Homeward bound

After being frozen out of Yellowstone NP we realized that Glacier National Park likely would not be any more hospitable, at least until late July or August. We decided to head to Seattle WA to visit with family and went there via Grand Teton NP. While the weather in Teton was a little more inviting, it was cloudy the first two days so we hiked several of the great hikes. On the last day we biked a loop that included the roads through the park. We saw a lot bisons, but mostly just enjoyed the gorgeous scenery that was all around us.

While Seattle itself never seems to welcome us with sunshine it is such a beautiful city that we love it anyway and always enjoy our visits there. It could be the company we keep while we're there. We have such a wonderful time hiking with family. This year we hiked up to Domrie Peak. It was great hike with wonderful views of Mt Rainier and Lake Cle Elum.

So we reached the west! We also reached many of our goals. Along with seeing this beautiful country  another reason was to figure out our path forward for our next phase of life. But that is the Stoker's story, so I will let him tell it. For now we are heading east to St. Augustine.

Yellowstone NP and thoughts of home

I lost count of how many national parks, monuments and forests we have visited on this trip but this I know - each one is so beautiful and unique and a wonder to behold. But Yellowstone...ah Yellowstone is special. Maybe because it holds a special memory for me as I visited Yellowstone with my daughter about 12 years ago when she was just entering her teen years and I had just obtained my doctorate. It was a magical visit - just us girls. During that trip the weather was perfect, we found inexpensive lodging in the Park and Old Faithful put on an unforgettable show.

This trip things were different. It was the second week of June and freezing. We awoke to morning temperatures of 29 degrees and snow. We left with warnings by a ranger to be aware of icy roads down the steep mountain pass...'just keep it in first gear and keep it under 5 mph and you should be fine' he said as he flashed that NPS smile that has melted many a young woman's heart. But it was still beautiful.

Yellowstone is special. It has so many 'faces'. There are canyons, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, wetlands and hot springs. It is such a magical place. We saw bison (of course!), prairie dogs, mountain goats, prong horns, and .... black bears! It was with sadness - and my fleece and woolies under my pants - that we left the park - slowly -  keeping it in first gear!

Maybe it was the snow, maybe it was that we were unsure of our next destination, maybe I am tiring of wearing the same shoes each day, but as we left Yellowstone I began thinking it may be time to head home...or maybe not!