Giving Up on Video, here's some digital shots from The Canyon

It's Sunday

Hi there.....We are here in Yellowstone National Park. This is such a magnificent place and yesterday we spent the whole day there.

We did see something we hadn't seen on our last trip. I don't know how we missed it. It is called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It's simply called The Canyon.

This is beyond words. I have a little video of it but I've been having trouble getting video to upload to this blog. I guess it's a very large file and this hotel seems to cut off the internet signal if you are not on the computer. In other words, if I do not stay on the computer and do something else while the video is uploading to the blog, the internet signal is lost and the upload errors out.

I will keep trying!

Ok, a little personal note here. I dont understand how this can happen, but riding in the car yesterday, I guess the sun was hotter than I thought it was and it actually sunburned my legs through my pants just above my knees. I started to feel a burning and thought it was just the new pants rubbing since we walked a lot yesterday. When we got back last night, I was surprised to see my legs bright red!!!

Breakfast yesterday was nice. It's free here but you have to have the "old number 1" breakfast as they call it. Not bad though, it's two eggs, choice of ham, bacon or sausage with hash browns and toast or biscuit. You pay for the beverage. Free is always a good price.

While waiting for a table, we struck up a conversation with a couple in front of us. Al and Marge were from Pasadena! They were a cute couple, about our age. They were both widowed and have only been "dating" since February. They are travelling just like we are except that they are on the way home. They have been to Glacier already. We decided to share a table and had a delightful visit with them.

Our day in the park was great. We drove, we walked, we saw things that would amaze you. We did notice however that there seems to be less animals than before. Just not as prevalant as on our previous trip. Guess they have all headed for the higher ground already.

We are going to spend another day today in the park and then tomorrow we check out of here and head for Bozeman Montana and Glacier National Park. We are going to Bozeman because there is a museum there that Wayne wants to see that he heard about.

Bye for now, more to come later...........

Yellowstone, Ahhhh Yellowstone

Sorry about no post last night. When we got back from dinner and I sat down to do the blog, there was no signal. We had the connection but it was "local only", no internet! I tried and tried and finally gave up. Now, this morning it's fine so everyone pretend this is last night, ok?!!!

First of all I finally have the first of what I'm sure will be many videos.

Now a couple of disclaimers please. First of all, we are just getting used to this new flip camera and this is the very first "movie" we hve made. It is several small little clips edited together to make a movie. Secondly, we are doing this mainly for our own memories. We want to remember where we were, where we stayed etc. so you will get a lot of stuff that is probably boring to you. Sorry for that.

Ok, now on for the blog.

Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of that horrible day September 11, 2001 when we lost so many beautiful people during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in that lonely field in Pennsylvania. Our hearts are heavy for the families of those lost. This senseless murder must not ever be repeated and we must all be together in our resolve to protect ourselves from those who want to hurt us.

As we travelled yesterday we saw many many American flags on display, some at half mast at homes and businesses all over. It was very heartwarming to see those displays. We must never forget that horrible day.

It was a bittersweet day indeed. The memories of 9/11 were tempered with the joy of our first hours spent at Yellowstone. What a beautiful place that is. After driving through the park for a couple hours, my eyes almost hurt with all the beauty they had seen. My heart was humbled with the magnificence of that place. God was on his A game when he made Yellowstone for sure!!!

Without wanting to sound like soap opera dialogue, I have to say that I wish everyone I ever knew in my life could have been with us yesterday and today as we drive through. If you haven't been here, you need to come here. If you have been here, you need to return. It is a place everyone should see at least once before they die. In other words, it should be on the top of your bucket list!!!

After driving around the park, we went back to our hotel in West Yellowstone Montana. The park is mostly in Wyoming, but a small little bit is in Montana. Just outside the west entrance is West Yellowstone, Montana and that is where we are staying. We are actually staying at the same place we did when we were here in 2007.

We plan to go back today and see more of the park. You just never seem to get enough. There are always new things to see and new experiences to have. We got our first up close and personal with a buffalo yesterday. He was right next to our car. Of course I got some video and will post it soon.

This first video is taking f o r e v e r to upload. It's only 2 min 25 seconds but it's been uploading for 30 min or more now. Hmmmm.

