Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Yellowstone - the real story
Allow me to introduce myself. I am the editor and censor of the author and don’t get many opportunities to take the stage, but prefer to offer my production skills anonymously. But while the author is busy at the Laundromat, I have decided to tell you some more about our trip:
We finally reached the major parks north of Jackson on the 27th of September. The Grand Tetons are truly remarkable for their majestic mountains and crystal-clear lakes.
For Mel and I, it was a case of déjà vu , as we had visited Jackson four years ago on a skiing holiday. Into the park we went and our chance meeting with friends, and our first hike, already featured.
Yellowstone is right next door, a little further north and a bit colder at night. From the moment we entered the park on our way to our campsite, we were struck by the steam appearing over treetops, and the regenerated forest after the huge devastating fire in 1988. Then the incredible canyons and waterfalls everywhere….
The geysers we saw were all unique and colorful. It really didn’t look like planet Earth. We went swimming in the normally freezing Colorado river. A hot spring feeds into it at “Boiling River” and you stand a chance of scalding yourself or freezing your extremities at the same time, without moving.
After we left the park, we went to see some bears close up at a rehab centre. The Grizzlies in the wild are at high elevation at this time of year, feeding themselves up for winter, on – believe it or not – tens of 1000’s of butterflies a day!
After Yellowstone, it was time to head South. We travelled quickly through Utah for reasons some of you will understand.
However, we did spend some time in the parks at the southern end of the State – the incredible Arches and Canyonlands continued to amaze us with the diversity of scenery and rock formations in this part of the US.
This part of the country is rich in Dinosaur tracks and fossils. We spent a very interesting time studying this for ourselves on a wet afternoon. We discovered a small museum in an out-of-the-way, one-horse town in Arizona which was truly remarkable and very educational for the kids (and us!).
Our next stop was the Grand Canyon. Just see some of the pictures. Awesome.
Mel needs to keep you up to speed with some of our antics. (after censorship and production editing, of course)…..
We finally reached the major parks north of Jackson on the 27th of September. The Grand Tetons are truly remarkable for their majestic mountains and crystal-clear lakes.
For Mel and I, it was a case of déjà vu , as we had visited Jackson four years ago on a skiing holiday. Into the park we went and our chance meeting with friends, and our first hike, already featured.
Yellowstone is right next door, a little further north and a bit colder at night. From the moment we entered the park on our way to our campsite, we were struck by the steam appearing over treetops, and the regenerated forest after the huge devastating fire in 1988. Then the incredible canyons and waterfalls everywhere….
The geysers we saw were all unique and colorful. It really didn’t look like planet Earth. We went swimming in the normally freezing Colorado river. A hot spring feeds into it at “Boiling River” and you stand a chance of scalding yourself or freezing your extremities at the same time, without moving.
After we left the park, we went to see some bears close up at a rehab centre. The Grizzlies in the wild are at high elevation at this time of year, feeding themselves up for winter, on – believe it or not – tens of 1000’s of butterflies a day!
After Yellowstone, it was time to head South. We travelled quickly through Utah for reasons some of you will understand.
However, we did spend some time in the parks at the southern end of the State – the incredible Arches and Canyonlands continued to amaze us with the diversity of scenery and rock formations in this part of the US.
This part of the country is rich in Dinosaur tracks and fossils. We spent a very interesting time studying this for ourselves on a wet afternoon. We discovered a small museum in an out-of-the-way, one-horse town in Arizona which was truly remarkable and very educational for the kids (and us!).
Our next stop was the Grand Canyon. Just see some of the pictures. Awesome.
Mel needs to keep you up to speed with some of our antics. (after censorship and production editing, of course)…..
Labels: RV trip, yellowstone
Friday, October 3, 2008
Updated RV news
Well, after checking out the wallpaper and non-coordinated carpets, it just didn't make the grade. So, we swapped for this one. Still, reality comes with hot running water, microwave, oven - but no maid or room to lock away the kids. We have already had a couple of real RV moments with the sewerage disposal causing some real challenges. Unplanned clothes washing. Seen that movie "RV" with Robin Williams? Well, we now understand a lot more....
After the water ran out in the shower leaving Richard soapy and mad, and Mel running around with saucepans full of water, she found the twisting showerhead had never been opened! Much hysterics at Richard's expense. But we all have our moments......
Labels: RV trip
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What an RV!
Hi there you guys! So this is life for the next 4 weeks, not too shabby hmmm. We decided to take an upgrade. It's very useful having a runabout. After being picked up from our single file hotel room, life couldn't be better! Makes you wonder whether its worth coming back to Zuma et al......
Labels: RV trip
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hitting the hay in Denver
23/09/08 Today we regard as really the start of our trip, leaving London behind, on a 9 hour trip to Denver, things appear to be going really smoothly at this stage and so far no complaints, as D-day is also coming closer, the author decided to dry-run the entire plane, happy holidays Mel!
Anycase what we didn't think of, was the huge time difference, and how affected such an energetic family like the Poples can get! Hunger got the better of us and after a short debate we decided to order in to the Hotel. Apart from the fact that we all looked like a pack of werewolves, we were shocked to realise we are already beginning to scruff it -ALL IN ONE BEDROOM - HELP!! how the standards are degrading!
The quest for take aways started, one and a half hours later truckloads of food arrived! WE FORGOT!! Big America, the funny was the pepsi order, but see for yourselves (pic to follow), chicken curry we are going to consume for days. Very tired, we all fell over (on top of each order)and guess what, all of us wide awake a 02h00!! Nooooo!! nothing we could, and this also resulted in our first family injury, yip Keean of course, had his finger trapped in the toiletdoor, yip, by his big dad, and how did we handle this one, with lots of gratefulness, the room was at such an angle, it could have been any-one's arm or leg......
Labels: RV trip
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