Mushrooms any one?

Mushrooms any one?

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  This fall I had the chance to visit the state of Washington and do some hiking up North of Seattle.  Weather conditions just happened to be perfect for growing some mushrooms.  Only problem is, I really do not know mushrooms.  In the group of images there is one type called “Fairy Mushrooms”.  I bet you can guess which one’s they are!

Is a Crash, an Accident?

   So, does having someone run into your car with theirs, constitute having an accident or a crash?  I was once told that there are really very few accidents, but a lot of crashes that take place every day. 

  Regardless of how you define it, I was afforded the opportunity to experience what I will call a “crash” the other day.   The other driver was in the middle of a tree lane road, while I was driving down the right hand lane.   The other driver spotted their turn and decided as they were almost ready to go past, to make a quick dash to the right. 

   unfortunately for me, I happened to be in the right hand lane, going straight.  This created somewhat of a dilemma for me, as my 4×4, though very good at getting moving in the snow, is not able to stop any faster than the next guy.  Of course given about two car lengths to drop from 35 to 0 miles per hour was an insurmountable achievement for even the best vehicle on the road.  But if you toss in some remanent winter salt and sand on the pavement and you end up with an even better mixture for suc-crash.

   So here I go into the next week, minus my beautiful new 4×4 with a mere 3,000 miles on it.  Instead, I get to drive around this week in what feels like a clown car from a three-ring circus.  I am not a small person, so the effect, feels to be magnified, at least from my perspective anyway. 

  I will say that I am glad to say no one was hurt in the crash.  Notice I did not call it an accident.  Reason for this is anytime the other person has clothing and stuff, piled up to the ceiling in the back seat, plus almost as much in the front passenger seat, plus they are smoking while the decide to make sudden and illegal turns at random, are not having an accident.  They are a crash just waiting to happen.  Then if you add to the mix they are driving a rental car while doing all this, it makes even less sense.

   So, I must say that I was involved in an Accident this last week, which was caused by a moving CRASH, which was waiting for me to come along.

I can hardly wait to see what the new week has in store.

80 on 80 in Nebraska

So, your heading West across the big wide state of Nebraska.  You are driving down the Interstate Highway number 80, traveling at 75 miles per hour plus.  Or as some would say, doing 80 on 80!

 

After traveling for hours after crossing from Iowa into Nebraska, you see something up ahead which does not look like a normal overpass up ahead.  As you get closer you can see what appears to be a giant covered bridge, straight out a Madison County Bridges scene from the Outer Limits. 

 

What you see as you get closer is what is actually a building which spans across the interstate, which contains a history lesson on how the West was made.   Having driven underneath this monument a number of times over the years, we did actually take the time to stop and go inside during one trip in years past. 

 

This is what could be one of the best stopping points along what is an otherwise very boring stretch of highway.  What I cannot understand for the life of me, is that they forgot to place the thing near any exits?  If you want people to stop and shop, do not expect people to drive backwards the other direction over 3 miles.  the average person is not going to feel they have the time to drive over six miles out of their way to see something that they have no Idea about what is inside.

 

Hopefully they will add an exit near this wonderful buildings, to make it more accessable and inviting for passerbys, to not pass this one up.

 

The great Platte Arch Monument

2009 Yellowstone – Bull Elk in rut.

What could be more exciting than being witness to two bull Elk fighting for the right to mate with the herd.

Two Bull Elk fight for mating rights.

Bull Elk lock horns.

The dominate male on the right was successful in deterring the rival bull from sticking around.  Minutes later the rival on left, turned and headed back up the bank into the nearby hillside.  Shorty there after, the winning male bugeled his success to the females down by the stream.

   This September visit to our first National Park, resulted in some of the best wildlife spotting we have ever been lucky enough to witness.  After starting our visit out in the Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin area, we worked our way back around to Lake Yellowstone and then headed up past Canyon and Tower and then up to Mammoth Hot Springs, taking stops at each along the way.  The fall season ended up being a bit more of a challenge, as the road between Old Faithful and the Norris Geyser Basin area was closed for road construction.   Just north of Mammoth heading down toward the north entry gate near Gardner, we happened upon a large herd of Elk along the river one early morning. 

    Viewing two male bull Elk fighting over the right to mate with the herd was something we each thought we would only see on a TV show.  To witness this first hand, was something we not only felt lucky about, but truly privileged.  The National and State Park systems are assets which each of us needs to make sure our government representatives know is appreciated and always in need of their continued support and protection.

Yellowstone 2009

    We just returned from a wonderful week in Yellowstone National Park.  We only wish we would have  had many more weeks to stick around.  A word of advise is the park does start to shut down mid September.  But what a great time of year to enjoy the nature of what is Yellowstone. 

    What a thrill to see Bull Elk locking horns while fighting for the right of the herd next to a mountain stream, glittering into the warm haze of the morning sun.  Or, perhaps the site of a black bear turning over rocks to gain access to the moths hiding beneath.  Maybe it was the site of over 400 Buffalo grazing in the golden fall colored grass, leading down to the blue of the Yellowstone River below.  Perhaps it was the a family of three Otters gliding down the rapids only to turn around and climb back up the rocks in what appeared to be nothing more than a trip to the local amusement park.  Then again, I think the sight of a Ospry swooping out of the sky to snatch a trout out of the stream, while hordes of fishermen could only stand hip deep in the water staring in envy.

Any single item of those listed above is reason alone to take the trip to Yellowstone.  But, I haven’t even gotten around to taking about the thermal features.

Yellowstone, then and now.

As we contemplate heading toward Yellowstone, I realize looking at some old family photo’s that our visit will be somewhat different than those of some of my ancestors. 

Travel as it was in the 1880′s.As can be seen, my Great Grandmother had a slightly different mode of transportation into Yellowstone to work in the houskeeping department at a park lodge.  Later, she was joined by her sister, who possing as someone older than 18, which she was not, was able to work along side her sister in what had to have been a great adventure at the time.  The Way We Where.

So, it’s getting time to start packing.  What to wear in Yellowstone?

The Way We Where.

We could dress in the same manner as what people in the 1880′s would have been dressed.   Perhaps something like this photo of us take a few years ago.  But considering we might stand out a bit, probably not a good choice, unless that was the goal.  Also, not the best hiking outfits!