West Coast States 2013

[glc]

You didn't take UT-24 and UT-12 from I-70 to Bryce? You missed a truly magnificent drive!

[keithg]

Reading this thread is the only way I know you have actually read the email..... lol

In anticipation of the dollar crashing much further, I got my stash before Christmas, even though 2015 is not on my schedule. By 2016 it might be back where it was in 2001.... when I got US48cents for our dollar.

Lifey

I read them Lifey lol. I hope you are wrong about our dollar but i think you are right. It will go lower yet. I spoke to bank yesterday about the few hundred dollars we still have on a cashcard but they arnt keen on giving it to me in US dollars which is what it is. They want me to change it to local dollars at a fee of course. if i leave it there untill we go on a trip again, there wont be any of it left as they are charging me INACTIVITLY fee's. I will be going over there heads. I want the US dollars.

Keith

[keithg]

You didn't take UT-24 and UT-12 from I-70 to Bryce? You missed a truly magnificent drive!

glc.

We did miss it. We had plans on doing it even when we were leaving Moab. My memory isnt working good at the moment and i cant find any notes but i think we gave it a miss because of the weather. It wasnt good and we didnt want to wind around that road in bad weather. im going by a video i watched from someone going through there. We were also getting tired of the lousy weather lol. Couldnt be helped but our last trip at the same time was brilliant weather. I guess you just have to take what you are given but its frustrating.

Keith

[keithg]

Day 10 already and we moved out of the Golden Nugget and headed up to the Flamingo right in the middle of the strip. Stayed there last trip as well and were very happy with them. I must make a point here. We both hate cities. Especially me. We like the wide open spaces and scenery. BUT, I think everyone at sometime in there life should visit Las Vegas. The color, the lights, the flashing signs have to be seen. I dont know anyway of describing it. We stayed there 3 nights last visit and didnt see everything and stayed in the Flamingo another 3 nights this time. Still havnt seen everything. Need another visit. :) As we had a fair bit of time before we could get into Flamingo, we went to Fashion Show shopping centre. I found food and Margaret looked at stuff. We watched a fashion show. Stage, models and all just came up out of the floor. Did there stuff and then the stage went back down into the floor and everyone walked around again.




Best time for there is at night. So much color.



Fruit and yogurt breakfast at the Flamingo.
Ok, ill admit it. It was Margaret's. Cant remember what i had. :)



I met the Rock. I had a great conversation with him. I did most of the talking. Well, ok. I did all the talking.


VENETIAN RESORT. Painted ceilings,


FLASH AS BUS.


IS IT OR ISNT IT HIM. I DONT THINK SO. LOL


BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS.
Bellagio Fountains do there dance every half hour in daytime and every 15 minutes at night time.


FLOWER GARDENS BELLAGIO

Amazing gardens on display at the Bellagio. Gets changed every now and then. Probably on what ever season it is. Just guessing there.


ANOTHER VIEW OF BELLAGIO GARDENS.

One of the reasons we still havnt seen everthing in Las Vegas is there is so much to see. All of these Casino's or resorts take up a whole block and there is different stuff in each one. All worth a look. Could take a couple of hours to get to3rd or 4th one along.
One thing i find annoying is every time you came down stairs, from room you were hassle'd from time share people. Got angry. No more problem. Just smiles. Shouldnt have got to that point.

Better get some work done around here so back later with another chapter when we head for Salt Lake City.

Keith. Aka...Chief Banana Eater.

[Mark Sedenquist]

What can I say?

Las Vegas is my adopted home town. I love being here.

Every time I am away for some reason -- road trip or not -- I love coming home.

Great photos and yes, Las Vegas is endlessly fascinating.

Enjoyed your report.

Mark

[keithg]

Thank you Mark. As i said, we dont like cities but Las Vegas is fascinating and should be seen. Hopefully we will get back again and we may catch up somewhere there. Will be letting you know. Get more report done a bit later.

Keith

[keithg]

By this time we'd had enough of city and we headed to some friends place just out of Cedar City. We had met them on our first trip and had stayed in contact. Also caught up with them while we were in Vegas. Had a great 2 nights with them and they were kind enough to take us for a look at Kolob Canyon. They also put on a bbq and we had the pleasure of meeting some great people.


Kolob Canyon




MONKEYBREAD

We hadnt heard of monkeybread before. Was great. Our friends Ed and Marilyn made it for breakfast.
While there we had 2 meals at the "All American Classic Diner" in Cedar City. Fantastic. Enjoyed it.

Unfortunately we had to hit the road. Good road but high speeds. Police Dodge Chargers were having a field day. We arrived in Salt lake city and went for a look at the State building. Well worth a look. allow yourself plenty of time to look through it.





