Yellowstone At Last

Yellowstone had gotten to be a sad milestone for me. For those who know me, or follow this blog, the plan was to take my mom in 2012, for her 90th birthday. But she passed away a few weeks before her 90th, and I didn't travel much last year.

Then I tried to go myself in the fall, but had trouble with my motor home. It turned out to be nearly nothing. Just brake lights that weren't dependably going off (and, left on, were running the battery down). But you really don't (or, anyway, I really don't) travel four or five states away from home if you don't know why the vehicle doesn't start when you turn the key.

I finally made it at the end of last month. There were a few more repairs required. Alas, the rig is nine years old and needs more help and attention. But I finally got there. And it was worth the hype.

I guess it's better than neither one of us ever getting there.

I really didn't hike. Ella was not allowed anywhere, and it's not like the old days when I could leave her and my mom back in camp to keep each other company. Anyway, that was a good excuse. But truthfully, I'm not sure I was ready for the whole grizzly bear experience. I didn't have a hiking party of three or more, as recommended, and though I could have gotten some bear spray, I think just buying it would be enough to talk me out of going.

It was more of a driving tour experience, with a lot of traipsing up and down boardwalks and taking photos and video.

  

Please do check out the My Photos page for more Yellowstone photos, if interested.

It's been a long time since I posted a travel blog. Hope I never have to go this long again.

Remember Hiking and Travel?

Ella at Tomales BayMe, too, though it was a distant memory for a while there. I used to post blogs about my hiking/camping/outdoor trips three or four times a year. Sometimes more. But it's been a tough year. Most of you know my mom passed away in March, and I've managed not to get out the door since. That means last time I went somewhere fun in the motor home was my failed Grand Canyon hike last November.

This is not said to elicit sympathy, nor am I feeling sorry for myself. It was just time to get back out there.

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Beautiful Natural World

Truth be told, I haven't been out in it much lately. I was home with my mom 24 hours a day for a while. And now I'm having a little trouble getting back on my feet, though I'm planning a couple of hiking getaways soon. I've had to completely rethink the schedule, as I now need to keep myself almost entirely to hikes that allow dogs. No more leaving Ella in the motorhome with my mom.

Anyway, while I was stuck indoors, I put together a second slideshow of some of my nature shots. The first "Beautiful World" slideshow had travel shots, including man-made sights. This one is nature-only.

If you're stuck inside today, here's a way to remember what a beautiful world we live in:

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Yup.

Nevada Fall from the John Muir TrailSecond time's a charm. The weather cooperated beautifully as I left Upper Pines Campground at 6:00 a.m. (by headlamp and a full moon), hiked up to Vernal Fall footbridge, took the John Muir Trail up to the Panorama Trail, the Panorama Trail over Illouette Creek (and the outlook over Illouette Fall). Halfway between Illouette and Glacier Point, I still had not seen one other human. Then they began to pass me. Walking down. No one else was walking up. They all asked if I had hiked up from the valley. One man, when I said yes, said--in heavily accented but perfect English--"Then you are my hero."

My speed was anything but heroic, but no one seemed to care. Including me. Getting

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Panorama Trail: Second Time's a Charm?

This is not the first time my hiking/travel adventures have required a bit of a do-over. Those who have followed this blog for a long time may remember The Great Crater Lake Do-Over. I took my mom and my dog and myself to Crater Lake just in time to run into a fierce wildfire nearby. We did go to the lake--we had to. The road out again went

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For National Parks Fans...

I have two more National Parks to talk about, both from my recent trip. The first is Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and the second is Mesa Verde. Both in Colorado, both parks we visited on the way home from Pike's Peak. Because, heck, if you're going to drive all the way from California to Colorado, you might as well get a good sampling of what Colorado has to offer.

Here are a couple of small samples of these parks.

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