnPZWXSc8lKS-rTzIEe72ZPYvWP5RkPur6NTk9r2k8SryD_4pJ0n8Qm6yiFXhNICNJKRNKdUgj6jpoqf/s200/IMG_0639.JPG" title="North Cascades" width="200" /></a></div>
Then it was time to get back on Hwy 20 for the scenic route across the North Cascades, stopping at the all the available viewpoints before we turned off and headed north to Bellingham, to be with family for the next few days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkka6YqzH-vDDLyNNRFDHUXa2oLWgw9Rqk2vPz08bExb9CrukTfltWdEXfKPgTX5YgCrXFep9W9no-Dq9gODJbuCtSubtL1x_LcZBh5n5xUo9Gty8SetILGkHrqGX71ICPyCuf/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkka6YqzH-vDDLyNNRFDHUXa2oLWgw9Rqk2vPz08bExb9CrukTfltWdEXfKPgTX5YgCrXFep9W9no-Dq9gODJbuCtSubtL1x_LcZBh5n5xUo9Gty8SetILGkHrqGX71ICPyCuf/s200/IMG_0601.JPG" title="North Cascades" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYQBw0UxXYS0bIpdfGY9x4kQF6TVjkog-GRNAf2zqSQhm1-5LV0YNzzPzPk57IWZn_-MbelGlrLZkk517XiRo93PiAKtSiLaE3S-9URLnkqhXylsPs_CKR-suDRL7nqlqMdht/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYQBw0UxXYS0bIpdfGY9x4kQF6TVjkog-GRNAf2zqSQhm1-5LV0YNzzPzPk57IWZn_-MbelGlrLZkk517XiRo93PiAKtSiLaE3S-9URLnkqhXylsPs_CKR-suDRL7nqlqMdht/s200/IMG_0610.JPG" title="North Cascades" width="200" /></a></div>
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177 miles today, total trip 5654. States: Washington.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-13522926113352866532012-08-15T02:11:00.000-01:002012-08-15T02:20:02.846-01:00Central Washington - 14 Auguat 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQjyAX3H4BPdrrX8MAVgfHxlPJsuAHlf4a2W8w_pn_q8u8EZLOqlUiunEvO462pQCjyK4oiSMBEGdDuUD6A4sybPUViOuEgVKxTIHgiM2G99XRQgJRlymDdx8-_wn5s1LVdOM/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQjyAX3H4BPdrrX8MAVgfHxlPJsuAHlf4a2W8w_pn_q8u8EZLOqlUiunEvO462pQCjyK4oiSMBEGdDuUD6A4sybPUViOuEgVKxTIHgiM2G99XRQgJRlymDdx8-_wn5s1LVdOM/s200/IMG_0377.JPG" title="Spokane Falls" width="200" /></a></div>
Spokane was just down the road so we stopped there for breakfast in the Riverside Park along with the homeless still asleep on the park benches. After a quick look at the Spokane Falls we swapped the mountains and conifers for rolling hills with grain in the middle of the harvest season. Some fields cut, others being harvested and some very ready for the combine to visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXOLkWErGG0xAaSafVP4gc6Ws3SHz5t-S6A_4-mbaV_QD1zRzXttMcc5lcKI3GOsvKDb6jez4ag7cky1y3fmhNq9MnWdMWrw_BdYaIPEhhTjXyLNa2vCknc08AAeZ8W1L_Dfj/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXOLkWErGG0xAaSafVP4gc6Ws3SHz5t-S6A_4-mbaV_QD1zRzXttMcc5lcKI3GOsvKDb6jez4ag7cky1y3fmhNq9MnWdMWrw_BdYaIPEhhTjXyLNa2vCknc08AAeZ8W1L_Dfj/s200/IMG_0382.JPG" title="Dust Devil in the harvested wheat fields" width="200" /></a></div>
There was an abrupt change in the topography as the grain fields ceased and were replaced with rocky lands covered in sage brush and then suddenly it was back to fertile wheat fields as far as the eye could see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BwCAYjS6Eru3AlixEhemXPk70hyVgeVQrJgL8yNXg21U8e9gPgCAfNg7iLKcqDWO4oQ6m48FjxT8o2-L3eIDrj31Gu8lQuhTjZPHhCuFBKMB9qNyMi5K8-QO3MfQRoN4bg99/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BwCAYjS6Eru3AlixEhemXPk70hyVgeVQrJgL8yNXg21U8e9gPgCAfNg7iLKcqDWO4oQ6m48FjxT8o2-L3eIDrj31Gu8lQuhTjZPHhCuFBKMB9qNyMi5K8-QO3MfQRoN4bg99/s200/IMG_0400.JPG" title="Grand Coulee Dam at the end of the Lake Roosevelt" width="200" /></a></div>
The roads were die straight for miles the only variation being altitude as we rolled across central Washington then descended to the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuuJN-cNsTJz1Ue7l_Pm8QogeDUvPJXIl_3oOnXM2KRPqquC11OFL4kFyxjMXEFnqAb63szCJWqQhOzrx_mDfdUD8tRC-wb2Qs5oP9AKeZePw4RXA13WxczcBjW1jrDbhBaSb/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuuJN-cNsTJz1Ue7l_Pm8QogeDUvPJXIl_3oOnXM2KRPqquC11OFL4kFyxjMXEFnqAb63szCJWqQhOzrx_mDfdUD8tRC-wb2Qs5oP9AKeZePw4RXA13WxczcBjW1jrDbhBaSb/s200/IMG_0429.JPG" title="Grand Coulee Dam" width="200" /></a></div>
Built as part of the New Deal to create employment after the Great Depression, the Grand Coulee Dam was, until 4 years ago, the largest dam in the world, nearly a mile across, and until three weeks ago, the generators in the most recent power plant were the largest in the world. The Chinese have just commissioned generators with a whisker more capacity than the units at Grand Coulee.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsak65IC_UesxL3cWSz_w1KLKPMSj67KvU7CqzJvG9w4SYwKylzPqpjp-GaiIOrUQycBDcWnoO07ewXTwOPhL_dBASwUxO9MJm7EeJmMr-d-TN9mAkT3iY8bS3ZCkz5ooQYok/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsak65IC_UesxL3cWSz_w1KLKPMSj67KvU7CqzJvG9w4SYwKylzPqpjp-GaiIOrUQycBDcWnoO07ewXTwOPhL_dBASwUxO9MJm7EeJmMr-d-TN9mAkT3iY8bS3ZCkz5ooQYok/s200/IMG_0416.JPG" title="Pump House at Grand Coulee Dam" width="200" /></a></div>
We took the dam tour which after the requisite post-911 screening and accompanied by a federal guard, took us to the pump house where they pump 3% of the river water 85m up to Banks Lake from where it irrigates many thousands of acres of otherwise arid land and grows most of the mint and lots of potatoes for the USA.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzchbEOUfRMuj-i_gCk5uDw51hrUsLDcudJl_y8YD7rg8RsXSRsfqt0KLfaVPvTYp81Nu5p0C9yk1gsqd7Syq6LuYyKF9CH1i5GWjMjr3mzLMyzEJK6uGWcepnh-NDo3JRHqN1/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzchbEOUfRMuj-i_gCk5uDw51hrUsLDcudJl_y8YD7rg8RsXSRsfqt0KLfaVPvTYp81Nu5p0C9yk1gsqd7Syq6LuYyKF9CH1i5GWjMjr3mzLMyzEJK6uGWcepnh-NDo3JRHqN1/s200/IMG_0435.JPG" title="Banks Lake" width="200" /></a></div>
Although the biggest hydro producer in the USA and one of the biggest in the world, irrigation, not electricity, was the prime reason the dam was built, electricity is just a very useful by-product.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJjOUzdraiaU83hLyT1yUQIrps0pVWhiL4ne_OdwgOcCAc6hwa9voFW6oldOVREpMqRJ9lMiQWYVV3qV-sYedf6qbZBNO0L3Z9h2RYHq2V04tNHGrlajHGCKxKsT-hoxQOulr/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJjOUzdraiaU83hLyT1yUQIrps0pVWhiL4ne_OdwgOcCAc6hwa9voFW6oldOVREpMqRJ9lMiQWYVV3qV-sYedf6qbZBNO0L3Z9h2RYHq2V04tNHGrlajHGCKxKsT-hoxQOulr/s200/IMG_0447.JPG" title="Campsite on the Methow River" width="200" /></a></div>
Instead of taking the direct route from Grand Coulee we ventured north to pick up the scenic route along Hwy 20 into Winthrop passing through orchard territory along the rivers. Anywhere within pumping distance of the rivers is verdant green, beyond that boundary is burnt dry dusty brown at this time of the year.<br />
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231 miles today, total trip 5475, States: WashingtonMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-21659713539878162172012-08-15T01:34:00.000-01:002012-08-15T02:12:51.200-01:00Ribbon of blue - 13 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOz1pX0T-OX9-6DbtcT1IPAywJlfsgPfiDl6nBD9znINNAI3XwHukj5yd3VUo8xpnWzbNRU9iMzS6WN44iz7QkTPwX3JL0OAl2fEM40PcyIl9V98GXna3hXbwen31xbx-lpfa/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOz1pX0T-OX9-6DbtcT1IPAywJlfsgPfiDl6nBD9znINNAI3XwHukj5yd3VUo8xpnWzbNRU9iMzS6WN44iz7QkTPwX3JL0OAl2fEM40PcyIl9V98GXna3hXbwen31xbx-lpfa/s200/IMG_0300.JPG" title="Lake Koocanusa" width="200" /></a></div>
Although there were no "must see" sights on the itinerary for today, it was nevertheless quite a scenic trip. As we are in the mountains rather than the plains there are no direct roads west from Whitefish, MT to our next stop in Newport, WA so the day was spent zig-zagging up towards and away from the Canadian border following a ribbon of blue rivers and hydro lakes through forests of firs, pines and spruce.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3E2km4H7FqM2cM1P0UHm9ZriMOU_hYmfC1s2IiNbZT6C3DS0qSJDIUPJ0hxnGJxdPMnL5mIkVFEFgHSGglJw-nQpA7sZbttVUpFKdIOfFhrwtthVK2usviWDarCSw2R2oMr8H/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3E2km4H7FqM2cM1P0UHm9ZriMOU_hYmfC1s2IiNbZT6C3DS0qSJDIUPJ0hxnGJxdPMnL5mIkVFEFgHSGglJw-nQpA7sZbttVUpFKdIOfFhrwtthVK2usviWDarCSw2R2oMr8H/s200/IMG_0292.JPG" title="Climber on Stone Hill by Lake Koocanusa" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kM_cMtcXpBr2kfWeRb1R52KT-49oaeTHPDHTMOVb-qnQ5MUaJ2xmEFeN98vtQToer6Qm0wlyrpc0Tgol0qLWQmDLJjxB2SVbSwYO2-mJuseA_Iy6K7t4tckg_dZjyuQnxyOo/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" separator="separator" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kM_cMtcXpBr2kfWeRb1R52KT-49oaeTHPDHTMOVb-qnQ5MUaJ2xmEFeN98vtQToer6Qm0wlyrpc0Tgol0qLWQmDLJjxB2SVbSwYO2-mJuseA_Iy6K7t4tckg_dZjyuQnxyOo/s200/IMG_0294.JPG" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" title="Climber on Stone Hill by Lake Koocanusa" /></a></div>
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</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C7BTw_LQQPc3HTLtyUVNalFQs8dzrtQ5nQ8MUocC901s1TNn-ez8QNfarFTnve9MU1fNN6t205WwY_qHAOQuOY91xWbjwkTbjWk1hyGETgJQ0D-EdknvQjrdufN8v1y5naKJ/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C7BTw_LQQPc3HTLtyUVNalFQs8dzrtQ5nQ8MUocC901s1TNn-ez8QNfarFTnve9MU1fNN6t205WwY_qHAOQuOY91xWbjwkTbjWk1hyGETgJQ0D-EdknvQjrdufN8v1y5naKJ/s200/IMG_0319.JPG" title="Kootenai Falls" width="200" /></a></div>
The first hydro lake was on the Kootenai River creating Koocanusa Lake which went for miles and miles. We only followed a portion of the USA part as the lake reaches way back into Canada, hence the name - no doubt. Not far downstream from the dam was an unexpected highlight, the Kootenai Falls, which though neither especially high or wide are quite spectacular with the various rock ledges that the water cascades over and around.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7Dkm9FSIYo8WGxfuyhhooasTgheo-2ct1SNlEjNMTz4WPrebeLMYQDqcFabeInD9VTuNPimrxzA4cRoCO9TDgmP1xIaz4kBqte_g-_ioOcyylaEu1NffC6b-LjH6Jx9KDgju/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7Dkm9FSIYo8WGxfuyhhooasTgheo-2ct1SNlEjNMTz4WPrebeLMYQDqcFabeInD9VTuNPimrxzA4cRoCO9TDgmP1xIaz4kBqte_g-_ioOcyylaEu1NffC6b-LjH6Jx9KDgju/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" width="400" title="Pend Orielle River" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVWkyU1rTswlsyN61z9IuM0KysJAlpOuXwshl3y6eZfypXiasRMgPsUHpb_mCYbLKwNVjNtXNoWn-aC7ttfPQTNMS2RA5BHaZ0LOPcSvXUvT1JfV7VLG81qfiRmqRqNkJQJUA/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVWkyU1rTswlsyN61z9IuM0KysJAlpOuXwshl3y6eZfypXiasRMgPsUHpb_mCYbLKwNVjNtXNoWn-aC7ttfPQTNMS2RA5BHaZ0LOPcSvXUvT1JfV7VLG81qfiRmqRqNkJQJUA/s200/IMG_0330.JPG" width="200" title="Lake Pend Orielle" /></a></div>
Just after crossing into Idaho, we left the Kootenai River and dropped south through the forest (without any water) to pick up the Pend Orielle River which we followed until it became Lake Pend Orielle, another hydro lake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lDIwRMLVdwkDBGawpRW0hTYqiKHXvacqNimRU68NjIF9RJmwKU1yICNXUvIX7HF6KGO_CmDZjm9XexcOZ5hFlwk9ZVfX3E5S-vmn_BhMBd6CoLRvWNRww3ISq7WRSfN5Un3P/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lDIwRMLVdwkDBGawpRW0hTYqiKHXvacqNimRU68NjIF9RJmwKU1yICNXUvIX7HF6KGO_CmDZjm9XexcOZ5hFlwk9ZVfX3E5S-vmn_BhMBd6CoLRvWNRww3ISq7WRSfN5Un3P/s200/IMG_0338.JPG" width="200" title="Archway in Sandpoint made from road signs" /></a></div>
We followed the shoreline up and over the top, crossing Pack River and Priest River to the delightful town of Sandpoint where they claim to have the world's longest retail bridge. It is constructed out of huge tree trunks and is quite a delightful space. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZOr_AQKlLF0973v97RPRThA1-MrPnuU8KD7oHXwbLe3Dobo4Iuy4Vk5kC_oeCCj6n0hmK1A9s0h2vXz2CtUAZDuMHVkcwne5F99zG9UyyjuLXqk7paNB2Jdpil38ORQx0r2g/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZOr_AQKlLF0973v97RPRThA1-MrPnuU8KD7oHXwbLe3Dobo4Iuy4Vk5kC_oeCCj6n0hmK1A9s0h2vXz2CtUAZDuMHVkcwne5F99zG9UyyjuLXqk7paNB2Jdpil38ORQx0r2g/s200/IMG_0349.JPG" width="200" title="Inside the Cedar Street Retail Bridge" /></a></div>
The difference between this and the "real" retail bridges such as Rialto and Ponte Vecchio is that the street has entirely disappeared and it was originally built as an ordinary bridge and the shops were an entrepreneurial experiment when the bridge fell into disuse.<br />
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All too soon, but only after the best value ice-cream in the USA at Clark Fork, Idaho had been and gone and we were in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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308 miles today, total trip 5238. States: Montana, Idaho, Washington.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-63817876876297422262012-08-13T01:23:00.001-01:002012-08-13T01:41:10.418-01:00Coming back from the sun road - 12 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xAg3EfkoyqNjJH1drquztrcMqIscc7fItX1JXlcw2bIKQyKk68ObBUupIPjjBBwdOnMO43l45vKOwcTvD1P28UyRngmlqcpGebngOeR5iTiAdVsBiGNMYS37FnSaheSCSw5S/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xAg3EfkoyqNjJH1drquztrcMqIscc7fItX1JXlcw2bIKQyKk68ObBUupIPjjBBwdOnMO43l45vKOwcTvD1P28UyRngmlqcpGebngOeR5iTiAdVsBiGNMYS37FnSaheSCSw5S/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" title="Goose Island in St Mary Lake" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7mb1BVIQ7dsvW7N9nDoDfsfmSynuHgD8howQk8knBOhsM4jotrS-kKH3_KaZpomGWybPPl9_PyJ5LXfvDlEGPNMseazQEeDVTekzT33GTgTFSJR9VPQXeDRa26zSKodRJndy/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7mb1BVIQ7dsvW7N9nDoDfsfmSynuHgD8howQk8knBOhsM4jotrS-kKH3_KaZpomGWybPPl9_PyJ5LXfvDlEGPNMseazQEeDVTekzT33GTgTFSJR9VPQXeDRa26zSKodRJndy/s200/IMG_0194.JPG" title="St Mary Lake from Sun Point" width="200" /></a></div>
