tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85772715432229210932024-02-19T08:21:39.939-05:00Drumheller or Bust!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-49818258860465168432010-06-20T09:15:00.011-04:002010-06-20T13:11:38.503-04:00Final Thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT5flHMZe3I_MCk54-vSyVF2BE9WU3c1FCmHi17AoZjN6O21D8SX7a2zAzrgldbtyH3ELpvDV_vcPJIguqkz47ejvyNKm73b0r83QW9rm0Qo5MAvupXp-SmkCmaAJHpzv91ixS6O4up4W/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT5flHMZe3I_MCk54-vSyVF2BE9WU3c1FCmHi17AoZjN6O21D8SX7a2zAzrgldbtyH3ELpvDV_vcPJIguqkz47ejvyNKm73b0r83QW9rm0Qo5MAvupXp-SmkCmaAJHpzv91ixS6O4up4W/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892774133967474" border="0" /></a>We had a great time! As a wrap-up, I have some lists to share. We have some favorite goofy moments, too, which are caught on camera . . .<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mike and Si thought it was funny that I wanted to show off my library tshirts at all of our cool destinations.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhoAPsrvdkQAa_mNtn_OBM83QGx-uqg7NopW6scRFFai_epD5piTDsl7eM1HbaMiYy2xSU_TnlenvL7mdpw4zIGD1n1cMc7KJyCJCNuA9PoFOq11VnAiTcF92D2-c-jLYkS8J6H7WUCkv/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhoAPsrvdkQAa_mNtn_OBM83QGx-uqg7NopW6scRFFai_epD5piTDsl7eM1HbaMiYy2xSU_TnlenvL7mdpw4zIGD1n1cMc7KJyCJCNuA9PoFOq11VnAiTcF92D2-c-jLYkS8J6H7WUCkv/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892173604289810" border="0" /></a><span><span style="font-style: italic;">Us in the Canadian Badlands.</span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Random tidbits:</span><ul><li>We saw license plates from every US state except Hawaii and Delaware. Hawaii is understandable, but where are all the travelers from Delaware???</li><li>We saw license plates from 8 Canadian provinces, Mexico and one that said "Intl Consul".</li><li>We only listened to 4 1/2 books on CD. One was very long: Neil Gaiman's <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4407.American_Gods">American Gods</a>. The others were all fairly short mysteries: <a href="http://catalog.columbuslibrary.org/?q=title:burglar%20in%20the%20library">Burgler in the </a><a href="http://catalog.columbuslibrary.org/?q=title:burglar%20in%20the%20library">Library</a>, <a href="http://catalog.columbuslibrary.org/?q=title:burglar%20on%20the%20prowl">Burglar on the Prowl</a>, <a href="http://catalog.columbuslibrary.org/?q=title:champagne%20for%20one">Champagne for One</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77595.The_Black_Mountain">Black Mountain</a>.</li><li>We seemed to spend just as much or more time talking to each other in the car than we did listening to books. I was surprised by that, but it was wonderful!</li><li>Our vow to stay away from national chain restaurants as much as possible resulted in spending more money on food that we'd have liked. Local eateries are much more expensive than fast food!</li><li>We saw 29 cool mammals in the wild, including a wolf, grizzly bears, a black bear and 3 different kinds of ground squirrels!</li><li>We saw 169 bird species which included 40 new life birds for Mike - wow!<br /></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXK1brXHjC40C4ePZD76RtvinQQyUbKokQvYCBnuSq0yrUqHUzp1OEeVJZP_IjyotiiC4MpQHRcMOh9D45aas1jPbx8Cg9zd_LLQ3PWrtFrKT9RlDsRNe7ItbwgJoyFnRs683FiyTV_9u/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXK1brXHjC40C4ePZD76RtvinQQyUbKokQvYCBnuSq0yrUqHUzp1OEeVJZP_IjyotiiC4MpQHRcMOh9D45aas1jPbx8Cg9zd_LLQ3PWrtFrKT9RlDsRNe7ItbwgJoyFnRs683FiyTV_9u/s200/045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484891354983384706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hotel Lineup</span> (in chronological order, rated * - *****):<ul><li>Super 8 a little N. or Madison, Wisconsin - *** : clean and comfy, but nothing spectacular</li><li>Motel 6, Bismarck, ND - * : it was very small and crowded, barely clean, threadbare towels</li><li>Parke Lodge, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - *** 1/2 : seemed clean, but it was like the place had been abandoned in the 80's and just recently purchased and repainted. Threadbare towels again, but the cute ground squirrels and the beautiful sunset made up some ground here.</li><li>Travelodge, Drumheller, Alberta - **** 1/2: very large room, very clean, lush towels, very kind people running the place. Would have gotten 5 *'s if there had been a pool!</li><li>Driftwood, Banff, Alberta - ***1/2: very very comfortable beds, charming, almost rustic lodge-type feel to the place. Could use some work on the lobby of the building, but the reception at the Ptarmigan where you check in was beautiful. Great service here, but lousy parking area.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib20emsgoVve5QSm-yI4AoWSbz__GrUTZgK1tL0ziTAXdVHKSVy49cFVoY5uX0FCWvKV9xWo0SBxTr3mCRfXh9R1TeZZbuQNIBuWCy8epjphqSJ8aHnGwU-b2A5C_VF2kiCVCeBqMOhtFS/s1600/123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib20emsgoVve5QSm-yI4AoWSbz__GrUTZgK1tL0ziTAXdVHKSVy49cFVoY5uX0FCWvKV9xWo0SBxTr3mCRfXh9R1TeZZbuQNIBuWCy8epjphqSJ8aHnGwU-b2A5C_VF2kiCVCeBqMOhtFS/s200/123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892150415415202" border="0" /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.bearmountainmotel.com/index.htm">Bear Mountain Hotel</a>, Waterton, Alberta - ****1/2: this high rating even comes w/o them having cable tv! The beds were comfy, we had 2 smallish rooms so we were able to have some privacy, the bathroom was lovely, if small, and the people running the place were really sweet! They have a picnic area set up in their parking lot with a gas grill and picnic table, and they graciously allowed us to use it even after we'd checked out. This place reminded us a lot of the cabin by Lake Erie we've visted (wood panel walls, etc), except built for the mountains instead.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45152-d628955-Reviews-Dancing_Bears_Inn-East_Glacier_Park_Montana.html">Dan</a><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45152-d628955-Reviews-Dancing_Bears_Inn-East_Glacier_Park_Montana.html">cing Bears Inn</a>, East Glacier Park, Montana - ****: kind people, decent room, wood paneling again, and a cat that helps to welcome you! This was the first "breakfast included" place we saw that had some kind of protein option, but as it was only microwavable frozen things it doesn't get the 5th *. Nice folks and great town. The water wasn't potable when we were there - hope it improves for them soon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBhD3GWwe919PYoLZ4pTAa-ecLmu9IMKAZ5s7BYxJea8kcs9418Y04RXpNKmazBV8_3ZJ6zHbkRuqGmjkW7_324rDpfgtXVPuQp4RzKG3ZdIt1GBFkZwpUUg8AD6YcgNmqj9a2g-wJfUN/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBhD3GWwe919PYoLZ4pTAa-ecLmu9IMKAZ5s7BYxJea8kcs9418Y04RXpNKmazBV8_3ZJ6zHbkRuqGmjkW7_324rDpfgtXVPuQp4RzKG3ZdIt1GBFkZwpUUg8AD6YcgNmqj9a2g-wJfUN/s200/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484900240927729410" border="0" /></a></li><li>Rodeway, Sundance, Wyoming - *: this is the little hotel woman who tried. Seems like one person was running the whole operation (of course, it was Sunday night and apparently nothing happens on Sunday nights). The room was freezing cold and never really warmed up to our needs. The pool was an outside walk away, but pleasant and clean enough. The breakfast was 3 kinds of cold cereals and some apples. Totally LAME!</li><li> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXjSt4ZLZfgX6pH60KJG7YSwnjRLspx8WpAdFcvPm2rZ_XGC6S9wVeNaakaHMqat32mTwQhXT7L9Gaf2E-WudN_e4Q_22w5Dbpl0LqHEIyFa9yX5dSxXcHER70QHflAbosbpMJOJTgGF0/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXjSt4ZLZfgX6pH60KJG7YSwnjRLspx8WpAdFcvPm2rZ_XGC6S9wVeNaakaHMqat32mTwQhXT7L9Gaf2E-WudN_e4Q_22w5Dbpl0LqHEIyFa9yX5dSxXcHER70QHflAbosbpMJOJTgGF0/s200/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484900254168443186" border="0" /></a>Super 8, Rapid City, South Dakota - ***: this was simply an ok place. The room was clean and adequate. The breakfast area was all tall tables with barstool-type chairs (I felt really bad for the man who came in a wheelchair), but at least there were a few selections, albeit all cold.</li></ul><ul><li>Super 8, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - ***: this was a great breakfast, but it felt like the whole place was a little grungy. Like maybe last week it was full of smokers and never really cleaned well or something?</li><li>Scott and Tony's, Oak Park, Illinois - *******: Charming home, comfortable hospitality, excellent company, entertaining conversations, delicious food, even lights-out adventure!</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Top Meals We Enjoyed</span> (random order):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwitVNNGi9X78SAuejXDSSXk2290lRNyZuBO0U1XJcYxZ4sRtn6yD553v35L8QmSn5pxYVqr-rJDqfFF7D_JS1NqIdkzDb6OGKjX0qN-SWs79rDSlFqKm7xhnKG8GAkP9eel_1AneNQQd/s1600/055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwitVNNGi9X78SAuejXDSSXk2290lRNyZuBO0U1XJcYxZ4sRtn6yD553v35L8QmSn5pxYVqr-rJDqfFF7D_JS1NqIdkzDb6OGKjX0qN-SWs79rDSlFqKm7xhnKG8GAkP9eel_1AneNQQd/s200/055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484891380510942322" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Last Chance Saloon, outside Drumheller, Alberta - we loved the atmosphere, the history of the place (old mining ghost town trying to spark a renaissance or something), and the guys loved their grill-your-own steaks!</li><li><a href="http://www.thegrand-hotel.com/">Grand Hotel</a> in Big Timber, Montana, near the Natural Bridge State Park - we were extraordinarily surprised to find this gem of a gourmet place in what seemed to us to be the middle of nowhere! Buffalo steaks, Elk relleno, molten chocolate cake - all delicious!</li><li><a href="http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3714042936/delaney-s-family-restaurant-oglesby">Delaney's Family Restaurant</a> in Oglesby, Illinois - delicious food, homey diner atmosphere, prices weren't astronomical<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAS_wl9boNYO4PsBxQ1AUAIplhY_BKQLAJOZWs7i5jZ_nUbGcEG2l40-zFWYM9Gaw3b4zeJoAvdojxYAPmeVHPhwE1-3BvvVqM0u3PHJ4FkA8UxbQtLFzmbphS2xrOvWMdRTELp2ywtrW/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAS_wl9boNYO4PsBxQ1AUAIplhY_BKQLAJOZWs7i5jZ_nUbGcEG2l40-zFWYM9Gaw3b4zeJoAvdojxYAPmeVHPhwE1-3BvvVqM0u3PHJ4FkA8UxbQtLFzmbphS2xrOvWMdRTELp2ywtrW/s200/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484891315466807826" border="0" /></a></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">AC/DC Ground sloth in Drumheller - too funny!