On the Yampa River Core Trail

The Yampa River is more like a small stream

Will this yard art make it to halloween??

Bird of prey sculpture on the trail

A more colorful display

A 'rock garden' in the Yampa River Botanical Park

A more whimsical display

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO - - One thing we've been impressed with in a number of places we've stayed is the abundance of user friendly green space.  These trails, for walkers and cyclists, offer a different view of your surroundings.  Steamboat Springs' 7.5 mile Yampa River Core Trail runs alongside the river and the railroad tracks which run through the area. It's easy to see that the town places a heavy focus on all things outdoors.  On this 70-degree day (32 at night) there were even hardy children and some adults?? carousing in the river.
     So how, when you're only at a bit shy of 7,000 feet elevation, does a town get the name "steamboat"??  Nearly 200 years ago some French trappers  were passing through.  They thought they heard a 'chug chug' sound like a steamboat coming from one of the thermal springs in the area.  The name stuck and the stinky springs are still around.

The road to Steamboat Springs (CO)

The road seems to go on forever in Wyoming...

...fortunately a lot of Pronghorn checked us out...

...and then fled at a top speed of 61mph to safer locations

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO - - We split the long ride through Wyoming by staying a night in Rawlins...in a motel.  Our first night indoors in over a month.  About a third of the way to Steamboat the pronghorn were in abundance.  Most like to watch the cars and trucks from a safe distance (meaning out of range for good photos).  Some, like in the two photos above are more curious.
    The pronghorn are members of the antelope family, but their closest relatives are the giraffe and the okapi (an antelope-style relative in Africa)
    To get a feel for the vastness of Wyoming check the following:  The area of Wyoming covers 97,814 sq miles and harbors 579,315 souls. 
     We live in Volusia County, FL, a mere 1,432 sq miles in area.  Yet the population of Volusia (538,692) is only 40,623 individuals less!!

The colors of Fall...and the Tetons

GRAND TETON NP, WY - - It's not surprising to see Fall colors exploding in the scenery.  After nights where the temps fall below freezing, the trees and lots of ground cover decide that shades of yellow, orange and red are the colors to usher in the days before major snow blankets the ground.
     This area of the Snake River, complete with a large flock of Canada geese (center left) represents the rapid approach of constant cold weather.  The Teton mountain range with (flat topped) Mt. Moran provides the backdrop.

Steamy photo

Intrepid photographer braves cold and steam while this little guy performs

YELLOWSTONE NP, MT - - Geyser shots take patience.  In most cases, you've got to wait a period of time for the geyser to preform. Things look even more spectacular when the temperature is hovering around freezing.
     You can usually count on Old Faithful geyser for a spectacular show.  Not in the time we waited.  It was late, when it usually will blow it's top with nearly timed regularity.  Not while we were there.  It sputtered. It squirted.  It fizzled.  Oh well, this little one we went to first put on a show.

A frosty set of horns

A VERY close up look at the bison in the lower pic

This bison is in no hurry...and headed straight for our van

YELLOWSTONE NP, WY - - You are almost guaranteed to see at least one  bison (buffalo) or even many in Yellowstone.  Although not usually this close.  They wander where they want.  You don't challenge a hairy ungulate like this.  Why clomp along the roadway??  It's a lot easier than crunching your own path.  And, I suspect, they like their photo taken. 

Early Sunday morning, Livingston. MT

Small towns in Montana like murals

Cars may be parked, but where are the people

A salute to fly fishing in the Yellowstone river

A silage storage in another part of town

You'd think all the locals are English majors

Everyone seems to have a dog...we think this is a dog

Sunrise to sunset

This is hay country...cattle feed for the winter months

The sun sets behind one of the mountain ranges ringing Bozeman

We've heard it all before

BOZEMAN, MT - - We're staying in  nice campground only three miles from downtown and The Western Cafe..."The last, best cafe in Montana."  It does serve a good breakfast and plenty of coffee refills.  The year-old YMCA is another 13 miles farther  down the road.  And the public library is almost across the street from the cafe.
     So the location  is good, but for some folks that might be a problem.  You see, it's also centrally located between I-90 and the East-West railroad system.  Less than a half-mile away on both sides.  The truckers rumble past throughout the day and night. The long, long freight trains don't roll quite as often, but sound their whistle/horn at numerous crossings relatively close by.  Depending on the wind, the trains can sound closer than they are.
     Living in Ormond Beach we have gotten used to the sounds of heavy traffic, especially during car and motorcycle events.  Hearing freight and Amtrak trains signal at every nearby rail crossing is frequent enough you almost don't hear them.  So, we can tell the campground folks, we've heard it all before.

Campground mascots

Daily visitors to our campsite in Missoula

Cattle drive

In Montana you need to be ready for any type of road obstruction

MISSOULA, MT - - We stuck to back roads on our way from East Glacier to Missoula last week.  There were a number of "range cattle" signs along the way...meaning wandering cattle alongside or in the road.  What we didn't expect was a guy on a four-wheeler heading at us in our lane frantically waving an orange flag.  And from the range on our right came four cowboys herding 10-or so cattle across the road.  These lumbering road blocks weren't stopping.  

Market day

The farmer's market

Need a jolt?

How about a waffel

Or maybe some cloves of garlic to ward off evil spirits

Flowers brighten up everything

MISSOULA, MT - - Saturday is market day in Missoula.  Not one, but two within walking distance of each other.  The farmer's market featured over 100 vendors with 90% or better straight from the farm.  A few food vendors kept the hungry and thirsty happy. 
     There was also a (separate) artist / handicraft location a few blocks away.  Not as big, but with good variety of items. 

Missoula discoveries

MISSOULA, MT - - We left the East side of Glacier NP on Tuesday.  Canada beckoned, but rainy weather predicted for the next 5 days turned our plans South and West a bit to Missoula.  There's plenty to do here:  a nice YMCA; a library with comfy leather chairs ( and some strange street people) plus two coffee places we discovered (HobNob, with an eclectic breakfast/lunch menu and a bakery/coffee shop) in a college town full of coffee destinations.
     Right now it's 2pm, overcast, breezy and 57-degrees.  We're keeping a close eye on the weather back home as Hurricane Florence prepares to beat up the Carolinas.

Catching up...after no wifi

The Going to the Sun road to Logan Pass recently sprouted 'warning poles' for snowplow operators in advance of winter snows

We believe these are blue teal ducks

"Ears up."  Early warning of intruders in the area

More...How we get photos

ST. MARY, MT - - Sneak up.  Be very quiet. Hide. Wait until the (mama) moose lifts her head out of the water. As she munches, the water dribbles out of her mouth.  Note:  In bear country always carry bear spray canister.
     We're in the "no zone" ...no cell signal; no wifi unless you travel to the visitor's center for a slow signal.  The smoke from the wildfires on the West side of Glacier NP (where we stayed for 2 weeks) is now on the East side where we are camped.

COLD water bravado

WEST GLACIER, MT - - The two-finger test usually works best.  Dip two fingers into the water and if they don't turn blue it can't be too cold.  Can it?  Obviously, not for the folks pictured.  It was 9:30am.  50-degrees.  A slight breeze was blowing.  And there they were.  Hardy souls on paddle boards...with good balance (they hope).  Two individuals in full scuba diving gear...but no sunken treasure to be found in Lake MacDonald.
     About 15 minutes later we were at a remote single-lane bridge over the Middle Fork Flathead - the river which trisects areas of Glacier NP.  It's good fly fishing for trout.  Or if you just want to float along, Montana Raft and other adventure companies would love your business.