FULL CIRCLE !

It doesn't seem possible but we have both been retired (at the same time) for a year now.  We are back at the Yellowstone Grizzly RV park in West Yellowstone, Mt. and have come full circle ! 

 Upon our arrival we had to go into the Park to get re-acquainted.  So glad we did, the weather was cool and animals were more visible than any other time of the season.  Spring came earlier so many of the buffalo had already dropped their calves.  Those little "red dogs" were everywhere !  Now, the Elk are having their calves.  It it so exciting to see the routine Mother Nature provides.  This little guy was trying very hard to nurse but mama didn't seem too interested right now !

On this particular drive we were able to watch a single 3 year old Grizzly graze in a field, not 50 ft from the edge of the road. You can see him here.   A mother Grizzly with a set of year old cubs put on quite a show for many spectators in a large meadow on the way to Mammoth.  The cubs tumbled and growled practicing their fighting skills on each other.  They will be on their own later this summer and mama will more than likely breed in the fall and have another cub next winter.

The Pronghorn Sheep wandered in herds up near the Lamar Valley.  I don't think we have seen this many together in the Park before.  One of the other couples said they are bearing their young now, too. They watched a new baby trying out it's legs and standing, but soooo wobbly.

In all, we were able to watch & photograph 10 bears...two were black bears, the others all Grizzlies !  WOW !! By the time our 'house' was in sight both of us were exhausted.  The altitude here is 6,660 ft and we've found it is taking a bit to get used to it, again.

After our first few days of work the managers, Brenda & Mark, threw a little party welcoming all the crew for this season.  Dinner was provided and we got a chance to meet the newbies and re-connect with those of us who were here last year. (Everyone loved my quilts and Mark said he could sell them in the store !)

So, all is going well and we're all beginning to settle in, sorta.  We wake up on Friday morning and are greeted by at least 7" of snow covering EVERYTHING !  Yikes !!  The guys that are scheduled to work today now have to find things to do inside.  No lawn mowing today !  This is Memorial Day week-end and the park has about 100 reservations on the books. By the end of the day almost half have cancelled and those that were supposed to leave had to extend their stay...they couldn't leave !   The snow melted later that day but we continued to get flurries.  Roads in YNP were closing because they are higher in altitude.  Nobody was going very far.  Ahhhhh...the life in the mountains !!

Our first full week of work is over and we now have the next three days off.  We're so very tired but maybe we should take a quick drive into Madison which is 14 miles into YNP and see what's going on !  Hmmmm......Hey Norm, don't leave without me....I just have to grab my coat !!!!

ZION NATIONAL PARK 2012

Leaving LHC about 4 weeks ago and venturing  back to Las Vegas, where we have a Thousand Trails RV Park we can stay at, free, our plan was to spend a week  here and then work our way back North to our summer job in West Yellowstone.



Elephant Rock @ Valley of Fire

 Las Vegas holds no real attraction for us until......we found the Valley of Fire State Park.  In the middle of a desert, that goes on forever, is a huge outcropping of  fabulous RED/ORANGE rock formations !  Several days were spent exploring all the old history and sights this landscape provides.  Along the way we would park at a pull-out and take off for a hike to view such sights as Mouse's Trap, a bowl carved in the stone from erosion, that holds water for months.  This was a good hide out for outlaws in the old days and was used by a bad guy nicknamed "Mouse" on a regular basis.  

White Dome was another hike that showcased an area that was used in old Western movies.  This was the most strenuous for me as it was steep going down and the temps were in the low 100's.  (I was foolish in my youth and managed to get sun/heat stroke 3 times before the age of 20.)  Needless to say heat really affects me now.  Lots of water, one of those cooling scarves and frequent rest stops later, Norm dragged me out of there !

White Dome Cliffs

A week came and went....finding more and more to do, we ended up staying 3 weeks !

Our next stop......Willowind RV Park in Hurricane, UT about 20 mi. from Zion Nat'l. Park.  The coach is under shady trees and loves the reprieve from all the sun on it's roof! 

In Zion, they have eliminated cars in the Park, so mandatory, free shuttles take tourists up to the end of the road at the Temple of Sinovawa.  It stops at each point of interest and we can get off or on anywhere along the way.

Riverside Walk is a 2 1/2 mi (roundtrip) hike to the Narrows.  This hike was easy and had shade and weeping walls full of fragrant Columbine and other Spring flowers.  Water seeps out of the rocks from the snow melt above giving these plants a place to grow.  The end is an area to rest and/or change to water shoes for those who want to continue across the Virgin River to "the Narrows".

Looking toward the Narrows across the Virgin River

Arches along Riverside Walk

The river is shallow today and can be waded easily. The end of this walk is a narrow cut through the rocks. You can touch both sides simultaneously. This trail continues on and comes out to another more difficult hike that needs ropes, etc. Not my cup of tea !

We pass Angel's Landing.  It is the epitome of hikes here at Zion !  Running about 4 miles in length, hikers climb up the trail which traverses a very narrow ridge across a rock wall.  It is not for anyone afraid of heights or unable to walk well.  Norm says " Ya want to try that one ?"
"Uuhhmmm.....NO ! " was my response. !!  Maybe when we come here another time ! ( Like the next century !)

Columbine Flowers

Flower Garden on Weeping Wall

Our next hike was Emerald Pools.  The upper pool is created by run-off from snow and creates a large pool at the top of many overhanging rock shelves. It drains down into the middle pool and then to the lower pool.  By the time it got to the lower pool there wasn't much water left.  Looked like a run-off pond at home !  Some guy who overheard my reaction said there hasn't been much snow this year so it looks a little puny. 

We had the lunch which Norm put together this morning,  (He knew I wasn't getting out of bed til the very last second !), under a pergola at Zion Lodge.  We spent some time "people watching" and enjoying our crackers/cheese, icy cold grapes, cookies and drink.  Tough way to spend the day !

This is truely the most wonderful way of life, for us, anyway !  We meet some very interesting people, inspiring many to join us on the road.  Just when we think there isn't much more to know about full-timing, someone comes along and teaches us something new.  We love it !!  

Today is Mother's Day and I can't think of a better way to spend it....enjoying all Mother Nature has to offer ....on this...our Mother Earth !!