Yellowstone at Last!

We headed 60 miles North ans arived at the most amazing place I have seen/been to in my life Yellowstone National Forest. Yellowstone is the first national park in the world and I see why. As we arrived in the park 50 yards off the road a Grizzly Bear lumbering through the snow. Cool! The weather of couse it was cloudy and everything was covered in snow.  Our first stop was at the Thumb Basin an area of geothermal activity next to Lake Yellowstone. We checked into our 1930's cabin at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge. The cabin was better than we thought it actually had a bathroom and shower. We unloaded and decided to head out and see what we could see. First stop Old Faithful Geyser, after checking Old Faithful Geyser eruption schedule and hikes in the area we found there was time to hike to Observation Point above Old Faithful. It was a nice hike a mile and a half and up about 500 feet elevation. We made it in time to watch Old Faithful erupt almost exactly on time, every 94 minutes. We hiked down the other side of loop in a sprinkling rain and walked the gyser boardwalks around the entire Old Faithful basin. On the boardwalks there are geysers, steam vents, mudpots and hot springs of all sizes and shapes. The smells were another thing, I like the smell of  sulfur after shooting fireworks but this was so pungent the smell was incredible. Then there were the sounds too many to describe. We stayed and watched Old Faithful erupt from the benches next to the geyser. We then ate dinner a the Old Faithful Lodge a must if you any brochure or internet site, all I can say is have a drink and eat a bologne sandwitch or maybe peanut and jelly. :)   A great day and we could not wait for tomorrow.
Back Soon.

The Grand Teton's with my best friend!

Almost not. Staci missed her flight out of Houston due to the parking bus forgetting to pick her up, but she caught the next flight and made her connection. Nice to see a familiar face expecialy Staci's. We drove the loop through The Gran Teton National Forest, but very cloudy so no peaks for Staci. Ahhhhhh. As we were leaving a stop at Lake Jackson a female moose walked right up to the 4runner as if we were not there we waited a few minutes for her to mosey on along at her leisure. Did I mention Teton means Breast? Just asking.  We had a room at The Wort a Historic hotel in the middle of Jackson. We really liked Jackson it was expensive but the food was excellent. We had the best green onion rings at Snake River Grill and some good steak. We  also ate at a "Tex-Mex"  place with killer 32 oz Jalapeno Margarita's, I wasn't driving. Saturday we drove back into the Teton's to find a hike, due to the snow not much. We stopped at the Visitors Center which was very nice and a Ranger gave us a 3 mile hike to do. It was mostly 2-3 foot snow pack so it was quite a workout but worth every steep. We came up to a small frozen lake at the top of the hike beautiful and still cloudy no peaks for Staci. The hike was fun and exhilarating stomping in the snow as we walked. We don't get to do that at home. HA! Sunday morning on to Yellowstone. Sorry Staci no peaks.

Wyoming B E A U T I F U L

Made it to Wyoming yesterday, what a beautiful place. Passed through Cheyenne the 3rd state capitol this trip. I had hotel reservations in Rock Springs,WY but the ride in from Denver was much quicker than I anticipated. The hotel let me cancel so I proceeded north on to Jackson Hole. The weather?? As I headed north I hit several flurries of snow, ice and rain not a lot of fun.In between the flurries I saw hundreds of Prohorns(antelope like) in the valleys. Safe and sound in Jackson I checked into the Pony Express Motel(Yes Motel) old but nice and clean. Jackson is a cute little town of shops, resturantes and small hotel/motels. I got up the next morning traveled to Gran Teton National Forest for a hike. Two miles outside of Jackson Bison are grazing next to the road. Most of the Park is covered in snow pack and I find out at the Ranger station that all the hiking and biking trails are covered in snow. All of them and of course more snow is forcast the 5 days. I did hike a bit on the snow following a trail others had but not to far.I ran up on a female moose feeding in a stream. Drove through the park saw more wildlife Bison and more Moose right by the road. I was going to try to pet one but nobody was there to get me on Americas Funnies Video or When Vacations Attack. I think my brother in-law CE called it a "Watch this" momment. Returned to reality and did laundry in the afternoon, needed some clean clothes after 12 days.

Tomorrow Staci flies in. Hallelujah!

