Yellowstone Lake
Love the tipping routine
from campsite area
Yellowstone
Diary/Photo Journal
Week of August 03, 2003
In the morning, we wandered along the shore of Yellowstone Lake and we were very surprised to find the lake temperature was very comfortable. Apparently, the hot water geysers and springs influence the lake's temperature considerably. It was almost like lukewarm bathwater. As you can see by the picture, not a soul was no the lake and it shone like a mirror.
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Geese feeding in Yellowstone Lake Love the tipping routine |
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Yellowstone Lake from campsite area |
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North Lake Yellowstone |
From Yellowstone, we headed directly across the state to the Devil's Tower - you know the geologic formation - the one profiled in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" starring Richard Dreyfus. For a seemingly low key National Park, it certainly does impress the visitor.
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Driving up to Devil's Tower |
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Devil's Tower up close and personal |
We hiked around the base and spotted several climbers steadily making their way upward. Now, we have done some crazy things (or so people have said) but these climbers...well, take a look at the picture and see what you think!
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Climber locked in between the columns |
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Just one of the popular inhabitants Prairie Dogs |
There are two main theories about how the Devil's Tower was formed. The local Kiowa Indians believed that seven sisters and their brother were playing when the brother started to rapidly grow and turn into an enormous bear. The sisters all ran for their lives and came across a large tree stump that called out to the sisters for them to jump on the stump and the stump would save them. The sisters, not knowing how else to protect themselves, leapt onto the stump and the stump lifted them high into the sky, out of the reach of the powerfully clawing bear they once knew as their brother. The stump was scarred by the bear's massive claws creating the magnificent columns we see today. The sisters were lifted so high in the sky that they became the stars in the Big Dipper.
Or, the Tower was formed when magma formed in the ground and cooled and the sedimentary soil eroded and exposed the formation, blah blah blah...you believe what you want. I, personally prefer the Indian's version.
We left the Tower and pointed Cindy toward Mt. Rushmore, only to find we were being passed in both directions by a parade of incredible motorcycles (namely Harleys and other large touring bikes) and a dim thought came to light. Maybe Sturgis is happening this week?
Well, our assumption was confirmed and seeing as Sturgis was directly in between the Tower and Mt. Rushmore, we just had to stop in and enjoy some of the festivities.
Let's put it this way, our eyes and necks were sore after just a couple of hours. There are so many motorcycles to appreciate and the people watching...well, let's just say there was a whole lot of leather and a whole lot of denim worn rather scantily by the participants with an average age of about 45 years old. The art that was represented not only on the motorcycle graphics but also on their owners was awesome. We would estimate over 5,000 motorcycles were lined up along the main "display" street. We really enjoyed just taking it all in.
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Gerson and Louise among the 1000's of motorcycles |
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Very nice lineup with a restored Indian. Look for the red bike with the white Indian head on the fender |
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Harley Davidson and it's children Typical motorcycles and the graphics are outstanding |
We did not stay too long in Sturgis because we wanted to get to Mt. Rushmore and then on the way across South Dakota. Mt. Rushmore was good to see but the drive through the local town of Keystone and what they have done to the area immediately surrounding the mountain are a commercial nightmare. We were impressed by Mt. Rushmore; however, the zoo-like atmosphere hastened our departure.
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Louise and Gerson taking turns posing for our presidents |
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Incredible detail look at Teddy's glasses - quite impressive |
On the way across South Dakota, we got caught in a rather aggressive wind that fronted for a large storm system. Needless to say, we and many other truckers, RV'rs, motorcyclists, etc. found refuge at a rest stop until the skies became friendlier.
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Scary storm skirting the horizon Insert tornado here (or so it seems) |
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The storm's aftermath |