Yellowstone National Park

When I lived near Idaho Falls our family traveled to Yellowstone Park frequently. We experienced the early days when bears begged for hand outs along the road and raided picnic tables as soon as all the food was out. Ron & I took our teenagers there when we were a new family in 1976 and we haven't been there since. In fact since my father passed away in December of 2001 – I hadn't been back to Idaho Falls. My brother and his wife came to see us in 2002 in Salem. It was definitely time for a visit. It was wonderful spending time with Bob and Barbara.

On September 8th we left Bob's house early in the morning for our Yellowstone Adventure.  We entered the National Park through West Yellowstone Montana.  We were pushing the envelop for nice weather this late in the season.  Old Faithful Inn closes on September 30th until the Park opens later for the Winter Season with other Lodging available.

Our Senior Gold Card got us through the gate withour any charge - but we soon found a place to purchase a fishing permit for Ron - 3 days for $15.00.  He fished along the Madison River where he caught and released a native Cut Throat Trout. 

We had a picnic beside the Madison River during an hour of so of dry weather.  I nervously kept looking over my sholder for wild life.  Gratefully the only "wildlife" were grey nutcrackers, crows, ravens and chipmonks!

After a nice Lunch we traveled up the Fire Hole River - until it dropped out of sight into the Fire Hole Canyon - and came out again as a pretty little water fall. 

We experienced every kind of weather in the first six hours of our trip.  From 80 degrees and burning sun to thunder storms and pouring rain.

Buffalo stopped traffic along the way and they are huge!  We also saw a wolf in the basin but were unable to get a picture.  We heard that the Elk and Moose were near Mammoth Hot Springs and with only one day in the park we decided against a long drive toward the North Park Enterance.

I was eager to check in at the Inn so we saw what we could of the Lower Geyser Basin - until the thunder storm sent us running for cover.  Then we moved on to the Midway Geyser Basin where we caught a bit of sunshine and hot weather. 
AT LAST - WE ARRIVED!






I was SO Excited - It was just GRAND!  In the next blog - I will show you the inside of this historic Inn!
Thanks  for sharing in the fun.

Round About My Hometown

After arriving in Idaho Falls my Bob (my brother) and Barbara (his wife) took us for a drive.  We wound through the countryside past my first grade school, past two differnt farms where our family lived while I was growing up.  Some of the buildings were still there.  Funny how it all seems so much smaller now.  Then we drove to the foot hills that flank the Snake River Valley on the East to see the ever growing Wind Farms

Ron & I were both thrilled to see so many of these wind farms in action on both sides of the gorge in both Oregon and Washington on our way.  It is amazing to me how this new technology is just happening. 

There was a lot about this trip that amazed me.  The place I grew up was so dominately mormon that I felt very much a minority.  The culture has changed.  It used to be that July 4th was never celebrated in Idaho Falls because July 24th (Mormon Day) was such a big celebration.  This is no longer so.  It is still the main religion but much more diverse in attitudes than I remembered. 

The beautiful "Idaho Falls"

We arrived on Monday Sept. 5th and left for our Yellowstone adventure on Sept. 8th.

It was a wonderful trip and I will share some of the highlights with you on the next blog.

Love to all

Idaho Trip September 2010

What a trip! Ron & I left early on September 3rd with up to three weeks to spend with my brother Bob and sister-in-law Barbara – a plan to see old home places, relatives and friends, take a trip to Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone Park and attend my 50th Class Reunion. This has given me material for at least three blogs – so here is the first installment. I will write more as I get the pictures edited.

Our first stop was in the beautiful george - at Multnomah Falls!

We had our little Mazda packed so tight we had to roll down windows to push everything in.  We car camped on the way to Idaho with our first stop a few miles East of La Grande Oregon where we had camped many years ago.  We were pleased to find the spot was just as beautiful and secluded as it was 20 years ago.  There were hundreds of Canada Geese coming in for the night and we were able to watch the pair of Osprey fish the lake and show off at sunrise high in the sky.  It was a wonderful resting place!

As we continued on our journey we found lots of road construction and the speed limited fluctuated between 75 and 45 for a long way.  I was tense with the narrow lanes and big trucks and so by the time we reached an RV park by Burley Idaho - I was ready to stop!

Sunday September 5th we had a short trip on to Idaho Falls.  We stopped at Masacure Rock just before Pocatello Idaho to look for the White Pelecans we usually see there on the Snake River.

A couple of hours and we were at Bob & Barbara's home in Idaho Falls!  That was a great reunion!

Kam was busy repainting all the critters that grace the "Funny Farm" with enough to amuse one for weeks!

Bob thought Ron & I should take a spin around the mile on his antique bicycle built for two!

Barbara, Oreo, Ron & Betty enjoying the beautiful place and a good visit.  We had two days to rest up and catch up before our trip to Yellowstone Park.  Check in soon for the next installment.  Love to all!

River Romp 2010

Left to right: Jesse Laramore, Chris & Deja Blanchard, Vick & Mark Lennox, Ernie Front Justin Derricott and Jarred Laramore


We enjoyed seeing relatives and friends at the River Romp the 7th of August. Ron's kids and grandkids were there in numbers to cook breakfast Saturday morning. We sure enjoyed them all. The breakfast was wonderful too.
Grandaughters, Alyssa Derricott & Deja Blanchard

Daughters, Vicki Lennox and Diana Derricott

The Beautiful bench was made by Rolf Kahn and a friend from the original sign that was posted in the 1970's for the Ranch - and lost for years in the barn. Rolf resqued it and helped design this amazing bench made of Cedar,Oak (arm rests) Alder milled from Rolfs property on the seat and Cherry wood makes up the frame.

The back of the bench uses horse harness yoke and hardware to write UK

Left to right: Leslie Carrol, Vicki Lennox and Jesse Laramore

Pet, Ulf and Ron enjoy the meal!

Ron had cataract surgery on Monday Aug. 9th and now he has 20-20 vision again!! We are so happy. His heart is doing well and he is on a new med for diabetes that is working better.
We are getting excited about our 3 week vacation and trip to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming – and going to my Class Reunion.

I have put together a 20 minute video using computer technology that Tim has taught me. I am now waiting until the 25th to see if any more classmate pictures come in – and after that I am laying in the sound track and voice over and then I have to burn 32 DVD's. I have the labels all made and I think it will be a fun presentation.

I have used the computer to find campsites to use along the way on our trip to Idaho Falls. We will tent camp at Wolf Creek Reservoir in Oregon near LeGrande and then near Burley Idaho or the Twin Falls Reservoir in Idaho before we come to Idaho Falls.

On the 8th of Sept we will travel to Old Faithful Inn for the night and for dinner and then we will tour Yellowstone Park. We plan to exit the South going through the Teton's and
will travel to Swan Valley Idaho for more camping. Hopefully Ron can catch some fish to take back to my Brother Bob and his wife Barbara where we will stay for the rest of our trip.

All this should make for a good blog when I get back.


Greetings to all. Love you!