September 2, 2013
It has been way too long since blogging our last entry and it is difficult to believe that we have less than 3 weeks left to work in the park. The last 11 days have been busy, busy, busy. We worked 6 straight days and then Greg came for his visit and now we work 4 straight days. We surprise ourselves - fortunately our work days are 6 1/2 hours and are do-able. And the visit with Greg was a shot in the arm for us - it was the push to get us over a spell of homesickness we were beginning to feel. With just 17 more days to be here - well, we can do it!!
We had our Christmas Party on August 24th. It was really nice - more food was available than you could imagine. I think everyone contributed something - if not food then their services to help decorate or help clean up. Bud and I made Maple Nut Fudge. It was a great evening. We had a "spiritual side" of the party with the Christmas story being read and I sang Away in a Manger. The entire group sang some carols. The we went to a secular time and had lots of fun with songs, readings and a special "honors" presentation. Bud and one other man received the Ernie Harwell award for sharing so much baseball trivia - very cute!! Other awards were given for little "personality" quirks. It was lots of fun.
Greg flew in to Bozeman, MT on August 27th for business and then drove over to Gardner where we met him for dinner. He spent 3 days with us and it was so much fun. Every day was packed with sightseeing and picnics. Greg and I took a few hikes (half way to Cascade Lake and all the way to Lost Lake near the Petrified tree. I am posting pictures. We all got up early one morning to go Moose watching - but the Moose didn't show up. We were disappointed that Greg didn't see them but he did get to see our neighborhood black bear on thee separate occasions. We saw the sun set one evening from atop Mt. Washburn (on Chittenden Road) and a sunset out in the Lamar Valley one evening. From the top of Mt. Washburn one can see one of the most spectacular sights seen in America. Mountains can be seen over 100 miles away.
Labor Day weekend has been busy - but today will probably mark a real decrease in activity. Tomorrow the road work starts again and they will work feverishly to try to meet their deadline of October 17th. The Roosevelt Store closed there store last night until next spring. Those worker/friends are leaving today to head home. Our crew narrows down week by week now. We have 8 people leaving a week from today and that will leave just a few of us. Our EDR has been hot hard this year and we are not for sure who will be preparing the meals for us the last 10 days we are here. I'll keep that posted.
It was been very warm in the park this year with little rain fall in the past 5 weeks. Today it is cloudy and it is our understanding that we are to have rain and a cold front come through. Hope it snows a little before we leave - the Taiwanese girls are so excited for it to snow.
The canyon Wall at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River flowing through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with a view of the Lower Falls from Artist Point. (With Flat Stanley).
An osprey sitting on his nest - -in the middle of the canyon !
Greg walking over a narrow bridge on our hike to Cascade Lake
The meadow leading to Cascade Lake.
The forest we passed through to get to Cascade Lake.
Taking in the sights out in Lamar Valley.
Views of Pebble Creek.
A small stampede of bison crossing on the bridge over the Yellowstone River. (The Rangers were in their trucks "encouraging" their move.
Views from Mt. Washburn.
Greg at the Firehole River
The Grand Prismatic Spring.
Flat Stanley at Old Faithful.
Greg getting his feet wet in the Firehole River.
Our little black bear friend - he was grazing and not paying any attention to those taking pictures.
The sun setting over the valley on Chittenden Road
A beautiful sunset from near the top of Mt. Washburn.
Elk crossing the Madison RIver.
More Elk crossing the Madison River.
Kepler Cascade
Can you spot the owls in the pine tree?
Sun setting over the Lamar Valley.