The day had a very early false start when the alarm sounded at 0200. A meteorite shower was occurring and the sky was partly cloudy when we turned in. We were told 0200 would be the best time and since there is almost zero light pollution in this part of Montana we decided it was worth a wake-up call. We saw total overcast and went back to bed, to wake to a cloudless sky in the morning. Nature can be cruel sometimes!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF4mQqdWACQFsgKZQIHsy-zT8MNbsY6m1alJ8mx5obtQOvYzFA5RdUgnbnswhr1hyphenhyphenUiWq3Vv3aAOk5HqUtqH0rTAG6MqalofaS82bnnNAuCCMuBhYIYqazBp_qV11VB-Nofeu/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF4mQqdWACQFsgKZQIHsy-zT8MNbsY6m1alJ8mx5obtQOvYzFA5RdUgnbnswhr1hyphenhyphenUiWq3Vv3aAOk5HqUtqH0rTAG6MqalofaS82bnnNAuCCMuBhYIYqazBp_qV11VB-Nofeu/s200/IMG_0232.JPG" title="Heavenly Mountain" width="200" /></a></div>
In the trip planing we had decided to follow the Wise Men's example and return by a different route and I was sure that I had read the West to East was the best way to make the trip over Going-to-the-Sun Road. In endeavouring to confirm that detail I found so many comments that suggested both ways were good and since the day dawned cloudless we decided to enjoy the views along Going-to-the-Sun Road in the opposite direction.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ9vrdxDZCuodhzfGdOWB7LDQXaM6bLPXgXD9ffSPTMSeiZD_-eGywHSFKFDIDBwZMrTj_E1_ZGWaoX0QZBSLjmhjwmixTDaxwYN264qrlOtZRExW2swXxFWDSlLMd2JCtNXq/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQ9vrdxDZCuodhzfGdOWB7LDQXaM6bLPXgXD9ffSPTMSeiZD_-eGywHSFKFDIDBwZMrTj_E1_ZGWaoX0QZBSLjmhjwmixTDaxwYN264qrlOtZRExW2swXxFWDSlLMd2JCtNXq/s200/IMG_0205.JPG" title="Beargrass growing along Siyeh Pass" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlB1_96xhbrXiOhFWY7FB4xtZ2ySua9PdTB7yk_S-M2HjzAT9wG2bM_Yzbale25h-g9063Fzv3Ow5sPNUAa_FvYw4aOVDhmTFFPDxKD8QrnUmCjcKDRfMDaIAqYXUy2q1JDkW/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlB1_96xhbrXiOhFWY7FB4xtZ2ySua9PdTB7yk_S-M2HjzAT9wG2bM_Yzbale25h-g9063Fzv3Ow5sPNUAa_FvYw4aOVDhmTFFPDxKD8QrnUmCjcKDRfMDaIAqYXUy2q1JDkW/s200/IMG_0207.JPG" title="Beargrass" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8epCw8QVNgEzQL1bYH69Qxih1nVqty-IKoxOQxjJ6TDYJ4KqyBLUN9dSMnltacu1OLNE9xFdzTrqaMSJUJf7vg8EsQtZSyWf5x7_8uBWUUhF4JntHLX6T04LC4GivcIcglD2h/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8epCw8QVNgEzQL1bYH69Qxih1nVqty-IKoxOQxjJ6TDYJ4KqyBLUN9dSMnltacu1OLNE9xFdzTrqaMSJUJf7vg8EsQtZSyWf5x7_8uBWUUhF4JntHLX6T04LC4GivcIcglD2h/s200/IMG_0223.JPG" title="View from East Tunell" width="200" /></a></div>
As before there were plenty of stops for photos and a walk to Sun Point and the Barring Falls. All in all a slow, relaxing and fantastically scenic day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcafZsmKLuKZ99us36PEL1A97Yk2PIyu6KCjLbJftbzVLlVEDAZgbqupjl3AYG4GCLHAMF4pZ8JJr9rELouzes1f4mQj4OvgE6sZSMjVotIuOL4IY0D4ePSfgbGUG6l4Fwbh9Q/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcafZsmKLuKZ99us36PEL1A97Yk2PIyu6KCjLbJftbzVLlVEDAZgbqupjl3AYG4GCLHAMF4pZ8JJr9rELouzes1f4mQj4OvgE6sZSMjVotIuOL4IY0D4ePSfgbGUG6l4Fwbh9Q/s200/IMG_0263.JPG" title="Central Ave in Whitefish" width="200" /></a></div>
After checking in at Whitefish we set off to see the town which has had the main shopping street remodelled, reasonably recently by the look of it. It is really very quaint and well done making it a most appealing looking town.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrZYaRU5Qi2CBDfULaFcJV2pS12s6-MjmYXPoLezlCrTwywFToljuD87jt3NIkwahj0yMFVlbe7wEcdq0jGDwKIY3jWC6E_jJBMetz0WSTof-cfIxpePD3D2oDDp4eaR8cV3P/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrZYaRU5Qi2CBDfULaFcJV2pS12s6-MjmYXPoLezlCrTwywFToljuD87jt3NIkwahj0yMFVlbe7wEcdq0jGDwKIY3jWC6E_jJBMetz0WSTof-cfIxpePD3D2oDDp4eaR8cV3P/s200/IMG_0262.JPG" width="200" title="Whitefish Lake" /></a></div>
After attempting to access the lake and finding our way blocked by a fee required State Park, we stumbled upon the town beach which was free and enjoyed a refreshing dip in this surprisingly warm glacial lake followed by picnic dinner in a gazebo overlooking the lake.<br />
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97 Miles today, total trip 4930. States: Montana.<br />
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<br />Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-62464305119925555882012-08-12T20:23:00.001-01:002012-08-26T13:37:11.238-01:00Going-to-the-Sun-Road - 11 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOrwKAqmNfsBNuKlP6FPTNXQobXgbw1tGKd9v81SlZ7cUPJYMUGBA7wBrVyyyDZPuRMK45wzrbkjhAQfownNL3pVo9uRf9GdS1tIy0_l1udh9fpiCiazjPMfH5IRG-dLqr0rs/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOrwKAqmNfsBNuKlP6FPTNXQobXgbw1tGKd9v81SlZ7cUPJYMUGBA7wBrVyyyDZPuRMK45wzrbkjhAQfownNL3pVo9uRf9GdS1tIy0_l1udh9fpiCiazjPMfH5IRG-dLqr0rs/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" title="Jackson Glacier" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX8ACxU67n4TrXwXlC3d5w4X1B_w7uPhJTs8z_Rievnp-cV6aFfrQgY5We6GrgLqtdz5b6u6jtZ9SDXO2IxH-6wGadT7mNyuDsKbVnf_WwQrEFqq2bTfvPhO1Fdb-omd8lART/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX8ACxU67n4TrXwXlC3d5w4X1B_w7uPhJTs8z_Rievnp-cV6aFfrQgY5We6GrgLqtdz5b6u6jtZ9SDXO2IxH-6wGadT7mNyuDsKbVnf_WwQrEFqq2bTfvPhO1Fdb-omd8lART/s200/IMG_0071.JPG" title="Going to the Sun Road" width="200" /></a></div>
This romantically named road was carved out of the mountainsides in the 1930s and is now a National Civil Engineering Landmark, a National Historic Landmark and is on the Register of Historic Places, the only road in the US with all three designations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QWXjVFqW6uWuDbmnYqEylTfDOpd4Vc0DLeBBN49MVJn51FyYaBjAWCHH5bwhK_vPD70cBQaly4pBuXIZ6_fe3wfvZxl973wlXlVyv6fN0y1oFiPit3CkEXHn5nRs-TwZ37EK/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QWXjVFqW6uWuDbmnYqEylTfDOpd4Vc0DLeBBN49MVJn51FyYaBjAWCHH5bwhK_vPD70cBQaly4pBuXIZ6_fe3wfvZxl973wlXlVyv6fN0y1oFiPit3CkEXHn5nRs-TwZ37EK/s200/IMG_0037.JPG" title="Logan Pass" width="200" /></a></div>
The name comes from 2939m high Going-to-the-Sun Mountain which dominates the central part of the drive.<br />
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Apparently referred to as the Mt Everest of routes for motorcyclists, it is not really a patch on the alpine passes of Europe for driving fun, but a great drive, nevertheless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKEIX05sR2zcXWflczg_qb2dbb61ip-V_4x-PCDfb44IjAXA8JzZRg9dlXv4eWaeIsdVQiW3ouBo7KiWjCPHYstJBOxP6KHqPU8IbZVhY8wPo9lIFl_F2HqIvG0gtudcMmmG4/s1600/IMG_9895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKEIX05sR2zcXWflczg_qb2dbb61ip-V_4x-PCDfb44IjAXA8JzZRg9dlXv4eWaeIsdVQiW3ouBo7KiWjCPHYstJBOxP6KHqPU8IbZVhY8wPo9lIFl_F2HqIvG0gtudcMmmG4/s200/IMG_9895.JPG" title="Hoary Marmot sunning itself on a rock on the Logan Pass Hidden Lake Trail, ignoring the paparazzi" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEpv1sxFnPVYJjf0Ued15qjHOQQ0ceGU_euR8-aH_a6XiQ-pXjQF5YMuyrcjxA8AQ4U-wJUt2SI2eQg19YZQgAcapa3XdJdKIYqaRMZQmkSuXVRnFPe206t0R602k6WejYNBA/s1600/IMG_9940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEpv1sxFnPVYJjf0Ued15qjHOQQ0ceGU_euR8-aH_a6XiQ-pXjQF5YMuyrcjxA8AQ4U-wJUt2SI2eQg19YZQgAcapa3XdJdKIYqaRMZQmkSuXVRnFPe206t0R602k6WejYNBA/s200/IMG_9940.JPG" title="Wild Goat sunning itself on a rock on the Logan Pass Hidden Lake Trail" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzYsYU8ZgpMMfwhG2aHq5JTnf2NuWY8nMdBrNsfUCZqcjTMeA-tfrKATYFGoruFF7uXtEzcN9aix9pocGJyoxBKgcH_5mcHIddlqG39z97wojYpluKPcTbuSU9fHFSHGXALz_/s1600/IMG_9947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzYsYU8ZgpMMfwhG2aHq5JTnf2NuWY8nMdBrNsfUCZqcjTMeA-tfrKATYFGoruFF7uXtEzcN9aix9pocGJyoxBKgcH_5mcHIddlqG39z97wojYpluKPcTbuSU9fHFSHGXALz_/s200/IMG_9947.JPG" title="Hidden Lake at the end of the Logan Pass Hidden Lake Trail" width="200" /></a></div>
There are ample pull-off places for photography stops but only one major carpark at Logan Pass. The info says that the carpark is full by 10:30 and that was certainly our experience. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, there was not a park to be had and 2 hours later when we were about to leave the<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOpHhejXk3QOD4fxkCdowIqr9CAPC5PQSHpYLjey4oW0MEGopf9C5n_IOH5apFPwebL7gHTaYcwStrzAV3a6O_Gg8coj1TPo8SRybnzdTD3sd8gS_6MMLDTuYVchnJx7i5s7V/s1600/IMG_9912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOpHhejXk3QOD4fxkCdowIqr9CAPC5PQSHpYLjey4oW0MEGopf9C5n_IOH5apFPwebL7gHTaYcwStrzAV3a6O_Gg8coj1TPo8SRybnzdTD3sd8gS_6MMLDTuYVchnJx7i5s7V/s200/IMG_9912.JPG" title="Ice beside the Logan Pass Hidden Lake Trail" width="200" /></a></div>
"vultures" were circling ready to pounce on anyone looking like they were heading for a vehicle. I considered offering our park on eBay but there was no 3G signal, scuppering a fantastic money-making proposition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GWbfvYzPyqmEEqVjeJUi3hBdQZ-RS2xSy8BDoOxbh6EjKsDumryLz7pSp3-0hFEmKDq0jp_sVrbnh4-1jy8RTAhcpYBS35oQkYGQ1do-F9FvrhYu2mFms2VAUkwa4GvyjpwI/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GWbfvYzPyqmEEqVjeJUi3hBdQZ-RS2xSy8BDoOxbh6EjKsDumryLz7pSp3-0hFEmKDq0jp_sVrbnh4-1jy8RTAhcpYBS35oQkYGQ1do-F9FvrhYu2mFms2VAUkwa4GvyjpwI/s200/IMG_0063.JPG" title="Going To The Sun Mountain" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZXfArLrYgpE6pyHWmQwrqysn6fQQNhd9in3hMwl7jpC5Jp4k99yk_JG16w0QleurWDDpPMKrSdwYnlNas2qN9zewSkuyR8dEuQpxeg7xQTcFLy6NX6NW29N_-xYOqAhK3j31/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZXfArLrYgpE6pyHWmQwrqysn6fQQNhd9in3hMwl7jpC5Jp4k99yk_JG16w0QleurWDDpPMKrSdwYnlNas2qN9zewSkuyR8dEuQpxeg7xQTcFLy6NX6NW29N_-xYOqAhK3j31/s200/IMG_0243.JPG" title="Beautiful old restored 1920's Park touring buses" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1phDWJ495r6rPXrrChq14G6_st3JozwI0N4wi7abEviG6qTVH8vqPdQEtdRxYQDRMMnf85xAgglN_9huBE7VNGy5DCaDbhSo1bRnbquiQUWmUMpHf498OyPMOMUEoryC-lRV5/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1phDWJ495r6rPXrrChq14G6_st3JozwI0N4wi7abEviG6qTVH8vqPdQEtdRxYQDRMMnf85xAgglN_9huBE7VNGy5DCaDbhSo1bRnbquiQUWmUMpHf498OyPMOMUEoryC-lRV5/s200/IMG_0126.JPG" title="Lake at Many Glacier, this view reminded us of Mitre Peak NZ" width="200" /></a></div>
It is only 50 miles from end to end but photo stops and walks extend the trip to fill the bulk of the day quite easily. To round off the day we drove north from St Mary to the booming metropolis of Babb (Pop. 1 horse) and then up to Many Glacier where we went bear hunting and if we had been lucky enough to capture a shot of<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lyH2_fC33eicSVwuXFlKNCENgykpV1NSZdW6D8WpZi6-atU-LzmSj6SrJgwqClkGCq2q3h7jEv2nICNMW2MQvuC4b_NNLav6EdrcF14li3mPSvZCVZb-K-Iam_xsgmS0qU9c/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lyH2_fC33eicSVwuXFlKNCENgykpV1NSZdW6D8WpZi6-atU-LzmSj6SrJgwqClkGCq2q3h7jEv2nICNMW2MQvuC4b_NNLav6EdrcF14li3mPSvZCVZb-K-Iam_xsgmS0qU9c/s200/IMG_0131.JPG" title="We watched the grizzly bear from the top of these rocks at Many Glacier" width="200" /></a></div>
Goldilocks we could have completed the set as we were privileged enough to see a big old daddy grizzly and a mother black bear with a cub. Because we spent too long snapping the grizzly we missed the spectacle of a moose ambling over the road and swimming across the lake to the other side. When we arrived the moose was still distinguishable on the far shore, about a kilometre away..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP42XQixaO3yal3mpltYV6a22BBYJrDwiOTVBRCK1Q_pyPk6E3OJvLNo9i5OGfD0M8L8VKv9Yi0tAsKv2_q3QltUEPT7WAMhwj6hOEp54o3jiqLTzHdhdhIi3VFyTkY1x5TzuZ/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP42XQixaO3yal3mpltYV6a22BBYJrDwiOTVBRCK1Q_pyPk6E3OJvLNo9i5OGfD0M8L8VKv9Yi0tAsKv2_q3QltUEPT7WAMhwj6hOEp54o3jiqLTzHdhdhIi3VFyTkY1x5TzuZ/s200/IMG_0113.JPG" title="Black Bear" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBPfZco60jUyPX1MTdwvB-2FRSg_HnpYWoZCsq0ZoDBWSOM8SWfGThnyurN9rYCfFUoFg-eugFQhYGYOznWpyrDd6V4qRzx71YYxznv-S5El14nEjBOtSgEWKnPsgbeocGdOs/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBPfZco60jUyPX1MTdwvB-2FRSg_HnpYWoZCsq0ZoDBWSOM8SWfGThnyurN9rYCfFUoFg-eugFQhYGYOznWpyrDd6V4qRzx71YYxznv-S5El14nEjBOtSgEWKnPsgbeocGdOs/s200/IMG_0155.JPG" title="Grizzley Bear eating Huckleberries, they eat 100,000 per day" width="200" /></a></div>
The bears were totally oblivious to their furiously snapping adoring public as they occupied themselves working their way through their quota of 100,000 huckleberries per day that they eat during the summer to prepare for the winter hibernation.
