RV Trip

Okay, I know this makes for a lot to read but we did a lot this week!

The morning of the 5th we all woke up and piled into the new (well at least to our family) RV. We knew we had to stop at Jiffy Lube on the way out of town to get a crack in the RV windshield fixed. However on the way down the canyon a rock flipped up from a 18 wheeler and put a major crack in the jeep windshield too. So we ended up getting 2 rock chips fixed and that made for about a 45 min delay, but then got on the road toward Wyoming and all was well. After a long day of travel we parked just outside of Jackson Hole. We were able to watch the wild west show downtown and then catch the play Oklahoma before returning to the RV for our first night of the vacation. The next day we went sight seeing, took our picture by the famous Elk Antler Arches, and shopped until lunch!

From Jackson we drove up to Teton National Park for a short boat ride followed by a hike to a fantastic waterfall. (I would show you a picture but it was on my dad's camera). After the hike we drove to Flagg Ranch which is just between Jackson and Yellowstone National Park where we would be staying for the nights.

On Monday we drove the lower loop of Yellowstone. At our very first stop we saw a buffalo. It was an old bull that had been kicked out of the herd so he was by himself. If you look at the picture you will see Mark and I on the right, then if you look close, behind Mark in front of the tree you should be able to see the bull laying down in the grass. After taking the necessary pictures we went on the board walk to see the first set of hot springs. They are so pretty. The really hot hot ones are free of bacteria and show crystal clear colors. You can look down into the water for yards and yards. We went to the Grand Canyon of Yellow Stone. It isn't anywhere near as big as THE Grand Canyon, but the waterfall was still amazing. Looking at the rock I now know how the park got its name.

The land in Yellowstone NP is so beautiful!

There are mud pots and geysers littered across the park. Of course the most famous geyser is Old Faithful. It was said that when the explorers and trappers found Old Faithful it would explode every couple of minutes and it was so predictable you could set your watch by it. After an earthquake, I think in the 50's, it only goes off about every 90 minutes (and there is a +/- 10 min. window). Mark took a video. I figured I would try my first video post with this just in case someone hasn't seen Old Faithful before.

We counted 50 some buffalo and many more creatures in the park. These are some of my favorite pictures of the amazing creatures God has put on this earth.

These buffalo are just chillin'.

Have you ever seen a baby

bison? Well now you have!

We also saw a lot of elk and 2 bald eagles, but their pictures didn't turn out as nice.

After the day at Yellowstone we relaxed the next morning. The boys tried fishing, but were unsuccessful. Mark saw a grizzly bear a safe distance across the river where they were at though. The whole family got to go horse back riding. Since it was a trail ride we didn't get to go "wander" off with the horses or really trot and gallop with them, but the ride was beautiful. Mom and I really enjoyed all the wildflowers we saw. After the ride we drove back to the Tetons and snapped a few pictures (something we had failed to enough of before). The boys tried to fish again and dad actually caught a trout. While the boys went fishing Mom and I relaxed by setting up chairs next to a beautiful river and reading just for the fun of it.

Well I know that was a lot of talk and a lot of pictures, sorry if you got bored. We really enjoyed the trip though! Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us tag along!!!!