Cody to the Big Horn Mountains

Travelling frrom Cody, we croseds the rolling hills of Wyoming. There were a number of oil wells dotting the dry landscape. We then climbed the last mountain range of this trip, the Big Horn range. It is amazing how the temp dropped from 100F to 60F in 30 minutes while climbing Power River Pass to the top and at 9,600 ft. The rocks behind the bikes by the stop sign are pre-cambrian, more than 3 1/2 billion years old. We then descended down to Buffalo, joining the superslab I-90 for the boring trip back east.

Chief Joseph Byway & Beartooth Pass

We left Cody for a day trip up the Chief Joseph scenic Byway - Route 296 - and then up and over Beartooth Pass (10,947 ft...the bikes are fuel injection, but we are not so we were a bit out of breath at the summit) - US Route 212 - and down through a series of tight switchbacks carved out of the mountain cliffs into Red Lodge. This spectacular road was the highlight of our trip.

Cody Rodeo

While in Cody, we went to our first rodeo. Bev was thinking the guys were a bit wussy, taping up their arms, wearing a neck brace and then the action started...she could heard saying "OH MY GAWDD, who ever would ride that??" All things American, the rodeo began with parading the flag, the national anthem and prayers for both the livestock and the cowboys. Many limped off, cowboys that is, not the animals..

Yellowstone

We saw Old Faithful Geyser...it used to blow every 30 min but is now every 70 min; there are bench seats and at the entrance you'll be told when the next blow will be AND it is!! We have included a picture of the morning horizon, with steaming hot springs all over the hills. Quite a spectacular site. You'll also see a picture of Tower Falls. We left Yellowstone crossing up over Sylvan Pass, our 6th and final crossing of the continental divide. We stopped off at Buffalo Bill Dam, just outside of Cody, Wyoming.

Animals in Yellowstone

We took a tour of the north loop of Yellowstone and in addition to Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Falls we saw; a mother cinnamon black bear with a cub, a mother grizzly with two cubs, two osprey fishing in the canyon of the Yellowstone and numerous relaxing elk. The highlight of the trip was was a real close up view of a six point elk buck (it was right beside us, not afraid and not aggressive as its antlers still had velvet fur). Off tomorrow to Cody, Wyoming, and will do the southern Yellowstone loop along the way.

The Tetons

On Sunday we drove north from Jackson through the Tetons National Park, into Yellowstone and on to the town of West Yellowstone. En route we stopped to take pictures at the Jenny Lake lookout , the north end of Jefferson Lake and beside the Yellowstone river canyon. If you 've never been to Yellowstone, you MUST plan a trip. You'll be on top of a volcano = the caldera with magmatic heat powering eruptions, geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mudpots.......you get a glimpse into the Earth's interior.

Snake River Canyon Whitewater Rafting

When we drove up the Snake River canyon on route 89 from Alpine to Jackson, we saw the river winding down the canyon with people rafting and thought it would be fun. And so, after the mundane task of doing laundry the next morning, we went whitewater rafting down the Snake River Canyon (Evil Kneivel jumped this 100 miles downstream). Compared to rafting down the Ottawa River, this was much tamer but so much more spectacular due to the canyon scenery...and the water was a heck of lot colder. We posted a picture of us going down one of the whitewater drops....and we were relieved that our guide managed to stay with us....he got air borne. We have also included some canyon pictures for your enjoyment.