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107 miles today, total trip 4833 States: MontanaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-1362935564150837172012-08-12T13:16:00.000-01:002012-08-13T00:30:21.802-01:00Glacier National Park - 10 August 2012<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqA47sB6uzejBEUyOVqUQu1ywhwSxdnN6UAItRb8OCbUjOKZggv8i3_Cn6vWRCnpYzqBaPqunvp7dCo7IynwgiXp_BLZ8HUPD-9oEbei-wZPKZ0BKFKqlYWXPNTw-h-pjbztV/s1600/IMG_9742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqA47sB6uzejBEUyOVqUQu1ywhwSxdnN6UAItRb8OCbUjOKZggv8i3_Cn6vWRCnpYzqBaPqunvp7dCo7IynwgiXp_BLZ8HUPD-9oEbei-wZPKZ0BKFKqlYWXPNTw-h-pjbztV/s200/IMG_9742.JPG" title="First view of mountains on the way to Glacier" width="200" /></a></div>
Almost due north of Missoula is Glacier (or Glayshah, as the locals call it) National Park and the skies got bluer and the hills got clearer as we got nearer. Leaving Missoula there was a distinct change in the scenery almost immediately as the foothills had a slight tinge of green about them rather than the very dry brown of yesterday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxbNS62NzLotFQZf5DQ-kKES-dvq6-ndp-dbZyh667I6yYu1eu6lqU6KjHEMkvi7GhKLCB6W07fivOqsef3a64KnhrbuRR2tOBOryx3NYHtluG65BWqzUwWKQZqw-u_lzWjVE/s1600/IMG_9726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxbNS62NzLotFQZf5DQ-kKES-dvq6-ndp-dbZyh667I6yYu1eu6lqU6KjHEMkvi7GhKLCB6W07fivOqsef3a64KnhrbuRR2tOBOryx3NYHtluG65BWqzUwWKQZqw-u_lzWjVE/s400/IMG_9726.JPG" title="Flathead Lake" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOGvii9qyP6nGBKzm5ArX4i8orhQCBnFEy9U8ejozwPymb5WMmq5Y370Q7iiqOfXIWMc5prVYLFXwLqgr70dKZ8g5wLRz7-TCU1Le-PQ0kRxZE9uKGQqgPeZYRIhJaMUaBwtm/s1600/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOGvii9qyP6nGBKzm5ArX4i8orhQCBnFEy9U8ejozwPymb5WMmq5Y370Q7iiqOfXIWMc5prVYLFXwLqgr70dKZ8g5wLRz7-TCU1Le-PQ0kRxZE9uKGQqgPeZYRIhJaMUaBwtm/s200/IMG_9744.JPG" title="Lake McDonald" width="200" /></a></div>
The first feature of note was Flathead Lake, the shores of which are the source of Flathead cherries, and which is the biggest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. That is quite surprising as it is not really that large.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5e4EOtWKZidW6Gc25AoAErxfVZxj7-v9UQ8MpHKtKrWqD6229CkeB63lI2EuEGMS_rd2U2TjfYSfsCke2lGmpj0x5L5YJpf4q01ZbuxnhjJHbn0L9fTOBY2xlwaK2xrcq6Vv/s1600/IMG_9752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5e4EOtWKZidW6Gc25AoAErxfVZxj7-v9UQ8MpHKtKrWqD6229CkeB63lI2EuEGMS_rd2U2TjfYSfsCke2lGmpj0x5L5YJpf4q01ZbuxnhjJHbn0L9fTOBY2xlwaK2xrcq6Vv/s200/IMG_9752.JPG" title="Gorge on walk to Avalanche Lake" width="200" /></a></div>
Following advice from the park Visitor Centre we took the free 12-seater shuttle bus up to the Avalanche Lake stop arriving about 1600 and set off on the 2.5m walk to Avalanche Lake. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWg3rPBZs58BGe-gn8mncf-oxVvK_ZvkZjaHztCQpSNQn4jfwR4wIdC_1H0QtaWWNR0jy_TJaUi2m_9XjJGWNykKRnbDvMDLAZcCcRdP2SQxk4Bl32OPeYJ0q3_xNX9eqXkMl/s1600/IMG_9790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWg3rPBZs58BGe-gn8mncf-oxVvK_ZvkZjaHztCQpSNQn4jfwR4wIdC_1H0QtaWWNR0jy_TJaUi2m_9XjJGWNykKRnbDvMDLAZcCcRdP2SQxk4Bl32OPeYJ0q3_xNX9eqXkMl/s200/IMG_9790.JPG" title="Avalanche Lake" width="200" /></a></div>
Mindful of the time that the last shuttle left (1800) we romped past all the other walkers on the track - and there were plenty, stopped briefly to photograph and Elk (?) and got to the lake in time for a short rest and a few photos before making the downhill return trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId4Y8go7aY6T3OTuYqbgCiNfuu3k08q-VqmGcfTONhxv5Bmnu0y3-v9ya2bBLVj65SskaeDWrb0YJDyJdMDwpZfKqUCQT42iwQKWpCjEj1U5Bngpo42oeoPqnGFopnbvNFPXk/s1600/IMG_9820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgId4Y8go7aY6T3OTuYqbgCiNfuu3k08q-VqmGcfTONhxv5Bmnu0y3-v9ya2bBLVj65SskaeDWrb0YJDyJdMDwpZfKqUCQT42iwQKWpCjEj1U5Bngpo42oeoPqnGFopnbvNFPXk/s200/IMG_9820.JPG" title="Colour on the lake" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhE-mhRrZfsYP3K8dhAdw6V38bhYp1Wj-7iFDuV10n_CsY9q_NUivijA-mNKfWES8fyt3BFCcHLAZx7INYqDQImNA8-eC5U2MI-_kLcoBvrf17tUy802P-npxdBXm6OBeO-CCR/s1600/IMG_9723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhE-mhRrZfsYP3K8dhAdw6V38bhYp1Wj-7iFDuV10n_CsY9q_NUivijA-mNKfWES8fyt3BFCcHLAZx7INYqDQImNA8-eC5U2MI-_kLcoBvrf17tUy802P-npxdBXm6OBeO-CCR/s200/IMG_9723.JPG" title="Colour in the skies" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN1oyqWaNXWLOFawfH-eDfBT9ONegGi6Du53UBYNZrZQTYL5TsSC9R1CPju6D1vtMMt_ERlUEf9hu3OjGc8W3cG1UuW3JgAFKlmhEUbdGmWUE6IEGMsQf9Pq1JonyQUbl4wl0/s1600/IMG_9832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN1oyqWaNXWLOFawfH-eDfBT9ONegGi6Du53UBYNZrZQTYL5TsSC9R1CPju6D1vtMMt_ERlUEf9hu3OjGc8W3cG1UuW3JgAFKlmhEUbdGmWUE6IEGMsQf9Pq1JonyQUbl4wl0/s200/IMG_9832.JPG" title="Dinner on the shores of Lake McDonald" width="200" /></a></div>
Back at the shuttle bus stop at 1745 we were a little dismayed to see a queue of 24 people ahead of us. Three shuttle buses arrived, already full and one actually added people to the queue. It looked as though a situation was developing. However, the bus organisers are obviously used to this problem and a 40-seater bus turned up to take us all back to base.</div>
166 miles today, total trip 4726. States: MontanaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-60161553514066801342012-08-10T12:52:00.000-01:002012-08-14T02:34:55.272-01:00Between fire and ice - 9 August 2012<i>"In a gorgeous locale surrounded by rolling green hills and pine forests and framed by snowcapped peaks, Bozeman is the coolest town in Montana"</i> Lonely Planet, USA<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7nQ5bfA5zfDAmDALjepzJ0qdgTgnwG5DBMkk6ixE0uJrwPXKz_e44RhLl-EhjlNgXr5bVwdJHOv_WbIPkqDF8i3rOuik1JeWejSbkAOgmTHJQb5PcrL8ow7dj1q87hO5qjf/s1600/IMG_9699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7nQ5bfA5zfDAmDALjepzJ0qdgTgnwG5DBMkk6ixE0uJrwPXKz_e44RhLl-EhjlNgXr5bVwdJHOv_WbIPkqDF8i3rOuik1JeWejSbkAOgmTHJQb5PcrL8ow7dj1q87hO5qjf/s200/IMG_9699.JPG" title="Breakfast spot beside the Gallatin River" width="200" /></a></div>
With a write-up like that why would you not detour to visit? Reality was: In a fugg filled valley surrounded by mirky skies that completely obliterated any hills or forests that might exist, Bozeman was the most disappointing sight in Montana.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EhRGPqAU5wLi2duyho_rMCl8F9IR8QelRd2ilsM6vOCChHF8Hx9-LgGljqBLd9UKvROnu96RsoDyMZOH6o_vn5Y_wv_RbKadCs3CmtXOD2lRCHLoqxZOBpEaosNVurlFRiiq/s1600/IMG_9701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EhRGPqAU5wLi2duyho_rMCl8F9IR8QelRd2ilsM6vOCChHF8Hx9-LgGljqBLd9UKvROnu96RsoDyMZOH6o_vn5Y_wv_RbKadCs3CmtXOD2lRCHLoqxZOBpEaosNVurlFRiiq/s200/IMG_9701.JPG" title="Hills around Bozeman were difficult to see" width="200" /></a></div>
In fact, Montana all told has been disappointing. We were promised exciting vistas and big skies but when the sky is full of smoke from local forest fires and the hills are burnt brown from the summer sun, the pallette is distictly uniformly boring drab.<br />
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However, before we got to Bozeman we had a delightful run up the Gallatin River valley where the hills were pine-clad and the river was crystal clear and the road was not too busy. Although we started and ended in Montana, we briefly dipped back into Wyoming and back into Yellowstone National Park as we motored north. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDLErSPgsdFBa98_LcePoy0BYP2_wxTzFRGXbCgG4O_k7ONMYMXuvFEWRKHI07xguE5EyJ-rmquFdEqebW1mZ2zeLJEj19zA2A2TqnEiVPS3WYuS4P9QOw1q5mu3t1fAdRAGO/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDLErSPgsdFBa98_LcePoy0BYP2_wxTzFRGXbCgG4O_k7ONMYMXuvFEWRKHI07xguE5EyJ-rmquFdEqebW1mZ2zeLJEj19zA2A2TqnEiVPS3WYuS4P9QOw1q5mu3t1fAdRAGO/s200/IMG_9705.JPG" title="The Missoula Court House was a very handsome building" width="200" /></a></div>
Yesterday we crossed and re-crossed the Continental Divide as we motored the Grand Loop Road, but today we crossed it permanently and are now officially on the western, Pacific, side, just that little bit closer to home.<br />
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From Bozeman it was drab brown all the way to Missoula our stop between the fire of Yellowstone National Park and the ice of Glacier National Park and where we were introduced to Huckleberries in the form of Huckleberrry ice-cream.<br />
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310 miles today, total trip 4560. States Montana, Wyoming.<br />
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Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-16482234277015782372012-08-09T15:18:00.001-01:002012-08-11T01:30:55.020-01:00Yellowstone South Loop - 8 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvprt2p7lW9VNyeQsEN2CZbzfQiT7hu4JUFg1aXG3OQKSHVD4Cv2HSSjt_408oRQAAF-TNZojMTKay545P_PJaSkGoo0pw3AVUHTOQvyvff60MYe25ZYnLv6sLOl_FYFyIPmzC/s1600/IMG_9353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvprt2p7lW9VNyeQsEN2CZbzfQiT7hu4JUFg1aXG3OQKSHVD4Cv2HSSjt_408oRQAAF-TNZojMTKay545P_PJaSkGoo0pw3AVUHTOQvyvff60MYe25ZYnLv6sLOl_FYFyIPmzC/s200/IMG_9353.JPG" title="Clepsydra Geyser" width="200" /></a></div>
Between the Park entrance and the loop road we saw two Golden Eagles down by the river, Even at that distance we could appreciate what huge birds these are. As we left the Park late in the afternoon,they were still there, still creating a traffic jam.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXDjPzT24GMaJ6XOuA6GLuePO7tK4fPNCy9tnXhfBOMu0vgG4DCoffJQQR5ZZ2yztY0pt604MP0nGsDfNj0UzQ-S87D86kc_mn33BcfPjYkd3uId1dHcJjH-y6LslJahG-ESs/s1600/IMG_9328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXDjPzT24GMaJ6XOuA6GLuePO7tK4fPNCy9tnXhfBOMu0vgG4DCoffJQQR5ZZ2yztY0pt604MP0nGsDfNj0UzQ-S87D86kc_mn33BcfPjYkd3uId1dHcJjH-y6LslJahG-ESs/s200/IMG_9328.JPG" title="Bacterial Mat - the bacteria cause the colours" width="200" /></a></div>
Heading south from Madison we took the Firehole Canyon Drive up beside the Firehole River, presumably along what used to be the main road. There were some
attractive falls along the way to catch our attention and then it was
on to the Lower Geyser Basin where the Clepsydra Geyser obliged with
a display, not surprising as it is a fairly constant performer.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JdU99B69X93JwHY49BSZLEaapPduJMRWoed4ECu5JPPdk5zxPCyeqyWd4NZPhZQpKlFafCRXt7OAA5vQa76_tvx1YpyzfdY7jJqpwqG_RY77x7zNmHdke6dtgm4wMOh0aHDb/s1600/IMG_9369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JdU99B69X93JwHY49BSZLEaapPduJMRWoed4ECu5JPPdk5zxPCyeqyWd4NZPhZQpKlFafCRXt7OAA5vQa76_tvx1YpyzfdY7jJqpwqG_RY77x7zNmHdke6dtgm4wMOh0aHDb/s200/IMG_9369.JPG" title="White Dome Geyser when we arrived" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyA4YmeffkHHhmKRB9J2onF5yQWFDVcjZuOruZRrNYsa7Ka1ZJvslXReUOc5h3CVcg2TsL07pVgrPoRljezRcjwCGQNG77PORF2L1MkvS5PkPMZfFm_5MX4Mfq4a2kpA3r6Pw/s1600/IMG_9375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyA4YmeffkHHhmKRB9J2onF5yQWFDVcjZuOruZRrNYsa7Ka1ZJvslXReUOc5h3CVcg2TsL07pVgrPoRljezRcjwCGQNG77PORF2L1MkvS5PkPMZfFm_5MX4Mfq4a2kpA3r6Pw/s200/IMG_9375.JPG" title="White Dome Geyser just after we arrived" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52zsgXvRusknCLULkh-wvMkyweZeHj-WbnLUD5Xg0gEyXHPARlfaNmAW2K0cz3vIwQLTTHK4D3YlPxB-IuAegNdd8Lf9d8VFXrd6yPR7xIvyP2kpKA2A_aeAKWTqPq-Rq4sbM/s1600/IMG_9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52zsgXvRusknCLULkh-wvMkyweZeHj-WbnLUD5Xg0gEyXHPARlfaNmAW2K0cz3vIwQLTTHK4D3YlPxB-IuAegNdd8Lf9d8VFXrd6yPR7xIvyP2kpKA2A_aeAKWTqPq-Rq4sbM/s200/IMG_9435.JPG" title="Grand Prismatic Spring" width="200" /></a></div>
