The most fun since our last post was a two week road trip in our new
RV through much of the US and Canadian Rockies.
The tour included stops at Fairmont Hot Springs BC, the Columbia Ice Fields just south of Jasper AB, Banff,
Calgary and Medicine Hat, also in Alberta, Crow Agency and Red Lodge MT, Buffalo and Cody WY, plus
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Parks. (We posted a few eCards.)
Continuing a tradition we've respected since college, we enjoyed a picnic along the banks of
Pilgrim Creek in the Tetons. Because the spring runoff rearranges the creek bed each year,
every visit is a new experience!
Picnic along Pilgrim Creek, Grand Teton National Park
News & Notes
When driving the back roads of America, travelers seek the charming small towns other tourists miss. Such a town is Red Lodge in south central Montana, population 2200 people, elevation 5570 feet. We stayed at a wonderful 8 room mom-and-pop motel, enjoyed happy hour at a friendly cowboy bar, noticed the bank had been held up by the Sundance Kid, and breakfasted at a cute cafe in a heritage grocery store with ceramic chickens and chicks guarding its original neon sign and solar panel. The town doesn't take itself too seriously.
Five miles east of town is the site of the Smith Mine Disaster with its tragic message from Walter and Johnny. West of town are the Bear Tooth Mountains. Red Lodge is not to be missed!
Many of the fossils we saw on the tour reveal a fascinating story. One of the most interesting was "Death Comes To A Horseshoe Crab." Our picture simply shows the enormity of the fossil. Google's slide show explains the whole story. Check it out!
L Standing By the Crab Track Fossil (Thermopolis WY)
And then there was the mysterious bait shop located in a very arid region of Wyoming.
No Matter Your Luck, You'll Be Catching Fish
J has taken a master class in pie baking and the results have been exceptional. For her final she baked a Lemon Meringue and this Peach Pie. We'd already eaten the Lemon Meringue Pie before we thought to photograph it. We probably wouldn't have a photo of the Peach Pie either, but they take longer to cool.
A Peach Pie Moments Before It Disappeared
Steve Schlesinger, L's grad school office mate, stopped by for a couple of days with his partner Judy on their road trip along the West Coast. It was fun to get caught up after so many years.
Following up on the newt report from May, we are assuming that at least one of the newts matured and crawled out of the pond. In the sand and rocks between the pond and the house we glimpsed this 2.5 inch long long-toed salamander. It is a poor picture, but we were unwilling to pick up this delicate creature for a better shot.
Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum)
