Author: Barb

September 24, 2018

Buffalo Bill helped found Cody, Wyoming in 1895. If you are ever in the area a stop at the Museum is a must. We spent 2 days wandering through the museum which contains the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indians Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum.

A live show on various raptors

Couldn’t help myself

Wandering through the town

In 1902 Buffalo Bill built, what he called “just the sweetest establishment that ever was” and named it after his daughter Irma.

The bar back in the “Irma” was a gift to Buffalo Bill from Queen Victoria. She valued and admired his charisma and generosity as he put on Wild West shows free of charge for the orphans of Great Britain and France.

One observer wrote: “P T Barnum must look well to his laurels, or the Scout of the Plains will eclipse him as showman.” (sidebar: If you haven’t seen The Greatest Showman you must)

We talked housekeeping into letting us see the rooms.

the fireplace made of Wyoming rock and fossil.

Thermopolis, Wyoming

Enjoyed the hot pools in Thermopolis

Through wind river canyon

We spent the night in an RV Park in Rozet, Wyoming. Ya think it’s time to head south. Yes, we’re in the 30’s.

Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils tower is made up of symmetrical columns which are the tallest in the world (some more than 600′ tall and 10′ to 20′ wide). The tower itself has a 1000′ diameter and rises 867′ at its base.

a hike around its base

Yes, a climber – no close encounter 😜

We spent the night in Deadwood at an RV Park the last night they were open. It has gotten cold so didn’t explore Deadwood the way we had hoped. Guess we’ll have to come back.

August 24, 2018

Returned to Texas for a visit with our dear families.

Tucker and Emmie

Big Bennett

Little Bennett

Cat and Henning

Greyson and Brooklyn

September 16, 2017

Back to Nye and headed down to Yellowstone to celebrate Kitsy’s birthday.

Bison everywhere- zoom in.

We arrived in Yellowstone just after unusual eruptions in the park. Many new geysers have formed and many have stopped.

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With one of the eruptions came not only rocks and steaming water, but also objects, some decades old. Check it out.

Stayed at Old Faithful Inn which was built in 1904, the largest log hotel in the world.

85′ stone fireplace

Old Faithful

Three Forks, Montana at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and the Gallatin joining 1 mile down, forming the headwaters of the Missouri River. Discovered by French explorer, Jacques Marquette’s, whose journal and 1672 map outlines the Mississippi and its tributaries. His Algonquin speaking guides called the people living along its banks “emessourit” meaning people with canoes (made of logs). Over time the name was shortened to Missouri. This river is the longest in the US at 2341 miles. If you floated in an inter tube you would reach the Gulf of Mexico in 2 1/2 months. Go figure.

This is also where Sacajawea was captured and taken to what is now North Dakota as a slave.

An amazing story of perseverance

Stayed the night at the Sacajawea Hotel built in 1910. The hotel served passengers on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroads and was built as a rest stop for passengers and train crews. We just loved this hotel.

Then back to Nye and got ready for our departure. We are forever grateful to Kitsy and Van for spending their summer with us.

August 12, 2018

After the reunion Julie, Arnie, Kitsy, Van and I took off for Glacier. We overnighted in Great Falls at the Arvon Hotel, a 1890 renaissance-inspired building, originally a livery stable.

Next in Great Falls was the C. M. Russell Museum. Known as the cowboy artist, Russell was also a storyteller and author. This museum houses over 2,000 Russell artworks, personal objects and artifacts.

A stop in Giant Springs Park. The Roe River is known to be the shortest river in the country at 201 feet. Over 150 million gallons of water bubble up from this spring each day and flows into the Missouri.

Off to the iconic Sip and Dip Bar. Yes, mermaids!

Glacier

The park had over 100 glaciers when established in 1910. Today only 26 remain.

The lodge

Hike around the lake

The wildfires blurred all pics but it was still amazing.