</span><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.sitdownandeat.com/">Kroll's</a> in Bismarck, North Dakota - We'd planned to have breakfasts and lunches out of our cooler as much as possible, but we couldn't resist the command on the sign "sit down and eat"! We had to, and we were glad we did! Delicious German-centric yummies!</li><li><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g45152-d1486375-Reviews-Luna_s-East_Glacier_Park_Montana.html">Luna's</a> in East Glacier Park, Montana - this made the list primarily because of the amazing red potato chips! Deep fried and flavorful!</li><li><a href="http://www.geppettosoakpark.com/">Gepetto's Pizza</a>, which Tony ordered when the electricity was out Friday. Wow - I think their Chicken Artichoke pizza may be the best pizza I've ever had in my life! My mouth is still watering thinking about it!</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxvH8YihjZwGGpHvXeqTUW8T4h1p7FPWdRzGYwmd9dnePQW1P6e47aUphKqwqyl-G-NmyMGn_7zzlffn0IgRcsKitWewH9xF6CNfKQ8szzSvVZCUbJTcQYV3dvkzuf4NCfSIrxEaERFMf/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+1819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxvH8YihjZwGGpHvXeqTUW8T4h1p7FPWdRzGYwmd9dnePQW1P6e47aUphKqwqyl-G-NmyMGn_7zzlffn0IgRcsKitWewH9xF6CNfKQ8szzSvVZCUbJTcQYV3dvkzuf4NCfSIrxEaERFMf/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+1819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892803391814482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Man feeding birds on the mountain top in Banff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best People Encounters</span>:<ul><li>Edwin Smalllegs - Blackfeet Indian volunteer at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. He was friendly, interesting, and talked with us about his heritage as well as his anticipation of watching the NHL finals that night on his large-screen tv. He is a memorable fellow.</li><li>People Mike and Si ran into at Many Glaciers. Mike and Si set up the telescope and were also sharing binoculars with a family (to see the Mountain Goats) and an English man (to see the Grizzlies), and all were thrilled.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwXi_kTfJhdebnuFGWJT-f7Tl-nQEkF10DiUPrrQChyeSKCoe9MqNauUsoLf003__BfIzBM2PewZHnYDgoBVcEw0QJV5s9E5SRKTJoSzwgaqTeAyM92dhXIyxZVW71R7KLHPJWEAt1UR3/s1600/134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwXi_kTfJhdebnuFGWJT-f7Tl-nQEkF10DiUPrrQChyeSKCoe9MqNauUsoLf003__BfIzBM2PewZHnYDgoBVcEw0QJV5s9E5SRKTJoSzwgaqTeAyM92dhXIyxZVW71R7KLHPJWEAt1UR3/s200/134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892157718562386" border="0" /></a></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Spoon shop in East Glacier, Montana.</span><br /><ul><li>We pulled off the road often to take pictures, as you can imagine, and one time, on a very curvy mountain road, a man and woman in a pickup came up beside us and stopped to make sure we were ok - isn't that nice?</li><li>The staff as so many of the places we visted, but especially Luna's restaurant.</li><li>The top of the gondola ride at Banff, there was a Slavic man who was feeding birds from his hand. He was so joyful and excited about it!</li><li>There was a group of young German women who were also at the top of that gondola ride, and were taking pictures. They wanted pictures taken when they were jumping so that it looked like they were in mid-air over the vast expanse of nothingness off the mountain. Mike helped them and was even able to get one of all three of them leaping into the air.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIu8hynKyl6qFkRc5EBfLaIkOgyfKKkk-VcX1oRM2FO9Mv53kxeTWHCrRFd4JxD0Fxs_DrrST-b0-mVpT4F-2Il3lcmQNKHL7JndLdH9-gyKv0onx7LPBTYzgy6vQvVJBh_BZWVDq3NGm/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIu8hynKyl6qFkRc5EBfLaIkOgyfKKkk-VcX1oRM2FO9Mv53kxeTWHCrRFd4JxD0Fxs_DrrST-b0-mVpT4F-2Il3lcmQNKHL7JndLdH9-gyKv0onx7LPBTYzgy6vQvVJBh_BZWVDq3NGm/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892163168584642" border="0" /></a></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">In case you were wondering, these statues are not anatomically correct.</span><br /><ul><li>Waitress in Ptarmigan restaurant in Waterton. It was fun talking to her and hearing about how she will get bored in England and get a work visa to visit and work in another place for a while. We also laughed with her about how boring Saskatchewan is.</li><li>Swiss guy at the hoodoos near Drumheller and the fun he had posing for pictures Mike took of him with his camera.<br /></li><li>Family we met in Moose Jaw who were driving across the continent from New Brunswick to Vancouver to see their children and grandchildren.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXcSmFB1lWSwiw1OwJ4XZKQQdyKJjBmGqVOV_esO0r5tiMPLGTYexYmb4xPrwE8qVp_MVF7nuJWJpE1Mx2uegevRQmK248W8_a3qatizomve3OyePDuPGpQsLjW0IA0zYboxLWBRov6FX/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXcSmFB1lWSwiw1OwJ4XZKQQdyKJjBmGqVOV_esO0r5tiMPLGTYexYmb4xPrwE8qVp_MVF7nuJWJpE1Mx2uegevRQmK248W8_a3qatizomve3OyePDuPGpQsLjW0IA0zYboxLWBRov6FX/s200/041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484891348166807810" border="0" /></a></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Trying to catch that buffalo.</span><br /><ul><li>Yarn shop owners, both in Canmore and in Forest Park. Wonderful women and such fun to talk to! Oh, actually, the woman I spoke with in Forest Park wasn't the owner. I think her name was Kelly, and she was a true kindred spirit!</li><li>Scott - my bestest friend.</li><li>Tony - my best friend's partner, and I'm glad they have one another. Both great guys.</li><li>Ken - nice to see friends, isn't it? It was good to talk to him again, as I haven't seen him online in a long time (my fault, not his).</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb1SeXp6UqHyH0Pun0j753IwPcHksV0UcGSh5QNz92vhXgpkg4vB81rRKWMFjjXf_DaK6T4jXYBLxopPWRzL8NyQi8x6IFIvw0cN9GuVq7xwe9M2B8JLZKJ42lpXCdKsuD0A796RZ1X9j/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb1SeXp6UqHyH0Pun0j753IwPcHksV0UcGSh5QNz92vhXgpkg4vB81rRKWMFjjXf_DaK6T4jXYBLxopPWRzL8NyQi8x6IFIvw0cN9GuVq7xwe9M2B8JLZKJ42lpXCdKsuD0A796RZ1X9j/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt+1+968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484892785650688738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Surprises along the way</span>:<br /><ul><li>free hamburgers were being served up at the tourism information center as we entered Alberta - very nice, eh?</li><li>finding affordable lodging with loads of character in the Rockies - we expected these places to have higher prices!</li><li>seeing a wolf in the wild (Mike and Si saw it - I was too far away)</li><li>Gepetto's pizza - yummers!</li><li>seeing snow storms up in the mountains in the middle of June</li><li>a roadside rest in Wisconsin that had a scenic overlook (along a short trail) that turned out to be really beautiful</li><li>the Royal Tyrell not disappointing us, even after all the expectation over years</li><li>Museum of the Rockies being so much fun (and it was an afterthought stop, too!)</li><li>finding everything closed on Sunday nights - guess we've gotten both spoiled and jaded in the city</li><li>the Subway in Sundance, WY having a giftshop like it was a Cracker Barrel or something</li><li>seeing people smoke inside restaurants (again, we've gotten spoiled)</li><li>casinos at every gas station (ick)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpvslUXnlISXn7SpfI9JLS3K42f2aEDnVhDg2-vrWrkE-Y9aIayut1ZM844a5n3yHa00W0uPw3dKxtCEEJFfew1f34TQW9QpXu6JuSuruTClwQQSs9XLSNlYGb5umQhKRxyqmWbdp7L3k/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpvslUXnlISXn7SpfI9JLS3K42f2aEDnVhDg2-vrWrkE-Y9aIayut1ZM844a5n3yHa00W0uPw3dKxtCEEJFfew1f34TQW9QpXu6JuSuruTClwQQSs9XLSNlYGb5umQhKRxyqmWbdp7L3k/s200/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484900259541440130" border="0" /></a></li><li>poor signage in Canada - how do they expect people to find stuff?</li><li>recognizing the scenery and holes on the Banff golf course from having played the course on Grandpa Jim's computer game (it was beautiful and funny)</li><li>finding that we'd often enjoy talking to one another more than listening to books</li><li>higher speed limits! (75 MPH, 110 KPH!)</li></ul><br />So that was our vacation! Thanks for reading along! We'd love to hear your comments, too!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-69366672995328705862010-06-19T21:43:00.000-04:002010-06-20T07:34:39.845-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_4qQFi1clAFKO_41DtOWvtYuCN37UT6IP1iKzfnQ39XtTmJr2DZ7pXmX94GiKw9kDb6eZpPKGYRaM3rL3dfZws7ZLZlz4PS1yb94_h3sY4r1s64G9wck7O3q29hCaZ2Zcpyj5YY8LmEC/s1600/Vaca+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_4qQFi1clAFKO_41DtOWvtYuCN37UT6IP1iKzfnQ39XtTmJr2DZ7pXmX94GiKw9kDb6eZpPKGYRaM3rL3dfZws7ZLZlz4PS1yb94_h3sY4r1s64G9wck7O3q29hCaZ2Zcpyj5YY8LmEC/s200/Vaca+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484666662277648386" border="0" /></a>We arrived in Chicago Wednesday evening, and it was so nice to see our good friends, Scott and Tony! They are fabulously gracious hosts as well as old friends.<br /><br />Tony had to work Thursday and Friday, so we went our separate ways during the days. Thursday, Simon and Mike went to the <a href="http://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a> downtown, and Scott and I did some window shopping and had lunch around Oak Park. It was delightful! I also discovered another great <a href="http://www.chixwithstixknitting.com/">little yarn shop</a>, and a fun bead store!<br /><br />Scott had a previous commitment to lead a movie viewing and discussion Thursday night, and the three of us joined him. We watched the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/">Up in the Air</a> and then discussed it with several folks from his church community at <a href="http://unitytemple.org/building/index.html">Unity Temple</a>. The movie was interesting, the people were fun to talk to, and we had a great time. Afterwards, we met Tony back at their house and had some delicious casseroles that he'd made (he's an amazing cook!)<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRYW7BhKvPbROsCz3H4BNhKLL3p0QqFtmhlaVEEbwvaxPbNYxc4GYjX3fwhCrgZi4yoMLTVlpiFPfYrY6S4O1_W-gW5aPMvGXFwbpUeoFwbLqu34nsTcqbkqMeH0FQwGbUnZXCT9LurOa/s1600/2010+Vacation+Pt.+3+522.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRYW7BhKvPbROsCz3H4BNhKLL3p0QqFtmhlaVEEbwvaxPbNYxc4GYjX3fwhCrgZi4yoMLTVlpiFPfYrY6S4O1_W-gW5aPMvGXFwbpUeoFwbLqu34nsTcqbkqMeH0FQwGbUnZXCT9LurOa/s200/2010+Vacation+Pt.+3+522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484670553539076242" border="0" /></a>Friday morning Scott and the 3 of us went downtown to the <a href="http://www.sheddaquarium.org/">Shedd Aquarium</a> and met up with our friend, Ken (I know him from<a href="http://wordcraft.