Photos
Newest Set:

Babs and Pia
10/18/24
Wiebke's visit
09/27/24
Brazil 2024 - Fernanda
09/06/24
Miska 2024 - June
06/01/24
Miska 2024 - May
05/01/24
Miska 2024 - April
04/01/24
Miska 2024 - March
03/01/24
Miska 2024 - February
02/01/24
Miska 2024 - January
01/01/24
Miska - December
12/01/23
Miska - November
11/01/23
Miska - October
10/01/23
Miska 2023 - September
09/01/23
Miska 2023 - August
08/09/23
India and Taj Mahal 2023
03/18/23
Germany (and Iceland) 2022
12/01/22
Brasil 2022 - after BH
10/18/22
Brazil 2022
10/07/22
Bathroom in the Annex
11/13/20
2020 Summer and Fall and Winter in the Pandemic
08/23/20
Long Island 2020
07/24/20
Balcony Garden
05/05/20
Baltimore 2020
02/09/20
Train show at the NY Botanical Gardens
12/07/19
Mohonk - Winter Wonderland
12/04/19
Oktoberfest 2019
10/06/19
Cool pictures of our apartment
10/06/19
Burle Max at NY Botanical Gardens
09/14/19
Papai In Memoriam
08/04/19
Aussie Parents' Visit
05/15/19
A New Car!
04/24/19
San Francisco
02/10/19
Iceland Five-O
01/26/19
Twin Cities
10/12/18
Oktoberfest 2018
10/07/18
Terceira
09/11/18
Ferry to Terceira
09/10/18
São Jorge
09/07/18
Pico
09/05/18
Faial
09/03/18
São Miguel
08/29/18
Wander Lucio's Visit - 2018
07/03/18
Summer 2018
06/30/18
Brunch Harbor Sail
06/17/18
Deutschland 2018 (Karl)
03/29/18
Iceland 2018 (Karl)
03/20/18
Brasil 2018 (Fernanda)
03/17/18
Karl's Singing Birthday
01/26/18
Miami
01/19/18
Gørill
01/01/18
New Bathroom II!
10/24/17
Chicago
10/13/17
Oktoberfest XI
10/08/17
Apocalipse
08/22/17
Oregon!
08/16/17
Madison, CT
07/10/17
Diane's Wedding, observed
06/11/17
Brasil 2017 (Fernanda)
03/24/17
Christmas 2016
12/24/16
New Bathroom!
11/01/16
Staycation in Brooklyn
10/15/16
Oktoberfest X
10/09/16
Vermont
09/18/16
Brasil 2016
08/10/16
Italy 2016 (Karl)
07/27/16
Berlin 2016
06/11/16
Nashville
01/21/16
Germany, 2015
11/26/15
Iceland
11/20/15
Cape Cod
10/18/15
Oktoberfest 2015
09/27/15
Lunar Eclipse - "Blood Moon"
09/27/15
Summer 2015
07/18/15
Hawk and other animals
07/17/15
Berlin
04/01/15
The Faroe Islands
03/20/15
Copenhagen
03/19/15
Christmas at the New Place (2014)
12/24/14
Danube River Cruise (Karl)
11/18/14
Wilmington & Western Railroad, 2014
11/02/14
The Berkshires
10/18/14
Oktoberfest 2014 - Executive House
10/05/14
2014 Brasil - World Cup
06/24/14
Longwood Gardens - thank you RuthAnn!
04/26/14
California, 2014
02/19/14
Thanksgiving 2013
11/28/13
Berlin, Tante Wiebke (Karl)
11/24/13
Iceland, 2013 (Karl)
11/20/13
Through the Looking Glass with Karl in Europe
11/18/13
Vermont 2013
11/01/13
Wilmington & Western Railroad Steam Engine Train Ride
10/20/13
Oktoberfest 2013
10/05/13
Brasil 2013 (Fernanda)
05/25/13
Intrepid
05/04/13
Road Trip South
03/24/13
Another German Christmas (2012)
12/24/12
Hurricane Sandy
10/29/12
Oktoberfest in our Apartment 2012
09/30/12
Air Show, Tough Kennamon, PA
08/25/12
Greece, Islands, 2012: Sifnos
07/20/12
Athens
07/19/12
IRF Reunion
06/23/12
Vermont, 2012
04/08/12
Our Tulip Blooms
03/25/12
Party for Karl's 43rd Birthday
01/28/12
Christmas 2011 at Mt. Snow
12/24/11
5th annual Oktoberfest in our Apartment!