The Mile High City

Made it to Denver Sunday morning checked into my hotel a Marriott, got a great deal on Priceline first time to try it worked. I jumped on the lite-rail system took it to Coors Field downtown Denver for a 1PM game. It's still cold and cloudy, I guess it came with me from Santa,FE. The stadium is open air and was great site lines from every seat. Open air all the time like baseball was made to be played(the same for football).  The San Diego Padres beat the Rockies 8-2. Downtown Denver is really revitalizing with lots of new condos, restaurants, a mile long mall as well as refurbished old buildings. Monday I played 2 disc golf courses 18 holes each and scored 1 under for the day. The second course Johnny Roberts Memorial was built in 1978 and is called the "Granddaddy" one of the first courses built. Somehow I found the energy to take my bike to Cherry Creek State Park 2 miles from my hotel and rode 18 miles of paved trails. It was a GOOOD day!

Next stop Rock Springs, Wyoming
More pictures click this link http://timmytoyota.smugmug.com/

Colorado Springs Rocky Mountain High

Day 6 Friday morning headed to Colorado Springs. Beautiful drive through and around the mountains into expansive very flat praries. The Rockiesare snow capped and massive kind of intimidating. What were the early settlers thinking when they first laid eyes on them? Got to Coloroda Springs checked into my hotel and headed to a disc golf park not far from my hotel. As I was trying to find the lay out a guy asked if this was my first time(HA) and invited me to play with him and his freind. I played with Toby and Drew on there home course and beat them. I was 7 over on this really neat course with lots of elevation changes, trees and wind. Great time nice guys. Saturday I attempted to mountain bike in Palmer Park inside city limits. I first tried the blue or intermediate trails no luck at 6000ft and the climbs. So I hit the green or beginners trails but they were few and not marked well. I then headed to the paved and gravel trails that couerse the entire city of Colorado Springs nice and good exercise. With a rain/snow storm coming I drove up to Garden of the Gods a unique area of rock outcropings. Great place to stop. With the storm Pikes Peak is not even visible so maybe next time.
Next Stop Denver

Yellowstone or Bust! One week out.

Day One Sunday; The morning got off to a rough start before I even pulled out of the driveway. Staci was going to take a picture of me and the 4Runner loaded up and ready to go, I got my small camera out turned it on and droped it on the lens...broken. We got Staci's camera out that was similar and....Yes I droped it too. 2 cameras smashed before I leave. I guess that's the BUST. Made it to Amarillo at 9:30 and 702 miles. Stoped in Waco played 7 over on Woodlake Park Disc Golf Course. It was on a lake and very windy but a nice course. I think I took every out of the way highway to get to Amarillo. Man there are some ghost towns out this way nothing open in the downtown and homes in the are abandonded. The fires ran into one active wild fire and acres and acers of burned up land scary. Next stop Santa Fe, N ew Mexico Monday-Thursday Arrived in Santa Fe at 1PM had a hard time finding "Santa Fe" following the signs I was there but where are the downtown buildings? There arn't any, no building over 3 stories. Very cool city all the buildings were earthtone adobe style. Businesses, hotels and homes all looked the same.  After lunch I headed to Black Country campground in the Santa Fe National Forest just 7 miles from downtown Santa Fe. I set up camp at 8500ft and hiked then headed for a hike up the mountain. Tuesday woke up and it was 42 and I was cold all night. First I moved camp to a much better spot(pain in the butt)further up in the campsite and ended up next to a nice couple with there 2 year old from Houston, it's a small world. Headed to town and the Plaza,visited a couple of churches and ate an organic crorizzo burrito with green chiles. Good stuff. Headed back up the mountain hiked in Hyde State Park then hung out at camp and entertained my neighbors with some Eagles and The Who. Then It got cold 32 and it rained a little in the night and we had a group of  kids singing in SPANISH all night till 4AM and they never went to bed. In the morning headed to Starbucks to get some internet access and coffee and booked a hotel room it is too cold and I am too old. The hotel was nice and I rode my bike around the Santa Fe River(dry). Thursday morning I headed up to Bandalier National Monument an ancient Indian settlement in the cliffs in the Jemez Muntains and it was beautiful. Completed one of the New Mexico Scinic Byway trips through the Jemez Mountains. I stopped at another ancient Indian settlement and early church early 1600's and a rock formation Battleship Rock. Next stop Colorado Springs

 