Note to Gail: We are having sooooo much fun with this Flip. First you showed us your iPod and we liked it so much we bought ours. Now you showed us your Flip and we had to have one. So, uh, what are you getting next??!!! LOL

Note to Mom: Sorry about no blog last night, didn't want to worry you, but just didn't have a signal. Without a signal, these laptops are worthless! I should have called you and I didn't....sorry. We are fine, we are better than fine we are like a couple kids at disneyland!

Video still uploading.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Michelle, I saw your note on FB, hope the water polo game came out well. I know how much Cody loves that. Did we win???

So far on this trip, the weather has been perfect. We have been so lucky. There have been rain storms around us, but wherever we are the weather is good at the time. We are going to be here at Yellowstone until Monday morning and then will be going north to see Glacier National Park next.

In 2007, we bought a lifetime pass and it worked just fine! We got into the park for free yesterday. It's good for any national park. Free has always been my favorite price!

video still uploading...................

will this thing ever finish???

Ok, well I sure wish each and every one of you were with us. This is a great experience and we are so blessed to be on our road trip again. I sure didn't dream back in 2007 that we would be here on the road again. I am so very thankful to God for my life and the time He has given me to see these wonderful sites "on the road"........

oh yea, video still uploading......................arrrggggghhh

09-10-09 Idaho Falls, Idaho

Hi boys and girls, it's us, the travelling old people!!!

We are having a ball and certainly feeling better than yesterday.

Last night I slept like the proverbial rock. Boy what a good night's sleep does for one's personality.

Well today we left Battle Mountain around 7:30 and stopped in Elko for breakfast. Had a great breakfast at the coffee mug restaurant.

Great weather all the way so far. Lots of road construction again today. Let me tell you how great the Flip Video Camera is!!! There were some delays and they were escorting one lane at a time through at one point. I took every opportunity to record something with that amazing Flip Camera!!!

The drive was pleasant and far better than all the sagebrush and desert through Nevada earlier.

Did I tell you how we LOVE the Flip camera?! It is so easy to use and is surely a video camera for dummies!!

We saw lots of new things, lots of corn fields and other crops. When we had lunch in Twin Falls Idaho, I was on my way to the bathroom when I saw a man alone in a booth wearing a San Francisco Giants hat! I thought about it while in the bathroom and you know me, I had to stop on my way back so I stopped and said to him, "I like your hat"....he looked up from his newspaper and said, "Oh you do, huh"....I quickly added that I live in San Francisco so he wouldn't think this overweight old lady was trying to make a run on him!

He turned out to be the friendliest guy. He told me how he just loves the game of baseball. He had to take off the hat to see which one he was wearing. He admitted he couldn't remember how he got it!

He said he had coached baseball with youth all his life, both boys and girls. He added that he would watch a ballgame anywhere anytime with anyone playing! Sound familiar kids?

When I said, trying to leave, "you better come on out and see us in San Francisco", he grinned and said he didn't want to come out there because all of our bridges are breaking! He was teasing, I could tell by the twinkle in his eye and his friendly grin. I bid him have a nice day and we parted.

It's just that easy to make new friends. You stop, you comment on something and begin a conversation. It's really that easy. Why don't we all do that all the time? Yes, why?

No, I still haven't posted any video but did I mention how much we LOVE love love the Flip Camera? Well let me tell you, I highly recommend it, everyone should go out and get one.

I am going to get some killer video tomorrow when we get to Yellowstone so I promise I will post it then. Of course I will be taking it with our new FLIP Video Camera that we LOVE!!!

Tonight is recharge night. As we speak (write/read) I have the rechargable batteries from the digital cameras plugged in, I have my cell phone recharging, my bluetooth recharging and my laptop is plugged in to the recharger as I type this.

Did I mention we are in Idaho Falls yet? Well we are here in Idaho Falls Idaho at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott. They have the best beds! Oh, and thanks Richard and Lisa for the you know what, it saved us tons of you know what.....

Today was a great day. I only wish we had all of you with us to share all the great things we are seeing and doing. We are feeling good, feeling happy, and feeling so blessed to be on the road again.........thank you

More tomorrow........oh by the way, one more thing, go out right now or get online and order .......a FLIP CAMERA !!!