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?s=441607094&cdra=Y"> a great discussion site</a> all about words!), who lives <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=winnetka+il&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Winnetka,+IL&gl=us&ei=0fsdTLKlDIWgnQff4O3mAw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA">North of Chicago</a>. Even though the place was REALLY crowded, and the day was horribly HOT, we had a very nice time. It was good to be together, and cool to see the fish and other aquatic animals.<br /> <br />There is a new show at the Shedd, however, called Fantasea, which I felt was dumbed down for the masses. They didn't talk about the animals at all, they had people in fantasia-like costumes interacting with the animals and were trying to make the standard animal show have a plot of some kind, but the result was really just a silly, fluffy thing instead of the meaty, intellectual kind of show I'd expect from a world-class aquarium.<br /> <br />Friday afternoon some <a href="http://www.entertainmentandshowbiz.com/chicago-heavy-storm-results-into-power-outage-2010062058369">heavy storms</a> came through Northern Illinois, and all of the power went out in the neighborhood. Tony came home from work early, we ordered pizza for dinner (omg, <a href="http://www.geppettosoakpark.com/">Gepetto's pizza</a> may have ruined me for all other pizzas!), and we had a really nice time talking on the front porch. Despite the inconvenience of no power, we still had a lovely evening.<br /><br />This morning we were up early to pack the car and face our last drive to bring us home. Tony ran out to their local Farmer's Market and bought us some delicious fresh donuts for breakfast (yum!), and we finished up the milk from our cooler. Mike drove us home, and that's it!<br /><br />We had some great discussions today in the car and I have some wrap-up lists for you, which I'll post tomorrow. See you then!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-34492681574538366452010-06-16T20:31:00.000-04:002010-06-19T21:42:21.920-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLc-wW_P8_GUU-r5v22HCzwBeBC7xRl5qHYSrsZn8hYn5yiZpe8yJn4BU3lLPvGlOPhRVoTogCWxvnq3yLdVAxEnq8yFAKj9pQldV80kgmHwhUVciJMh8soB8qr9gkUCox4dR_qWoSFrNU/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLc-wW_P8_GUU-r5v22HCzwBeBC7xRl5qHYSrsZn8hYn5yiZpe8yJn4BU3lLPvGlOPhRVoTogCWxvnq3yLdVAxEnq8yFAKj9pQldV80kgmHwhUVciJMh8soB8qr9gkUCox4dR_qWoSFrNU/s200/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484657422128235426" border="0" /></a>The badlands were absolutely beautiful! This National Park is yet another location where you can literally just hang your camera out of your window and snap pictures randomly and come out with fabulous scenery. Again, I'm going to let Mike's artistry cover the landscapes later, because I really want to show us having some fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc0y-knMrFl-DHjOeozD_itJZS7LJ39E64n309mB13KtxcpgJIZLIjCCkKzb3hfn-MlurbB4HIeODlJ3V0cClGYzJn2H-9OPzDweRluRWQh3oHgGm5efgwJU2eCNuBztbR7Z2s4A3XELw/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc0y-knMrFl-DHjOeozD_itJZS7LJ39E64n309mB13KtxcpgJIZLIjCCkKzb3hfn-MlurbB4HIeODlJ3V0cClGYzJn2H-9OPzDweRluRWQh3oHgGm5efgwJU2eCNuBztbR7Z2s4A3XELw/s200/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484657402849673746" border="0" /></a>Mike was in his element, taking beautiful, luscious photographs. I really can't wait for you all to see them! He'll be uploading them onto his FB account where you'll be able to peruse them . . . after our trip.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXWRAl3VDXel0ej67v4DakExyMygQJS1qOF0g2nDX5V4Va5DTs9C3lHgrZtaNkQC7mONo9orrVA2anMFazb-ePUQfXV6YUZ3mo4BxFXs5k_InjqSVLnuzLjQr8kzCZUyPuJj12yq3a0D-/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXWRAl3VDXel0ej67v4DakExyMygQJS1qOF0g2nDX5V4Va5DTs9C3lHgrZtaNkQC7mONo9orrVA2anMFazb-ePUQfXV6YUZ3mo4BxFXs5k_InjqSVLnuzLjQr8kzCZUyPuJj12yq3a0D-/s200/018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484657412690481954" border="0" /></a>That map link I gave you before only seems to have the first part of our trip! <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115039016004848265909.00048909c49977078b113&ll=47.709762,-104.897461&spn=7.348192,19.753418&z=6">Here</a> is our trip from it's farthest point back to our home!<br /><br />We were able to see some new birds here, being that it's a new kind of habitat, and we were also able to see some more prairie dogs!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntkVcyJ7fEOVC1LsGtLFisNTJw3BBINnzpVGCpx7A_xCKrbUn3Az6Y4C5LMV4I4-dV6ghVAnlFvK9CuXktse1LqRgt-rkChsLG2_fLw1wH0fVFmXvNEA4syg3vIjIM5Yp7QljhOYOCJkV/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntkVcyJ7fEOVC1LsGtLFisNTJw3BBINnzpVGCpx7A_xCKrbUn3Az6Y4C5LMV4I4-dV6ghVAnlFvK9CuXktse1LqRgt-rkChsLG2_fLw1wH0fVFmXvNEA4syg3vIjIM5Yp7QljhOYOCJkV/s200/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484657389678035906" border="0" /></a>I love prairie dogs! We were hoping to see some black-footed ferrets but no luck . . . our consolation sighting was that Si saw a swift fox. Cool!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrpNTuUX777H6wZ_xfMZF2IDb2wDgDqVXfS-jpUeApP3JqBchIrrrr2EyPAmeQxxnuCXgyFhqJc5QMAK_6Yzzmzel0rEM2qDumh4gFe5YjHZNwWa0a0yzso4TojLBwDDpZQbUVtE590UY/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrpNTuUX777H6wZ_xfMZF2IDb2wDgDqVXfS-jpUeApP3JqBchIrrrr2EyPAmeQxxnuCXgyFhqJc5QMAK_6Yzzmzel0rEM2qDumh4gFe5YjHZNwWa0a0yzso4TojLBwDDpZQbUVtE590UY/s200/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660447048532834" border="0" /></a>After a beautiful morning in the Badlands we visited Wall Drug. Boy, this place has changed and grown a lot in the 30 years since I last visited! I think it's at least 2x the size it was. So many crazy things! We had fun (although Simon thought it was more silly than he could be). <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ocT8RArFKh6RopGf1Q2su2pRVSd9awZE2tjCxreFoeRxbSHPC0pmlmhdWciz5D0XLS79qSNJnKqhn1MIrPJDNslPox05-WQirUy7AFnsv5-yiGPvdaVkGH3fitXBIjXo7EHP04eHWs3C/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ocT8RArFKh6RopGf1Q2su2pRVSd9awZE2tjCxreFoeRxbSHPC0pmlmhdWciz5D0XLS79qSNJnKqhn1MIrPJDNslPox05-WQirUy7AFnsv5-yiGPvdaVkGH3fitXBIjXo7EHP04eHWs3C/s200/032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484657427610963634" border="0" /></a>If you've never been to Wall Drug, it's a huge store full of every kind of touristy thing you can possibly imagine. In the middle of it all, there is an actual drug store. There are also kitschy statues and stuff all over. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzThHQnsFS-q2PnSN7FKNMyE2rLuN7_Q7tpHXUmq9jM1yqOwgH8KyoPxMHIthcDNFccoBGaDA3MyjQpdih0-TFVU2hYz6fVShsMDJEQRck-LSqwkBFPH2HxocnqvtthniGtDnAsbcOFaMM/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzThHQnsFS-q2PnSN7FKNMyE2rLuN7_Q7tpHXUmq9jM1yqOwgH8KyoPxMHIthcDNFccoBGaDA3MyjQpdih0-TFVU2hYz6fVShsMDJEQRck-LSqwkBFPH2HxocnqvtthniGtDnAsbcOFaMM/s200/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660430371932546" border="0" /></a>Simon hit the nail on the head when he said that these people have a sense of humor, and have collected all of this stuff because they know it's funny. Gotta love it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoKpved7Aa5aqS0F3urSjdEV6QJOsO-MtZG9UzRvkM83oWzEfzq2GGq7uZA28ezRvU-_1fYnv-wdsJloWdUiLW8jgVnSDJCY-IfdoGtnNIQ5IrGyG5-6t8lJS8jrv3fEzOV4xxpum505b/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoKpved7Aa5aqS0F3urSjdEV6QJOsO-MtZG9UzRvkM83oWzEfzq2GGq7uZA28ezRvU-_1fYnv-wdsJloWdUiLW8jgVnSDJCY-IfdoGtnNIQ5IrGyG5-6t8lJS8jrv3fEzOV4xxpum505b/s200/040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660455601640754" border="0" /></a>After Wall, we were able to drive to Mitchell, SD and drive by the Corn Palace. We loved that they even have a tribute to the 100 years of Scouting and the BSA anniversary. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL3YvIq8ZljC7odHTpM9OjHY1BUBBgsj8I5rARMiOqUREfEeCAK8oqjyhVzKYwJ5EYjPxh76flOLe1BY7EWK4IP4VV68jtZZgjnbPU0otP8Q04mUIWHeDU6PNBCmx_2_wtepkcr_db7Y4/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL3YvIq8ZljC7odHTpM9OjHY1BUBBgsj8I5rARMiOqUREfEeCAK8oqjyhVzKYwJ5EYjPxh76flOLe1BY7EWK4IP4VV68jtZZgjnbPU0otP8Q04mUIWHeDU6PNBCmx_2_wtepkcr_db7Y4/s200/045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484660464542376242" border="0" /></a>We found a local park in Mitchell and grilled out for dinner, which was quite nice. It was good to have some homey hotdogs instead of fancy eat-out food. I think we're tiring of restaurants, and Simon has even been saying that he's kind of tired of steak! I never thought I'd see the day.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-40680776241448333962010-06-16T00:25:00.000-04:002010-06-16T00:28:40.969-04:00Quick update:<br /><ul><li>spent about 4-5 hours driving around in the badlands, taking pictures, looking at wildlife, etc</li><li>love those prairie dogs!</li><li>went to Wall Drug</li><li>also visited Corn Palace</li><li>in Sioux Falls tonight</li><li>watched the trip odometer turn over to 4444.4 miles today - and climbing!</li><li>there is flooding in this state, but we're ok because the freeway is free of it<br /></li><li>it's late, I'm tired, and we're going to sleep</li></ul>Tune in tomorrow or the next day for pics and more.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-69096343233886991402010-06-15T00:14:00.001-04:002010-06-15T00:41:11.142-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7vUptIsuyK93lelksrH6e2AAI9YRF5UnUX1Q6gFkY7sAskzTga8hAKaNoSSYtURjz3uGvV3jXbCAOSM7QnH_d5yz1VldY98iQWMl4xNoMdIe2psVEb-QwsCU4bTjUZ83zb_BYK94tc0a/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7vUptIsuyK93lelksrH6e2AAI9YRF5UnUX1Q6gFkY7sAskzTga8hAKaNoSSYtURjz3uGvV3jXbCAOSM7QnH_d5yz1VldY98iQWMl4xNoMdIe2psVEb-QwsCU4bTjUZ83zb_BYK94tc0a/s200/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482852925046605218" border="0" /></a>I've been trying to get a map of our route, and I hope <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115039016004848265909.00048909c49977078b113&ll=47.709762,-104.897461&spn=7.348192,19.753418&z=6">this</a> works! Our trip might be overload for Google Maps, though. Let me know if it makes any sense to you or not!