Yellowstone (part 2)

Just past Madison, I made a quick stop at Gibbon Falls.

About two miles past the falls, I saw a male Elk in a clearing.

I found a safe place to park and walked back to take a picture.

It was already noon when I reached the junction to take the upper loop. I decided that I was enjoying my slow pace, and to just see the lower loop during this trip. I made the turn to the lower look, and almost immediately was surrounded by bison in the road. I couldn't get a good picture though.

A bit further along, I pulled off onto the Virginia Cascade Road. There was a nice picnic area, and a herd a bison were grazing right behind it.




After taking a quick picture of Virginia Cascade, I headed to Canyon Village for some lunch. After lunch, I drove to several of the overlooks for the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The lighting was really weird. This picture almost looks like a painting, rather than a photo.
From the canyon, I got this view of the falls.
and a great close-up of a big-horned sheep.
By late afternoon, I was at Fishing Bridge. There were lots of white pelicans in this area.
I drove east of Fishing Bridge, and saw a group of people clustered near Mary Bay. I got out and saw this fox.
While they were still taking pictures, I continued towards Sedge Bay. I actually pulled over to turn around, but saw this coyote only a few feet from the road.


I made a stop at Yellowstone Lake as the sun was starting to go down. I didn't want to drive in the dark, so I headed back to Grant Village. I arrived just as the last bit of light left the sky. After a quick dinner, it was back to my room for sleep.

I woke up early the next morning, and headed south out of the park back to Jackson.

On the way I spotted this deer.

I make a quick stop at Lewis Falls.

And saw this marmot (and a bunch of his quicker friends) near Moose Falls. I then left Yellowstone and headed back to the Grand Tetons.

Grand Teton National Park (June 10)

Since it was only about 8 am when I entered the northern boundary of the Tetons, I had 6 hours before I needed to be at the Jackson airport for my flight. It was a beautiful day out, and right away spotted a colony of prarie dogs.
Wild flowers

Jackson Lake
Leeks Marina near Colter Bay
By Willow Flats, I saw a bunch of cars pulled over along the road. I stopped and got out and looked. There was a big group of grizzley bears!

I watched the bears for about a half hour before they wandered out of view. After most of the cars pulled back on the road, I headed up the road a little ways. I saw a forest service road, that looked like it went the same way the bears went. I pulled onto the road and slowly followed it for about a mile.
I was rewarded with this site of mama bear and her cub.

They walked out of site again. I waited about 10 minutes then continued up the road, to find the cub playing in the wild flowers.

Once back on the main road, I decided to take the outer road through the park.

I stopped at Oxbow Bend to take pictures. I loved the way the trees reflected in this lake.

Look at all the gnats flying around these flowers.
Chipmunk
I loved the reflection of the mountain in the lake.
I found another forest service road, and got off the main road again.
I spotted a beaver's dam.

And reached the top of a hill. When I went to turn around, I saw this brown bear.


wild flowers
Antelope flats was appropriately named.

Last view of the Tetons as I headed back to Jackson.

I stopped at a park with a pond, located on the outskirts of Jackson.


After about an hour, I returned to the airport for my flight home.

Sedona Arizona

Airport Mesa
Bell Rock
Boynton Canyon

Church of the Holy Cross
Sedona - Oak Creek Bridge Oak Creek


Oak Creek Canyon

St. Louis - Arches and Historic Buildings

No trip to St. Louis is complete without viewing the Gateway Arch. The arch and Mississippi Riverfront park were just across the freeway from my hotel. While my room wasn't perfectly aligned to the arch (I could only see half of it from my hotel room) there were spectacular views from the hotel bar.

Before the rain moved in, I was able to spend a couple hours at the end of the day relaxing at the park and under the arch. I thought about taking the tram to the top, but the scheduling didn't work. Also, it was easier to view the St. Louis skyline from the rotating restaurant/bar at the top of the Millennium hotel.

Under the arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion. There is a fairly large Lewis and Clark display in this museum. The obligatory gift shop is also under the arch.

A series of bridges crossed the Mississippi River to the Illinois side. There were many other tourist attractions near the arch - riverboat cruises and horse drawn carriages.

Near the southwest edge of the riverfront park is the Old Historic Cathedral.

To the west of the arch is the Historic Courthouse, which was built in 1828 and was the site of the early Dred Scott hearings.