10/01/11
Guests, 2011
09/12/11
Karl's Father in 2011
09/10/11
Misc. grab-bag, 2011
08/18/11
Brasil 2011
07/15/11
Vermont, "Spring" 2011
04/23/11
Nidhi and Arvind's Bangle Ceremony
03/27/11
Karl's 42nd Birtday (observed)
01/29/11
Winter Vacation with Missy and Alex
01/15/11
Brasil 2010
10/04/10
Oktoberfest 2010, Hackensack
09/25/10
Governor's Island, NYC
09/19/10
Karl's family
09/12/10
Vermont
03/26/10
Skiing Hunter Mt. 2010
02/14/10
Karl celebrates turning 41
01/30/10
Babs visits
01/17/10
New Year's Eve
12/31/09
Halloween/Thanksgiving 2009
11/26/09
Oktoberfest 2009, Hackensack
10/03/09
2009 at the pool!
08/18/09
Brú na Bóinne
08/08/09
Galway
08/04/09
Northern Ireland
07/30/09
Donegal
07/24/09
Dublin, etc.
07/18/09
2009 with the Urano family
05/23/09
Brasil 2009
04/10/09
Weihnachten, 2008
12/24/08
Syncsort Xmas Party 2008
12/15/08
Family visits: Karl's parents, uncle, and cousin
11/22/08
Vania's Visit
11/15/08
Marden's visit
11/08/08
Autumn hiking, Ramapo, NJ
10/18/08
Oktoberfest 2008, Hackensack
10/04/08
Labor Day Pool Party
08/31/08
Philharmonic in the Park (yet again)
06/24/08
Fernanda's Parents Come to Visit
06/02/08
Memorial Day Weekend in CT with Missy
05/26/08
Fernanda's Birthday Party, 2008
05/17/08
Katja comes to visit!
04/20/08
Spring 2008
04/12/08
Nikhil's Karaoke Birthday Bar Party
04/05/08
Cross-country Skiing in New England
02/09/08
Karl's Birthday Party 2008
01/26/08
Xmas 2007
12/24/07
Syncsort Xmas 2007
12/08/07
Oktoberfest in our Apartment
10/06/07
Crash!
09/15/07
Nebraska, Iowa
09/13/07
Wyoming, Nebraska, Blow-out
09/12/07
Nevada, Utah, Wyoming
09/11/07
California, Nevada
09/10/07
San Francisco
09/09/07
San Francisco, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tiberon
09/08/07
San Francisco
09/07/07
Yosemite to San Francisco
09/06/07
Yosemite
09/05/07
Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks
09/04/07
Nevada, Death Valley, California
09/03/07
Arizona, Nevada
09/02/07
Arizona
09/01/07
Grand Canyon
08/31/07
Utah, Grand Canyon
08/30/07
Canyonlands
08/29/07
Arches National Park
08/28/07
Utah
08/27/07
Wyoming, Idaho, Utah
08/26/07
Yellowstone, Grand Tetons
08/25/07
Yellowstone
08/24/07
Wyoming, Montana, Yellowstone
08/23/07
South Dakota, Wyoming
08/22/07
South Dakota
08/21/07
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota
08/20/07
Ohio to Chicago
08/19/07
Pennsylvania to Ohio
08/18/07
5th Brazilian Film Festival, NY
08/08/07
Fernanda's Birthday Party 2007
05/19/07
Paris
03/31/07
Amsterdam
03/30/07
Volendam
03/29/07
Antwerp
03/28/07
Vernon
03/26/07
Château Gaillard
03/26/07
Château de Versailles
03/25/07
Ski Trip 2007 -- Mount Snow
02/17/07
Karl's Birthday Party
01/27/07
Weihnachtsfeier
12/24/06
Syncsort Xmas Party 2006
12/09/06
New Car!