Stalking Sammy Hagar

This weekend I headed to Louisiana and Mississippi  with Steve Mikula and Debbie King for 2 Sammy Hagar shows.
But first let me say Happy day Sunday upon my return home to hear Osama Bin Laden is a DEAD man! What a great thing I hope he enjoys his 72 virgins in HELL. I am laughing my a_ _ off. Also some tears for the ones we lost may God give you peace.
OK back to the fun.
Friday we packed up the 4Runner and headed to Kinder, LA for a Sammy Hagar and The Waborita's show at the Coushatta Casino. Thanks to my good friend Mackey for getting us comp tickets to the show and a good deal on a room for the night. The Casino and Hotel not much to talk about except DO NOT go there, kind of gank(especially the room). The venue for the show was expansive and set up great for sound but I have not sat so far back for a show in years(no complaints free tickets).
Great show for Sammy and the band being the first show in months the band was on it.
Saturday morning the road trip continued. We took back roads to New Orleans passing through small towns like Sword, Mallet and Eunice. Once we made it to New Orleans we had lunch at Olde N'awlins Cookery for some Cajun lunch, fried oyster Po-boy and Gumbo. Yum. Then a quick stop at Pat O'brien's for a Hurricane. We sucked down the Hurricanes and headed to Cafe  Du Monde for coffee and beigents. Walked through Jackson Square I got a strawberry daiquiri for the ride on to Biloxi, MS and the IP Casino.
"On Stage" with Sammy and the Wabo's at Studio A in the IP Casino, this venue was fantastic. What a blast! The best experience on stage for me to date. The Redheads(for those who don't know are Sammy fans) were awesome as we waited in line for our passes and goodies. In a twist of fate I dropped my pictures I brought for autographs in between a wall and counter and they were lost forever or until someone tears down the wall. and no time to get extras from the truck. As luck would have it Ken the rep for Sammy came buy and said we had 10 minutes till heading on stage. I took of running though the Casino, parking lot and back in time with more pictures and ready for the show.
The show was one of the best Sammy shows I have seen, Sammy's voice was amazing for a 63 year old rocker. Kicking the show off with his favorite song "Red" and continued on with many of his hits. He was wearing a t-shirt both nights that was really cool and would sell like hot cakes if he puts it out. The front said "Close Encounters of the Red Kind" and a picture of an alien. On the back was  "Green ain't Mean Compared to Red", gotta get one of these shirts. As Sammy rolled trough the songs he was signing every one's paraphernalia. Talked about his new #1 on the New York Times Bestseller book, fried everything in Louisiana, Rick Springfield recording his song "I've done everything for You" which bombed for Sammy but went as far as #5 on thr charts. He said he asked Rick one occasion why his recording went so far up the charts,Rick said because I am better looking, Sammy said not any longer. Vic Johnson the fantastic guitarist for he Wabo's was great, I showed him an 8X10 of him I took at the birthday bash last year. At the first break when Sammy was telling a story Vic came over and said "What ya got for me?" I pulled out the picture and he signed it. Steve asked him for a pic and Vic handed him the one he had. Sammy came though the On Stage crowd taking pictures, signing everything people put in front of him, hugging, shaking hands loving on his fans. He signed a picture I took of him and Michael Anthony at the Birthday Bash last October. He also signed my Birthday Bash t-shirt. Oh and did I mention the Waitresses?? Very nice and one of the Waitresses gave me on of the margaritas Sammy made on the stage bar. Damn good Rita if I must say(I shared with Deb and Steve). The encore started with Waboritaville a little twist to Margaritaville then "I can't drive 55" and finally "Cabo Wabo" with just Sammy singing no drums or gutairs. I also walked off with the set list from the drum riser. A load of stuff from the Redrocker and the Wabo's. Where else can I see him this year???? Staci said no Cabo trip "it's off your bucket list". DAMN IT.

The trip home was emotional for us. We decided thanks to my navigator to travel the beach road Hwy 90 as far as we could. The damage to the Mississippi coast was incredible. Blocks of homes and businesses just gone. The closer to Gulfport the worse the damage. Some blocks may have one place left or maybe 2 then nothing but empty lots, concrete pads, dead and damaged trees. So much more visible damage than what you could see in New Orealns.  Back home now time to get ready for the big road trip, leaving Sunday for Santa Fe and on to Yellowstone National Park.
Pictures to come.