Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Awesome Camping Weekend Pt. 1: Bridges
Friday afternoon, husband and I decided to hit the road and take a look at all this water we keep hearing about! We soon found a beautiful little spot above Red Lodge by Rock Creek, and enjoyed the camp fire as Gus scouted around and chased his special stick. What a soothing rest, listening to the running water as it slightly crested its banks. We all slept well that night!
After a delicious Saturday morning breakfast of fried tators, eggs and bacon, we headed south on the infamous BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY.
Having taken my first picture of the Beartooth Pass, the battery flashed low. So I had to charge my battery during the ride while taking pics with Scott's fancy-pants camera. Eventually, I will get to THOSE pics, but for now...
So we are going to JUMP ahead. It took a couple of hours to drive the Beartooth (from slow traffic and stopping to see various sights- such as skiers, snow drifts and vast scenery). Soon, we stopped at a cool bridge on the Wyoming side.
By now, you know I always get a pic of Xeric taking a pic...
and one of us - same pose, different back ground!
What was a beautiful waterfall is now a roaring river.
This is looking over the bridge - the tree won't be here long with that force against it.
I was actually able to take a little walk to the old bridge (pic is zoomed in,) and circle around to the highway bridge. It was so good to get out and and experience nature at its best -smell the fresh smells and hear the variety of sounds such as birds, wind through the trees and the water...wow...this is usually just a small stream. We had to yell to hear each other over its ROAR! And most amazing is the lushness of grass and flowers. The whole forest is carpeted thicker than '70s shag!
I am standing on the highway bridge looking over to the old waterfall bridge, zoomed in.
Not zoomed in. Can you say, "whitewater"?! No, not raftable and basically not even safe for those crazy kayaks!
Continuing on, we headed south east on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway rather than heading to Yellowstone. We soon approached another amazing work of architecture!
After crossing another bridge, we pulled into the rest area so Scott, Gus and I could walk over and get a better view of the countryside, both land and water.
Yes, if you have vertigo, it's not a good idea to stand too close. There is a railing to help balance yourself if need be. :o)
Of course there's a most accommodating trail with railing to walk across the bridge itself. Posted is this sign that makes me laugh every time I read it.
Ready to take a look?
(zoomed)
See the eddy full of large logs in the shaded water? Sometimes, no matter how many times you snap a picture, they just can't do justice to the grandeur of these cliffs.
After gazing across the gorgeous river and canyon walls, I glanced up and saw ALL that snow still blanketed across the high country. Still so much to melt.
Shortly thereafter, we jumped in the pickup and decided to drive further down the highway, ready to find a good spot to make lunch.
Next up - red rocks and flowers.
After a delicious Saturday morning breakfast of fried tators, eggs and bacon, we headed south on the infamous BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY.
Having taken my first picture of the Beartooth Pass, the battery flashed low. So I had to charge my battery during the ride while taking pics with Scott's fancy-pants camera. Eventually, I will get to THOSE pics, but for now...
So we are going to JUMP ahead. It took a couple of hours to drive the Beartooth (from slow traffic and stopping to see various sights- such as skiers, snow drifts and vast scenery). Soon, we stopped at a cool bridge on the Wyoming side.
By now, you know I always get a pic of Xeric taking a pic...
and one of us - same pose, different back ground!
What was a beautiful waterfall is now a roaring river.
This is looking over the bridge - the tree won't be here long with that force against it.
I was actually able to take a little walk to the old bridge (pic is zoomed in,) and circle around to the highway bridge. It was so good to get out and and experience nature at its best -smell the fresh smells and hear the variety of sounds such as birds, wind through the trees and the water...wow...this is usually just a small stream. We had to yell to hear each other over its ROAR! And most amazing is the lushness of grass and flowers. The whole forest is carpeted thicker than '70s shag!
I am standing on the highway bridge looking over to the old waterfall bridge, zoomed in.
Not zoomed in. Can you say, "whitewater"?! No, not raftable and basically not even safe for those crazy kayaks!
Continuing on, we headed south east on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway rather than heading to Yellowstone. We soon approached another amazing work of architecture!
After crossing another bridge, we pulled into the rest area so Scott, Gus and I could walk over and get a better view of the countryside, both land and water.
Yes, if you have vertigo, it's not a good idea to stand too close. There is a railing to help balance yourself if need be. :o)
Of course there's a most accommodating trail with railing to walk across the bridge itself. Posted is this sign that makes me laugh every time I read it.
Ready to take a look?
(zoomed)
See the eddy full of large logs in the shaded water? Sometimes, no matter how many times you snap a picture, they just can't do justice to the grandeur of these cliffs.