Stopped in White Sulphur Springs to see ‘the castle ‘ a mansion built in 1892 by Roger Byron Sherman. We spent the night in this town and enjoyed soaking in the hot springs. Can’t believe I didn’t take a pic.

Chico Springs – another really cool place

Soaking in their hot tubs

My sisters in the car.

Back to Nye – the turkeys were everywhere

July 10, 2018

I am way behind in blogging and will cover the highlights from our arrival in Nye through our family reunion in this post.

A huge thank you to Kitsy and Van for making all of this possible. Their love of family is a tremendous gift to the Dazey clan.

A view from the house to the bunkhouse.

A view from the bunkhouse to the main house.

Now in its 26 season Shakespeare in the Parks brings free, professional productions of Shakespeare and other classics to rural communities. We were entertained by Love’s Labour’s Lost in Fishtail, MT just minutes from Nye.

Nye Goes Nuts, the annual fun-in-the sun fundraiser held at the fire house (on Van and Kitsy’s property) turned out to be a day of family fun with a chicken scramble, climbing wall, water balloon catapult, live music, food and so much more.

Friends of K & V invited a group over for a concert. They brought in a Nashville Artist, Korby Lanker – a singer, songwriter, storyteller, author and more for a spectacular evening. Check him out on google. He’s a hoot!

The four of us readied the house, bunkhouse and park area for the reunion and placed goody bags on everyone’s bed adorned with their childhood picture.

Bob, Nancy, Julie, Dash & Lolly (who couldn’t make it but she was there in spirit). I didn’t take pics of them all.

Original log home next to the bunkhouse.

Hike up the Woodbine Gorge.

Nancy and Dave

Kitsy, Bob and Susan

Julie

Dump dinner

The Halstead’s (Cathy and Peter) searched the world for a place they can share music, sculpture, poetry and nature and found it in Fishtail, Montana. Tippet Rise Art Center is set on a 10,260 acre working sheep and cattle ranch. They wanted to be able to hide sculptures in gentle canyons and play music in small halls. Tippet Rise is a metaphor in a way, where the synergy among music, landscape, sky, and art makes something else, a kind of poetry.

Concerts are performed here

See Jacque — You were there in spirit!

The barn (Olivier Hall) at Tippet Rise is an acoustical work of art designed and engineered by giants in the field. Although difficult to obtain tickets due to the small venue, Arnie & I were able to attend a live performance of 3 gentlemen (their first in America) playing violin, cello and piano.

Say no more!

The “park” next to the bunkhouse. Nancy is painting – DUH!

Hiking with Nancy, Julie and Kitsy to Woobine Falls

At the base of the falls – a get together put on by the Stillwater Mine.

Boys playing with their drone

Zero in on the Elk herd

Yes – pig races and I won $50. 😜

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July 5, 2108

Leaving The Hager’s was tough but the road began to call. I flew out of Midland to Portland, met up with Arnie and started out again.

Taking the scenic approach we crossed the Bridge of the Gods (built in 1926) which spans the Colombia River into Washington State and drove up the Gorge. Contemporary geologists concur that the north side of the Gorge rumbled into the river about 500 years ago creating the first crossing. This bridge replaces the first Bridge of the Gods.

We were turned on to HarvestHost.com by a couple we met. This website connects people like us in self contained RV’s to wineries, farms etc. The owners allow you to stay a night for free. Arnie stayed at a berry farm in Portland when I was in Midland. After my return we both stayed at the Kiona Vineyard & Winery in southern Washington. We enjoyed a wine tasting and then spent the night. What a view to wake up to in the morning. The vineyards in this state are endless and gorgeous.

I do not know why I find the next few pictures so fascinating but we had to stop often to take in the views. We passed hundreds of miles of farmland, always on the back roads of Washington and found these fields breathtaking.

Palouse Falls created by the Ice Age floods from glacial Lake Missoula more than 13,000 years ago is one of the few active waterfalls left along this glacial flood path. The falls drop from a height of about 200 feet. Palouse Falls was designated as the state waterfall by Washington State legislature in 2014. The bills was written by 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade students of the nearby Washtucna School.