<br /><br />Today we left Columbus, Montana and drove into Wyoming! I was sound asleep when we entered the state, but I was awake by the time we reached Devil's Tower. This is the area of the country that I saw about 30 years ago on a long trip to National Center West with the Girl Scouts, and we camped one night near Devil's Tower. It's so cool! It's the core of an ancient volcano, and the mountain is all eroded away while the cooled magma is still there. Neat, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoM8iajRmoPhK7eABIvDN7Tylfo8_Z_10zcjLZqMXEx8f2vjKZde8oUe838rv0eiGsPQCW8vDlHD2oRMWhpovO3xivwVBNkjZmscgLV0Xcj_s-bq-QMjZ_yHr1XGIo3pItx8oMTv7_jgn/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoM8iajRmoPhK7eABIvDN7Tylfo8_Z_10zcjLZqMXEx8f2vjKZde8oUe838rv0eiGsPQCW8vDlHD2oRMWhpovO3xivwVBNkjZmscgLV0Xcj_s-bq-QMjZ_yHr1XGIo3pItx8oMTv7_jgn/s200/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482853476888835090" border="0" /></a>It's rained nearly all day today, but we managed to look around and take some fun pictures. We drove down to see Crazy Horse Monument, which is privately owned and funded. There is also a big Native American museum filled with all kinds of artifacts, both old and more modern. Simon coined what sounded to me like a new term . . . "leech town" for the little towns around the monuments where everything around town has something kitschy to do with the point of interest, and it all costs more money than it should. Suffice to say that the Black Hills area is rife with Leech Towns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUE5nJripIRe_HPu-XnKmdVCgqtaWMfk3Xi000hjlHqdKksk4u2aafj_TVgH117O0UcZXMm2H2uiSE3wQuXh551RejMXj232hhXaLF20IImnN4lQ4UEPdVaw2de7iu-OVANLixY_ecUgA/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUE5nJripIRe_HPu-XnKmdVCgqtaWMfk3Xi000hjlHqdKksk4u2aafj_TVgH117O0UcZXMm2H2uiSE3wQuXh551RejMXj232hhXaLF20IImnN4lQ4UEPdVaw2de7iu-OVANLixY_ecUgA/s200/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482852918299187106" border="0" /></a>We drove around Custer State Park and were able to see some great wildlife. The donkeys were blocking the road with their grazing and begging, but they were really cute!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtp2U4OkrgP5_trID9HuVCLHnMhoirGh5ILmPH-QBxihRqw0izij3VN4DAv5cVHDeEHLydxwwuKg1LmWMvj8k-Tr1HWmnmsCeX39MwqEFZK1QYmtt-iaI82XjmIw3nvzyzG2p33mqaYaS/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtp2U4OkrgP5_trID9HuVCLHnMhoirGh5ILmPH-QBxihRqw0izij3VN4DAv5cVHDeEHLydxwwuKg1LmWMvj8k-Tr1HWmnmsCeX39MwqEFZK1QYmtt-iaI82XjmIw3nvzyzG2p33mqaYaS/s200/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482852909652134098" border="0" /></a>The Buffalo herds were mostly far away from the road, but there was one large herd that was very close to the road that had a lot of calves. It was exciting to finally see a real herd! I tried to get Simon to run at them and get them to stampede, but he wouldn't play along.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWbY5iY8VajVRsVUh6PNSLMcnAjDXMNNCNWGTJ_28DRcShhMUZhEAaIC_jMXF6l-NsptjDHcTmdITabhk6I4cZARAnh6TmQ5k89s90W4GMdNJLs_INwzMpONKR2GLUr1y4LTOc7FzUlx_/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWbY5iY8VajVRsVUh6PNSLMcnAjDXMNNCNWGTJ_28DRcShhMUZhEAaIC_jMXF6l-NsptjDHcTmdITabhk6I4cZARAnh6TmQ5k89s90W4GMdNJLs_INwzMpONKR2GLUr1y4LTOc7FzUlx_/s200/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482852894869160130" border="0" /></a>Finally we got to Mt Rushmore. We'd saved it for last because we kept hoping the rain would clear. It didn't, and neither did the fog, as you can see. If you enlarge the pictures you can see better! I did manage to get a few clear shots of the big stone heads with great patience. The visitor's center is greatly changed from 30 years ago when I was here before. It's really big and impressive now, and I don't remember it being like that before. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir482ss75hmHBzoetC64hoAjh8IodRHq2Cc_35OdG99_DqxPbCBw_bqIEBlthBxhPjQAfR5zlk74DlcuP1TLt8CPZlxxL2UiRxMRYmvwV5lIkbA6ApL3qvlTS7EBdPoRKUcIhyphenhyphen3dBNDcW6/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir482ss75hmHBzoetC64hoAjh8IodRHq2Cc_35OdG99_DqxPbCBw_bqIEBlthBxhPjQAfR5zlk74DlcuP1TLt8CPZlxxL2UiRxMRYmvwV5lIkbA6ApL3qvlTS7EBdPoRKUcIhyphenhyphen3dBNDcW6/s200/037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482852902698542706" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow we will go through the SD Badlands, visit Wall Drug and maybe get all the way to the Corn Palace or further. Then we'll be in the Chicago area, staying with dear old friends, Scott and Tony. So far we're still having fun with one another, too, which is a great thing, don't you think?Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-33376033917666844322010-06-13T22:18:00.000-04:002010-06-13T22:58:59.623-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzCNW7By_gXu3Zc5n2kW-uiqVtTWr7oUFldXTMhu0IbTB8qZ7LZ17wxb8aYttLOkRFkFa-sAycbiIRq91noLvolqP53q1WHllWJrFJCe1C3Ek9kNxrrhU2nTKY7MygmI7ZQmDjAsnJ0NR/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzCNW7By_gXu3Zc5n2kW-uiqVtTWr7oUFldXTMhu0IbTB8qZ7LZ17wxb8aYttLOkRFkFa-sAycbiIRq91noLvolqP53q1WHllWJrFJCe1C3Ek9kNxrrhU2nTKY7MygmI7ZQmDjAsnJ0NR/s200/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482452605354179890" border="0" /></a>We had a great day in Glacier. It rained on and off, but we still saw a lot of things. Mike and Si saw a Black Bear pretty close to the road, and later saw a mama Grizzly and 2 cubs - there are some great pics, but I'll wait til we're sharing Mike's pictures. We saw some beautiful waterfalls, too. It's really lovely with all the mountains and fields and wildlife. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeUMbsvb0tC4tltSRw_CI58jSiYNia65Hhnm6vY_YVn2gwEbD5vNsIb2JOnDFlyU3XCQ5dQYiYXCBDIJ8rpjw1574T2_o8bwmEZBjb57STQXh1cxbZhHXDw5CjudGdOweaEstz1vRNVEI/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeUMbsvb0tC4tltSRw_CI58jSiYNia65Hhnm6vY_YVn2gwEbD5vNsIb2JOnDFlyU3XCQ5dQYiYXCBDIJ8rpjw1574T2_o8bwmEZBjb57STQXh1cxbZhHXDw5CjudGdOweaEstz1vRNVEI/s200/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482450185934503698" border="0" /></a>When we left Glacier we drove Southeast through Montana and made our way slowly through the state. We found some cool roadside historical markers from Lewis and Clark's expedition, and we passed a lot of ranches. This is really amazing country! We've seen so many pronghorn antelope and mule deer that we barely even mention them anymore!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UptAKSiDv6Nw9_koPuIq77tcnO7r2Tmp1Wp1e30Uc1glk5USHDLrRv2ICtd-Exaxn1_IL4GGIUXz95NfY7ID1E1G7l_iwvxdHpeX2VvJvivopZMJ8tRjHdF_lD4BCRvvGralMSchp0D0/s1600/054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UptAKSiDv6Nw9_koPuIq77tcnO7r2Tmp1Wp1e30Uc1glk5USHDLrRv2ICtd-Exaxn1_IL4GGIUXz95NfY7ID1E1G7l_iwvxdHpeX2VvJvivopZMJ8tRjHdF_lD4BCRvvGralMSchp0D0/s200/054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482453186648035858" border="0" /></a>We winded our way down to Bozeman, Montana. Montana Univ. has the Museum of the Rockies, curated by Jack Horner, and we wanted to see what dinos they had there. This pic was taken out front. The steel cast was made from the fossil named Big Mike, one of the most complete T Rexes ever found or something. We saw the real fossils inside. They also had a great exhibit of Leonardo DaVinci's machines with life-size models made of wood that you could (often) touch and work. It was very cool!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L_45X-hdENu8NKEc6vdsFz9OT5UeqeblMyttJCguTk2YFRuYyB1rEjioKSW3KLkBH2RRbu1S-VnR61JOcp_jpAxKn8LwiYQqEKrOeLmv_yUd0-aoNXYMZZzMx-ydtayaAYh0QrwC18om/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L_45X-hdENu8NKEc6vdsFz9OT5UeqeblMyttJCguTk2YFRuYyB1rEjioKSW3KLkBH2RRbu1S-VnR61JOcp_jpAxKn8LwiYQqEKrOeLmv_yUd0-aoNXYMZZzMx-ydtayaAYh0QrwC18om/s200/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482450151427355234" border="0" /></a>Outside of Bozeman is National Bridge State Monument, which we visited. The water was running so strong and fast it was nearly deafening! You can see the river disappear underground and then come pouring back out. Cool! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qU0c5JLxhyphenhyphenWIloRowsuji8plGkM-urdIstv552Ez_zFkzucjRftKnEQLzbK8ERz2CB7nvKjbxZh-ZAZyJYdSrIqPBJx5bqXfumskXZpguQEkC8HmMIYI0EVwGUihnr0YPG2XSEZiri7y/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qU0c5JLxhyphenhyphenWIloRowsuji8plGkM-urdIstv552Ez_zFkzucjRftKnEQLzbK8ERz2CB7nvKjbxZh-ZAZyJYdSrIqPBJx5bqXfumskXZpguQEkC8HmMIYI0EVwGUihnr0YPG2XSEZiri7y/s200/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482450179364525794" border="0" /></a>This park was really well designed, too, because the whole area was wheelchair accessible, which made it easily walkable even for someone like me with bad joints, etc.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-aZtW-aSJB3L2lXSwl656XOqgP3kHRtN52xiXr1RlUFEe2qTBNZsY-hgfPotDYXjHGfjWp01mG2Lgvj3mCJewMsIbAmEfsIMWxNyoDgjhpnszcihyphenhyphentSplQpjMy2qmNqlcV0PhZBW1i3R/s1600/076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-aZtW-aSJB3L2lXSwl656XOqgP3kHRtN52xiXr1RlUFEe2qTBNZsY-hgfPotDYXjHGfjWp01mG2Lgvj3mCJewMsIbAmEfsIMWxNyoDgjhpnszcihyphenhyphentSplQpjMy2qmNqlcV0PhZBW1i3R/s200/076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482450170782056546" border="0" /></a>Bozeman is really small town, but they do have a really nice restaurant! The Grand Hotel had excellent food, including buffalo steaks and elk. We all had an truly delicious meal (even if I did eat too much!)<br /><br />We left Bozeman and drove about 1.5 more hours to Columbus, MT to spend the night.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgQWx8HI-Focc3j0PfJ2NHWTiEle6aTnwQdz_dJNGvkExxGp7KeorL4VK_pHzk0lJVEYIoJFEpFwfBe1uUycuMinjr_o5sm3XMwB5Pzx4um_jPEEnem8BEnhygMwrxrRINIyMhnnBswMC/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgQWx8HI-Focc3j0PfJ2NHWTiEle6aTnwQdz_dJNGvkExxGp7KeorL4VK_pHzk0lJVEYIoJFEpFwfBe1uUycuMinjr_o5sm3XMwB5Pzx4um_jPEEnem8BEnhygMwrxrRINIyMhnnBswMC/s200/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482450147595045666" border="0" /></a>After spending the night in a cheap place along the road, we went to Little Bighorn National Battlefield. This ranger was a great storyteller and told the riveting story of how the battle went down, and he pointed out exactly where everything happened. Very interesting. We drove around a bit to see the smaller markers where the soldiers and native warriors fell, and then we moved on. Tonight we are in Sundance, WY. The rain has come in full force since about 1, so we're going to bed early and hoping for some breaks in the bad weather over the next couple of days so we can get some good pics in the Black Hills around the monuments!<br /><br />Ta-ta for now!