I dropped Margaret off down the hill at the Morman Temple. The Tabernacle. She would liked to have had a look inside but there were a few weddings on there so gave it a miss. Took pics of the beautiful gardens instead. She walked back up to the state building where she found me having a nanna nap in the car. She took some pics of some great looking houses on way back up.





We found our way out of town and headed for Logan where we stayed the night. Dog show was on but not our scene. Had a nice breakfast. Sausage, egg, cinnamon bread and coffee. Pretty town but raining and mist. Took the scenic route from here through Preston, Montpelier and then hwy 89 to Jackson Hole. Beautiful and green. Arrived in Jackson Hole at 2 pm and booked in to motel. Headed downtown for a look. Great small cowboy style town with its wooden sidewalks.




ELK ANTLERS

Each year the Elk drop there antlers and they are used for different stuff.


ARCH MADE FROM ELK ANTLERS.





We saw some great T shirts. Here is one of them.


T SHIRT.

We saw another one about bears and bear spray. It said "Black bears eat berries. Grizzly bears eat meat. If you come across some bear poo that smells like berries, you know it was a black bear. If you come across some bear poo that smells of bear spray, you know it was a grizzly". I should have bought one lol.

Went for a drive out to Grand Tetons and Mormon road to see the barns. There are 2 similar barns out there that were built by the same family. Roofs are slightly different. Here is one of them.




Friendly Coyote going about its business.


Just near the Elk reserve.

Be back later. Keith

[keithg]

We left Jackson Hole and went out to Grand Teton Village for a look. Wanted to go up on the lift but it was shut down for maintenance. Headed out from there to Oxbow Bend. Would love to be here in the fall.


OXBOW BEND


Beautiful scenery between Oxbow Bend and Yellowstone.

A few miles short of Yellowstone we came across a few cars pulled up. Cameras everywhere. Pulled over and hopped out to see a Grizzly and 3 cubs going into some bush. no photo's as never had time. We mentioned the bear when we went in gate at Yellowstone and was told they knew about it and it was unusual to have 3 cubs.
Could spend days in Yellowstone but for the moment, we were heading for Cody. we still had a look at some stuff though as last time we didnt get to this side. We would be back in after Cody.


ENTRANCE TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Southern end.


GOOD ADVICE.


AMAZING COLORS.


SO MANY DIFFERENT LAYOUTS OF NATURAL POOLS. VERY HOT.


LUNCH BREAK.

We headed out the East Gate heading for Cody Wyoming. Fair bit of snow and what was left of fire ravaged tree's.


BURNT TREE'S.


FROZEN LAKE.

We saw a bit of everything today. Was great. Now on our way to Cody for two nights. Catch you in that chapter.

Keith

[keithg]

We got up early and had breakfast. Yogurt, fruit, egg, waffle and fruit juice. Very nice. Went to Buffalo Bill Historic Centre. Really good. Dosnt look that big from outside but here is a few floors going down.



So much to see there. Entry fee lasts you for two days. Wouldnt be hard to spend two days there. Watched a Rattlesnake show. Watched a bird show outside and enjoyed coffee at the little cafe there.






RATTLESNAKE SHOW.


GIANT CHOOK :)

After we left there, we walked around town and talked to locals. Had a great time. Very friendly town.


THIS LADY SPOKE BACK TO ME. TRUE. REPEATED SAME STUFF OVER AND OVER THOUGH.

I guess she was overwhelmed that i wanted to talk to her lol.


MAIN ST CODY. BUFFALO BILLS DAUGHTERS HOTEL. IRMA'S.


BUFFALO BILL THIS GENTLEMAN CHANGED HIS NAME BY DEED POLE.

We arrived back at the Super 8 motel where we were staying and looked out the window of our room to see dear grazing right outside the window. Really cool.

After two nights in Cody we headed off to the Chief Joseph Hwy, through Cooke City and into Yellowstone.


STUNNING SCENERY ON THE CHIEF JOSEPH HWY.

Now into Yellowstone National Park again.


BISON

Didnt see as many Bison this trip but still good. In lamar valley now and lots of cars stopped again. Coyote wanders up centre of road, cars following behind. coyote didnt have a care in the world lol. Anyway, jumped out and had a look over the bank and far away. There it was. A black Bear. Couldnt get a clear shot even with 500mm lens but got one. Have to be satisfied with that.


BLACK BEAR.

Little further along we saw a Wolf wandering along on other side of river. Weather was still bad so we passed on through Gardner which is a pretty cool place. Spent time there last trip. We carried on to Bozeman Montana where we were catching up with a long time friend through photography and who guided us through Yellowstone the first trip. Stayed here for two nights.
Till the next episode. Stay good. ill be back.
Keith

[Lifemagician]

Keith, I'm beginning to wonder why you needed any 'encouragement' at all to post this fantastic report. I'm loving every paragraph and photo. I'm sure I am not the only one travelling with you over familiar roads/routes.

Lifey