I circled below left the people hanging around. Impressive falls.

Arnie has always wanted to ride the Coeur d’ Alene bike trail. It starts here at our campground at Lake Chatcolet, Idaho and runs 70 miles to Mullan, Idaho. Another check off the bucket list.

Spent a few hours in historic Wallace, Montana. Cute little town.

1st night – Colombia River RV Park – $36

2nd night – Kiona Winery – $0

3rd – Heyburn State Park – $18

4th – Lake Chatcolet, Heyburn -$18

5th – 2 Bar Lazy H RV Park outside Butte MT – $37

Stopped in Bozeman for supplies and will make it to Nye in a few hours.

June 8, 2108

We arrived in Medford and spent days with my brother Dash, my sister-in-law Joy and her Mom Jacque. Dash and Joy, I am deeply moved by the generosity and love you administer to everyone. We can all learn from your example. Dash, your culinary skills leave me longing for another meal as you are quite the chef. But, what I will treasure most is your gifts of song. Thank you both for allowing us in to that sacred space. Jacque, your heart is beautiful and I’m so glad we met. I pray for your healing.

The view outside their front door.

For my siblings – remember the Katalpa Tree and us trying to smoke its cigars.

Lost Creek Lake along the Rogue River – stayed in the Joseph H Stewart State Park – 21$

Our hike to the lake

Another childhood memory

Dash, I blame the next picture on you.

Prospect, OR

Along the Rogue River

Before this Douglas Fir was cut it had grafted onto the roots of the neighboring tree thus the reason this is considered “The Living Stump”.

This is a great example of –

A collapsed lava tube

Plugged lava tube

7,700 years ago Mt. Mazama, estimated to have been a 12,000 foot mountain sent a huge column of pumice and ash into the sky. Then new vents, completely encircling the peak burst open allowing the magma to flow. As the chamber emptied the peak no longer had support and collapsed on itself forming a deep caldera. After centuries of rain and snowfall the lake filled up creating Crater Lake.

This is a unique lake because no streams or rivers run in or out of it so the water is pure. It is the deepest lakes in the US and the 9th deepest in the world at 1934′. It is 6+ miles wide and gets an average of over 44′ of snow each year.

Wizard Island erupted after the lake began to fill.

Scenic Hwy 138 – Toketee campground – 5$

Our hike to Toketee Falls – Umpqua River

RV Park – 35$ – along the Umpqua River – although a pretty spot, Arnie and I dislike RV parks. They are expensive and most of the time crowd you in like sardines. The only good thing is they often provide some service in terms of hook ups. We however, much prefer to boondock.

We continued our drive west on scenic 138 but couldn’t resist a great flight out of Eugene OR to Midland. Arnie continued on to the coast in the RV and I’ll meet up with him when it makes sense. Brooklyn continues to track us.

June 3, 2018

Continuing on 395 we headed to Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. It’s a fascinating place, and if one is interested in volcanism, there are examples of practically every type of volcanic feature within the borders of the park. It contains one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world. A plug dome volcano forms when lava is too thick to flow great distances. A steam blast shattered Lassen’s plug forming thick bulbous masses called coulees.

Snowball fight?

Manzanita Lake Campground – 13$

We drove the next day and stayed in Douglas City BLM Campground along the Trinity River 8$ (great showers here and a beautiful site)

From here headed west to the coast and started our trek up Hwy 101 to see our first Redwood Forest.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Gazing up the immense trunk to the highest reaches of the redwood gives us a powerful sense of our own smallness. Capable of ascending to heights over 370 feet coast redwoods tower over all living things on the planet. Their diameter can reach 26 feet and live to over 2,000 years. Their seed is the size of a tomato seed.

Elk Meadows (yes we saw an Elk) Trillium Falls Trail

See Arnie?