After gazing across the gorgeous river and canyon walls, I glanced up and saw ALL that snow still blanketed across the high country. Still so much to melt.
Shortly thereafter, we jumped in the pickup and decided to drive further down the highway, ready to find a good spot to make lunch.
Next up - red rocks and flowers.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
It Was a Lovely Weekend -
HERE'S a little taste of what we did! I will write a blog in a few days. Until then, I will be hanging out with my lovely grand daughter, having a bbq with Theo and his family tonight and tomorrow - yet another surgery. Until then - people are still driving me around! Hope you are all having a great summer!
Miss Daisy
Miss Daisy
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
To All of You Who Still Have Your Father -
Hold on and appreciate him! I miss mine so bad. (this was taken a couple of years before he died). Obviously, I'm standing on a step. And can you see how our hands/fingers are shaped like alike? :o)
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
It's More Than Just A Creek!
Road trip! Sunday, Scott, Gus and I decided to drive up to Fort Peck to see its record setting level.
And as always, no matter where you go, there is some sort of geological history -
or of the westward expansion .
It was yet another cloudy day (producing afternoon showers) but nice drive, nonetheless. I've never seen the country so green!
So much sky and open spaces!
And water!
It's hard to believe a short 2 years ago this small community of Roundup had water hauled in due to the low level of the Musselshell River.
I can't even tell where the river banks are.
This flooding is the 2nd in that many weeks.
After about 4 1/2 hours of driving, we reached the Fort Peck spillway. (My mom's family used to live up here, and my sweet Uncle Dan actually helped build the damn dam in the early 1930s!)
Here is a shot of the reservoir. It looks like an ocean out there! Remember, this is usually arid country!
We weren't the only ones wanting to see the water.
These cool lights are across the spillway - probably the original ones.
The historic info center -
Looking down, you can see the water running through 1 of its 16 gates.
I love the sound of running water. Sweet music to my ears!
A couple miles of the run, than into the Missouri River. It starts slow - ends up at about 30mph.
Interesting 1930s architecture.
We walked over to get a different angle of the gorgeous unique structure...
and a look at the wave at the bottom, fatal if you choose to go through it.
Playing tourist is so interesting. We continued driving and soon we came upon the damn dam - doesn't look like much, does it?
All for this-
The banks are full mostly due to the massive amount of rain we've received this year. Banks are full - everywhere. In addition, the snow pack is about 300% above average due to (1) amount of snowfall this winter and (2) cooler weather not allowing it to melt. Once it starts melting, and hopefully it will be slow...the real flooding will begin. Currently the spillway gates are releasing 60,000 CFS of water.
I heard on the news this morning that the volunteers in Roundup have finally made a makeshift 4 wheel drive road to get to some of the flood victims who have been isolated for a couple of weeks. (They've had supplies boated into them.)
Water. It's an amazing force! more thoughts later...
And as always, no matter where you go, there is some sort of geological history -
or of the westward expansion .
It was yet another cloudy day (producing afternoon showers) but nice drive, nonetheless. I've never seen the country so green!
So much sky and open spaces!
And water!
It's hard to believe a short 2 years ago this small community of Roundup had water hauled in due to the low level of the Musselshell River.
I can't even tell where the river banks are.
This flooding is the 2nd in that many weeks.
After about 4 1/2 hours of driving, we reached the Fort Peck spillway. (My mom's family used to live up here, and my sweet Uncle Dan actually helped build the damn dam in the early 1930s!)Here is a shot of the reservoir. It looks like an ocean out there! Remember, this is usually arid country!
We weren't the only ones wanting to see the water.
These cool lights are across the spillway - probably the original ones.
The historic info center -
Looking down, you can see the water running through 1 of its 16 gates.
I love the sound of running water. Sweet music to my ears!
A couple miles of the run, than into the Missouri River. It starts slow - ends up at about 30mph.
Interesting 1930s architecture.
We walked over to get a different angle of the gorgeous unique structure...
and a look at the wave at the bottom, fatal if you choose to go through it.
Playing tourist is so interesting. We continued driving and soon we came upon the damn dam - doesn't look like much, does it?
All for this-
The banks are full mostly due to the massive amount of rain we've received this year. Banks are full - everywhere. In addition, the snow pack is about 300% above average due to (1) amount of snowfall this winter and (2) cooler weather not allowing it to melt. Once it starts melting, and hopefully it will be slow...the real flooding will begin. Currently the spillway gates are releasing 60,000 CFS of water.I heard on the news this morning that the volunteers in Roundup have finally made a makeshift 4 wheel drive road to get to some of the flood victims who have been isolated for a couple of weeks. (They've had supplies boated into them.)
Water. It's an amazing force! more thoughts later...
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