9-15-17 - (Day 46 - Moving Day)

Lava Flow Campground was cold this morning, a cool 42 degrees with a north wind howling.  It was time to head toward warmer weather.

                                                             On the road this cold morning

After 217 miles of traveling though the lava fields, hay fields, potato fields, and corn fields, we are at Welcome Station RV Park in Wells, Nevada.

It is a pretty, tightly nit campground, with green grass and big trees nestled between two creeks.  One of which is a bubbly creek, the other is smaller than the artesian well water ditch at home.  We were greeted by the friendly campground host and feel right at home

This will be our home for the next 2 days.  A great place to catch up our blog, clean up, and plan our next move.

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9-14-17 - (Day 45 - Spelunking Craters of the Moon National Park)

We had to get up moving this morning for the guided cave tour in the park at 10 am.  We were right behind the Ranger who was supposed to be our guide for the tour.  The road construction flagger detoured us to the parking lot at Tree Molds Trail.  It's really bad communication when the Ranger wasn't informed that we could not get to the Cave Area.

The Ranger gave us some info on Broken Top Trail and Buffalo Cave.  It was a 1.8 mile loop with the trail head starting in this parking lot.

We had left so hurriedly this morning  that we forgot to bring our flashlights.  We used our cell phone flashlight in the cave, which is not that great in the dark. We scooted in the hole on our butts, walked hunched over for a little bit, was able to stand for a short time, then crawled out the other side.  Pretty cool for a couple of old farts.

                                                                       Crawling out

Three youngsters that were ahead of us were swarmed by bats.  I guess our weak flashlight didn't bother the bats.  Kinda glad of that.

After lunch at the camper, we went to the 1 pm tour at Indian Tunnel.  Ted, the Ranger was our guide. We had a group of about 12 people.  He talked about the Great Rift that occurred 15,000 years ago causing lava to to well up and form this massive area of rocks.  Ted said the volcanic activity is 300 years overdue for eruption, but don't worry.  Hmm!!!

Indian Tunnel was a large tunnel with a lot of light filtering in.  Ted said when you are in the cave it is called skylights, when you are above the cave, its called collapses.  LOL

                                                                  Thanks Ted...

The tour ended about half way through the tunnel.  We had the choice to either turn around and go back up the easy stairs  or climb out the other side.  We climbed out the other side and followed the trail to the caves.

We walked to Beauty Cave.  This is where I realized my lantern battery was weak.  Not to worry, Lauren had the powerful, Clyde flashlight.  Beauty Tunnel was nice, quiet, dark, and cool.  Pretty neat.

                                                               Easy climb into this lava tube

Our next cave was Boy Scout Cave.  We had to scoot in a tiny hole and then we were able to stand up and look around.  This is where we realized, the Clyde flashlight battery was weak.  We watched  the same three youngsters that were swarmed by the bats, climbing through a really tight space where they found icicles.  They advised it was really hard to get through the tiny tube.  We heeded their advice.

Getting in Boy Scout Cave was a challenge.  Climbing out,was even more of a challenge.  My back foot got stuck between rocks crawling out.  Finally, I realized I had to back up to get it my foot loose. When I came out the hole with a couple of guys waiting on me, I told them, "this is fun!!"  It actually was, even with the scuffs on my legs.

We climbed up the Inferno Cone, a quite challenging uphill climb with beautiful views.  We stopped at Snow Cone, Splatter Cone, and Devil's Orchard then headed back to camp.  We had planned to go on the North Crater Trail at the campground and look for Pica's.  It turned cold and started raining. We might try it in the morning.

                                                         Left over snow in the snow cone

We spent the day in this 7 mile round trip park enjoying the unique scenery.  We hiked 8 miles and climbed 63 flights.

Tomorrow is moving day.

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9-13-17 - (Day 44 - Lava Flow Campground)

We worked diligently with our slow speed AT&T internet this morning,, hoping to find the prediction of snow in the area was wrong, NOT!.

If we don't like the weather then we don't have to stay in the area.  We decided to head away from the  Alaska cold front.

After 201 miles, we are at a unique place, Lava Flow Campground.  It is a primitive campground in Craters of the Moon National Monument in Arco, Idaho.

There are only a few big rig sites in this campground.  We found ours across the road from the main campground.  It is a nice isolated, pull through site.

When we arrived, there were just a few campers in the campground.  Then one camper  behind another arrived.  At 7 pm, we felt like we are parked across from Camper City.  We love our isolated campsite.

When we got here, Ferny Kat laid inside looking out the window.  She was probably thinking, what are they thinking, taking me to a lava field.  It wasn't long, she was out and about, dragging me and her lead up the hillside.  Another Ferny Kat  approved campground.

The prediction for rain is high tomorrow, so Amber is safely in the garage.  Hopefully, we will be able to ride around in the truck and take a few hikes tomorrow.  We will see.

