Jackson Hole

Yesterday I returned to the land I love best on this earth, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the most magnificent mountains ever, The Grand Tetons. They were so named, story has it, by French trappers who were reminded of women's breasts when seeing the mountains. Leave it to a Frenchman, Oooh, La La! Maybe it was Frenchwomen who named them!
Last night I camped by a river in the Gros Ventre area of the Hole. An earthquake recreated some of the terrain east of the campground, in 1950 (or so).There are a mother Great Horned Owl and her two fledglings in a tree at the camp. The most beautiful birds ever. Hard to see in the photo; look closely.***

Some of the nostalgia from 1967-1968 grabbed me last night, filling me with some sadness for days gone by but also with a deep gratitude to be able to return to all this beauty and my spiritual home.
At any rate, to me, these mountains carry special memories for me from my days working on Spotted Horse Ranch on the Hoback River, 20 miles South of the town of Jackson. That experience was the most wonderful time of my life (I've had many good times, though). Today I am meeting with my old work buddies,Gayle and Lenny Francis and Jerry Amadon, here in Jackson. Lenny and Jerry were Wranglers. Lenny was the real cowboy; Jerry did most of the carpentry and other construction installations on the ranch. Gayle and I were what they called Cabin Girls. Sounds risque, I know,but it's not what one might think. We cleaned toilets and sinks re-made beds, served meals and did dishes for the dudes. Because I could sing and play guitar, I also entertained the guest in the lodge bar at night. We also had some time to ride horses up into the high country that surrounded the ranch and dip into the ice-cold Hoback River on hot days. The four of us are going to visit with Dick and Dian Bess, our former ranch employers and former owners of Spotted Horse.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was damaged by an extensive forest fire in 1988. One can still see the charred and fallen trees, so sad. Although it's not my favorite park, it is a wonderful place to view wildlife. But, to whet your appetite, I encountered many massive bull buffalo, a bull Elk with the most fantastic rack on his head, which was still in velvet, and a mother grizzly with three cubs all lying with the remains of a recent kill. The rangers had a telescope set up and I attempted to photograph the group through it. I haven't viewed the photos fully yet, but one looks like I was able to zoom in with a wonderful shot of the sow's head and yellow eyes (Sounded cool, didn't it, but it turned out to be nothing). I camped in Yellowstone, cold again, but lovely. A thunderstorm rushed past, early evening, but the stars shone over me later.

camped by the Madison River

Last night I camped at the foot of the Madison Range of the Rockies. Had to drive on a 3 mile long dirt road, but was rewarded with a herd of antelope with many calves. I couldn't figure out who were the moms as several kids hung with one doe. My campsite was beside a bubbling brook that flowed into the Madison River, just 300 feet away. Just as I was ready to bounce into bed, however, I discovered my sheets were wet from a pair of soaked sneakers I'd found at the previous campsite. Duh! I didn't think about putting my tarp under them. Lesson learned. So, I was thrown back to the last time I'd wet the bed, age 5, when I placed a towel over the spot. Not a good sleep, and it became very cold in the night. But the view was so wonderful with the mountains out my window, a 1/2 moon on the rise, the big dipper over my head, and glorious red sunsets and sunrise. Ah, the American West. I'm now in a cafe in cattle country with cowboys all around me. They even wear cowboy hats, cb boots and spurs, Yahoo!

Canada, Oh Canada

I can understand why they hold a stampede in Calgary - what a ride there through the flatlands of Canada wheat country -felt like a stampede. Thought I'd never get there; and when I did, yuk! Terrible ride through the middle of Calgary, stop lights and all kinds of restaurants.

I just wanted to see the mountains; and mountains I saw. Wow, Oh Wow! I thought Glacier Park was wonderful, both places made me weep in thanks for the beauty of nature in all it's magnificance. Here are just a few photos of the area, too any to post - I took 83. I climbed up the path to the Columbia Ice fields and Athabasca glacier. It looked easy from the parking lot, but I huffed and puffed. Had to cross a field of snow. But, I made it!!! The way down was harder, crossing the snow. It was steep and, of course, I was so excited to get up there that I forgot about my hiking shoes in the van. I had on Teva sandals; did me well until the snowy path. At the steepest part, a tall, handsome stranger from Europe (Sounded German) offered me his hand. Holding onto him was like being bound to the strongest and tallest oak in the forest. He got me down safely. I camped in the forest near Lake Louise. Ah, the color of the lake's water is deliciously turquoise - no kidding. The photo above doesn't do it justice. And, I saw a cub Grizzley, wondered if mom was near, but a man said he was a yearly and most likely long weaned from her; black bear and cub, and 7 mountain goats in the center of a small village. Don't forget the many deer along the way.
I've driven so many hours, I feel disoriented.

Now, on to Jackson Hole, liesurely!

Montana

On the way to Billings, MT, the sacred scent of sweetgrass and sage filled the breezes. I was graced with at least six different species of waterfowl on a river inlet. Most were birds I'd never seen before; American Avocet, Stilt, yellow-headed blackbirds, and large ducks (I'm not sure what kind). I thought the ducks were some species of goose, but couldn't find them in my bird guide.