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-5039105398921435972010-06-13T00:05:00.000-04:002010-06-13T00:07:13.200-04:00Believe it or not, the internet connection here is even whonkier than at our last place! I'll have to wait at least one more day before another big post. Suffice to say all is well, Mike and Si saw bears in the wild yesterday, we've had a good day today and we're in Columbus, MT for the night. Tired but doing well. :-)Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-52564433771775631372010-06-11T16:32:00.000-04:002010-06-11T21:45:42.184-04:00<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IfQjw-jTZ9RNDAw2kod7PcxLZC8OdZK9SDhli2sH0Pr_NfH7lRkfQVyTXhbIrrb_TqcSfacdYYWMNQweYEV0xqSw27032hEcH-ohJsBC3cOE5uBzNVwYUb0NTgSAcHSNARMC0U6KXQde/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481619953579789906" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IfQjw-jTZ9RNDAw2kod7PcxLZC8OdZK9SDhli2sH0Pr_NfH7lRkfQVyTXhbIrrb_TqcSfacdYYWMNQweYEV0xqSw27032hEcH-ohJsBC3cOE5uBzNVwYUb0NTgSAcHSNARMC0U6KXQde/s200/001.JPG" border="0" /></a> I promised you last night that I would get around to sharing yesterday's adventures with you, and I don't want to break my promise! We woke up fairly early yesterday after a great night in the Driftwood Motel in Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada. See the red awning in the pic? That is the entrance to our hotel. It was clean and very comfortable and one of the most reasonably priced places we've found so far. </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnR5SJDIB7EaL-vggYfvndn7AJm79lZEH2liZdsMl3LoQOB_zW8QupyKpTaSUi79qKidDhUhh2oXU6acSQQVeOo6Hp-wLAeySwu1qezpiQCKlpDRahqszbIqgONtt2IXVTcrGXV1qJcPi/s1600/DSC_0296.JPG"></a> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnR5SJDIB7EaL-vggYfvndn7AJm79lZEH2liZdsMl3LoQOB_zW8QupyKpTaSUi79qKidDhUhh2oXU6acSQQVeOo6Hp-wLAeySwu1qezpiQCKlpDRahqszbIqgONtt2IXVTcrGXV1qJcPi/s1600/DSC_0296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 134px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481619925890665282" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnR5SJDIB7EaL-vggYfvndn7AJm79lZEH2liZdsMl3LoQOB_zW8QupyKpTaSUi79qKidDhUhh2oXU6acSQQVeOo6Hp-wLAeySwu1qezpiQCKlpDRahqszbIqgONtt2IXVTcrGXV1qJcPi/s200/DSC_0296.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9lg8zHzww3TzohRmFFfYGN0Qp_cYfSWk5lmM1KpXGEDQ_zbm8o0E896nMWOQX0S0DlEBhvoq8qzthD6ec4XuYmK3w4oF9cQnJgeFhqws_GwKmtEHKXaorTo7Dtxxd_lWqwcUD8CHHgMh/s1600/117.JPG"></a></div><div> Yesterday morning was full of fog and clouds and more rain, but Mike was up before Si and I and went outside to get some pictures. He managed to find this beautiful rainbow, and take a few other amazing shots. Like most of our days in the Rockies, it was very chilly, and it rained on and off all day.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9lg8zHzww3TzohRmFFfYGN0Qp_cYfSWk5lmM1KpXGEDQ_zbm8o0E896nMWOQX0S0DlEBhvoq8qzthD6ec4XuYmK3w4oF9cQnJgeFhqws_GwKmtEHKXaorTo7Dtxxd_lWqwcUD8CHHgMh/s1600/117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481629712679428082" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9lg8zHzww3TzohRmFFfYGN0Qp_cYfSWk5lmM1KpXGEDQ_zbm8o0E896nMWOQX0S0DlEBhvoq8qzthD6ec4XuYmK3w4oF9cQnJgeFhqws_GwKmtEHKXaorTo7Dtxxd_lWqwcUD8CHHgMh/s200/117.JPG" border="0" /></a>We found a beautiful frozen lake . . . partially frozen, really. It was COLD! up there!<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf3zqCdEg6UsH8cAsvUhnStKzpLH-0B7GePB5MLPs6r0tYN8dlu9DCPQJZ2PE7lUs1_tgw7hkMA4r9i81Ni1L2kBproqhom5tI8DIT7h-ncJRkAbfP2-UmpybpfRHg63G5z-S_tp1ZAAr/s1600/118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481629723583002258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf3zqCdEg6UsH8cAsvUhnStKzpLH-0B7GePB5MLPs6r0tYN8dlu9DCPQJZ2PE7lUs1_tgw7hkMA4r9i81Ni1L2kBproqhom5tI8DIT7h-ncJRkAbfP2-UmpybpfRHg63G5z-S_tp1ZAAr/s200/118.JPG" border="0" /></a>We had a lovely hamburger picnic for Second Breakfast - yum!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIwO1JZSISk4VNXSuou8jzL1WtI3otMggccqoNCBPBbEjBOOBnkNzA4CUCWhdC1iBCzy7ezQtqC-cfNaiOWofR4q9zmT8p4BNaTrmxaP5lYAnICEXCUP1LOVjOPW1OuhRBoQ-I_EvfTXw/s1600/DSC_0737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 134px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481619935008569314" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIwO1JZSISk4VNXSuou8jzL1WtI3otMggccqoNCBPBbEjBOOBnkNzA4CUCWhdC1iBCzy7ezQtqC-cfNaiOWofR4q9zmT8p4BNaTrmxaP5lYAnICEXCUP1LOVjOPW1OuhRBoQ-I_EvfTXw/s200/DSC_0737.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then we drove up and down the mountain roads in the park VERY slowly, looking for wildlife. We spotted this moose right near the road, munching on bushes and leaves. He was big, and he didn't seem to care about the cars going by. Simon even got some movie footage, but we'll wait til we're home for that project. (Oh wait, maybe this was in Glacier and not Waterton)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg6UnmPGN25aEcJ_6Ey0rYqvJTdM8huk-LXLug8WlX2rNT_AcVmRpz6HgeYYVU24CcWxrGuA_sHrYUqhDXRB69JfrxmFCT__VPT6nhP9LEEImspQoPGHbzpIfgv1vzWPiSM-dKeBZbg6H/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481628044374729602" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg6UnmPGN25aEcJ_6Ey0rYqvJTdM8huk-LXLug8WlX2rNT_AcVmRpz6HgeYYVU24CcWxrGuA_sHrYUqhDXRB69JfrxmFCT__VPT6nhP9LEEImspQoPGHbzpIfgv1vzWPiSM-dKeBZbg6H/s200/061.JPG" border="0" /></a>We didn't have to look far for the Bighorn Sheep, as they were right near in the town in Waterton. They are obviously shedding their winter coats and looking rather bedraggled. I must admit that I was inclined to try to collect some of that wool and get it spun into yarn, but Simon reminded me that those sheep are most likely dangerous, not to mention protected by law, and I don't want to be knitting unlawful scarves and hats!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT1eHBBuJr1C4rK21X_QRPSGCTO20Ly-uBkbRiTOJxUULzXB2kwIU4xxuYyIL4RLxVUKz_eAgAYgqHzsb9mFiX92Bo6Gk2Y_TiHMCs7gViPCU0BfzB4QtEJwj_AUg3vaZf_RTsY2N_fX_/s1600/126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481629729270555762" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT1eHBBuJr1C4rK21X_QRPSGCTO20Ly-uBkbRiTOJxUULzXB2kwIU4xxuYyIL4RLxVUKz_eAgAYgqHzsb9mFiX92Bo6Gk2Y_TiHMCs7gViPCU0BfzB4QtEJwj_AUg3vaZf_RTsY2N_fX_/s200/126.JPG" border="0" /></a>And speaking of the law . . . . we crossed back into the US around 1:00 or so yesterday afternoon. (I have to say the border gate is a really boring picture!) We had our passports ready for them and so on, and they opened our van and looked into our coolers and asked us questions. They seemed to ask Mike a lot of extra questions, though. Then they asked us to park and asked Mike (only Mike) to come inside. He was apparently going to be undergoing further questioning. According to Mike, there is another person with his exact name who is wanted for murder in Atlanta, GA. When the border guards looked up the file and picture, though, one guy said "Uh, I don't think this is the guy. The guy who's wanted is 6' tall, weighs 122, and is black." One of the other guards said "Well, you've been a better sport about this than most people we bring in for questioning. Thank you for playing!" Mike said it was a little nerve-wracking, but it sure makes for an interesting story! I guess that's what you get when you have such a <a href="http://www.namestatistics.com/">common name</a>! I figure since we didn't have to give them any money and Mike didn't have to be stripp-searched, it's no harm/no foul.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1yhu2vuxmjCuld7je2XKycqlc33dI9C9YyPy47PPGJvzGEThpkuZ4ot-xiURB6FLNbIIN2HR1M_5l9h2aw7vJSOTvoPVAFMe_FBmwBL-Te7hOVLx-Aa6JBZsz23D1yCP6TCxL6p3vN3E/s1600/DSC_0728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; float: left; height: 134px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481619944941873154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1yhu2vuxmjCuld7je2XKycqlc33dI9C9YyPy47PPGJvzGEThpkuZ4ot-xiURB6FLNbIIN2HR1M_5l9h2aw7vJSOTvoPVAFMe_FBmwBL-Te7hOVLx-Aa6JBZsz23D1yCP6TCxL6p3vN3E/s200/DSC_0728.JPG" border="0" /></a>So we've made it to Glacier National Park. Yesterday and this morning we've been exploring, driving around, looking for wildlife. We did see some Mountain Goats way way up on the mountain through our telescope - that was really cool! It is beautiful here, and we've seen some spectacular waterfalls, but the main road, the Going-to-the-Sun road, is still closed in the middle portion because of weather. Sigh. Mike and Si are still out exploring this afternoon, and I am using this as some quiet time for myself. I do love them, but a.) this altitude is hard for me to deal with and b.) they're wearing me out and c.) we're doing so much chatting in the van I can't get my naps in!</div><div> </div><div>Ok - some quick stats before we sign off. As of 2:00 this afternoon (Mountain Time):</div><ul><li>we'd hit 3005 miles on the trip odometer</li><li>Mike has seen 30 new life birds</li><li>we've seen 22 interesting new mammals </li><li>we haven't had to call home for more money (which is a good thing because honestly, I don't know who we'd call! LOL</li><li>we've seen license places from all US states except for, I think, 4 of them (Hawaii, Delaware, Connecticutt and Vermont are the only ones I can remember)</li><li>we have gotten no traffic violations or any other arrests (although apparently there was a close call at the border! yipes!)</li><li>stuff we've forgotten in hotel rooms: bottle of shampoo (big deal), Simon's retainers (ugh)</li></ul><p>More later!</p></div></div>Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-21369993621394702302010-06-10T23:11:00.000-04:002010-06-10T23:28:27.730-04:00The internet connection is very slow today - I'll do an update as soon as we find a speedier connection, or when I'm feeling more patient.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-19997952809194750862010-06-10T01:04:00.000-04:002010-06-10T01:22:01.519-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9zghal0emsYLy0X-lnDVHlYhcLMTOMYo6Wa7LCfes6XNoOuuTMKvffHAD3XvQXPn9nR6aKCf8pLpWXkwML44i0-Q0Vl_BiI_Uwyc2iGBh3XUBcFP2yb25R94JEDqhMDh0wol_NdCkVr_/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9zghal0emsYLy0X-lnDVHlYhcLMTOMYo6Wa7LCfes6XNoOuuTMKvffHAD3XvQXPn9nR6aKCf8pLpWXkwML44i0-Q0Vl_BiI_Uwyc2iGBh3XUBcFP2yb25R94JEDqhMDh0wol_NdCkVr_/s200/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481008320198144098" border="0" /></a>This morning we woke up in Banff and drove around some more. There are several long back roads through the valley where wildlife is often spotted. It was very cloudy and we couldn't see much of the mountains around us, but we did have fun going around some more. Simon saw a red fox, which I think was our only new mammal in Banff. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme_TiRCsd0QbNPaf5OE741qMyV-KQYGmpTYXAdUCdqPujJfzH6Q-DXfg_Y3zGTOzqxFWkX15SkAZQpYBDiFhNf70MqJiayKS7cHBhqzd840ePQkoRAZIGNYUlvBWqkuBVRe7N5CzHXrGk/s1600/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjme_TiRCsd0QbNPaf5OE741qMyV-KQYGmpTYXAdUCdqPujJfzH6Q-DXfg_Y3zGTOzqxFWkX15SkAZQpYBDiFhNf70MqJiayKS7cHBhqzd840ePQkoRAZIGNYUlvBWqkuBVRe7N5CzHXrGk/s200/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481008302965313282" border="0" /></a>Mike was still snapping lots of pictures, though, so we saw a lot of that! LOL It was raining on and off, so some of our pictures from today in Banff are drizzly. Well, the pictures I took are drizzly . . . Mike's are probably all still gorgeous. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuH46EBl8FpfifjX2JWG9Ozlmm61opXfQI3reOtwZPASH8NBPqsO6efqIl23QwA5W2ADq_8Q8SnbQW4hVfhalxo3pQgSbM2sdnQSgowhrc7-YS5qJ29XeNtVaPKBEy9Zll5JYUHpqukxr/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuH46EBl8FpfifjX2JWG9Ozlmm61opXfQI3reOtwZPASH8NBPqsO6efqIl23QwA5W2ADq_8Q8SnbQW4hVfhalxo3pQgSbM2sdnQSgowhrc7-YS5qJ29XeNtVaPKBEy9Zll5JYUHpqukxr/s200/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481008315310709330" border="0" /></a> Oh, and isn't the waterfall pretty?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2CWdeDG3nu9uNGpNfTLQIJqc5Nuw_wIiS1C38sXqQtTaQMFNU8uQM21jziXQz0d6LBGc5qz4WXY2cBwBfjwH60FSGmc7fPLU_o7qp0t7FaI5cMM5vD1AD1zULJtsXylciEbLaqu5qnDy/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2CWdeDG3nu9uNGpNfTLQIJqc5Nuw_wIiS1C38sXqQtTaQMFNU8uQM21jziXQz0d6LBGc5qz4WXY2cBwBfjwH60FSGmc7fPLU_o7qp0t7FaI5cMM5vD1AD1zULJtsXylciEbLaqu5qnDy/s200/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481008291354718978" border="0" /></a>When we left Banff, we headed south towards Waterton National Park. We decided to take a side trip to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. The name drew us in, but the views and the history were very cool. It's a museum dedicated to the First Nations and the buffalo hunting. We met a guide named Edwin Small-legs who was very friendly and we had a good talk with him. <br /><br />We saw some ermines and marmots at Head-Smashed-In, and also some great views of the prairies. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkTxbz5pSy7K_sUcYACeiQbvdft1sj3olwQ86jEDz1BF5nPZ_gkAer1Ggbz6M8dhF9r8Q1picy-R7C6iYSlT4d98VhNT223nsR9mv2AjIOI7IjFCG6HtDw-wNI_Asy0D0YXpzxYAsfUuC/s1600/105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkTxbz5pSy7K_sUcYACeiQbvdft1sj3olwQ86jEDz1BF5nPZ_gkAer1Ggbz6M8dhF9r8Q1picy-R7C6iYSlT4d98VhNT223nsR9mv2AjIOI7IjFCG6HtDw-wNI_Asy0D0YXpzxYAsfUuC/s200/105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481008289814545602" border="0" /></a>The tipis you see are a group campsite they have. The woman who checked us in said that a group of students was staying the night there tonight.<br /><br />We've made it to Waterton, and it is, indeed, lovely. We're all exhausted, though, so info on Waterton is going to have to wait til tomorrow. Maybe I'll be able to post before we're on the road again. This should be our last night in Canada. It's been fun, but it will be good to get back to more reasonable gas prices (and other prices, too, we hope!)Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-15465109233822477142010-06-09T09:04:00.000-04:002010-06-09T09:23:02.276-04:00Money<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQJFOctQ0WOw_Crq5o3GwqCU7HyuV4jl6DGRvm3Y0GGO8xjh_fhO56FaT8OWSaR1LqJJP6I3VfBWcuiAx7WtUcMS0RGcwsbKS_GfoS5Af-5KoYr6TBRI7WJH75O8GUlBqGYUtQYGYiIzP/s1600/Canadian+Currency.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQJFOctQ0WOw_Crq5o3GwqCU7HyuV4jl6DGRvm3Y0GGO8xjh_fhO56FaT8OWSaR1LqJJP6I3VfBWcuiAx7WtUcMS0RGcwsbKS_GfoS5Af-5KoYr6TBRI7WJH75O8GUlBqGYUtQYGYiIzP/s200/Canadian+Currency.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759756670820290" border="0" /></a><br />I have money envy. We're staying in Banff at the moment, so you might think I just wish we were rich . . . and although that does have a certain appeal, that's not the goal in my life (obviously) and it's not at all what I'm talking about. <br /><br />I'm talking about pretty money. Canadian currency is really pretty! The bills are all colorful, and each one has a metallic strip that's really shiny. They're just beautiful bills!<br /><br />And what do we have? Dead presidents and mostly green. Our most recent bills have some color and some more style (not all completely centered, etc), so that helps, but US currency just isn't as nice as Canadian. 4 of the 5 bills shown here feature dead white guys, but the 20 has Queen Elizabeth. Lovely!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7ChVgF0hVYrb9MAJ_oT5MMYRmphgg4Kv8ES-jmkeN3N6VuZk8h1In1uzO8D70P029rdXRLb7l-AhW7BTT96_cYwdusCUnlS0NwrY4CIje4qJMGMysbwvEFBPGaOaIpvBP0N8jAc-L6-d/s1600/canadian-coins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7ChVgF0hVYrb9MAJ_oT5MMYRmphgg4Kv8ES-jmkeN3N6VuZk8h1In1uzO8D70P029rdXRLb7l-AhW7BTT96_cYwdusCUnlS0NwrY4CIje4qJMGMysbwvEFBPGaOaIpvBP0N8jAc-L6-d/s200/canadian-coins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759744480360242" border="0" /></a>Another thing I admire about Canadian currency is that there is no dollar bill. They've gotten rid of paper singles and are using all coins. They even have a 2 dollar coin, which is very neat. They call the 1 dollars "Loonies" because they have a loon on them. The 2 dollar coins are called "Toonies" for obvious reasons. See what I mean? They even have cute names for their money!<br /><br />Today we are heading back into the US. We're going to take our time traveling South, though, so we can see more of the Rockies. If we have Wifi tonight, I'll post again!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-8306376559836069072010-06-08T22:03:00.000-04:002010-06-08T22:44:25.388-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fhP34ASPvmHaoXJrChHd8yZiICtHUk2FZX1BMmHZe69sh5b0c5gHl13tgK2l7vra_cCZSKLj88TR836Zokp6_YnaeO7ZzhsomN63ALoHUdM7_VtHhwJste7APk8DJ3ZGpq_7HIgPoo9I/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fhP34ASPvmHaoXJrChHd8yZiICtHUk2FZX1BMmHZe69sh5b0c5gHl13tgK2l7vra_cCZSKLj88TR836Zokp6_YnaeO7ZzhsomN63ALoHUdM7_VtHhwJste7APk8DJ3ZGpq_7HIgPoo9I/s200/013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590219940507282" border="0" /></a>I will quote my dear husband, who said this afternoon "Wow, I think this is the best day I've had in my life, since . . . . well . . . since yesterday!" We left Drumheller this morning and drove around Calgary and up into Banff. Banff is one of those rare places on earth were you can literally drive down the road and stick your camera out the window, randomly snapping pictures, and come up with amazing shots.<br /><br />The weather guys were predicting rain on and off all day today. While there was some rain early in the day, by the time we really reached the mountains the sun was peeking out and we had some lovely views. Seriously beautiful views.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4K7h7OZKHs12rFZ98uVy1vH62AiQVjjdW-hmu_Lx6ALYvjGr4btwGIWxMwvq9zfFlz3s9rBNZDhxUop_lt-yxMgDAavq-ewCfBNgn7759JKg3QXk0pwT6D5uomdfrrjj43u5sqWTOb37/s1600/LYSCanmore.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4K7h7OZKHs12rFZ98uVy1vH62AiQVjjdW-hmu_Lx6ALYvjGr4btwGIWxMwvq9zfFlz3s9rBNZDhxUop_lt-yxMgDAavq-ewCfBNgn7759JKg3QXk0pwT6D5uomdfrrjj43u5sqWTOb37/s200/LYSCanmore.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480597648700049010" border="0" /></a>We stopped in Canmore first, on the way to Banff, and found a little yarn shop called <a href="http://www.knitandcaboodle.ca/">Knit and Caboodle</a>. I found a very friendly knitter/owner, and some great yarn! I only bought a few skeins, but it is Alberta-made wool, hand-dyed and everything. Yay! One ironic tidbit is that the owner is heading to Columbus, OH this coming weekend for the big TNNA trade show! How funny is that? She goes to Cbus every year. Of course, she FLIES like a sane person.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsRNtRAQELxqasGc52mQ23zaTL3YST0RKqPtTLgi0bfwGGZWAHdX4E00eXzJCDEcn4OlPF-sY-9gAx2ve3PgoSK8O1eQ1eE9GbQ0V3leQU4zy0CSOqTLpOR77UnMj4qRUASUQJGPxkX0v/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsRNtRAQELxqasGc52mQ23zaTL3YST0RKqPtTLgi0bfwGGZWAHdX4E00eXzJCDEcn4OlPF-sY-9gAx2ve3PgoSK8O1eQ1eE9GbQ0V3leQU4zy0CSOqTLpOR77UnMj4qRUASUQJGPxkX0v/s200/020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590209183723378" border="0" /></a>So we got to Banff, drove around the town a little, and then headed to <a href="http://www.explorerockies.com/banff-gondola/">the Gondola</a>. This is a suspended cable car that runs up to the peak of Sulphur Mountain. I didn't take a picture on the way because I was doing deep breathing and trying not to yak. LOL The peak, though, was beautiful (of course - I've totally run out of adjectives, haven't I?). I made Si pose with me for a pic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdmFdGc-waDuAIE6myH6Wq2SBYzYo_wm7i-VDcObU559L5MaY0ilLG07qAWSro7YH_5Wupcew8KXZ_haoqaO3S4Wu9UtTAVWEkkTncIbx2Bc96VfRJ3mJkUH-K-SgDK54xnPBhEP4hFDf/s1600/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdmFdGc-waDuAIE6myH6Wq2SBYzYo_wm7i-VDcObU559L5MaY0ilLG07qAWSro7YH_5Wupcew8KXZ_haoqaO3S4Wu9UtTAVWEkkTncIbx2Bc96VfRJ3mJkUH-K-SgDK54xnPBhEP4hFDf/s200/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590186157306802" border="0" /></a>Mike saw 3 new life birds just on that gondola trip - 2 of them in the same tree at the peak! In the tree he saw Clark's Nutcracker and the Grey Jay, on the way down he found the 3-toed Woodpecker. We also saw some more ground squirrels - a different species than we'd previously seen, and new chipmunks!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahgBiwdVDZ5S4Ch6_kaSSRjwESshxc71-8qyJk3bLEcBoyzwIMmKQ4M6w9Tk1cjaJBFx0xMZfUU5E6t9C5727DVV2rgBRerU4x7Cy_VBV02DDvtzK4Cknc-F2eRsPic48tWcaSKIcGs4x/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahgBiwdVDZ5S4Ch6_kaSSRjwESshxc71-8qyJk3bLEcBoyzwIMmKQ4M6w9Tk1cjaJBFx0xMZfUU5E6t9C5727DVV2rgBRerU4x7Cy_VBV02DDvtzK4Cknc-F2eRsPic48tWcaSKIcGs4x/s200/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590198382864802" border="0" /></a>After all of that, we drove along the #1 Highway up through the National Park and saw a lot more wildlife. There are a lot of pull-offs for people who want to view nature, and Si and Mike did a bit of extra walking.<br />Mike was taking many pictures (over 1000 just today!) and Simon was looking for animals. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvhp8CoT16j6qEtfhAcqn6IBbrpBpJcGDlcJSFetplrf3fkyTR4dzNlt5vDo6euiHVG4yt6tOJMJcNGhcCe-nLfn3F9tlT6qTtb1qbUjTGYJZuH6qMvx0r-og-VwybHcjHPMNo7CW-meP/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvhp8CoT16j6qEtfhAcqn6IBbrpBpJcGDlcJSFetplrf3fkyTR4dzNlt5vDo6euiHVG4yt6tOJMJcNGhcCe-nLfn3F9tlT6qTtb1qbUjTGYJZuH6qMvx0r-og-VwybHcjHPMNo7CW-meP/s200/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590177166959618" border="0" /></a>Si saw a Grizzly Bear, a Brown Bear, they both saw beaver, and a wolf, and all three of us saw Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer and Elk.