11/28/06
Random New York
11/05/06
At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
10/24/06
Wander Lucio & Christy
10/20/06
Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain
10/08/06
New England
09/30/06
Barbeque with John and Petya
09/03/06
Sabira's Birthday Party
08/12/06
Allegra's Birthday Party
07/30/06
Opera in the Park
07/18/06
At the Beach
07/16/06
Ante Syncsort Group Dinner
07/14/06
Word Cup, USA
07/09/06
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, once more
07/08/06
Brasil 2006, Ceará: Fortaleza, Jericoacoara
06/17/06
Brasil 2006, Belo Horizonte
06/10/06
Karl's & Parents
06/04/06
Happy Birthday Pool Party!
05/19/06
Cherry Blossom Festival, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
04/29/06
Planting a Garden
04/09/06
Fixing Up the Car
04/09/06
At the Ballet with AFS
04/06/06
Alana
04/02/06
Various Times at Sean & Cecilia's
03/05/06
Skiing, 2006 - Hunter Mountain
02/18/06
Karl's Birthday (observed (by some))
01/25/06
Bente's Visit
01/10/06
Xmas Party 2005
12/12/05
Ballooning in Lancaster, PA
11/05/05
Segovia, Spain
10/14/05
Toledo, Spain
10/13/05
Madrid, Spain
10/12/05
Sevilla, Spain
10/10/05
Évora, Tavira, and the Road to Spain...
10/06/05
Porto, Portugal
10/04/05
Eclipse -- Bragança, Portugal
10/03/05
Coimbra and Conimbriga, Portugal
10/01/05
Nazaré and Obidos, Portugal
09/28/05
Lisboa and Sintra, Portugal
09/24/05
Wander Lucio and Christy's Visit
09/18/05
Dinner at Sean and Cecilia's
08/13/05
At the Beach
08/06/05
Pool Minders
07/30/05
From Ivy's Beach to Ivy's Party
07/23/05
Opera in the Park for Allegra's Birthday
07/19/05
Five Year Anniversary Cruise
07/17/05
Social Butterflies
07/16/05
Social Pictures
07/14/05
Central Park Summer Stage
07/09/05
4th of July, 2005
07/04/05
A Day on the River
06/25/05
An Opera in the Park
06/14/05
Memorial Day, 2005
05/30/05
Scooting in NJ Liberty State Park
05/29/05
Scooting to Ashes & Snow
05/28/05
Fernanda's Birthday Party, 2005
05/20/05
Juliana & Cristiano
05/15/05
Nidhi & Arvind's Wedding (observed)
05/07/05
Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), Brooklyn Botanic Garden
04/30/05
Brasil, 2005
04/18/05
About Town
03/01/05
At Home
02/28/05
The Gates in Central Park
02/13/05
Winter, 2005
01/23/05
A New Year
01/01/05
Christmas 2004
12/25/04
Syncsort Xmas Party 2004
12/21/04
More random
12/20/04
Buraco night
12/19/04
Thanksgiving 2004
11/25/04
Z
10/31/04
AFS NYC Zoo trip
10/30/04
Pumkin Pickin'
10/23/04
Old Short Hills
10/03/04
Whirling dervishes
09/24/04
Random Fall 2004
09/22/04
Saroj's birthday
09/20/04
Pool Party!
08/22/04
Allegra's Party
07/17/04
Family
07/15/04
Guests
07/11/04
Summer 2004 Misc II
07/01/04
Beach 2004
07/01/04
Opera in Central Park
06/16/04
Summer 2004 Misc
06/01/04
Brasil 2004, the rest
05/31/04
Brasil 2004, part 3
05/29/04
Brasil 2004, continued
05/20/04
Fernanda's Birthday, Observed
05/15/04
Brasil, 2004
05/14/04
Highlights of Holi
03/12/04
Holi - Full Set
03/09/04
New Kitchen
02/09/04
Xmas 2003
12/24/03
Wanessa's Wisit
12/16/03
Diwali
10/24/03
Random
10/04/03
Misc Dinners, Parties, 2002, 2003
09/16/03
Fernanda's Very Old Family Photos
09/04/03
Cristiano's Visit
07/15/03
Fernanda's Birthday Party
05/18/03
Europe 2003
04/25/03
Oz 1998
08/01/98
|
|
 |
Friday, August 24, 2007
Road Trip, Day 7
Yellowstone Today was a full day. We are both completely exhausted, but still exhilarated.
We left the lodge at nine this morning, managing to make it in one trip to the car with all our baggage and cooler and crap. The shower situation was not a problem; maybe everybody else gets up way earlier, or else just doesn't bathe.
