Yellowstone Update

We did find a bell for Pawpaw, but we haven't had time to put it on him. The most exciting challenges navigating around Yellowstone have been trying to avoid the city folks that stop in the middle of the road if they see an animal near the road. We did see one fool try to get up close to a bull elk. The elk charged him, but unfortunately the guy was able to run back to the road. We were hoping for some elk goring footage for youtube. We have seen buffalo, elk, and a bear. We will pass through Yellowstone one more time on our way to Casper and then to Mt. Rushmore.

Adventures in Yellowstone

First let me just say we've been running hard and the wifi here is limited to 2 consecutive hours a day. We began day 1 at Yellowstone trying to get the grey water line repaired. The friendly folks at the RV park recommended OB's RV repair. We called OB and they said they could have someone out by the end of the week. (We should be back home by then.) When we told them we could not wait that long, they said we could come by for the parts and if they didn't have them, there was a hardware store next door. Pawpaw and I set off to find OB's, but could not locate them in this little town. Pawpaw called OB and got further instructions, but we still could not find them. We did find the hardware store next door to the RV park. It was within walking distance from our trailer. The sewer is repaired.

Yellowstone 2010 At Last!

We made it to Yellowstone and watched Old Faithful erupt. We also made a pass through part of the Grand Tetons. Will have more news tomorrow and pictures too.

Idaho Highway Blues

Idaho was quite lovely and the highways were in good shape. Our troubles began after a "quick" trip to the Blackfoot Walmart. Just outside Sugar City the left rear trailer tire blew-out. We managed to limp along to a truck stop and a kind gentleman from Liberty, Texas stopped to help us. We got Pawpaws 1995 Goodyear trailer put on the ground for the first time. The gentleman from Texas refused any compensation and said that's what friends are for. Then just 60 miles from our destination, that fine spare tire blew-out. After a call to 911 and another kind gentleman's aid, we were rescued by a tire repairman with a deputy to redirect traffic. Our five hour drive took 10 hours. To top it off when the tire blew-out, it took out the grey water drain line.

Utah

We had a treacherous drive up I 15 to Salt Lake City. We avoided the mountains to make better time, but had to brave the 18-wheelers on the freeway. After we got off the freeway, we had a beautiful drive through a mountain valley up to Bear Lake. We came out on top of a mountain overlooking the lake. It was gorgeous, but I don't think Granny opened her eyes. The drive down to the lake probably took a few years of brake-life off Pawpaw's truck. There are at least 24 kids with the couple next door and they are staying in a trailer smaller than ours. Granny is just laid back with all those kids running up and down the streets.

From Santa Fe to Utah

Today we traveled about 450 miles in 11 and 1/2 hours. The trip would have been shorter, but we ran into a sandstorm at Shiprock. The storm prevented me from seeing the sign for the side road that we were supposed to take to the four corners. Tammy, our TomTom navigator, had never heard of the four corners and refused to cooperate at all. Not seeing the sign led us on a 50 mile detour. Once we realized we were headed way off course, we chose an alternate route. After much delay we finally made it to the four corners, but it was closed for remodeling. We felt like the Griswold's on summer vacation to wally world.

Walkabout Santa Fe

We had a lot of fun today, but we did have a brief scare. Pawpaw wandered off in search of a men's room and didn't show back up for over an hour. Granny, Donna, and Joyce waited on the plaza while I searched the hotel where he had headed. Nobody at the hotel remembered seeing a swimmy-headed elderly gentleman looking for a restroom, but they said see a lot of those. I circled around the downtown area until I finally got a call that he had showed back up from the opposite direction from where he had left. He thought he had left his cell phone at the trailer, but it was in his pocket turned off. He will not be allowed to wander off alone again on this trip.