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-19508841083710250242010-06-07T23:03:00.000-04:002010-06-07T23:36:21.830-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WuzKyLvp6qGJR_mrVrnJQtrEKTFwJmFOUS5cjbcWnE4k5SBFttoaaAl8gc6h95sWpH6jrfnL4EEdd-Ia6fZCEH0JDoa6YJG-C9QktWQvYr-JCcrg7UnzdYg0_wISkxbImP3JnwK8UHTp/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WuzKyLvp6qGJR_mrVrnJQtrEKTFwJmFOUS5cjbcWnE4k5SBFttoaaAl8gc6h95sWpH6jrfnL4EEdd-Ia6fZCEH0JDoa6YJG-C9QktWQvYr-JCcrg7UnzdYg0_wISkxbImP3JnwK8UHTp/s200/046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480235257651894562" border="0" /></a>Just an aside from home first! Columbus Metropolitan Library was named Library Journal's Library of the Year, and it was announced to the staff this morning. I had already planned to wear my SRC t-shirt today for the first Monday of SRC, but it was extra exciting to be able to support my peeps today!<br /><br /><br />The Royal Tyrell Museum is amazing! It was full to the brim of dinosaur and other great prehistoric fossils. The exhibits were put together very well, and the museum was laid out so that you followed a logical path through the whole thing, following evolutionary history.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AI8aVPR7udL-u8hkPCat_ftKxJNx01Fr7bOdH3Lt3h4MnbcYw8Xc-IQBA13xkkEBWkUfSg1clG127T_exC8CJUIVw2FyJsChPfKAVzR21XlnZGAKEz8O2pM8KJrHSCwdJwIYTavIlKbN/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AI8aVPR7udL-u8hkPCat_ftKxJNx01Fr7bOdH3Lt3h4MnbcYw8Xc-IQBA13xkkEBWkUfSg1clG127T_exC8CJUIVw2FyJsChPfKAVzR21XlnZGAKEz8O2pM8KJrHSCwdJwIYTavIlKbN/s200/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480237898254690130" border="0" /></a>There was a viewing area where you could watch the scientists working on uncovering and preparing fossil finds, too. I always wonder if they feel like they're in a zoo or something, but it was very interesting to watch them. Each one of them had an air vaccuum tube that took all the dust and debris away as they created it. Very cool! <br /><br />It was doubly cool being there and seeing that so many of the specimens were obtained at Dinosaur Provincial Park, which we visited yesterday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsLXp7WR5nGLJsFGJXQzi-i_lh8HZonQqbnqevDnmBIoWi-Pg7Xg9gAxlX0tpzMNOkUS0MS_FJDfryib24bOSPl86hPBpUSs1Ts4fqbz-H-_zIRFVr-vK_m4GH-v5KgLAlGLCRqpn35ri/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsLXp7WR5nGLJsFGJXQzi-i_lh8HZonQqbnqevDnmBIoWi-Pg7Xg9gAxlX0tpzMNOkUS0MS_FJDfryib24bOSPl86hPBpUSs1Ts4fqbz-H-_zIRFVr-vK_m4GH-v5KgLAlGLCRqpn35ri/s200/044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480237902934177138" border="0" /></a>There is also a viewing deck outside. This is Mike and Si up on the deck. There were a lot of steps to get up there, and no handrail, so I stayed below.<br /><br />We spent about 4-5 hours there. Simon was still bouncing when we left, even though he was nearly as tired as we were. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq1_juBprtH4H1ejCsUSD-18tfLQXvPSil0_HIUZi8Ye3Xz0CLY3b-3gIws09KsBG0RLCRtSapKPqzwnAh3w0IwwLAAWtUEsPD6K53e55q7i_egy856TbyeKwRJKyze5nrnOcuEFM18eL/s1600/064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq1_juBprtH4H1ejCsUSD-18tfLQXvPSil0_HIUZi8Ye3Xz0CLY3b-3gIws09KsBG0RLCRtSapKPqzwnAh3w0IwwLAAWtUEsPD6K53e55q7i_egy856TbyeKwRJKyze5nrnOcuEFM18eL/s200/064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480235225495206722" border="0" /></a>After a good rest, we went out to see the Hoodoos. These are stone towers where the stantion is eroded away but the top is solid enough to have preserved a tower-like structure. They are commonly felt to be one of the symbols of this area. Around here, you can find Hoodoo jewelry and candy as well as all the dino trinkets.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzuiHQmr4PID1XM3ZZvIAVoKbAbAcCaVZr1gXlXAZlohC4qCIWDqPwF8ae3-V2_4cyLIQLV1UOTK0zdnZ7MrSxBScsaceiHSeFvGCqWZmBKbKIF76tpQlC1HM8frb7YXVTGameHuJVy0V/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzuiHQmr4PID1XM3ZZvIAVoKbAbAcCaVZr1gXlXAZlohC4qCIWDqPwF8ae3-V2_4cyLIQLV1UOTK0zdnZ7MrSxBScsaceiHSeFvGCqWZmBKbKIF76tpQlC1HM8frb7YXVTGameHuJVy0V/s200/060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480235227898246530" border="0" /></a>We also drove out to a pull-off called Horse Thief Canyon. It was charming, and strikingly beautiful. Mike has been in his element taking pictures! I'm only posting my own work on this blog, though, so he can do his up right when we get home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSFSGWwIz_mJrRbg6EjJoBRkOczv3pKqHFVL7sn17lhyphenhyphentZ0zjsUAeunpokbrbrZWA4MJ-vsDZtCYkXqUsRkcv-VEipoR-LOl-cpUsuVNhSmKsqProHC295JHMF7ysLMYuCHHrcEKsIBJz/s1600/057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSFSGWwIz_mJrRbg6EjJoBRkOczv3pKqHFVL7sn17lhyphenhyphentZ0zjsUAeunpokbrbrZWA4MJ-vsDZtCYkXqUsRkcv-VEipoR-LOl-cpUsuVNhSmKsqProHC295JHMF7ysLMYuCHHrcEKsIBJz/s200/057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480235239848069890" border="0" /></a>Along the overlook there seemed to be a whole colony of ground squirrels. Simon was able to get up close and personal with them. They even came out and sniffed him, and one of them even nibbled his finger a little (skin didn't break). Aren't they adorable? These look different from the ones we saw in Moose Jaw, so we're thinking they are a different species. More research is needed to confirm.<br /><br />We had dinner at a local diner in operation since 1917, Yavis. Yummy Alberta Beef! We think it might be one of the best meals we've had so far, and it was less money than several others we've had. Go figure.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl99QkLTpM31Nf3j1XK3xAxgxOI2XCxswz_GS_HIU3MbxBG2krkeAu_sVq-hI6tjC76xtaOEtKqN6r66j71GRUqBFSSCAECCln4VQt3xHZU1MDoFB4BDPrN7A_Qsspn8DfG6sigbOXdue/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl99QkLTpM31Nf3j1XK3xAxgxOI2XCxswz_GS_HIU3MbxBG2krkeAu_sVq-hI6tjC76xtaOEtKqN6r66j71GRUqBFSSCAECCln4VQt3xHZU1MDoFB4BDPrN7A_Qsspn8DfG6sigbOXdue/s200/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480235251342688082" border="0" /></a>Best thing about the trip? Seeing my 15-yr-old smile like this. Alot.<br /><br />I feel so blessed to be here with Mike and Simon, to have them both and have the ability to take this trip together. It's been good for my soul, you know? The beautiful nature, the incredible history and science . . . and the family time are all such gifts. I'm feeling really thankful.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-13087124582563772912010-06-07T09:23:00.003-04:002010-06-07T09:40:00.142-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVqLpJE2fXPdTIeVQIDxFyx2Jyu9sVljNPf7lYdgNED1Z9NrxqeJ3zgQke5gc4EVflkFBWRWhQRl965UDNeEDKfexWNxZ2peRlqhL7ifnRhpCQBO6Vo8wykxap3XqtfaMc9dPu_RhoOgQ/s1600/058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVqLpJE2fXPdTIeVQIDxFyx2Jyu9sVljNPf7lYdgNED1Z9NrxqeJ3zgQke5gc4EVflkFBWRWhQRl965UDNeEDKfexWNxZ2peRlqhL7ifnRhpCQBO6Vo8wykxap3XqtfaMc9dPu_RhoOgQ/s200/058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480024429323577314" border="0" /></a>I wanted to add a few more comments about yesterday before we move on. Since Si is still sleeping and Mike is in the shower, I have a few stolen moments. Drumheller is in a long narrow valley of the badlands. Just like in Appalachia, there are side valleys (hollers down in our hills, coulees up here). It was really neat going down the coulee last night to the Last Chance Saloon. The road we were on was also known as The 11 Bridges Road. The Saloon was between bridges 9 and 10. <br /><br />The history of the saloon says that when this was a mining town, the only access they had was by the train!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNshn5P8mu3phPX-3KeHrmlMNfItiTPUSxbY1MYOvjBZaNvdnXNlAo6pwutqaIBMQUcM5zRbBXddF_rYCEPR5WIksmnqi2CeGQilwE3WA2hU-hTz-bbcOUwhH7Ahz_COtUSD4l2ewHhXEf/s1600/068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNshn5P8mu3phPX-3KeHrmlMNfItiTPUSxbY1MYOvjBZaNvdnXNlAo6pwutqaIBMQUcM5zRbBXddF_rYCEPR5WIksmnqi2CeGQilwE3WA2hU-hTz-bbcOUwhH7Ahz_COtUSD4l2ewHhXEf/s200/068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480023596214824706" border="0" /></a>Drumheller seems to be capitolizing on the Dino theme. There are cheezy dinosaur statues in varying states of authenticity all over town. One, billed as "The largest Dinosaur on earth" is at the tourist information center. We pulled in there after dinner and had a bit of fun. I love posing with statues! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vSNaJcggjxjc9Y6xxOKsJUhh-IUzNTWPw7PAZ-zVUsxsZwq3-E4bAmf1waPIc9BZ7Z4c_hbtQjLeoKdzjC63b0FGEUmdY_a_fmaRBpDy0wLDyPL_bv5-fo-9mxbxfLWCtJiD5PXty5U0/s1600/071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vSNaJcggjxjc9Y6xxOKsJUhh-IUzNTWPw7PAZ-zVUsxsZwq3-E4bAmf1waPIc9BZ7Z4c_hbtQjLeoKdzjC63b0FGEUmdY_a_fmaRBpDy0wLDyPL_bv5-fo-9mxbxfLWCtJiD5PXty5U0/s200/071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480023591041453986" border="0" /></a>Mike likes being silly, too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-prBBVb4xX6aCZlJATJ5JJ8Q9WkXGRIs-c1ZvolkQwmggYQ5EehnId05axbMl40UQ0C8aFYr-7tYe4CxZBVyc13ccaPnqgcdx08cDmyjFlUgVvX-TIoJc2BXwOZ6sjnCOosVZ1wFkYVH/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-prBBVb4xX6aCZlJATJ5JJ8Q9WkXGRIs-c1ZvolkQwmggYQ5EehnId05axbMl40UQ0C8aFYr-7tYe4CxZBVyc13ccaPnqgcdx08cDmyjFlUgVvX-TIoJc2BXwOZ6sjnCOosVZ1wFkYVH/s200/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480023578531202642" border="0" /></a>Simon declined to be silly, but he did pose with a claw so you can see how big this dino is! It's even got an observation deck inside. Don't be surprised if we go back when it's open!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-8919573092198707632010-06-06T23:08:00.000-04:002010-06-06T23:47:14.186-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JdmJ8E2IXwIn_Qj9eVYb5kF2hDlFtMYkJULfv3ZkaQSI8WWIqvgBuMU5ZnIibRbuvMEDqA1xqhdaVxlu6jDLMj_u614znzhfqhL_DOT8m7qvz20OzZzHC8_pvmazljjQiHhdnmyytT2k/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JdmJ8E2IXwIn_Qj9eVYb5kF2hDlFtMYkJULfv3ZkaQSI8WWIqvgBuMU5ZnIibRbuvMEDqA1xqhdaVxlu6jDLMj_u614znzhfqhL_DOT8m7qvz20OzZzHC8_pvmazljjQiHhdnmyytT2k/s200/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479872284939089426" border="0" /></a>Today was amazing! We stayed in a nicer place last night that had a pool. We can't remember the name of it at this moment, but I'll add that in later. LOL We're all getting a little tired and road-weary!