It was overcast when we set out. We went off in the same direction we went yesterday. Almost immediately we saw people stopped by the side of the road. There was a bison off in the field beyond the trees. We looked on in awe at the distant bison, trying to take pictures. If we'd only known...
Not five minutes later, another bison, this one much closer to the road. A bunch of stopped cars means some kind of wildlife. One stop at some hot springs later, there was yet another bison, this time practically on the road. And despite the warning, some people out right next to it, photographing it. No, they didn't get gored.
So, the major theme of the day had been set: stops at geyser and hot spring locations, and stops along the road for wildlife. The next animal up was a big bull elk. Right on the side of the road. Then almost immediately on the other side of the road, a mule deer. But he was further off, and we'd just seen a much more impressive elk. Ah, the jadedness already sets in. We almost didn't stop for the next traffic slow down -- yeah, yeah, we've seen it -- only we hadn't: it was a coyote. So we stopped for that one; unfortunately he stayed pretty far away.
Every half kilometer or so, there was something to stop for: some beautiful vista, some chain of hot springs to walk along, some wild animal to see. It was amazing. The sun was coming out, and even though the air temperature was still pretty chilly, it felt very warm in the sun. Being up at around 2000 meters altitude helps make the sun feel stronger, too.
So, just when we thought it couldn't get any better, a vista stop turns out to be a swimming hole. I couldn't resist, changed into my swimsuit and went in the river. It is somewhat geyser heated, because a mountain stream that deep should be a whole lot colder than this was. It was great, deep, and with a nice current to drive you down to the beach part if you started further up. At this point the sun was out strong, all traces of rain were gone, and it was just a beautiful day.
Our first destination for the day was to be the Old Faithful geyser, just to get that out of the way, but it was after twelve already, and we were getting hungry, and our progress thus far had been slow. So we decided to heck with it when we passed this beautiful picnic area by the side of a creek, and pulled in to eat. The river was shallow and running over a bunch of stones -- I couldn't resist and waded in. Food always tastes better when you're out in the open and have been exercising. I was getting pretty tired, after swimming, and all the walking around various geysers and hot spring sites, and the sun beating down. So, good moods all around.
After eating we went up the river a bit, where there was a hot spring feeding into the river. It was like a bathtub of boiling water, spilling into the running stream. I waded in the creek, which was cold, but warmed up where the hot water ran in. I even got a little too close and scalded my ankle.
More geyser stops, hot springs deep blue in color, bubbling mud pits, sulfur smelling steam. (I must say the rotten egg smell either isn't as strong or just doesn't bother me as much as when I was here as a kid -- I remember it being nearly unbearable; now it's just bad when the wind blows the steam right at you.)
Another traffic jam, this time for a whole herd of elk crossing a river right beside the road. There was a bull, four or five females, and various juveniles. And a whole herd of Homo sapiens staring at them. This stop had the worst traffic so far, and even it was nothing at all like the dire warning we had been hearing about traffic congestion at Yellowstone. It really hasn't been bad at all. A few slow downs where there is wildlife, but almost everybody pulls over, and you can get by if you want to, and any delay is minimal. Maybe if you live in Wyoming your conception of traffic congestion is different than if you live in the greater New York area...
We finally made it to Old Faithful around 3:15. We were very lucky with the timing, because the next eruption was scheduled for 3:37, +/- 10 minutes. We sat down to wait, and at 3:31 the geyser spouted. Next show at 5.
By this point we were pretty beat. We went into the lodge to use the bathroom, buy postcards, and sit for a spell. Then I copied all the pictures I'd taken so far to the laptop, 'cause the camera was acting up, while Fernanda wrote her post card. We were both feeling sleepy, and we weren't in a hurry since all the post geyser show traffic was leaving. We found the post office to mail the card, and finally headed out toward the lake area.
The Western Thumb is an appendage to the main lake, a crater formed from a volcanic eruption, and ringed with geysers and hot springs. We caught part of the ranger tour as we made our way among the hot springs and geysers. There was a whole slew of Chinese tourists at this stop. There are cars from just about every state, and tour groups from around the world all over the park. Everyone seems laid back and in a good mood. Everyone is friendly. Maybe the world is always like this, and I've been living in Jersey too long to remember.
