Rafting the Yellowstone River & Rodeo

June 15, 2012, Murray, Susan, Beth, David & myself went floating on the Yellowstone River. A senic float and was able to take some good photos. Saw an eagle, osprey in a nest & some wild geese. Later that day Carol, Beth, David & myself went to a rodeo in Gardiner, Montana about 17 miles away. A good rodeo but was hard to see all of the action, alot of people standing next too the rails blocking the view. One bucking bronco horse hit the railing head first. They had to stop the rodeo & bring in a trailer to remove the horse. We all believe that the horse probably was dead, broken neck but do not know for sure. On the way back next to cabin we saw mule deer and 5 elk going down to the pastures. There was 2 baby (this year) elk with the herd. I have not figured out how to post more than 1 photo per day. Maybe Beth or David will show me how too. Steve

Walking Down to Yellowstone River

June 14, 2012, Beth, David & myself walked from cabin down to the Yellowstone River. It was a 3 mile round trip. Easy going down but steep coming back up. I beleive the cabin is at 6,000 feet elevation. Great views along the way and passed several ranches with horses. Murray & Susan came back later in day and had hiked to water falls in Yellowstone Park.

June 14, 2012

Murray & Susan left this morning going down to Yellowstone Park. They were going to hike up to Tower Falls & Artist Point to take photos. Beth, David, Carol & myself are hanging out at cabin. We may hike down to the Yellowstone river later today. We are enjoying views and not having to drive around so much. Planning a float trip on friday and ma ybe a rodeo later that evening. I beleive Carol is getting homesick, she just stares out the cabin window.

June12 & 13, 2012

On June 12th Beth, David & myself went horseback riding in Jardine,Montana. Jardine is an old 1800's mining town with only a few residents present day. We rode around the mountains close to Yellowstone park. Some great scenery in this area. Was not able to get any good photos on horseback. June 13th we all took a road trip up the Beartooth Parkw ay. Alot of snow is still on top of the Beartooth but is a very beautiful trip and well worth the effort. We are planning a float trip down the Yellowstone River within the next few days. Steve

June 12, 2012

Update: Carol & I went to church sunday June 10th at Big Timber Church of Christ. When we got there only 2 people were there. I thought, Steve you may have to present a sermon to day. Talked with the 2 men and a little later others starting coming in. The service only had 9 people in attendance. We had a very nice lesson and is a good church tha t is trying to grow. The Church of Christ is few and far between out here in Montana. They are looking for a preacher also. They are a real nice group of folks. Left Big Timber after services and went to Livingston about 35 miles west. We met up with Beth & David who flew into Bozeman. We stayed sunday night in an 1880 train caboose on 13 acres on the Yellowstone river just south of Livingston. When we got there a mule deer was laying down in the yard. He got up and walked off when I got out of the car. The train was nice and was set-up to live in, antique furniture etc. June 11th left the train and went to the chalet we will staying at for a week. It is south of Enigrant, Mt. & is at 6,000 feet elevation. It is really nice, views of the snow top mountains. Late that afternoon at chalet an elk came down by driveway and did a bugle sound as it was heading down to feed. We have seen a grizzly bear and big horn sheep closer to yellowstone, 17 miles from where we are staying. Thats all for now. Steve

June 09, 2012

Carol and I left Buffalo, Wyoming this morning heading to Big Timber, Montana. Stopped for coffee at Mcdonalds in Buffalo & there was a mule deer feeding in a pasture beside the parking lot. We stopped at the old Fort Kearney site about 15 miles up the road. The fort is on the Bozeman Trail, lots of history in this area also. Another storm clo ud was approaching so we decided to head on. Every time we stop at a fort site bad weather follows. Made it to Big Timber, Mt. and when we got out of the car it was 48 degrees at mid afternoon. Teeth were chattering so we dug out the cold weather clothes. Going to spend the night then go to church here sunday morning. Next stop south of Livingston, Mt. and we will meet up with Beth & David who are flying in sunday afternoon.

