DAY 36

"The Gathering" 12x12" Oil on Canvas Board

Gardner River

This morning we drove just a few miles back into Yellowstone Park to visit and bathe at the hot springs near the travertine (calcium carbonate) terraces of Mammoth. A mile hike in off the road along the bubbling Gardner River we found the thermal springs. The water pours out of the rocks here at scalding temps directly into the cold river (year round). Visitors of all ages find their way here to soak sore hiking muscles in the soothing waters of this natural hot tub. During the month of December Brown Speckled Trout spawn up stream from this spot and the grasses stay green during the harsh winters in this little oasis. Here's some photos along the river and of the springs.

The battery in the camper died on us so we are heading to Columbus, MT to find a replacement. Poor old camper we have really given her a workout on this trip.  She has been limping along with a broken arm and duck tape patch job on one of the windows but the battery really put her over the edge. See the pathetic crippled photos below.

Wounded Soldier

Once we get a new battery, we will go on to my sister Kitsy and brother-in-law Van's very cool, old fishing camp in Absarokee, MT. They are gone right now to Peru (as in South America) climbing Machu Pichu...how cool is that... but are due back in a couple days so we will set up the camper and wait for them, and for my sister Barb and hubby Arnie's arrivals. I am really looking forward to some more time to visit and spend the early mornings painting with my loved ones for a few days before setting sites on home. Wow...what a trip this has been!!! 

"The Gathering" of little jars was a challenge to paint since there wasn't a direct light source, and reflections were coming in from all sides changing constantly with the movement of the light. Normally I would have used a controlled spot light but what is one to do without electricity?

DAY 35

Today we finally tore ourselves away from the Grand Tetons and move on into Yellowstone. What an incredible drive through such diverse lands including: the wide open Hayden Valley with herds of grazing bison, moose and elk, 20 miles of the twisting Yellowstone River with its 42 degree bottom temps of clear blue waters and white foamy caps racing down mountain sides, the smell of sulphur as we passed by vast arrays of geological formations and thermal features including: geysers, bubbling mudpots, fumarole, and steaming hot springs. What an exciting ride.

This little guy was grazing along the side of the road as we drove by and came right up to our car door.

One of the terraces in the thermal area near Mammoth Springs

Yellowstone... I loved the shadows of the clouds draping over the mountains

Yellowstone River

Yellowstone Lake

Unfortunately, we were unable to get into any of the campgrounds inside Yellowstone for the night, or for that matter, any other type of accommodation, so we had to high roll it into a motel in Gardiner, MT five miles outside of the park. After nearly five weeks of camping what a thrill it is to have a room with carpet, a bed with an honest to goodness mattress instead of a sleeping bag, electricity to read by versus a flashlight, a personal shower that you don't have to pay extra for complete with fresh towels, a toilet that you don't have to go outside and walk to get to in the middle of the night with a flashlight not knowing what wild animal might be lurking behind the next tree. Wow!!! What luxuries. They even have a small pool so I was able to get in some abbreviated laps. However the best part is the major benefit of Wifi in our room. In most all of the campgrounds we have stayed in, you had to drive to find a hot spot in the park and I never could get my computer to send e-mails? Some I was able to send on my BlackBerry but then again, I would have to drive to another location to find just the right spot to pick up a signal and then it would fade in and out, or provide no service at all. Whew, that was a lot of stress!!!

We have officially not seen a newspaper or any TV since we left home on July 1st. I hope the world is still there? I really have enjoyed being lost in space and oblivious to it all.  

Since we were on the road all day traveling I was not able to paint but wanted to share some recent photos. See you on down the road tomorrow.  

Sacred Heart Chapel

Inside the Chapel at Jackson Lake

Creek at Jenny Lake

I walked right up to this antelope to shoot this photo