I must say that at this point we were tired and not as full of enthusiasm as at the start of the day: we didn't bother to stop at every stop. Another hot spring, another bison. Seen that. Next. Still, even completely jaded, Yellowstone manages to top itself. An even more spectacular vista of a river cascading down some sheer cliffs. An even more interesting geyser or a hot spring in an even deeper shade of amazingly blue blue. Wildlife even more in your face than you thought possible.
One geyser was in a cave, hissing and roaring, appropriately called the dragon's cave or something like that. It really was as if an angry dragon was living in that cave. The scenery was ever more stunning, as we passed the lake, drove along a high cliff with a waterfall below, and the sun started to set. Then we passed a Bison right on the side of the road. Gave Fernanda, who was driving, quite a start, because she could have hit it, it came up so suddenly. Then, just down the road, another, this time actually on the road -- we had to pass him on the right. Another driver, completely jaded at this point, just zoomed by between us on his right, and the bison on his left, in a hurry to get to where ever he had to get to, bison be damned.
It was now 7 and we were finally approaching the exit of the park and our night's lodging in a town just outside the park; we were almost completely gone, we pulled into the grill by the lodge to have some food. We had planned on going swimming one last time before exiting the park and arriving at our motel, but being as it was now nearly 8, we decided just to check out the location before moving on to the motel. We'd gotten the tip at the first swimming hole, that there was a swimmable hot spring, and we really wanted to go. It is not prominently advertised, none of our guide books mention it. Recharged by the food, we got there, and talked to some people coming out, and we were so inspired we decided to go for a dip after all, rushing back to the car to change, and hurrying down the path to get there in the twilight. It's a good ten minute hike down the trail, but then you get there, and it's all worth it. A hot spring spills into the river, and a bunch of pools are on the side of the river, where boiling hot water mixes with icy cold river water. It's great, you can choose just how hot or cold you want it by moving a little one way or the other. A three-quarter moon was out, and it was just magical. We are definitely going again tomorrow morning.
And so, finally, at around 9:15, we pulled into our motel. Turns out they don't have wifi, so I'll have to wait some more to post this, and yesterday's entry. Bummer. It is now nearly midnight, and I'm exhausted, it's been a full day, and I can't wait to get started with tomorrow! Too much to do, too little time!
(view pictures)
|
|
 |
Previous Entries
:-( 06/19/21
Açores 08/29/18
Our New Bathroom Saga 11/17/16
Europe 2015 03/16/15
The Berkshires 10/18/14
Road Trip South 03/23/13
Greece! 07/26/12
Our Trip to Ireland 08/09/09
Google Map of our Trip 09/17/07
Road Trip: The End 09/15/07
Road Trip, Day 27 09/13/07
Road Trip, Day 26 09/12/07
Road Trip, Day 25 09/11/07
Road Trip, Day 24 09/10/07
Road Trip, Day 23 09/09/07
Road Trip, Day 22 09/08/07
Road Trip, Day 21 09/07/07
Road Trip, Day 20 09/06/07
Road Trip, Day 19 09/05/07
Road Trip, Day 18 09/04/07
Road Trip, Day 17 09/03/07
Road Trip, Day 16 09/02/07
Road Trip, Day 15 09/01/07
Road Trip, Day 14 08/31/07
Road Trip, Day 13 08/30/07
Road Trip, Day 12 08/29/07
Road Trip, Day 11 08/28/07
Road Trip, Day 10 08/27/07
Road Trip, Day 9 08/26/07
Road Trip, Day 8 08/25/07
Road Trip, Day 6 08/23/07
Road Trip, Day 5 08/22/07
Road Trip, Day 4 08/21/07
Road Trip, Day 3 08/20/07
Road Trip - Day 2 08/19/07
Road Trip! Day 1 08/18/07
Europe 2007 03/31/07
Brasil 2006 06/09/06
Our trip to Portugal and Spain 10/31/05
More and more photo sets 09/14/05
Scooting in NJ Liberty State Park 05/29/05
Scooting to Ashes & Snow 05/28/05
Lots o' new photo sets 01/17/05
Brasil, 2004 05/14/04
Have a Messy Holi 03/08/04
Diwali 10/24/03
Random Stuff 10/04/03
A Party for Fernanda 05/18/03
Australia & Misc. 08/15/98
|
|