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9-12-17 - (Day 43 - Yellowstone)

It was another beautiful day in Yellowstone.  We said farewell to our traveling Gulfport Buddies.  Sad to see them go, but totally understand.  With snow prediction this weekend, it wasn't a good time to go to Beartooth Highway.  Maybe, next year.

We took a motoring tour in Yellowstone again today. We saw a turkey, a baby elk nursing, and a lot of pretty scenery at the start of the day.

We had a little lull of animal sightings, then all the sudden,  Buffalo in the road.  Big Daddy, several Momma's, and babies within a few feet of us.  It wouldn't have been quite been as exciting in an enclosed vehicle. We sure are Glad they were on their best behavior.

We continued on, watching hundreds of buffalo in the plans.  This is definitely the home where the buffalo roam.

We ate lunch, at a nice riverside picnic area. and motored on.  We again were at a dead still in the road coming home, watching Elk bedding up beside the river, and a big ole Bull across the river.  Definitely worth the slow down.

We used our campfire to heat up leftovers on this dark night.  We don't have a clue where we will end up tomorrow.  Hopefully away from snow.

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9-11-17 - (Day 42 - Yellowstone, The Tetons, and Jackson Hole)

We waited for warmth before taking off on this beautiful morning.  This is our third time to go to Yellowstone.  I guess  you have figured out. we love this place, and being Glacier didn't work out for us to meet Judy and Terry, here we are!!

It was a nice ride through Yellowstone.  We were on a mission and puttered through.  The only wildlife was a couple of buffalo.

After a short wait, Old Faithful erupted, she was a little ahead of the planned schedule.

We stopped at Lewis Falls to take a picture and continued to the Tetons. We got stopped for road construction.  While waiting on the pilot car, as  I was applying sunscreen, the flagger told me that sunscreen was bear bait.   Needless to say, I was totally safe, no bear in sight, it must of been an off brand.

It was our second time to see the Tetons.  I clicked the camera so many times trying to capture the majestic mountains, that Lauren may not hear clearly again..  All I can say is, Gorgeous, even with the smokey haze.  We both love the Tetons.

We were shocked entering Jackson Hole.  Unlike the last time we were here, there was traffic.   We took the antler picture riding through town, got fuel, and headed to Teton Pass.

Again another shock,one vehicle behind another, bike paths on the side of the road, nothing like the isolated road we were on about 8 yrs ago.  This place has changed.

We stopped at our favorite milk shake place in Victor, Idaho.  This town had grown a lot in the last few years, but the Emporium,was still the quaint malt stand/tourist trap as before.  The Huckleberry Milkshake  was awesome with a straw big enough to accommodate the huckleberries.   It had so many huckleberries in it, it was like a main course, (for vegetarians,) and a desert. (for ice cream lovers),  all at the same time.  It was our dinner.

It was a nice,  2 hour ride back to camp through farming country.  We road almost 300 miles on Amber today and loved every minute of it.

This is the first place in a long time that there were no fire restrictions.  Our first campfire this trip was very enjoyable.

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9-10-17 - (Day 41 - Virginia City, Nevada City, and Earthquake Lake)

Last time we rode Amber, we were in the smokey, West  Glacier area.  Today we road in nice fresh air. It was in the mid 70's and gorgeous sunshine.

We took a ride to Virginia City.  It is an old west mining town that flourished during the gold rush then stood stagnant after the gold was mined. We walked up and down the street, admiring the old west buildings and viewing original items from the era.  It  was almost a ghost town again today, with only about half of the buildings open due to the end of season and the labor force going back to school.

We went about a mile up the road to Nevada  City, another ghost town. There was very little life moving about, it was really dead here. LOL.

We had a nice picnic lunch at the Lions Club Park in Ennis.  A very peaceful park on the Madison River then continued on.

We made a few stops at Quake Lake, remembering those that lost their lives in the 1959 earthquake resulting in a landslide and the formation of Earthquake Lake.  28 people perished during the earthquake while camping along the river.

We saw a few bald eagles flying in the sky and a deer in town on our ride today.

Ferny Kat was ready to come outside when we returned.  She got as deep in the grass as I would allow her to go.  I had to make her come back inside.

We visited with Judy and Terry for a little while then called it a night.

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9-9-17 - (Day 40 - Baker's Hole Campground)

The lullaby of Gallatin River slumbered us to sleep last night along with a really light peppering rain. We were occasionally awaken by a semi on the road, then went back to sleep with a nice cool breeze blowing in the window.

                                                         Ferny watching the river flow by

We traveled 38 miles to Baker's Hole Campground in West Yellowstone, Wyoming and have finally met up with Terry and Judy.  Terry didn't think this was going to happen, persistence has finally paid off.

We have a nice primitive campsite with plenty of grass.  Another Ferny Kat approved campground.

Judy and Terry are camped a short walking distance away from us.  We take a detour and walk along the pretty Madison River  to get to their campsite.

We spent the day catching up and Terry caught a fish.

Rumor has it, there have been Moose sightings in the area.  Will keep you posted.

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