June 08, 2012

Drove from Casper to Kaycee, Wy. & stopped at the small towns vistor center. Was talking with the lady about town and area, asked her about their last winter. I said how much snow do you all get here per year. She said we do not get much snow in Kaycee, about 44 inches per year. I told her in Tennesse we might get 6 to 8 inches of snow per yea r. While in Kaycee we came across a unique musuem. There is a photo of an old fella just given a reprieve from jail. Down at the one-room school house, one old gal who must have repeated several grades. Beth you and David would feel right at home here. Drove on up to Buffalo, Wy. & got a cabin for the night, then drove up to the Big Horn Mountains a few miles from Buffalo. This is a beautiful mountain range, does not get the crowds that Yellowstone & Tetons do. Attached some photos of Big Horn but the photos does not do the scenery justice. Steve

June 07, 2012

Left Sidney, Nebraska this morning heading to Chimney Rock in western part of state close too the Wyoming border. Chimney Rock is on the old Oregon Trail that the pioneers took west. Alot of history about this area. Next stopped by Scottsbluff which is still part of Oregon Trail. Drove from there to Fort Laramie and did a walking tour of the fort. Alot of the old fort buildings are still standing and in very good shape to be 160 years old. Fort Laramie is where the fur trappers stopped off on their way to the Rocky Mountains & where some Indian treaties were signed. Very interesting part of history. Left Fort Laramie heading to Casper, Wyoming and ran into dark clouds, tuned radio to the weather station. A Tornado was heading in our direction. I mashed the gas pedal down on the ford crown victoria, we just barely got north of it before it came thru. I could see a low hanging cloud in the distance south of us. Radio said later it had touched down and done some damage. Anyway we got to Casper OK. Steve

Day 1,2 &3

Day 2 we stopped in York, Nebraska & got a nice motel room. Went out to eat at the Country Kitchen restaurant & you can tell we are getting closer to cowboy country.I had a meat loaf dinner and the waitress brought out about 4 #lbs. of meat loaf on a plate with 3 vegetables, smothered in brown gravy. I am a big eater but can not clean my plate when we eat out in Nebraska, Wyoming or Montana. It must be that the people out here in these states either work real hard or the weather is so cold that they feed everyone large meals. Day 3 we left York, Ne. heading to Sidney, Ne. and was going to stop at several sites along the way. There was alot of Interstate road work so we had to by-pass most of them, catch them on the way back. We have to make certain amount of miles per day to get to Emigrant, Montana on time. Sidney, Ne. is in the Great Plains where the Indians & buffalo once roamed. Did stop in to Cabelas in Sidney & bought some hiking boots. Day 4 heading into Wyoming about 50 miles from here. Steve Hey folks, Here it is day number three on our westward trek. I told Steve I was homesick along about Dyersburg, TN but it is getting better now.(Haha) Traveling through Missouri toward St. Louis was so loooooooooong! Wasn't much to see except crossing the bridge over the Mississippi River. We traveled about 433 miles before stopping in Kingdom City, Mo just beyond St. Louis on day one. Day two --- we left Kingdom City, Mo going west to Hwy 63 N toward Moberly, Mo. and then back west toward St.Joseph, Mo to avoid the horrendous traffic in Kansas City; turned out to be a good choice because the four-lane was not heavily traveled and was very picturesque with corn fields on both sides and old white farm houses and barns from years gone by. We passed near the boyhood home and museum of Gen. John Pershing and Steve said we'd catch it on the way back. He says that about everything! We traveled another 393 miles before stopping in York, Ne. Day three we left York and traveled a short distance to Aurora, Ne stopping at the Plainsman Museum...very impressive. There was so much to see, we spent about 1 1/2 hours looking at everything from a furnished log house and a sod house to displays of doctor's & dentist offices, a barber shop, saloon, sheriff's office & jail to period costumes from the Civil War era to the 20's and 30's. There were dolls, guns, walking sticks, band instruments, carriages,clocks and everything in between. I was reminded of the strong, resourceful people who made this country what it is. After traveling about 304 more miles today, we are in for the night at Sidney, Ne. That's all folks for now. Carol

Montana 2012...coming soon!