The Firehole Lake Drive is next, where the White Dome geyser played just as we arrived. Back on the main route our next stop was Midway Geyser Basin where one of the Yellowstone .jewels is to be found; the Grand Prismatic Spring. The colours here are quite stunning, just as well digital cameras have been invented otherwise the film cost would be ruinous!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YGc7xAFLTTdzSci8EsJ4qE2IWotYAF05cvDAp9Fvyh9x7ZDePEeR0Hx5KmiLiNUYf0Iq44-yk9TOuO75F4E9ihu2riSWVryRuFCx0BnxhirMmhCghkacmbk-e6BV7XUCoON2/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YGc7xAFLTTdzSci8EsJ4qE2IWotYAF05cvDAp9Fvyh9x7ZDePEeR0Hx5KmiLiNUYf0Iq44-yk9TOuO75F4E9ihu2riSWVryRuFCx0BnxhirMmhCghkacmbk-e6BV7XUCoON2/s200/IMG_9455.JPG" title="Terraces caused by run off from Grand Prismatic Spring" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIF3uJY0WoFI1_LPXdE-j6Gv7NK-0GeUHDMf3HvEtXHOXzq3wc-uh19ec6I3DgtoMeCW8eiOnOIBXdgNquuewxZEgZMBiEHwbvDut84EAZwqS7Qay4rjmNRDcZhEne43LGKxa/s1600/IMG_9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIF3uJY0WoFI1_LPXdE-j6Gv7NK-0GeUHDMf3HvEtXHOXzq3wc-uh19ec6I3DgtoMeCW8eiOnOIBXdgNquuewxZEgZMBiEHwbvDut84EAZwqS7Qay4rjmNRDcZhEne43LGKxa/s200/IMG_9420.JPG" title="Grand Prismatic Spring" width="200" /></a></div>
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The Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin provided a few more geothermal delights before we headed East to re-visit West Thumb in the sunshine rather than the rain we had on our last visit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBL1nhKuy4s_jO9QuPpL8aAOUN_7ZPeLMNg0qgMvqmoGjZlQRiHWDyT49eUtb1RUE1tlsXtXIo_CAVl7UuBvKZPQdr299pFtJvn48rQpv-mYx5xE6QB1w9lzRlAH9fYTGy-q8/s1600/IMG_9553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBL1nhKuy4s_jO9QuPpL8aAOUN_7ZPeLMNg0qgMvqmoGjZlQRiHWDyT49eUtb1RUE1tlsXtXIo_CAVl7UuBvKZPQdr299pFtJvn48rQpv-mYx5xE6QB1w9lzRlAH9fYTGy-q8/s200/IMG_9553.JPG" title="Cliff Geyser, at the edge of Yellowstone Lake" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiQEj2OiyYE-pL-zEhg7FkrcUExHkFwMIgJjjCHBvGBmPOG-K54hhygqlj78qNMP23J-3WFvFUYV-iocpXY57IIouylNgoFrU7Akp9MGnV65XccVVW1hlxzNol83zSnIymIW/s1600/IMG_9580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiQEj2OiyYE-pL-zEhg7FkrcUExHkFwMIgJjjCHBvGBmPOG-K54hhygqlj78qNMP23J-3WFvFUYV-iocpXY57IIouylNgoFrU7Akp9MGnV65XccVVW1hlxzNol83zSnIymIW/s200/IMG_9580.JPG" title="Surging Spring" width="200" /></a></div>
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Passing Lake Village we entered the only section of the park roads that we had not covered and stopped at Mud Volcano where the star of the show was a lone buffalo right beside the road, less than two metres from the car, and it was possibly the same bison that came wandering up through the geothermal field that we were looking at later, nonchalantly crossing the boardwalk as it meandered off into the pines.</div>
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All the excitement at seeing a lone bison close-up pailed rather a few bends further on when there was an enormous traffic jam caused by bison crossing the road. There were hundreds in the valley as well providing a terrific spectacle for the hundreds of snapping cameras, smartphones, iPads and so forth. Eventually a Park Ranger had to arrive, lights flashing, to get the traffic moving again.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">148
miles today, total trip 4250. States: Wyoming; Montana</span></span></div>Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-53202131184541481942012-08-09T00:12:00.000-01:002012-08-09T19:57:30.618-01:00Yellowstone North Loop -7 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsqz6VuLw_IbhuBWvAIgJMSnRp-bUecAB8MJ-IqrstP7U_7ev7f_lnnGQ1iVXknxp_Elv4B6LSPvzeFb3Jte-ML3vxmpMvlI9qeZNmAXYRvr_eIyXIHhXVOwJOUYnqNnV7w5Q/s1600/IMG_9096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" paint="paint" pots="pots" rtists="rtists" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsqz6VuLw_IbhuBWvAIgJMSnRp-bUecAB8MJ-IqrstP7U_7ev7f_lnnGQ1iVXknxp_Elv4B6LSPvzeFb3Jte-ML3vxmpMvlI9qeZNmAXYRvr_eIyXIHhXVOwJOUYnqNnV7w5Q/s200/IMG_9096.JPG" title="Boiling mud at Artists Paintpots" width="200" /></a></div>
Our first stop on our exploration of the north loop road was the Gibbon Falls which were more a nearly vertical set of rapids as the water cascades down a series of rocks steps. Just a little north of that was a 1/3 mile walk off the road to see the Artists Paintpots. For someone having grown up on the NZ Volcanic Plateau they were distinctly ho-hum, not really all that colourful but the best "boiling mud" we have seen in Yellowstone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD25jrUFqnyKU6yxhvZT8o-ghvTqepzw9frnmkGyBdHbEtzFZFNzf2-GLP1KLFK8zna3aPA32Yanb6YmKNZckG5Kpd_BHZr34E3C1sKPmgal-s7woMPVg6XsDZpvpPOYl_aqI/s1600/IMG_9165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD25jrUFqnyKU6yxhvZT8o-ghvTqepzw9frnmkGyBdHbEtzFZFNzf2-GLP1KLFK8zna3aPA32Yanb6YmKNZckG5Kpd_BHZr34E3C1sKPmgal-s7woMPVg6XsDZpvpPOYl_aqI/s400/IMG_9165.JPG" title="Norris Geyser Basin" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCNzo003r3p0mbL8NjyMYmaou-OCgVmsematpYvJPyf57qhjcQStxdb6HINf9IHrZsP_ZQBkbWiI9Wkk8BzJie1NA701xhPjuRR2ZSHmFg7R54zFmz7z1U8gAsFtpvXwjeBvl/s1600/IMG_9140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCNzo003r3p0mbL8NjyMYmaou-OCgVmsematpYvJPyf57qhjcQStxdb6HINf9IHrZsP_ZQBkbWiI9Wkk8BzJie1NA701xhPjuRR2ZSHmFg7R54zFmz7z1U8gAsFtpvXwjeBvl/s200/IMG_9140.JPG" title="Minute Geyser, Norris Basin" width="200" /></a></div>
The next major feature is the Norris geyser basin where not a single geyser bothered to bestir itself for our viewing pleasure. There was one feature spouting hot water a few metres into the air but as it never stops, it is not a geyser and as it spouts water, it is not a fummerole, it is sort of a non-entity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-6EvaVnm6fB0zSR5b3c0Vh2y8M3Ugz5cAsM7QzXTVTvSLZdVpO74VJpABv23RAyKrrXYIufL8kGpR-KysdJcPEB0Vd0-O3F3soffZRhXH-0_ECLWBCLJp72nFIAchmg1Kka0/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-6EvaVnm6fB0zSR5b3c0Vh2y8M3Ugz5cAsM7QzXTVTvSLZdVpO74VJpABv23RAyKrrXYIufL8kGpR-KysdJcPEB0Vd0-O3F3soffZRhXH-0_ECLWBCLJp72nFIAchmg1Kka0/s200/IMG_9154.JPG" title="Colourful runoff area, Norris Basin" width="200" /></a></div>
There were some attractively coloured pools and the runoff areas are striking with the differently coloured thermophile organisms that inhabit these hot and/or acidic waters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mXG9-_22ZFA8D5rb1kH0q3Q6yu8PZGeTPu8NJXJHkqRDMMhRGd-0L3JJy2ehH77-Pi5aQ0wykFPTagvMyRQ0O5-LY6U9oU_T90UjvORRudjQeFTpeZabOE-NpgCjruQxoD75/s1600/IMG_9155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mXG9-_22ZFA8D5rb1kH0q3Q6yu8PZGeTPu8NJXJHkqRDMMhRGd-0L3JJy2ehH77-Pi5aQ0wykFPTagvMyRQ0O5-LY6U9oU_T90UjvORRudjQeFTpeZabOE-NpgCjruQxoD75/s200/IMG_9155.JPG" title="Norris Geyser Basin" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAYa56q1vrLES5gb573CyDViLE2jGewJ56h9mwSEY-2cuIRy7dF4tAVqNjtHqqiIxk9nNHlN42V1AuT6CbQ3Hw-kKx-4s25ZerjmwcuW9fO7lh9De3zHfnP0L1wUlDjzFFzpz/s1600/IMG_9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAYa56q1vrLES5gb573CyDViLE2jGewJ56h9mwSEY-2cuIRy7dF4tAVqNjtHqqiIxk9nNHlN42V1AuT6CbQ3Hw-kKx-4s25ZerjmwcuW9fO7lh9De3zHfnP0L1wUlDjzFFzpz/s200/IMG_9178.JPG" title="Norris Geyser Basin" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKkIm5seD5gRfpGRzgu5ona31hkJfiU1iEMrN3j_ioz1A9xI2Zfmpif1w5u5HmsipHGr5CMVAVttf9gsJZ-abScr8c2wOKVHqOpddRSZCx0tRkOMS0LcPoKnfmMSUhmwYk3eO/s1600/IMG_9188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKkIm5seD5gRfpGRzgu5ona31hkJfiU1iEMrN3j_ioz1A9xI2Zfmpif1w5u5HmsipHGr5CMVAVttf9gsJZ-abScr8c2wOKVHqOpddRSZCx0tRkOMS0LcPoKnfmMSUhmwYk3eO/s200/IMG_9188.JPG" title="Mamoth Hot Springs" width="200" /></a></div>
The northernmost point on the loop is Mammoth Hot Springs where the star attractions are silica terraces, mostly white but some stained a burnt orange colour. From here the scenery changed quite dramatically and as we had now travelled outside the extent of the old caldera there was no significant geothermal activity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_lmUcU-7avY09yqKwMBTLYGj2u_I2drbv9VWIsGK9aS13PXgUtQI1aGtggo9Y6r2FBIOVw5PPEBfprf37ICZhZCnHS1GaRkdsnupw3hzb0XMTNrvsTDrX_CXJirvlsdqgw2v/s1600/IMG_9203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_lmUcU-7avY09yqKwMBTLYGj2u_I2drbv9VWIsGK9aS13PXgUtQI1aGtggo9Y6r2FBIOVw5PPEBfprf37ICZhZCnHS1GaRkdsnupw3hzb0XMTNrvsTDrX_CXJirvlsdqgw2v/s200/IMG_9203.JPG" title="Mamoth Hot Springs" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr7DVmIhAMwL_EWvuC8hWNUXDcAilT6vNHHLX9ght72P2Rt01MrSmuTWA2u07wLSQ3XsDoL264BjcQVf1xumbDlJ7rv2CcELHCPt64kskBQ-crFU-oVqiLPsU7TkeIF7Eabr3/s1600/IMG_9205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr7DVmIhAMwL_EWvuC8hWNUXDcAilT6vNHHLX9ght72P2Rt01MrSmuTWA2u07wLSQ3XsDoL264BjcQVf1xumbDlJ7rv2CcELHCPt64kskBQ-crFU-oVqiLPsU7TkeIF7Eabr3/s200/IMG_9205.JPG" title="Mamoth Hot Springs" width="200" /></a></div>
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Turning south at the Roosevelt junction we headed down to Tower Falls, no doubt named that because of the significant drop, and then on to Canyon Village to explore the Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone.<br />
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This canyon is really quite spectacular with the Upper (30m) and Lower (90m) Falls crashing through a narrow eroded valley with wonderful colours on the valley walls resulting from the geothermal activity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXkHcuUZDhfzWjmOVxWCnYyAUcrAu-GkGa23MPMgrV0t-VWjP0jrHL-DvgDmxMdRxVjHx6C3tZ7aDV6Z1R4ygQrRciZZNUTCXq1L6OWvla4AfP5LYu1BF2XvhhMK6eYiolREj/s1600/IMG_9257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXkHcuUZDhfzWjmOVxWCnYyAUcrAu-GkGa23MPMgrV0t-VWjP0jrHL-DvgDmxMdRxVjHx6C3tZ7aDV6Z1R4ygQrRciZZNUTCXq1L6OWvla4AfP5LYu1BF2XvhhMK6eYiolREj/s200/IMG_9257.JPG" title="View downstream at Artist Point" width="200" /></a></div>
After climbing 150m down into the canyon on the Uncle Tom's Trail we were surprised to see that we were still around 50m above a largish patch of ice. It is amazing, even though we are over 2600m above sea level, given the daytime temperatures that some winter ice could still last through the summer. Wandering along beside the ice was a lone beaver.<br />
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Finished with the southern rim of the canyon, we explored the same views from the northern rim enjoying the colours created by the late afternoon sun. <br />
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160 miles today, total trip 4103. States:WyomingMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-1286182515139423172012-08-08T02:57:00.000-01:002012-08-10T01:42:16.903-01:00Yellowstone - 6 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7_zxabOS0vNM9MzK2CLSLEKwiJD-FVYeiOFvUScZstXfXyaaEKtR-bQukLDey76-qFSNpzSjN3iFhBdTaUKx49cVflH9b2Qrs-Zhto4PP9bp8zDPPrMaERKPLJJEUR-kfJ92/s1600/IMG_8799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7_zxabOS0vNM9MzK2CLSLEKwiJD-FVYeiOFvUScZstXfXyaaEKtR-bQukLDey76-qFSNpzSjN3iFhBdTaUKx49cVflH9b2Qrs-Zhto4PP9bp8zDPPrMaERKPLJJEUR-kfJ92/s400/IMG_8799.JPG" title="Old Faithful geyser" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid53QXf1J7SYlf7vYOYwmyGPxkwjoYNO9yqswgXLHqgA2LWoGEE-KYdP5Uf6cz10YEN28EbVvzvXv1ztiOkZSRS6xT85710-9eRA2otxvM-Yd0-EQxIdNGKtt18f0jicgLIlv/s1600/IMG_8651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid53QXf1J7SYlf7vYOYwmyGPxkwjoYNO9yqswgXLHqgA2LWoGEE-KYdP5Uf6cz10YEN28EbVvzvXv1ztiOkZSRS6xT85710-9eRA2otxvM-Yd0-EQxIdNGKtt18f0jicgLIlv/s200/IMG_8651.JPG" title="Buffalo Bill Dam" width="200" /></a></div>