I love capturing the bug as it mimics Arnie’s outstretched arms. Haha

Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park 10$ Spot #57

Met a great couple, Mary Ella and Joe here. Hope to connect with them again.

Back on 101 to Crescent City and toured the Battery Point Lighthouse, constructed in 1856.

Climbing out of the hatch.

Visited a cheese factory – sampled and bought some greats.

Spent the rest of the day in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. I honestly have no words to describe these giants. I am left only with a sense that they have it “figured out”. There is so much to learn and the need to sit amongst them and listen will draw me back some day.

Panther Flat Campground, along the Smith River on 199 outside of Gasquet, 8$ – gorgeous.

Arnie was soooo wishing he had his fly rod.

June 8, 2018

Through the Collier Tunnel and of course honked our horn.

Fabulous lunch at “The Rivers Edge” along the Rogue River in Grants Pass, OR.

Next stop will be Medford, OR

May 18, 2018

We left Vegas and headed to Reno to visit my sister Lee and my nephew Oren. We decided, as usual, on a scenic Route (395) making our first stop at the World’s Tallest Thermometer, a landmark located in Baker, California, USA. It is an electric sign that commemorates the record 134 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913. It also stands 134 feet tall.

Further North found the landscape littered with these guys.

Up close.

Our drive

Owens held significant water until 1913, when much of the Owens River was diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct causing Owens Lake to desiccate by 1926. Today, some of the flow of the river has been restored, and the lake now contains some water. Nevertheless, as of 2013, it is the largest single source of dust pollution in the United States.

May 18 -1st night – Walmart in Ridgecrest

May 19 – 2nd night – Tinnemaha County Park – Independence, CA – 10$

May 20 – 3rd night – Sonora Bridge Campground – Bridgeport, CA – 5$

Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline soda lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salts to accumulate in the lake.

The most distinctive feature at Mono Lake is its eerie tufa towers-mineral structures created when fresh-water springs bubble up through the alkaline waters of the lake.

We finally made it to Reno where we spent 2 weeks enjoying family. Being with my sister is a reminder of my roots and the love I have for connection. Surrounded by her knack for gardening I give thanks to you Mary Lee for your love. You will always be a song in my heart.

Oren, I will treasure our conversations and the depths at which your mind travels.

May 13, 2018

We landed in Vegas and spent days doing the town.

Bellagio ceiling – Dale Chihuly, glass sculptor.

Anyone watch Pawn Stars? We had to go.

Fremont Street Experience

Sprawling 24-hour mall featuring a huge LED canopy, street artists and free entertainment. Needless to say it is an experience with every walk of life present.

Even I had to mess with my kids

A trip on the High Roller, the worlds highest observation wheel (550 feet).

Fabulous dinner on the patio outside the Bellagio.

Another at Giada’s

We saw Piff the Magic Dragon on America’s Got Talent and found him funny so caught his show in Vegas.

We just had a lot of silly fun.

5 nights at Bally’s, all the fun and fine dining we enjoyed was paid for by 5 nights of lucky poker winnings. That Arnie…..He da bomb!

May 11, 2018

After leaving Bryce we completed our drive on Scenic Highway 12. I will say it is one of the prettiest drives I’ve ever taken. We stopped in Red Canyon for a short hike and later spent the night on BLM land in Overton NV before proceeding to Hoover Dam.

Red Canyon

When was the last time you saw a Rexall Drug?

BLM night

The following picture is the Hoover Dam spillway which hasn’t been used since 1983. The spillway can handle the flow of water equal to Niagara Falls.

The Dam

The figures are sentries at the entrance to Hoover Dam, part angel, part symbol of the strength of man, they are the work of a sculptor named Oskar J.W. Hansen, a Norwegian immigrant.

The figures are so large, and the stones so heavy, an ingenious method of installation was used to get their placement just right.  The square stones were lowered by crane onto big blocks of ice, which then slowly melted in the Nevada sun. The slow melt allowed for engineers to make minute adjustments in order to keep every aspect perfectly level and perfectly plumb.