<br /><br />After waking, breakfasting at the hotel and packing the van, we hit the road by 8 am and headed northwest again. I just have to say that Saskatchewan is REALLY FLAT. I'm talking miles and miles of no hills, barely even a tree. We saw some more antelope, and lots of farmland. We also saw lots of little ground squirrels keeping active colonies along the roadsides. They are really <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_ZHjhzTxCfqAVfkSstkP1XkOe-otaxLAW2ohyd6-0HHK0wErWcE5zMgvk4pdFmrLhuRDvG-iPT3pAJwwvFijU8OsqAAI3B8_vf8W0kgo6LulTOpdBORoFHgPg-o3ecCnXbdrKRFCBe6h/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_ZHjhzTxCfqAVfkSstkP1XkOe-otaxLAW2ohyd6-0HHK0wErWcE5zMgvk4pdFmrLhuRDvG-iPT3pAJwwvFijU8OsqAAI3B8_vf8W0kgo6LulTOpdBORoFHgPg-o3ecCnXbdrKRFCBe6h/s200/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479871181719633122" border="0" /></a>cute!<br /><br />After finally leaving SK, we entered Alberta, drove through Medicine Hat, and arrived at the Dinosaur Provincial Park. This is in the heart of the Canadian Badlands, and is a hotbed of fossil discoveries. Many, many famous discoveries have been made here, and I imagine many more are still to come. We had a great time driving around, imagining what life was like during the Cretaceous Period and taking pictures. Si was so excited he was bouncing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquADkSex7PiYdk4qGJaSWrL9T62bvt7VhYpTJuBJUdssePnz2ZtqKtK9J1z8X85hfBozFTE2oG9i_U_lCbS2poNJ388GwsEfS7bndYlyApgjJ3zZ1plpLeQQ469d713hEBV_HjvxRgskT/s1600/056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquADkSex7PiYdk4qGJaSWrL9T62bvt7VhYpTJuBJUdssePnz2ZtqKtK9J1z8X85hfBozFTE2oG9i_U_lCbS2poNJ388GwsEfS7bndYlyApgjJ3zZ1plpLeQQ469d713hEBV_HjvxRgskT/s200/056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479872293424480226" border="0" /></a>After that taste of Paleontology, we just had to climb back into the car and hurry on to Drumheller, home of the Royal Tyrell Museum! We checked into our hotel (and staying here 2 nights!) and we asked the clerk if she could recommend a local eatery. We were informed that, being Sunday night, many places were closed. Seriously. The Last Chance Saloon, though, would allow kids in on Sunday, and they reportedly have great steaks. Yum. We headed out, way into the boonies, and found the place to be delightful! The people were friendly, the steaks were, indeed, delicious (and grill-your-own!), and my chicken pie was yummers, too. It was a great find! It reminded Mike and I a lot of Appalachia, an old coal mining town that used to boast a few thousand in population and now has 27.<br /><br />There were some shenanigans in town after dinner, but we're all pooped and we need our rest so we can do 12 hours in the Royal Tyrell tomorrow!Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-65308178411697463112010-06-05T23:26:00.000-04:002010-06-05T23:54:45.742-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpBamADSJZGn36btzf4s-VX74WAfawjdjITXYE9JQWquhZgXBZ2JfNCvZlH58Ul3e6J6LER2u3m9HTvZVAKmvW149pCX7OmDojipFKP7PPFZIb_1dpVKqG2dyqakKS_DUmHu_FHYnXHJd/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpBamADSJZGn36btzf4s-VX74WAfawjdjITXYE9JQWquhZgXBZ2JfNCvZlH58Ul3e6J6LER2u3m9HTvZVAKmvW149pCX7OmDojipFKP7PPFZIb_1dpVKqG2dyqakKS_DUmHu_FHYnXHJd/s200/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479498238007259810" border="0" /></a>Yesterday we just drove and drove and drove. We took one nice rest stop in Wisconsin at a road side rest with an overlook - pictures will come when Mike loads his pics. We also found a cheese shop. Yum. Last night we stayed in a very dingy motel in Bismark, ND. We had a great breakfast at a local diner there, though, called Krolls. It was very German and very delicious.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasgbbwcNkQ6Mqu9_v75tXNKM2qkv-eSNqS5JMXx-epdSzihs-Zkjsys0L8PUiUZngHUfeDyRduCnw3wvzD16ukAjBsuCFhtmZH8VgzbOq7c1QFN-vbW3Vzb6KdDN4xpMxXqFo10PbMmD8/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasgbbwcNkQ6Mqu9_v75tXNKM2qkv-eSNqS5JMXx-epdSzihs-Zkjsys0L8PUiUZngHUfeDyRduCnw3wvzD16ukAjBsuCFhtmZH8VgzbOq7c1QFN-vbW3Vzb6KdDN4xpMxXqFo10PbMmD8/s200/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479498239928364322" border="0" /></a>Today was a really full day, and in many respects the first day of actual vacationing! After our fantastic diner breakkies we drove North to the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge and did some birding. Mike and Si were in their element!<br /><br />I was taking notes for them, making sandwiches when I saw they needed them, etc. Mike saw 4 more life birds, and Simon saw many more. It was fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriiYS6J0henS_uMrUEfBuDbv7LUfFtd7TJkLhZFzVPDGouDhbZkq7l58pRYheHjrLnXs7P8RL2YOeotGfqRaEjzC-AcWMyJsa8npMEETlykgi_KSTLMjPbCJJOdZ1mQvIp5bSjvpwdQdm/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriiYS6J0henS_uMrUEfBuDbv7LUfFtd7TJkLhZFzVPDGouDhbZkq7l58pRYheHjrLnXs7P8RL2YOeotGfqRaEjzC-AcWMyJsa8npMEETlykgi_KSTLMjPbCJJOdZ1mQvIp5bSjvpwdQdm/s200/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479498249435646370" border="0" /></a>Prairie Chickens, Magpies, Bared Sparrows and Hudsonian Godwits are a few of the highlights.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgearUkrpUjuGJUEVePnmMMb6Nur8KGLXNlhioJnTb-__IUiN9kP9PEJ8h3x6aJJ1zWUToI6lIUfByVMuNJHwCibY3AXf6CIMHSijFk8pDsCcmwabVf9_LT87Av3e-PGkD-c6NgGRgGNkD-/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgearUkrpUjuGJUEVePnmMMb6Nur8KGLXNlhioJnTb-__IUiN9kP9PEJ8h3x6aJJ1zWUToI6lIUfByVMuNJHwCibY3AXf6CIMHSijFk8pDsCcmwabVf9_LT87Av3e-PGkD-c6NgGRgGNkD-/s200/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479498259519693890" border="0" /></a>After driving the car tour of the prairie there we backtracked a little bit so we could see the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. It was great! They have a perfect replica of the fort where Lewis and Clark wintered before embarking on the really new part of their exploration. Very cool! Our guide was very knowledgable, too, which we greatly appreciated. We didn't spend nearly as much time as we could have because this was a side-trip and not one of our state priorities for our trip.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwen-jBFEPukQIgJOgNWK_BSBmQLImnjXQJgFnm25fpV8BUZSkAxHHkxbnknGI6uB8ytorUjEsyib9x-ckFY9L3yKYedA-1cGCHdNHdYRfC0vVPRbqkSX-Kz7DZyulbUAaD4cYLZYWqWU6/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwen-jBFEPukQIgJOgNWK_BSBmQLImnjXQJgFnm25fpV8BUZSkAxHHkxbnknGI6uB8ytorUjEsyib9x-ckFY9L3yKYedA-1cGCHdNHdYRfC0vVPRbqkSX-Kz7DZyulbUAaD4cYLZYWqWU6/s200/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479498262239102274" border="0" /></a>After that we were back to driving and driving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlI9o41vlfFxl4VR7B3xRdlpYvi7BgAdN61ADYsN-5Eeh22lSAjwwL-AHCqs8iSQWWRpZJyRgHiPF3Kz47t732_ImnUPLiIcq8wGreYLMqXRGzPmuFn8iOSe0T_PGqEXtVS6cF85ptNWP/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlI9o41vlfFxl4VR7B3xRdlpYvi7BgAdN61ADYsN-5Eeh22lSAjwwL-AHCqs8iSQWWRpZJyRgHiPF3Kz47t732_ImnUPLiIcq8wGreYLMqXRGzPmuFn8iOSe0T_PGqEXtVS6cF85ptNWP/s200/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479501621538840098" border="0" /></a>We passed through Minot, ND, birthplace of my dear friend, Ann W.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VcoKM5M1OLqgf9lPxq0siigH4KCFbr507lhfK4joHlxCd_kvXSejIAFlQRJ2Hs09Pq7crjLHnGosVRqAPIg-yDH9fXz9bIj1MUlHB5-ANdd-23_hBUIjNBuSpObkhkHnwVoCK2SqYbl5/s1600/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VcoKM5M1OLqgf9lPxq0siigH4KCFbr507lhfK4joHlxCd_kvXSejIAFlQRJ2Hs09Pq7crjLHnGosVRqAPIg-yDH9fXz9bIj1MUlHB5-ANdd-23_hBUIjNBuSpObkhkHnwVoCK2SqYbl5/s200/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479501626830844034" border="0" /></a>And we reached the Canadian border and got to use our Passports! It was a little anti-climatic but fun, nonetheless. <br /><br />Tonight we are in Moose Jaw. We've treated ourselves to a little nicer hotel so we could soak in a pool and hot tub. We've met people from New Brunswick and chatted with them. We've seen license plates from all but about 6 states, and we've gotten about 6 of the provinces, too. We've seen about 96 bird species as well as antelope, jack rabbits, roe deer and ground squirrels. Tomorrow is our first Dinosaur Day! We're still listening to Gaiman's American Gods. I think we're on about disc 10.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8577271543222921093.post-86639808584192693932010-06-03T22:45:00.000-04:002010-06-03T23:02:50.185-04:00First Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPYilAK8t9bP3pnMv7W4RRFunc_VBUpa4cRWGBldQWKvR9dZPqLxzzSBXLD1FfelF-a9agzmBPyG65buVWH9aS06twJftQjATtVKSwVhTyBDmZXcyhpntmkUwInY_1n8y4f7qpHnP5_pm/s1600/DSCN0348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPYilAK8t9bP3pnMv7W4RRFunc_VBUpa4cRWGBldQWKvR9dZPqLxzzSBXLD1FfelF-a9agzmBPyG65buVWH9aS06twJftQjATtVKSwVhTyBDmZXcyhpntmkUwInY_1n8y4f7qpHnP5_pm/s200/DSCN0348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478747567825226610" border="0" /></a>We are all so happy we were able to start a day early! Today we woke up to pack, finish grocery shopping, etc. We got on the road around 11 am. Even with the late start we were able to travel roughly 570 miles today, and are staying the night in Wisconsin. Fun! All are feeling well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRitn9uD9VYAav4aIuuUO9QW8AdphqbQhQDlniirAqSLilS6VT9PwnAFBeZKbiBH6RQTDAPKL7EjdPdJnSle71l8L-0uAgLGghd9C38N_L-kjIOgYLJ4SuntkVwG7wpT0mhcJt660BZbCi/s1600/DSCN0351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRitn9uD9VYAav4aIuuUO9QW8AdphqbQhQDlniirAqSLilS6VT9PwnAFBeZKbiBH6RQTDAPKL7EjdPdJnSle71l8L-0uAgLGghd9C38N_L-kjIOgYLJ4SuntkVwG7wpT0mhcJt660BZbCi/s200/DSCN0351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478747577075585090" border="0" /></a>A highlight of the day was passing by Fithian, Illinois. It would have been fun to stop, but we were making such good time we all wanted to just keep driving.<br /><br />We had lunch at a Rest Area out of our coolers, and we had dinner at a local diner in Illinois. The diner, named Delaney's is in Oglesby. It was a delightful surprise where Si and Mike both got great steaks and I had some yummy tacos.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeiYeNKD1XbGEd3Z4x-VDpnDtxTHFEWI2ot2VrxP55_hHmyr-bei_ZtG0WrGKPIncIIB6_4eIhyphenhyphen_nCe01-7g4XCydDDq1eQnDAqOWMqGhuazpvFpeRCsi_fRN1FgSZBm5mb0jrRsogMUo/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeiYeNKD1XbGEd3Z4x-VDpnDtxTHFEWI2ot2VrxP55_hHmyr-bei_ZtG0WrGKPIncIIB6_4eIhyphenhyphen_nCe01-7g4XCydDDq1eQnDAqOWMqGhuazpvFpeRCsi_fRN1FgSZBm5mb0jrRsogMUo/s200/DSCN0354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478747589184631762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We're listening to Neil Gaiman's American Gods on CD. We've been doing so much chattering, though, that we've only managed to make it to disc 3 today.Cat Herselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08661146086943795408noreply@blogger.com1