Not far from Cody we came across the historic Buffulo Bill dam which, when built, was the highest concrete arch dam in the world. Used to provide irrigation water and hydro-power, the power plant fell into disuse in the 20s and the dam has been, more recently, raised 25' with a new hydro plant built further down stream. <br />
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After a look around the visitor centre we followed the Shoshone River (which it dams) up along the beautifully scenic valley until we entered Yellowstone Park through the eastern entrance.<br />
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Unfortunately, not long after we entered, so did the rain and so our views as we drove around the shore of Yellowstone Lake were rather grey and dismal. The main interest was in looking at the various stages of re-growth after the major 1988 fire and the not so large 2001 fire.<br />
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It appears that the park managment have learned much from these fires and completely changed their approach to forest fires, realising that they are a perfectly natural occurence, required to keep the entire ecosystem healthy and functioning well.<br />
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The rain had mainly stopped but the sun was still hiding when we walked around the West Thumb geothermal area, right on the lake shore. This area provides a great selection of different coloured pools and the thermal activity extends into the lake as witnessed by a flock of ducks<br />
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that were all in one small area and which all simultaneously dived, leaving no trace on the surface that they even existed until some minutes later when they all simultaneously surfaced. Clearly something below had triggered movement in a food source.<br />
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Continuing round the Great Loop we came to the Grant visitor centre, walked in, saw the prediction time for the next blow at Old Faithful and the drive time written on the wall, looked at our watches and promptly got back in the car for the run up to the geyser area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOzPyJGiTCdcLx2rcxRgvApGmrBOwLBJzMAcMVCXACBxDx5-Z4aI-JNUNUQizQz7iejqrAlHsf_qy5T8xWUrPTKcce0EzC3JNhr_hOYENbVWUGqwkGcQLP2Dk6Cokv_ceQ5hF/s1600/IMG_8809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOzPyJGiTCdcLx2rcxRgvApGmrBOwLBJzMAcMVCXACBxDx5-Z4aI-JNUNUQizQz7iejqrAlHsf_qy5T8xWUrPTKcce0EzC3JNhr_hOYENbVWUGqwkGcQLP2Dk6Cokv_ceQ5hF/s200/IMG_8809.JPG" title="Anemone Geyser" width="200" /></a></div>
There are massive carparks available and even a motorway style overbridge off-ramp to get cars in and out efficiently, it is an exceedingly popular place. Interestingly, once out of the car there are signs to all sorts of things except the location of Old Faithful itself so we adopted the novel technique of following the crowd.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WnxjCsjsbJowzpO8yKYLl3MDWr3MzGAzqpnEsrVjqAtaToV-Am7f9PSnzxEz7u0A7Z6Cv-CsuOdTjW43El3Ip7gZXCORp6vNq6ol88rkpefShlczXVl4pX1_Rk8xNr7m65qp/s1600/IMG_8788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WnxjCsjsbJowzpO8yKYLl3MDWr3MzGAzqpnEsrVjqAtaToV-Am7f9PSnzxEz7u0A7Z6Cv-CsuOdTjW43El3Ip7gZXCORp6vNq6ol88rkpefShlczXVl4pX1_Rk8xNr7m65qp/s200/IMG_8788.JPG" title="Old Faithful" width="200" /></a></div>
Although the average cycle is 93 minutes there is a +- variation of 10 minutes but nevertheles we were there in good time with 2000-3000 other watchers ringed 4 deep along the viewing boardwalk. Four minutes late, Old Faithful put on its world-famous display which lasted for about four minutes. Fortunately the sun also obliged with its world-famous display and so we had a fabuloous spectacle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o72lKprTrcNHoQt_XHkjK2a9AlLxrObsZTTNRwFjQBNDqGZ1ktDV19UNLGYwMVsZNTbM6v4ZHuD8uDA8x8cdQPZHBOXrDnRUEl6FcjUVvjVbSgls2uPt3VeVRj6w2jK2ONo3/s1600/IMG_9003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o72lKprTrcNHoQt_XHkjK2a9AlLxrObsZTTNRwFjQBNDqGZ1ktDV19UNLGYwMVsZNTbM6v4ZHuD8uDA8x8cdQPZHBOXrDnRUEl6FcjUVvjVbSgls2uPt3VeVRj6w2jK2ONo3/s200/IMG_9003.JPG" title="The Castle geyser" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTd8gLCJK17gnu49x2rBM_nVifoN0THj79ypea0FRHufjp0I1F6TzQ4dLaYbStyrkflBe2_A6RCRzL_Jchf-g8S0X6pX3_Vweq0P276wrlk9NqnBPXiQ9UuthXVE7JKzZW6S5/s1600/IMG_8987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTd8gLCJK17gnu49x2rBM_nVifoN0THj79ypea0FRHufjp0I1F6TzQ4dLaYbStyrkflBe2_A6RCRzL_Jchf-g8S0X6pX3_Vweq0P276wrlk9NqnBPXiQ9UuthXVE7JKzZW6S5/s200/IMG_8987.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr_zlV8UxTyRRLdoySXTToa0S5WmhWn9tXIzXFal4sUb2u7ob8nIgnbbsqxYytysBKWvUEiBgWT4GRBPrVZSq9yF_Z73qVSdeL6aLMAuDf4RqNI_jqK6qsMiZYDrA7dHJpVfE/s1600/IMG_8947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcr_zlV8UxTyRRLdoySXTToa0S5WmhWn9tXIzXFal4sUb2u7ob8nIgnbbsqxYytysBKWvUEiBgWT4GRBPrVZSq9yF_Z73qVSdeL6aLMAuDf4RqNI_jqK6qsMiZYDrA7dHJpVfE/s200/IMG_8947.JPG" title="Morning Glory Pool" width="200" /></a></div>
From here there is a 2.2km walk to the Morning Glory Pool through the geyser feild. We were extremely fotrunate to see a number of geysers in full flow, one of which only plays every twelve hours. Even a hardened Taupo boy had to admit that the show here is pretty impressive, which is not hard when they claim half of the geysers in the world in this park.<br />
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On the outbound walk we were treated to full displays by the Anemone, Fan, Mortar and Spiteful geysers and the return trip rewarded us with the Giant, Sawmill and Beehive geysers. The Beehive is only every 12 hours and its display was just a few minutes after another cycle of Old Faithful which we could see from the same vantage point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbAQDTo6SvlvB1Uq2sbOLjcuaw2uF3gqzEaX7ar6WcPjkJl9uCBA5bmdu6eJGAdKo2pbBK2i_b4A84GqY6lvFvXM3l49IY33-wLStUVVANESilprxyO4rGcoNPcVYKCSWxWl1/s1600/IMG_8824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbAQDTo6SvlvB1Uq2sbOLjcuaw2uF3gqzEaX7ar6WcPjkJl9uCBA5bmdu6eJGAdKo2pbBK2i_b4A84GqY6lvFvXM3l49IY33-wLStUVVANESilprxyO4rGcoNPcVYKCSWxWl1/s200/IMG_8824.JPG" title="Beehive Geyser in the early afternoon" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMgt_vkijTeYLJKW5HtdByJArEvP6tLHU12s-2ozDviLughSYOTLAeiux0jwrtM_LPVwZHgxzzOPKAW_X1D44d4Sd1FrvCiwyXjYQdfMaViBfl4m0N1eQ9jPLm5n7Ept6IA-o/s1600/IMG_9071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMgt_vkijTeYLJKW5HtdByJArEvP6tLHU12s-2ozDviLughSYOTLAeiux0jwrtM_LPVwZHgxzzOPKAW_X1D44d4Sd1FrvCiwyXjYQdfMaViBfl4m0N1eQ9jPLm5n7Ept6IA-o/s200/IMG_9071.JPG" title="Beehive Geyser erupting in the late afternoon" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOYRWklW0-taUV_BWiMOLKSjOlfFDX60Gkgl9b5IZXPI3dPKMdrHQQYa4qk7ZozrbwSPyrbfKvo7EdTiwRp3XemDw02uYy9voaOu3oJlUdGX8WmU4hwlhVKTnrXbSt42ecgNV/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOYRWklW0-taUV_BWiMOLKSjOlfFDX60Gkgl9b5IZXPI3dPKMdrHQQYa4qk7ZozrbwSPyrbfKvo7EdTiwRp3XemDw02uYy9voaOu3oJlUdGX8WmU4hwlhVKTnrXbSt42ecgNV/s200/IMG_8988.JPG" title="Punchbowl Spring" width="200" /></a></div>
From Old Faithful's timing it was clear that we had spent three hours just in this area, walking a lot more briskly than any one else and there are many more delights to explore tomorrow but before then we had to slip over the border into Montana and out the western park access, to our camp at West Yellowstone.<br />
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177 miles today, total trip 3943. States Wyoming, Montana<br />
<br />Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-88563182290936216712012-08-07T12:16:00.000-01:002012-08-10T01:46:16.870-01:00Buffalo Bill territory - 5 August 2012<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VDT2_LHfVWHC1hOmxCj8gADiQQgY5u_zkpmLt7hFVg_l9L-z7BSLAht5ZXRn5Ir7pmdG1oUeNn0k3EQLmSMGwl1SpTJX89G-czhQFxwDZYN3c-YoYjxpve0RIGedp1E5kEB-/s1600/IMG_8501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VDT2_LHfVWHC1hOmxCj8gADiQQgY5u_zkpmLt7hFVg_l9L-z7BSLAht5ZXRn5Ir7pmdG1oUeNn0k3EQLmSMGwl1SpTJX89G-czhQFxwDZYN3c-YoYjxpve0RIGedp1E5kEB-/s200/IMG_8501.JPG" title="Wyoming is all ranches" width="200" /></a></div>
Back on the now familiar I-90 we ate up the miles through the undulating ranchlands of Wyoming heading west towards the Rockies. But before we got there we had to cross miles of dry dusty rolling hills and large flat barren areas broken only by the ribbons of green along the rivers and the irrigated areas.<br />
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Sometimes the only sign of habitation, apart from the ribbon of the Interstate, was the scattered nodding-donkey oil pumps or other oil or gas well-head installations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUPW_-7wRR95vACIgt5pPDfvaRf_Z2ANHpyOjcUvPYIs1oxdYVzb4q5wbROCxTsJvBmhI8JEaMDDAMduzsycdNxMmBGsAc6XHUl8TyAz-_ueTbxOMrSALbiWeFOZyTMMMsp_e/s1600/IMG_8522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUPW_-7wRR95vACIgt5pPDfvaRf_Z2ANHpyOjcUvPYIs1oxdYVzb4q5wbROCxTsJvBmhI8JEaMDDAMduzsycdNxMmBGsAc6XHUl8TyAz-_ueTbxOMrSALbiWeFOZyTMMMsp_e/s200/IMG_8522.JPG" title="Shell Falls" width="150" /></a></div>
The Interstate swung north for quite a while before we left it and headed west again on Hwy 14 taking the scenic route over the Big Horn mountains, getting up to 8327ft before dropping down past the delightful Shell Falls and finally into Cody.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT3lXFrOW1Q-lBkwaP3k-W1vUlwxRz8BIgL6_rr16YYTKYONg3ryKdyUe0d4ybRLPiKDqNYPevdiUGjRILcDuvBSF507UNz2oshccg99QWxbLv-juVUBbggPoBKpD71Nc7925/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT3lXFrOW1Q-lBkwaP3k-W1vUlwxRz8BIgL6_rr16YYTKYONg3ryKdyUe0d4ybRLPiKDqNYPevdiUGjRILcDuvBSF507UNz2oshccg99QWxbLv-juVUBbggPoBKpD71Nc7925/s200/IMG_8526.JPG" title="Shell Falls" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1hPz4HpyEHhEtUCpiJXG5S0O9iyEN9xI1CVYIvEwl7hQIwPLCEXcZxm9K8jfO99g3U31zeKUkEjs_mR45cWpVpGohma_LTP1CtcUX9x1kl3NVbD5RrMGuoGLquQn93BAZhVc/s1600/IMG_8543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1hPz4HpyEHhEtUCpiJXG5S0O9iyEN9xI1CVYIvEwl7hQIwPLCEXcZxm9K8jfO99g3U31zeKUkEjs_mR45cWpVpGohma_LTP1CtcUX9x1kl3NVbD5RrMGuoGLquQn93BAZhVc/s200/IMG_8543.JPG" title="An aircraft museum set against pink hills" width="200" /></a></div>
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Cody was founded by William Cody or Buffalo Bill as he was known for his buffalo hunting prowess and which later became his stage name as he took his Wild West show touring America and the World (even played at Windsor Castle by Royal Command for Queen Victoria).<br />
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The town of Cody has a fabulous museum with one whole section dedicated to their famous founder. This section of the five-building museum has just been re-opened after a refresh and is brilliantly done, as is the natural history section which could only be improved if they removed all the gratuitous nods to global warming and other nonsensical claims about extinction rates caused by humans.<br />
