Yellowstone Nat'l Park

Yellowstone covers a vast area and has numerous hot springs, geysers, mountains, gorges, waterfalls and rock formations, not to mention abundant wildlife. It is a bit overwhelming to take it all in in a few days time.

Clouds of steam rising from boiling pools of kaleidoscope-colored craters, hissing, roaring steam escaping cones of time-hardened minerals spewed from deep below the surface and bubbling mud puddles seem otherworldly. Old Faithful creates an amazing show on a mind-boggling, predictable schedule.

At the same time, one can encounter a lone buffalo meandering along the roadside, a herd grazing contentedly, a black bear munching berries on a mountain trail or a testy, nervous, bugling bull elk watching over his harem.

Our view from the Bighorn window at Yellowstone River's Edge RV Park--perfect.

The Society of Foresters National Conference in Albuquerque is beckoning Al. A retired forester yearns to be among his own kind at regular intervals.



"...Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam. And the deer and the antelope play..."

Mt. St. Helens

Visiting Mt. St. Helens was a sobering experience. The Visitor's Center does a great job of describing, through videos, photos, etc., what the mountain and the surrounding miles looked like prior to May 1980 and the actual eruption--an incredible, destructive act of nature. The mountain, missing the top 1,300+ ft., looks dead and bereft of life. It is hard to fathom the power contained in this Earth we walk on if Mt. St. Helens is any small example.

Next stop Yellowstone Nat'l Park.

A Wild, Alive Thumping!

Because we love our Bighorn, it seemed a good idea to install a Center Point Air Suspension system to give it a smoother, more comfortable ride. As long as we're at it, we might as well get an upgraded air hitch to give US a better ride in the dually. As might have been anticipated, the local dealer installed the Center Point upside down. A mobile technician was dispatched in a timely manner to correct the problem. We had to pull in the slides to jack up the coach for the repair. Hmmm, what to do with the kitties?

The kitties could be in the bedroom where we could close the door to the rest of the coach, but they could have access to the bathroom...as who knew how long this was going to take. Neither was excited when the walls of their house began to move inward. I suspected that after the initial terror, they would just snooze on the bed.

Some hours of drilling, air compressing, banging etc. ensued before the task was completed. When it was safe to open the slides, indeed Tulip was stretched out on the bed asleep. Zeus was no where in sight. Having checked his favorite hiding spots, I began to hear a wild, alive, thumping coming from under the bed. For the uninformed, the bed in a fifth-wheel sits on top of a large box that holds some storage under the mattress, and underneath the storage are the hydraulics etc. that move the slide in and out. Ok, I'm in a panic that he's stuck or hurt and he can't get out.

You know who, my hero, to the rescue! There is only about 8-inches on each side of the bed when the slide is in and no space at the end that is up against the dresser drawers. All obstacles aside, Al lifts the hinged bed to remove the stored items, then removes all the screws (including those where the screwdriver wouldn't fit) in the false bottom and lifts that out to get to the space beneath. Sure enough, the flashlight confirms Zeus has squeezed himself onto a shelf above the hydraulics. By now, Tulip has been around the back of the slide, through the opening and she hopped out as soon as we removed the false bottom. Zeus is not inclined to move. Once I see he is not stuck, I'm happy to wait until he comes out on his own. However, Al is now in a panic that Zeus might find a way below the floor of the coach. That would require removing the whole outside bottom to get him out!!

We thought jogging the slide button might encourage Zeus out--it just scared him. When Zeus gets scared, he gets stiff--rigor mortis stiff. If he's curled up, there is no uncurling him. Tulip has now made her 4th circuit in behind the slide, through the maze of wires and hydraulics and out the bottom of the bed. Zeus is not following her lead. Al insists he's GOING IN! I'm thinking we prod Zeus gently with the broom to hasten his exit. He does move enough for Al to get a hand on him. However, his legs are now stiffly outstretched--not an easy way to move a cat across carpeting--gently, of course. Both Al and Zeus emerge looking ever-so-slightly tense. Adventure over! By the time we put the bed back together and get the slide out, Zeus has eaten his dinner and is reclining comfortably on the couch.

Al has a long history of daring cat rescues. One inparticular rescue of a beloved feline involved a very high tree limb, a muck bucket on a rope pulley and a rather quick descent for both cat and bucket!! He proves himself the family protector yet again!

Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park

Leaving Wine Country RV Park was a bit like leaving home again; one makes friends in six-months time. The Workampers all packed up and pulled out within days of each other--each rig headed in a different direction. Hopefully, our trails will cross again one day.

As for us, an unusual favorable weather forecast was enough incentive to point us toward Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park. The first day was clear and the mountain was beautiful! On the second day, we drove through thick clouds all the way up to Paradise Lodge one-third of the way up the mountain. Once there, the sky suddenly turned blue and the mountain appeared as if one had turned a page in a book. The window of opportunity closed quickly, and we hiked the trails in a murky haze of cloud that created a curious quiet and serenity.

The highlight of the day was spotting a mother bear with two cubs and then a fat marmot atop a big rock! We hiked up to peaks and down to waterfalls.

The comparison of photos, taken from a great distance early in the Spring when the mountain was still snow-covered, with the photos from our visit this Fall when we were much closer, is interesting. It is impossible to see the whole mountain from close range; it is just too big.

Al and Josh summited Mt. Rainier some years ago with their extreme sports friends Jim, Ben and John. I think it was fun for him to be at the mountain again and recall an unbelievable experience--a climb that many attempt but few accomplish.

It would be cool to come back and circumnavigate the mountain on The Wonderland Trail...thoughtfully located at an elevation where one can actually breathe!

Onward to Mt. St. Helens.

Balloon Rally

The final hoorah of the summer in Prosser, WA is the much anticipated and planned- for Balloon Rally. The RV Park has been entirely booked for months. It was to be a gala weekend at Wine Country RV Park with barbecue dinners, pancake breakfasts, music, prizes...and much wine, of course! We were busy Workampers for a few days!

Who knew that hot air balloons launch at daylight? On Friday, I awoke to see them floating by my bedroom window. We watched the remainder from the Bighorn's back window in the comfort of our recliners while sipping our delicious morning Carrabassett Coffee. On Saturday, however, we agreed to join our Workamper group to get the best view of the balloons as they launched, touched down on the river and then up and over the bridge. It did require walking into town at dawn, but we had Cinnabons and bubbles in hand to celebrate the occasion and the end of the season.

The balloons were spectacular! It was a perfectly clear morning, and the colorful balloons filled the sky. What a fitting end to a great summer!

Rafting

The motley crew of our fellow Workampers and Park Managers arose early on the appointed day and eagerly journeyed the long distance so we could be on the White Salmon River at 9 a.m. Had it been up to me, I would have chosen the afternoon cruise.

Upon arriving at the designated place of fun and adventure--and signing the release forms, we were promptly trussed up like turkeys in rubber wetsuits with matching booties, jackets, pith helmets and life vests. As the raft slid down the steep embankment on switch-backed rails, we followed to the swirling, frothing river below where the fun would begin! Some climbed, some fell into the raft. After a few lessons in synchronized paddling, we were off! Young Patrick was a skilled Guide, although, when raging water was quickly approaching, I did feel compelled to inquire if he had a plan in mind. He did, and we all managed to remain in the raft for the entire trip, albeit hanging on for dear life!

Let's just suffice it to say that Al had a wonderful time in the front of the raft. I believe he was the one wahooing all the way down the river... and I had more adventure than I ever need to have again in this lifetime!

A quick stop at a local winery and back to Prosser, WA.