6.15.14 Cody, WY & Buffalo Bill State Park Thru Sept 7, 2014

We arrived at Buffalo Bill State Park where we are  Camp Hosting at the North Fork Campground until about September 7th. The park is quiet and on the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Our camp is 17 miles to Cody, WY and 39 miles to the East entrance to Yellowstone.  The Host site is secluded and well away from the visiting campers.  Our First day here, we watched a 30 minute safe driving movie so we could operate the Camp vehicles, then a second day meeting for another hour of orientation with the 6 park employees and the camp hosts at the North Shore Campground, about 5 miles away from our North Fork Campground. Our duties include cleaning the bathrooms, fire pits and campsites, and watering & mowing around the host site. We're on duty 4 days/week, 5 hours per day, then we're off three days/week.  Even on "work" days the tasks actually only take about two to three hours, but we also spend time as hosts meeting other campers and helping them with directions, information and other needs as may arise.  So far, temperatures here have been mild, with night-time lows around 50, and daytime highs about 74.  We're enjoying this, our third summer as Camp Hosts. Each location has been better than the last.  We'll post more pics throughout the summer.

We have a great Host Site with awesome views

North Fork Campground - view from Stagecoach Road across Buffalo Bill  Reservoir

Local Park Resident



Our back yard view

 

Downtown Cody just before start of 9:30 A.M. July 4th Parade



 

Our parade chairs - In the shade, curbside, best seats ever! Best parade Ever!

 

At the parade - Enjoying the day!

6.9.14 – 6.15.14 - Yellowstone National Park

Henry’s Lake State Park is where we stayed 3 nights, then 3 more nights at Fishing Bridge RV Park on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.  Henry’s Lake is 15 miles from the town of West Yellowstone and the West entrance to the park.  Signs at the park entrance alert travelers that all campgrounds are full, so I’m glad we always make reservations well in advance.   We drove into the park from Henry’s lake our first 2 days and gotta say, Yellowstone, the world’s first and oldest National Park (established March 1^st, 1872) is the absolute greatest place we have ever visited.  Our first trip here was in the late 60’s, then again in early 70’s and again when our sons, Daniel & Kane, were about 8 & 5 years old.  We were here a couple other times and each time can’t get enough of the scenery, animals, and varying landscapes throughout the park. Our first few times here were always in May or September when crowds are thin and weather is sometimes much cooler.  This time, the days have been very nice (around 70 degrees and 38 at night), but being mid June, it’s more crowded than we’ve experienced in the past.   However, it is tourist season, so overall it’s great to be here again.   If you haven't been here, do it! Life is too short to miss out. And, take your time; plan on several days; there is sooo much to see. 

Thousands of Bison roam around freely throughout Yellowstone

Old Faithful geyser spout every 60 - 90 minutes

These hot spots and mud pots are plentiful and smelly (sulphur)

Still some snow around

View over Yellowstone Lake

 

6.6.14 – 6.9.14 - Pocatello, ID

Pulled into Cowboy RV park, Pocatello, Idaho about 3:00 in the afternoon.  Weather has been gorgeous and is forecast to stay that way as far out as they can predict. While here in Pocatello, we washed the truck, visited the local mall, and I adjusted an awning on the 5^th wheel.  Saturday afternoon we visited The Museum of Clean, A Museum dedicated to all things that have to do with cleaning. The Museum was opened in 2011 and is owned and was founded by Don Aslett, who was a professional janitor and owner of Victory Cleaning here in Pocatello. He has also written several how to books and was our tour guide through the Museum. Nothing quite like it I suppose.  On Sunday we had our usual Pizza Hut Pizza, which has been a tradition for as long as I can recall. At least if there is one around.  Our first Pizza Hut Pizza was in Athens, Ohio in 1968 while visiting friends attending Ohio University. The first Pizza Hut East of the Mississippi was opened in Athens, OH in 1966.  Pizza Hut was founded in Kansas in 1958 and was over 300 locations in their first 10 years. (Enough about Pizza).. After lunch, we visited the Pocatello Zoo, small but very nice.

Don Aslett giving us and others a personal tour

Don said this was used by Ladies of the Night

These instruments were used when invited to perform in Las Vegas

Pocatello, ID Zoo

This Lynx was well hidden

Bald Eagle

Golden Eagle

Red Tailed Hawk

Dexter breed of cattle is the smallest at 42" tall

 

Ram Horn

 

 

Who?

 

5.29.14 - 6.6.14 - Heber City, UT

We’ve been to Utah before, but never this area. Heber City lies in a beautiful valley 40 miles East 0f Salt Lake City.  We spent one week here and could have stayed longer – maybe next year. We’re surrounded by mountains, some with snow. We spent a few days looking around the area, visiting Salt Lake City and the Mormon Tabernacle area one day, and driving up some mountain trails in our 4wd truck.   Today, 6.4.14, we rented an ATV.  Actually, we ended up with two ATV’s. The first one, a two-seater, developed a slow leak in a rear tire when we were on a mountain trail 18 miles from the RV resort.  We drove back on the tire before it went totally flat.  The park manager, Cash, traded us for a four-seater that had new tires and was only one year old; actually it turned out good for us as the four-seater was bigger, longer, and more comfortable to drive.  After the trade, we headed back to the mountain and drove to the peak at 10,200 ft.  Fantastic views and exactly what attract us to the U.S. West.

We stayed one week here in Heber City, UT at Mountain Valley RV Resort, a brand new (opened November, 2013) RV Resort that may be the nicest we've ever visited. Surrounded by mountains, paved streets with curbs, large pool, laundry, clubhouse. A really nice place - worth considering a return visit.

The view just a couple miles from town. (Click the pic to enlarge)

Deer Creek Reservoir on the South end of Heber City

Some woman got in the way of my truck pic.
 

Bridal Veil Falls - 20 minutes from Heber City

Hikers at the foot of the falls - It looked too treacherous for us to try

I caught this pic from our RV site one morning

 



The Mormon Temple - Salt Lake City - It took 40 years to build and was completed in 1893

 

The Mormon Tabernacle

Inside the Mormon Tabernacle
We spent the day on the grounds which are about 35 acres.  Regardless of religious affiliation, this is an impressive place.

We rented this two seat ATV which developed a slow leak on the mountain about 18 miles from Camp. We drove back before we lost all the air and traded for a  better ride.

This four-seater was a much better ride, comfort and power.  We spent all afternoon exploring mountain trails and enjoying breath taking views.

 

We came upon this deer and immediately shut off the engine; afterwards, we engaged in this staring contest. I think the deer won.

 

This altitude was about one mile higher than the RV park.

Camera on the ground; set on automatic with 10 seconds; run uphill at 10,000 ft. - I still got it!



Breath taking and just can't get enough of these views. Being part of it is even better.