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If guns push your button there are 2700 to see in that section and the Western art area has many terrific paintings and sculptures. We certainly did not have time to do it justice before we had to make camp in time to be ready for the evening rodeo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YMI75O7d8xdPXx0zJ6d9VL52oxrpaTILEhvdae0ZJ02Nf0fmmuziNsQhHHW6Iirpn4hQ_w5fWumodUYFIpKczIDl0kCVCree2CNbU0vL_H65rs1Ni5V3SLodGmnCMzSdp0bY/s1600/IMG_8617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YMI75O7d8xdPXx0zJ6d9VL52oxrpaTILEhvdae0ZJ02Nf0fmmuziNsQhHHW6Iirpn4hQ_w5fWumodUYFIpKczIDl0kCVCree2CNbU0vL_H65rs1Ni5V3SLodGmnCMzSdp0bY/s200/IMG_8617.JPG" title="Calf roping" width="200" /></a></div>
The rodeo was all we expected it would be, calf-roping, barrel racing, bull riding, bronco riding, rodeo clown - the whole ten yards. The talent and skill of the riders was fantastic and one event even required one rider to lasso the rear ankles of a running calf, quite an amazing feat. In the barrel racing one could see the obvious enjoyment of the horses after they rounded the last barrel and headed for the finish line. A very enjoyable evening and I can honestly say that this is the best rodeo I have ever seen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_M7LXn_Y4D5OLE3RI0AwNBqXGNpcmSlDLfVq5rhLH5RV1TC0VE031xgVKPRB7rwIbb6HygBhRJJCAavEhSUGEBPB1npYSEbxus3oUeYgZIH3uZ0pshBepqsCxvhWpwXMx1wb/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_M7LXn_Y4D5OLE3RI0AwNBqXGNpcmSlDLfVq5rhLH5RV1TC0VE031xgVKPRB7rwIbb6HygBhRJJCAavEhSUGEBPB1npYSEbxus3oUeYgZIH3uZ0pshBepqsCxvhWpwXMx1wb/s200/IMG_0119.JPG" title="Bronco riding" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gYZmp5X4GBXB62-F48xo5ldCxN5mIbNSv-V4NzuKsL-vQY2TW-PwbTJ0adp-fYpquD7UHexMUsgsw9ut2eiqGe_p2jkVqgt-7SYFO694FI43sZxioePtFH86_os0oWzUAOuW/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gYZmp5X4GBXB62-F48xo5ldCxN5mIbNSv-V4NzuKsL-vQY2TW-PwbTJ0adp-fYpquD7UHexMUsgsw9ut2eiqGe_p2jkVqgt-7SYFO694FI43sZxioePtFH86_os0oWzUAOuW/s200/IMG_0120.JPG" title="Bronco riding" width="200" /></a></div>
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316 miles today, total trip 3765. States South Dakota, Wyoming.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-25988204467784516622012-08-06T11:04:00.000-01:002012-08-06T11:06:19.617-01:00Close Encounters with bears and hogs in the Wild West - 4 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A5mysGdFJfd6WxW0HIiJZc3tgOWpbg9u4kexPUuAg8sWeQXq6p8PKNRQkKzrBDVMcdtFXugcmjl4z0WySgX4ep-lNO6rD3sd88qLok0elOQtM-SGNlQPtolD08yKfWmCuaB8/s1600/IMG_8211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A5mysGdFJfd6WxW0HIiJZc3tgOWpbg9u4kexPUuAg8sWeQXq6p8PKNRQkKzrBDVMcdtFXugcmjl4z0WySgX4ep-lNO6rD3sd88qLok0elOQtM-SGNlQPtolD08yKfWmCuaB8/s200/IMG_8211.JPG" width="200" title="Bighorn" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZLmLAmY57_2tyySfB9mv1SmP29Y9SioCR-AAbP3f9anmvwVxlVxhsGFVJ04PKYINoxtkOJmTbXNGyyQyXluYgw29TDSW7bQHztSLDC_VtGjDcwH6IBuSUw1xsMDRVm-1JgJv/s1600/IMG_8186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZLmLAmY57_2tyySfB9mv1SmP29Y9SioCR-AAbP3f9anmvwVxlVxhsGFVJ04PKYINoxtkOJmTbXNGyyQyXluYgw29TDSW7bQHztSLDC_VtGjDcwH6IBuSUw1xsMDRVm-1JgJv/s200/IMG_8186.JPG" width="200" title="Elk" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvekT2xN7Iq7ln41kRqK1B893H9GKhpdItBOl2_9ZlmW8H6JJ39lyy7SJlktNMonWY1USQDb3pg5RcxOWdo157Jv1U3gowLE8H8RyySLq207soNZJe6w-l4q0lnAMBU8kh1xct/s1600/IMG_8278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvekT2xN7Iq7ln41kRqK1B893H9GKhpdItBOl2_9ZlmW8H6JJ39lyy7SJlktNMonWY1USQDb3pg5RcxOWdo157Jv1U3gowLE8H8RyySLq207soNZJe6w-l4q0lnAMBU8kh1xct/s200/IMG_8278.JPG" width="200" title="Black Bear" /></a></div>
Just a short drive from camp was Bear Country USA and we knew that feeding time was around 8:30 so we were there, driving through the wildlife park to see the elks, reindeer, mountain lions, arctic wolves and timber wolves being fed. But the stars of the show, not surprisingly, are the black bears. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLEOqmZDdP2Yzrtfke7ypvUcil6sBvbTgfHTorRXmV5z0X7zESSRVcO-5-xgOmLxputcfsBELAN9FhnRPEVE1xTfUo2RZAvxrkLWF7aM31YWlJD0lHdg9CXzLsDUYgnzmlBGs/s1600/IMG_8227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLEOqmZDdP2Yzrtfke7ypvUcil6sBvbTgfHTorRXmV5z0X7zESSRVcO-5-xgOmLxputcfsBELAN9FhnRPEVE1xTfUo2RZAvxrkLWF7aM31YWlJD0lHdg9CXzLsDUYgnzmlBGs/s200/IMG_8227.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The bears were not being fed, they were simply lying about in the sun or having a good old early morning scratch. Having camped in bear country for the last week or so it was great to be able to see them close up in a non-threatening environment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia30d9_zRgjxRIyiHtEs9zq6B_nGj4qJEylJ8Qcb18PfReFq2S53D-QQvR89P5FqQrhOjHpB2kfbmepDHHzwIustsjIiPdTLoUC_P_LOPy9ygGV4fOerWdo7bG6cOxxCthcwIA/s1600/IMG_8288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia30d9_zRgjxRIyiHtEs9zq6B_nGj4qJEylJ8Qcb18PfReFq2S53D-QQvR89P5FqQrhOjHpB2kfbmepDHHzwIustsjIiPdTLoUC_P_LOPy9ygGV4fOerWdo7bG6cOxxCthcwIA/s200/IMG_8288.JPG" width="200" title="Grizzly Bear" /></a></div>
After driving though the enclosures you get to park and walk around a more zoo-like section where the stars were a very large grizzly bear playing with a ball in the pool and a bunch of baby bears frolicking and fighting in a pine tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJUmd7al_czexQnz79aXGvE1HU_IGDN1_lCOgyMhw2M_ROCCH9P4B9vCZaebOHTEfAveeqFRj7rjHBy3YYV4ztm94qh9qMkSzNqhckpkhj6NtWC0f2jN1PWl2Jv22y9rfjxTA/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJUmd7al_czexQnz79aXGvE1HU_IGDN1_lCOgyMhw2M_ROCCH9P4B9vCZaebOHTEfAveeqFRj7rjHBy3YYV4ztm94qh9qMkSzNqhckpkhj6NtWC0f2jN1PWl2Jv22y9rfjxTA/s200/IMG_8335.JPG" width="200" title="Chapel In The Hills" /></a></div>
When we could bear it no longer we drove into Rapid City to see the Chapel In The Hills, a Stave Church which is a replica of the Borgund Stavekirke in Norway. Nestled in amongst the pines it looked right at home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEw1OvVf-MIvp4pQaOIpDYXXaIeSM45vCqK-iTzuC3XBvgtuRfq1A-CyWEldU76xxFIKPMWr8JKXTzhY_-vgXCWtPVDugeareoJMiUjPKf1XYzanKaFdrZn0CXMBEu8j0I3Pz/s1600/IMG_8353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEw1OvVf-MIvp4pQaOIpDYXXaIeSM45vCqK-iTzuC3XBvgtuRfq1A-CyWEldU76xxFIKPMWr8JKXTzhY_-vgXCWtPVDugeareoJMiUjPKf1XYzanKaFdrZn0CXMBEu8j0I3Pz/s200/IMG_8353.JPG" width="200" title="Sturgis" /></a></div>
Avoiding the I-90 we headed north to Sturgis where the 72nd Annual Sturgis Motor Cycle meet was getting into swing. The prime week is apparently the first full week of August but already the entire main street was motorcycles only and block after block was parked bikes; a row on each kerb and two rows down the centre line with the side streets also wall-to-wall bikes, again 95% Harley Davidsons, or "Hogs"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZYA_DPDQPoFpURnSexPogckz0jKNKaWgyD6znOdyQET2kBA-O5XIn55kkjlu75y3mNtjXH3bV2ABbu7IM7_1gQBH1slLq1JGy9-RvB6z4qBEFwj5Yk5wxdIzCbqqbrpcw-eX/s1600/IMG_8396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZYA_DPDQPoFpURnSexPogckz0jKNKaWgyD6znOdyQET2kBA-O5XIn55kkjlu75y3mNtjXH3bV2ABbu7IM7_1gQBH1slLq1JGy9-RvB6z4qBEFwj5Yk5wxdIzCbqqbrpcw-eX/s200/IMG_8396.JPG" width="200" title="Sturgis" /></a></div>
The array of beautifully presented, sometimes heavily customised bikes was magnificent but equally captivating was people-watching as the Harley-riders are an interesting crowd. I would love to know how many millions of dollars of bikes and exhibitor displays were in this small town, and they were pouring from all sides, either on the road, in trailers, on the back of pickup-trucks or in the backs of super large RVs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Q8k4Lw9NOKvsZD3Y0a-Mm000oRlq_qLeIicqWuPOiiVppHkLcQWLn2lywPi9wodOnD50YbuHR9JocPy-3Mn4MgjunZt9U3ufTWzazGmooUF-u_ZlPq6tMAe5InO966j2qRf/s1600/IMG_8388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Q8k4Lw9NOKvsZD3Y0a-Mm000oRlq_qLeIicqWuPOiiVppHkLcQWLn2lywPi9wodOnD50YbuHR9JocPy-3Mn4MgjunZt9U3ufTWzazGmooUF-u_ZlPq6tMAe5InO966j2qRf/s200/IMG_8388.JPG" width="200" title="Sturgis" /></a></div>
All day the roads were never free of bikes and every small town or settlement we passed through was chock full of bikes with everybody trying to make a buck out of vending something to the two and three-wheel clientele.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFjSEo9E_wBlmiFnbDxmS6fuuBW_bOXVSNi5jIJiRRAf0lLU_uuN0C693ihZ-dSO5hVf69y0MgXzii2KU5-Fu_V4g6mXJvqOhzMkMSMNbvTfR_2SOm1OtXuBrhrcmug6An3x/s1600/IMG_8404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFjSEo9E_wBlmiFnbDxmS6fuuBW_bOXVSNi5jIJiRRAf0lLU_uuN0C693ihZ-dSO5hVf69y0MgXzii2KU5-Fu_V4g6mXJvqOhzMkMSMNbvTfR_2SOm1OtXuBrhrcmug6An3x/s200/IMG_8404.JPG" width="200" title="Deadwood" /></a></div>
Dropping a little south we stopped at Deadwood, home of a TV series but made famous by the murder of Wild Bill Hickcock and the antics of Calamity Jane. Sundance (as in the Sundance Kid) is not far away and the area has so many names and associations with stories of the Wild West.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1EgDRd70d7LR6dxl05roMigg_FnMxY3S79BtUARhIVHnDUtvS5V15-krsvTU6SujWGKDQUnH9kAOfPZ3xhRi0VEfibdS99KywjBIj8rpIRZODbcuEevYoJTeMwPTvR5TFMTj/s1600/IMG_8456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1EgDRd70d7LR6dxl05roMigg_FnMxY3S79BtUARhIVHnDUtvS5V15-krsvTU6SujWGKDQUnH9kAOfPZ3xhRi0VEfibdS99KywjBIj8rpIRZODbcuEevYoJTeMwPTvR5TFMTj/s200/IMG_8456.JPG" width="200" title="Devils Tower" /></a></div>
We looped south a bit further to make the run north up through the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, as always accompanied by the bikers, and then it was 'Westward Ho' again along the Belle Fourche river valley to our destination where we could have our close encounter with the Devil's Tower. We had plenty of time to do the 2km circular walk around the rock and marvel at the parties of climbers ascending this amazing geological outcrop.<br />
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In homage to the lacation, the campground shows Close Encounters of the Thrid Kind every night but we elected to watch the sunset paint the rock orange instead <br />
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223 miles today, 3449 total trip. States: South Dakota, Wyoming.<br />
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<br /></div>Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-32131993990490325172012-08-05T02:47:00.001-01:002012-08-05T02:48:25.332-01:00Carved in stone - 3 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRoHlM0X5_Q2VeRbPbq1CpqrrNidnQT08_58hxrYFZ09Zkr0wcYXwsWXEQ0BB0-9NffxomRbwCTqCsawoL1XeJ1TiONSpWMptoX4pqqi0F47VPddeGSTP-mTicUWbegPHFoCu/s1600/IMG_7952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRoHlM0X5_Q2VeRbPbq1CpqrrNidnQT08_58hxrYFZ09Zkr0wcYXwsWXEQ0BB0-9NffxomRbwCTqCsawoL1XeJ1TiONSpWMptoX4pqqi0F47VPddeGSTP-mTicUWbegPHFoCu/s200/IMG_7952.JPG" title="Coffee stop on the way to Mt Rushmore" width="200" /></a></div>