After 43 years, I reunited with friends with whom I'd worked at Spotted Horse Dude Ranch on the Hoback River in Jackson Hole Wyoming (1967). Gayle and Lenny were sweet on each other the year we worked together. They both returned the next year, not knowing the other would be there. That year solidified their love and they are now parents and grandparents. They treated me like a queen in their lovely home in Billings, MT. Had my own bedroom suite with whirlpool bath (couldn't use due to my old knees, etc.) We talked about old times and memories that seem like they just occured. Gayle made scrumcious meals and Lenny sang Ridin' Down the Canyon w/me. We made plans to reunite with another friend in Jackson, who also worked on the ranch; and with our former employers, Dick and Dian Bess. Can't wait!

Wyoming

Above is a view of Sheridan from Red Grave Road, a very steep gravel road that clims the side of the Big Horn Mtns. Middle; the Big Horns from the valley,and the Big Horn Mtns when in them, also lovely Wyoming horses.

The ride to Sheridan was long, hot, and scary as the landscape was dotted with a few ranches that one could not get to from the highway, if help was needed. I experienced the opposite of claustrophobia in the wide-open spaces. Don't know if there's a name for that. It was lovely,though - lush pastures and hills with clear skies and a few puffy clouds. Expected cowboy's to come rounding up cattle. Stopped at Glen Rock, Wy and the dinosauer museum. If I'd had time, I would have gone fossil hunting myself. Staying at friend's Patti and Gary Atkins. Gary is in the hospital with end of life facing him. Love that man! His wife, Patti, is very brave, but having tender moments. They've been married 40 some years. We bring him home tomorrow. Patti and I did a short fossil hunt yesterday in Decker, MT where Decker Coal is. Found some fossilized sea animals/shells. I hate to see the land decimated by surface mining, but it was interesting to see the long freight trains, neatly loaded with fine coal. Patti says they reclaim the land, but....

Yesterday, I had a break from helping my friend caretake. I drove into the Big Horns, stopped to find fossils and neat rocks. The top of the mountain is the oldest because erosion moved the newer material to the bottom. Met a woman who knows of Perkasie and who is from Ohio, so we talked old home. Small world, eh.

I'll leave tomorrow morning for Billings, MT to meet with friends with whom I worked on Spotted Horse Dude Ranch in 1967 - Gayle & Lenny Francis. We haven't talked or seen each other since then. Can't wait.

Colorado family, Sister Linda, her kids, Robbie (his kids) & Brandi. my camp, Windsor & Rockies

Tornado Alley

While driving through western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, I en- countered tornado watches, which turned into warnings, then the radio said, "Find shelter immediately!!!" So, I did; in a gas station beside a ravene. The locals laughed and said, "I've never seen a tornado here." The attendent said, "If I see one, I'm going into the ditch outback." The wind calmed down and they didn't seem worried, so I ventured further west. The sky to the north and east was deep blue/black/green/grey. My bowels tightened, but I kept moving West away from it. However, the winds were heading south, from the north (like a Maine nor-easter), and I knew it wasn't a good sign. Clouds above me were hugging the ground, which I also knew wasn't good, since I'd lived in tornado land in Ohio, and had seen those monsters before. Soon, all the clouds came to earth and picked it up, spewing it around my van and the air around me. The clouds turned brownish/green, and I quickly exited US80 to find shelter. I had to wait for a red light to turn green; the man next to me was on his cell phone and nervously scanning the horizons, as was I, to see if a funnel had formed. Just as I was ready to illegally go through a red light, thinking - do I be a good citizen and obey traffic law, or do I die, the light switched. I quickly went to the lobby of a large hotel. The force of the winds was so pwerful that Ihad to push with all my strenght to exit my van. My entire body was shaking from the experience. That part of the storm passed but I was forced off the road at least three more times due to heavy rain and large hail. I saw the setting sun in the west and knew to get there would be safe. Eventually, I met clear weather and camped in a darling state rec. area called Mill Creek. For 12 bucks a night I had a level camp site and a very hot shower and freight train whistles blowing all night. I had trouble getting to sleep after all that and lightening continued to ripple brightly on all close horizons. I was afraid to sleep; how in hell would I be ablel to see a funnel if one formed. The storm brought rain and minor winds, but passed on, and I was able to sleep at 3:30 a.m. I awoke to a sky of blue and sunshine, with a large covering of light burgundy cloud to the west. While in the shower house, damned if I didn't hear the tornado siren blowing. I stayed in there for a while, poking out momentarily to spot a funnel. None, thank goodness.

Arrived at the home of my youngest sister, Linda, and her partner, Larry. After telling them my tornado story, they showed me a video from the horrible tornado that tore throught Windsor Co two years ago, and how they survived it as it tore up 100 year old cottowoods beside their house, but left the house intact, except for blown out windows. After Larry told me how to get to the Missle Site campground on a bluff above Windsor, he also said "The sole survivor of that tornado was camping there and he tried to outrun it." We watched weather reports after this discussion and all was clear for my stay there. Had a wonderful sleep in the Colorado plains with a view of Rocky Mountain National area in front of me (photo above) and meadowlarks awakening me.

I remain thankful for my safety.