As the morning light is the best time to see Mt Rushmore so we motored the few miles to the mountain first thing. They operate a great con here for car parking. Top price is $11 for an annual car park pass which sounds like a terrific bargain until you find that it is for a calendar year - great if you buy in January and terrible if you buy at Christmas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqGz92lCAJ3nwuvLMljgRxtbpT8P362Ld4sVKIB7IBA1SWSY9xcuoI9SQlYR2KLeD9lZdtuUVz6U4rOFlIY5yoT2bgoWFb9DEbUeptAEu5KYQP11OU3nxIkRYiA4u7erIkJZS/s1600/IMG_7961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqGz92lCAJ3nwuvLMljgRxtbpT8P362Ld4sVKIB7IBA1SWSY9xcuoI9SQlYR2KLeD9lZdtuUVz6U4rOFlIY5yoT2bgoWFb9DEbUeptAEu5KYQP11OU3nxIkRYiA4u7erIkJZS/s200/IMG_7961.JPG" width="200" title="Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
The other small problem is that it is the only pass available, so a day parking costs the same as a year! How many tourists return withing the same calendar year?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHTDtoz4Ox8r7MqfOnNShtxdP7rg_5w39QHxWxxMGXkttuyKGlE2l9Fy_sjGHgAK5N9Pw6NtuKyvpL83Ji2UHpK3aGR_xQuDmwtPy257vgRNIyRBfChqw_iFBZTO_E63v90Tc/s1600/IMG_7985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHTDtoz4Ox8r7MqfOnNShtxdP7rg_5w39QHxWxxMGXkttuyKGlE2l9Fy_sjGHgAK5N9Pw6NtuKyvpL83Ji2UHpK3aGR_xQuDmwtPy257vgRNIyRBfChqw_iFBZTO_E63v90Tc/s200/IMG_7985.JPG" width="200" title="Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
Nevertheless it is the only fee you have to pay to access the park and all the facilities and displays at the National Memorial so $5.50 each for admittance to a stunning historical site like this in the US is a good deal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGFeUUqoS0Uj4K8mRiVZHAa3Z7hoQ8TaxgMfa0L09z3gTDCLonE1GdvkELHoAE4PUFqAntZSb0amvH7czkkODrZ68D8aUDVcPQ6BkZVOuVJsxG_fGQ_ShPbzxytmZZYi83zAF/s1600/IMG_8022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGFeUUqoS0Uj4K8mRiVZHAa3Z7hoQ8TaxgMfa0L09z3gTDCLonE1GdvkELHoAE4PUFqAntZSb0amvH7czkkODrZ68D8aUDVcPQ6BkZVOuVJsxG_fGQ_ShPbzxytmZZYi83zAF/s400/IMG_8022.JPG" width="400" title="Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKrPqMHw4KBsrnGJG_1-XksmTjSm_KM18QCUk0K3nAYgIRn4P-rXyiQq3WbUiASTak3DO9F7bm7nG6_5dGenkU2mEx_mFGbVaoRalpjRK94FUxrFCwWcvosCslEJiDnzTmltY/s1600/IMG_8027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKrPqMHw4KBsrnGJG_1-XksmTjSm_KM18QCUk0K3nAYgIRn4P-rXyiQq3WbUiASTak3DO9F7bm7nG6_5dGenkU2mEx_mFGbVaoRalpjRK94FUxrFCwWcvosCslEJiDnzTmltY/s200/IMG_8027.JPG" width="200" title="Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
Seeing the faces "up-close" is quite awe inspiring. It is just as well that the mountain was carved when it was as there is no way the environmentalists would allow it these days. The eyes are amazingly clever and yet such a simple technique to bring life to the stone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4IqoUC8awKIn9VxDG3zPNhzJdzpfpbjNWBRpef3GpA7pqu3NiLP7CPSR7wzwDTwEz2XYG375WyjcwJSQfzEZ3OHwUbzOQqVnjFBvYskCI3KdNhsCijO36i9vftDb8fGf8PQu/s1600/IMG_8067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4IqoUC8awKIn9VxDG3zPNhzJdzpfpbjNWBRpef3GpA7pqu3NiLP7CPSR7wzwDTwEz2XYG375WyjcwJSQfzEZ3OHwUbzOQqVnjFBvYskCI3KdNhsCijO36i9vftDb8fGf8PQu/s200/IMG_8067.JPG" width="200" title="Bison in Custer" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3xv1l7FxgUpmnbaWCV8xlhiGT0QjBLSOXutCCmOkmH1EbR1InNK4USeuG_xJz0f6sjdg-bwNwl7YFEYil-y61ePYePpJEem-GcTkJwUgUdupy_xu0H-dSqFFQUCElabZ6mOI/s1600/IMG_8060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3xv1l7FxgUpmnbaWCV8xlhiGT0QjBLSOXutCCmOkmH1EbR1InNK4USeuG_xJz0f6sjdg-bwNwl7YFEYil-y61ePYePpJEem-GcTkJwUgUdupy_xu0H-dSqFFQUCElabZ6mOI/s200/IMG_8060.JPG" width="200" title="Bison in Custer" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0iEn8YuaeENur6f22kiglcvYSpkSZVMwQQpwo13ZWxQ15-SLzvsNb0WRu4Ghhp4cuC0gBcVP7EfpdvEaMj6AvZASToTVHcNifdlANpfvtUkN6TzhI7fice99kuU-_kh-Rwlv/s1600/IMG_8056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0iEn8YuaeENur6f22kiglcvYSpkSZVMwQQpwo13ZWxQ15-SLzvsNb0WRu4Ghhp4cuC0gBcVP7EfpdvEaMj6AvZASToTVHcNifdlANpfvtUkN6TzhI7fice99kuU-_kh-Rwlv/s200/IMG_8056.JPG" width="200" title="Lunch spot on the way to Crazy Horse" /></a></div>
Having fully got our $5.50 worth we mossied on around some of the roads we travelled yesterday then cut through the middle of Custer State Park to visit the Crazy Horse monument; a work in progress rather than the not quite completed presidential monument.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVk5apV9cohAUk9pISDI-L9EJSbcn3gYxA8hHgdmplka8F1CbXGSKPJllXaaZyteT41fV0kcwfs4OSAJf-S2p3kZ6VGIcfx9XLFAUJcT6bn_EtD4ftctvnnBe5FwdT8nPpKq6/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVk5apV9cohAUk9pISDI-L9EJSbcn3gYxA8hHgdmplka8F1CbXGSKPJllXaaZyteT41fV0kcwfs4OSAJf-S2p3kZ6VGIcfx9XLFAUJcT6bn_EtD4ftctvnnBe5FwdT8nPpKq6/s200/IMG_8077.JPG" width="200" title="Sculpture of finished carving with actual mountain sculpture behind, Note proposal taking place beside sculpture" /></a></div>
This project is stunningly huge in scale and although only the head is completed it is still worth a visit. The visitor centre has heaps of information, artifacts, souvenirs and displays on American Indian life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVTmhiJJrIXNmjw67spZJOGV2JNBbI8lLjqQ5tyYWG-f7hz_RM4CC3c6bPlE9D3XiShzMMbJ8rwWP0eRUvsoaA3JPy6klsVVs82Mg5DfB5r05BVh7fxePebKYIROZATBPrdv3/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVTmhiJJrIXNmjw67spZJOGV2JNBbI8lLjqQ5tyYWG-f7hz_RM4CC3c6bPlE9D3XiShzMMbJ8rwWP0eRUvsoaA3JPy6klsVVs82Mg5DfB5r05BVh7fxePebKYIROZATBPrdv3/s200/IMG_8108.JPG" width="200" title="The head of Crazy Horse is the only part finished as yet" /></a></div>
Mt Rushmore took 17 years to get to its current form before war stopped play in 1941. Crazy Horse began in 1948 and is still going with decades of work yet to do. Mt Rushmore had a federally funded team of workers, Crazy Horse had one lone self-funded carver for many many years working with old and decrepit equipment but is now funded by the visitor centre and some Indian Casino money so is making faster progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAM2FjZsOojalICEYa06z7ljWzRU-QB4oMXY1Od4j1b_E5WdTmb9A4ZEVMLV36CafwXlitILRZRDc1y1hyphenhyphenlaubxxgaRsu53axHSWVeM2Wi0O6zcbFsBJ-es-HP-VDTmN6YWRE/s1600/IMG_8085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAM2FjZsOojalICEYa06z7ljWzRU-QB4oMXY1Od4j1b_E5WdTmb9A4ZEVMLV36CafwXlitILRZRDc1y1hyphenhyphenlaubxxgaRsu53axHSWVeM2Wi0O6zcbFsBJ-es-HP-VDTmN6YWRE/s200/IMG_8085.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1TRH6-Z6h6J3GC1pYKTb-_wwDSRXAZ29VEWniHeVwzXBygmU7q9MxGrr_gWvoMw9l2x1TIkeW7O7rddVk80F6MRIkFFS5E495XLTu4vSFbiiQ7MXByoNhwGAqB0M7r9v165d/s1600/IMG_8094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1TRH6-Z6h6J3GC1pYKTb-_wwDSRXAZ29VEWniHeVwzXBygmU7q9MxGrr_gWvoMw9l2x1TIkeW7O7rddVk80F6MRIkFFS5E495XLTu4vSFbiiQ7MXByoNhwGAqB0M7r9v165d/s200/IMG_8094.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1cwmXbo_8OYM4ReOeDBpnbD4Ndv24XK5aGgrgZ_bhNu8kEnwisJC3HwIjCS8R5TsB_Y1rAZHX_53AxOoWydHSmqtYXnNPOYhW7lVMvqyKXecSidgw0Zobn40MHzytOSsW8We/s1600/IMG_8162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1cwmXbo_8OYM4ReOeDBpnbD4Ndv24XK5aGgrgZ_bhNu8kEnwisJC3HwIjCS8R5TsB_Y1rAZHX_53AxOoWydHSmqtYXnNPOYhW7lVMvqyKXecSidgw0Zobn40MHzytOSsW8We/s200/IMG_8162.JPG" width="200" title="Evening light show at Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
Being 3 miles from one and 9 from the other we had a decision to make as to which to return to for the evening light show. We chose the closest, Mt Rushmore and were treated to some entertaining trivia by a ranger followed by a stirring patriotic speech about Washington's "unborn millions" and the WWII US Japanese Regiment which I had never heard of and which served with distinction in Europe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtLAHcA3qUkP8zNDh3lEc3w2jvV7HFEL8OP06HaetVDkbv2_0814G0g0GszV0NdpwLwsKPrf4gcGuoZk4It3bPgojoMWkGsZ3XNbOBrWbiYdjEUyY03uNY-tB-fsLBwRdnzZo/s1600/IMG_8179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtLAHcA3qUkP8zNDh3lEc3w2jvV7HFEL8OP06HaetVDkbv2_0814G0g0GszV0NdpwLwsKPrf4gcGuoZk4It3bPgojoMWkGsZ3XNbOBrWbiYdjEUyY03uNY-tB-fsLBwRdnzZo/s200/IMG_8179.JPG" width="200" title="Evening light show at Mt Rushmore" /></a></div>
Then there was a film about the four presidents, the lighting of the monument, all very static - not a laser show as promised at Crazy horse, followed by singing the National Anthem and lowering of the flag and then all military personnel past or present were invited on stage and personally acknowledge for their part in defending freedom. It was all a bit 'maple-syrup' and I almost expected an "altar-call" to come forward and sign up or take the oath of allegiance.<br />
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50 miles today, total trip 3226. States, South Dakota<br />
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<br />Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-66617863692023917002012-08-03T23:33:00.002-01:002012-08-03T23:33:26.965-01:00Pines and Needles - 2 August 2012<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAowb6xQm89cvf_R9jK1KAKuJ-DnBahT7G4T-zNjwSpswIBoHaYfL8vtiikKG85EnRljfEUr6HgAgC4ghKJgqghB4eR34AhIMBi3UntaV2ZIqJzpPlWXQDYweXKVZgmz4BPVqn/s1600/IMG_7924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAowb6xQm89cvf_R9jK1KAKuJ-DnBahT7G4T-zNjwSpswIBoHaYfL8vtiikKG85EnRljfEUr6HgAgC4ghKJgqghB4eR34AhIMBi3UntaV2ZIqJzpPlWXQDYweXKVZgmz4BPVqn/s200/IMG_7924.JPG" title="One of the rock tunnels in Custer Park" width="200" /></a></div>
Leaving the White River campsite we headed back along SH240 for one last trip along the scenic highway through the Badlands and on to Wall for another couple of 5c coffees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6i_2R2SGUqKKuiCrAhr6JuLOUUCtHOJ30iQGic0hcIh08I7Dq3BJ4GVmsTMxhjioosBPehOJN_wVSlOFaU8u-027HBbWJek3mnT9sq89XG-nFMtts7YVgb-DqshKOEbzPjC4/s1600/IMG_7753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6i_2R2SGUqKKuiCrAhr6JuLOUUCtHOJ30iQGic0hcIh08I7Dq3BJ4GVmsTMxhjioosBPehOJN_wVSlOFaU8u-027HBbWJek3mnT9sq89XG-nFMtts7YVgb-DqshKOEbzPjC4/s200/IMG_7753.JPG" title="Bikes in Walls" width="200" /></a></div>
Back on the I-90 the plains gave way to hills and valleys, the acres and acres of corn gave way to dozens and dozens of Harley Davidsons. The guide book actuallly suggests avoiding this area in August because of the Annual Sturgis Motorcycle meet. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2SIP2-18bRfqAIDirlHGOOpq-7VDV71ksAA6OH4J97PGkvN-zicAzzVtg_9-61RIFtqNb-YbGb8NN0VJOhkctGnQQujYK8I_Tz85pA3dzwALpIoXU0jgDS7rYohQmIDIcBrC/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2SIP2-18bRfqAIDirlHGOOpq-7VDV71ksAA6OH4J97PGkvN-zicAzzVtg_9-61RIFtqNb-YbGb8NN0VJOhkctGnQQujYK8I_Tz85pA3dzwALpIoXU0jgDS7rYohQmIDIcBrC/s200/IMG_7883.JPG" title="Harleys were verywhere" width="200" /></a></div>
This year some 800,000 bikers (yes, that is the correct number of zeros) will congregate here for a series of events in and arround Sturgis. We have not got to Sturgis yet but for the last few days the number of Harleys en-route has been steadily increasing and today it was wall to wall Harleys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKMD-L2hDiWDkAdgUW1n3TM1k2szHj-SrtF48AMyTBIt27QddYCM3mr5-1np4oPMnEX0iSb2BbZDr4ajkN4mKP5VfbL9aFeKXYsXaEcwIQPG8HoGC7w0x1kMGZzTBmK2JYSA_/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKMD-L2hDiWDkAdgUW1n3TM1k2szHj-SrtF48AMyTBIt27QddYCM3mr5-1np4oPMnEX0iSb2BbZDr4ajkN4mKP5VfbL9aFeKXYsXaEcwIQPG8HoGC7w0x1kMGZzTBmK2JYSA_/s200/IMG_7786.JPG" title="Another rock tunnel in Custer Park" width="200" /></a></div>
Before long we had reached the environs of Rapid City which we skirted on a ring motorway and headed south through the pine forests of the Black Mountain National Forest for Custer State Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnBXL1m5ZqlnbNqvWh1-BJO9y277Z9YyBflBy2iJJHiCiXaMNbBl2cesU1mh07d2bQIylGbCK7vZd0k-Q9ILd_mGs217W4fbX8mDA_Fall3KJO_NmFD6sUk7hvrOJJq03unyh/s1600/IMG_7791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnBXL1m5ZqlnbNqvWh1-BJO9y277Z9YyBflBy2iJJHiCiXaMNbBl2cesU1mh07d2bQIylGbCK7vZd0k-Q9ILd_mGs217W4fbX8mDA_Fall3KJO_NmFD6sUk7hvrOJJq03unyh/s200/IMG_7791.JPG" title="First glimpse of Mount Rushmore" width="200" /></a></div>
The rest of the day was basically spent wozzling along the scenic drive, stopping at every pull-off and scenic overlook as we made our way around the park looking at bison, burros and bikers on a simply bewildering array of beautifully presented Harley Davidsons. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CETBDK4qqXkYGGwEKa7171p0KFgF1EkEHyqUQjNA8MgR0TEYtxzBjJ-DYoj8UlSt4M3rHJiqMo1mUHiVTLIc7Fvf9C7UU0vsDCtaRttrMYMoOyj2CMqeV8HITt561SYPjZIV/s1600/IMG_7824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CETBDK4qqXkYGGwEKa7171p0KFgF1EkEHyqUQjNA8MgR0TEYtxzBjJ-DYoj8UlSt4M3rHJiqMo1mUHiVTLIc7Fvf9C7UU0vsDCtaRttrMYMoOyj2CMqeV8HITt561SYPjZIV/s200/IMG_7824.JPG" title="Bison in Custer Park" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchccXMx0jyuAWPv3nSNFJnYv6ak3-623qnOrQOedKRAoNDwBzCR2fTnHjcXLlAwYUmCOMTPafKhovE6epai8o2LC-YI-G2JzJbBaB_8B3VNke9h7XT62sNe1cZUNQv9ISSbfl/s1600/IMG_7855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchccXMx0jyuAWPv3nSNFJnYv6ak3-623qnOrQOedKRAoNDwBzCR2fTnHjcXLlAwYUmCOMTPafKhovE6epai8o2LC-YI-G2JzJbBaB_8B3VNke9h7XT62sNe1cZUNQv9ISSbfl/s200/IMG_7855.JPG" title="Burros in Custer Park" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_7u-jEsLprohxjBS3pHhI8XKivqfZP4OgAgfXxEcrIlQ0BW0fHVACCtPZZtm0bJ4UyjbLWfvRpnlI2UFOEi_PFbjFF2vlNiP9JrrvRTK9EqOTLmAe8Dz5Wme6Ng5i0Kuy9HG/s1600/IMG_7901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_7u-jEsLprohxjBS3pHhI8XKivqfZP4OgAgfXxEcrIlQ0BW0fHVACCtPZZtm0bJ4UyjbLWfvRpnlI2UFOEi_PFbjFF2vlNiP9JrrvRTK9EqOTLmAe8Dz5Wme6Ng5i0Kuy9HG/s200/IMG_7901.JPG" title="The Needles covered an extensive area" width="200" /></a></div>
There was the odd other make of super-bike, Victory, Can-am trkies, massive Triumphs, big BMWs and the very rare Japanese make, but 99% were Harleys and wherever we stopped the distinctive sound of the Harleys reverberated through the forest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75RiysYjyeRibDIWKgtJd6soPhBbC1rqDLpiPMATDcJRtKbPRuKdeQ8v4ZZy1MOC0ENnscxB_nzZgCKEkPpP-Ek1LJo3fpho5jIcclB3_8vTjiWFN3ioRvundoA1VxK4wdJxW/s1600/IMG_8037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75RiysYjyeRibDIWKgtJd6soPhBbC1rqDLpiPMATDcJRtKbPRuKdeQ8v4ZZy1MOC0ENnscxB_nzZgCKEkPpP-Ek1LJo3fpho5jIcclB3_8vTjiWFN3ioRvundoA1VxK4wdJxW/s200/IMG_8037.JPG" title="The wooden bridges formed a spiral road" width="200" /></a></div>
Along this fantastic drive there are very narrow tunnels carved out of the granite, switchbacks and wooden trestle bridges where the road loops back over itself to cope with the terrain and our very first view of the Mt Rushmore faces. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASsGYDkibFOx7DZxlm9JE3_ckYFqeWPBFJpXIv1ADan8ybEHSKP0fC0Gub9hx-ysnI0L8tJqYQrUM32lK7OfP5u8r8JNN5aIbKtjiWHZ6EKkrLjGGgCqGmCZ4biw5JCiLLRny/s1600/IMG_7818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASsGYDkibFOx7DZxlm9JE3_ckYFqeWPBFJpXIv1ADan8ybEHSKP0fC0Gub9hx-ysnI0L8tJqYQrUM32lK7OfP5u8r8JNN5aIbKtjiWHZ6EKkrLjGGgCqGmCZ4biw5JCiLLRny/s200/IMG_7818.JPG" title="Lake Lakota" width="200" /></a></div>
Ultimately we got to the Cathederal Spires, the Littel Devils Peak and the Needle. The rocks and views in Custer State Park are quite fantastic.<br />
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194 miles today, total trip 3176. States: South DakotaMurrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10478661.post-15301852648440215322012-08-03T21:29:00.001-01:002012-08-03T23:19:34.124-01:00Badlands - 1 August 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mBuiLhnC6noMbryHzSi9PUWrMTVTlw5DXQ0IVM3pcmo9EJCFLWxDtvMKL3RTVwQP3fkoWA8809AAg0rqBGyDMWxFrTzKS-MsNnS3ynzn7i-yNmKp9zjF4k4_zzwfxFZgPDNf/s1600/IMG_7419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mBuiLhnC6noMbryHzSi9PUWrMTVTlw5DXQ0IVM3pcmo9EJCFLWxDtvMKL3RTVwQP3fkoWA8809AAg0rqBGyDMWxFrTzKS-MsNnS3ynzn7i-yNmKp9zjF4k4_zzwfxFZgPDNf/s400/IMG_7419.JPG" title="Badlands" width="400" /></a></div>
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For a change, we were not awoken by rain or a thunderstorm, this morning it was a woodpecker; rat-tat-tatting away on a nearby tree that heralded the morning. Since the temperature yesterday had peaked at 107F we decided that a walk in the cool of the morning would be preferable to in the baking daytime heat. <br />
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So, abandoning breakfast etc we set off to walk some trails in the Cedar Pass area. The first one was 2.4km out and back walk to a spectacular view overlooking the White River valley. This walk included a climb up a steep slope aided by a "rope ladder" comprised of steel wire hawsers and sections of 150mm diameter logs as treads. It was much easier to ascend than descend.<br />
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The second walk was shorter, over a less well defined trail and equally but differently spectacular. While the first walk had been between peaks, the second walk was basically a plateau and the features and views were ravines.<br />
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With the sun rising (along with the temperature) we set off for the town of Wall, so named because of its proximity to the wall or escarpment that creates much of the Badlands scenery. This drive took us through the rest of the scenic sections of SH 240 that is the main road through the Badlands National Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VIQuamh62zxr0-AmPPINDPVCQaBU0warpD_yZHCpow0WmGseosUFiW3tQGSYmEhzrBhjm4Csh0QSRAZBrTdApJir06ynUHbQggfyP-UNq_MCLv86jiX7VWICFp_mQc0ZQrDK/s1600/IMG_7582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VIQuamh62zxr0-AmPPINDPVCQaBU0warpD_yZHCpow0WmGseosUFiW3tQGSYmEhzrBhjm4Csh0QSRAZBrTdApJir06ynUHbQggfyP-UNq_MCLv86jiX7VWICFp_mQc0ZQrDK/s200/IMG_7582.JPG" title="Wall Drug Store" width="200" /></a></div>
We needed to visit Wall for a number of reasons; fuel - the dashboard display told me I had 24 miles to empty when I parked on the petrol station forecourt - just a bit close for comfort in this hot and inhospitable terrain; breakfast for us (although it was nearly mid-day by now; and to visit Wall Drug for 5c coffee and free ice-water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RyTEStubGtjAgREQ3j9U-CtHoZpfKT9ls4c2gKQxTmtyVlWcwDEsfAUL939dP6SigZMVsTMjsUa9aeED5tNVU9VfHhE3ytXFwlIqJRYgYbZ8uxdTz7dxa2RKYL2RI6MGTzge/s1600/IMG_7610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RyTEStubGtjAgREQ3j9U-CtHoZpfKT9ls4c2gKQxTmtyVlWcwDEsfAUL939dP6SigZMVsTMjsUa9aeED5tNVU9VfHhE3ytXFwlIqJRYgYbZ8uxdTz7dxa2RKYL2RI6MGTzge/s200/IMG_7610.JPG" title="Hundreds of Wall Drug Store signs are along the highway - all different" width="200" /></a></div>
Wall Drug is advertised on billboards along the I-90 for the whole width of South Dakota so there is no excuse for not being aware of its existence. In 1936 a struggling drugstore owner's wife came up with the idea of offering the motorists on the nearby SH 16 (on their way to see the newly unveiled sculptures on Mt Rushmore) free ice-water (not a lot of air-conditioned cars back then!) and they came in droves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nqZP24pFYFn1-TDdiOV-j_mou9OPnv6-9nROon6KTmbK4MBx-YpI6W4sCK1LuHSRahj2Fxke03QDzzafM93T-9VVfkl1eFT1G7i7PhyYpN9J3OYD7FccNVuOrs4x4VG7M3U9/s1600/IMG_7581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nqZP24pFYFn1-TDdiOV-j_mou9OPnv6-9nROon6KTmbK4MBx-YpI6W4sCK1LuHSRahj2Fxke03QDzzafM93T-9VVfkl1eFT1G7i7PhyYpN9J3OYD7FccNVuOrs4x4VG7M3U9/s200/IMG_7581.JPG" title="Wall Drug Store" width="150" /></a></div>
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Some just took the free water, but many purchased ice creams and other goods and the store has flourished ever since. The son took over and offered the 5c coffee but the place is really a huge emporium of tourist tat - the donuts, however, are fantastic! It is set up as a wild-west outpost with lots of cheesy stuff and heaps of historical memorabilia, all in all quite a pleasurable stopping point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDfD_souojp6WcdYGaT8oAjkg_zFfk98ImFxuKhlbri5A6GfTT9zOOMjtuSJ0qUzuRnLZrY9yrxq32-PQitiJCiz1CCbvGXQe4_Vq5qtDGmifw_lX4CNeYbYeDmvp-QMqdSUi/s1600/IMG_7578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDfD_souojp6WcdYGaT8oAjkg_zFfk98ImFxuKhlbri5A6GfTT9zOOMjtuSJ0qUzuRnLZrY9yrxq32-PQitiJCiz1CCbvGXQe4_Vq5qtDGmifw_lX4CNeYbYeDmvp-QMqdSUi/s200/IMG_7578.JPG" title="Murray in Wall Drug Store - the place is full of old time features like this" width="200" /></a></div>
Having had the free ice-water and a couple of cups of 5c coffee, we duly purchased something else - the donuts - and then found a regular store for some milk for what was now brunch.<br />
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We headed back the way we had come, stopped off at the ranger station to watch the video, came out 20 minutes later into fearsome wind, blowing in the direction which would be straight into our tent which we had left with the front flap open because of the heat. We made a dash back to the campground to find the poor old tent being severely battered by the breeze and fastened down every guy rope and fixing point that we typically do not use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_98cBoV9Pygt0m-O5xgpJ07eDnU2mipctBo3qztwLNAfx5ePadI3LjiABZtCpweaSklzjvcHDsWYpW5GcgtJoFjN9tPU2JcjuaLfSLAbOnlcvQsuTikQww04ChDY5OP7l2we/s1600/IMG_7673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_98cBoV9Pygt0m-O5xgpJ07eDnU2mipctBo3qztwLNAfx5ePadI3LjiABZtCpweaSklzjvcHDsWYpW5GcgtJoFjN9tPU2JcjuaLfSLAbOnlcvQsuTikQww04ChDY5OP7l2we/s200/IMG_7673.JPG" title="Bighorn" width="200" /></a></div>
The camp owners assured us that the severe thunderstorm warning that they had been monitoring was over in an hour and that according to the weather radar, the storm had passed so we left the tent up and set off for the White River section of the park. <br />
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This turned out to be a wasted drive as there was nothing extra to see down there. We returned by a different route in the hope of seeing bison but had to be content with Prairie Dogs and Bighorn sheep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUKEqQULlU1vWVJ2HrZeDbrM9DhkeXe8Gjb843CNfTdYaV-HSVbSR6HqNsmi6PXVultn8w_9Z2zzm6ZEVll2bCOnIWCt__eDppKxM88JynQO7abh7hx01xiBNMK0zm2zxwpKS/s1600/IMG_7719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUKEqQULlU1vWVJ2HrZeDbrM9DhkeXe8Gjb843CNfTdYaV-HSVbSR6HqNsmi6PXVultn8w_9Z2zzm6ZEVll2bCOnIWCt__eDppKxM88JynQO7abh7hx01xiBNMK0zm2zxwpKS/s200/IMG_7719.JPG" title="Sunset in the Badlands" width="200" /></a></div>
By now the scattered clouds had cleared and the sunshine was illuminating the landscape brilliantly so we slowly made our way back to camp through the park once more, had a quick dinner and then set out to capture some sunset shots to round off a good day in bad lands.Murrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14266563412769631033noreply@blogger.com0