LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS! OH, MY!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL! AND -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY SISTER, BRENDA!



We have returned from our trip to Yellowstone National Park; nine days and eight nights inside this wonderland!

Much too much to report, so will work on brevity (not my strongest trait by any means)!

-- Arrived in the park on Tuesday, June 24. Today I read in the paper that the June visitation rate for Yellowstone this year hit a new record. It took us 40 minutes to drive the 14 miles from West Yellowstone to Madison Junction due to traffic.

-- Madison campground (our hoped-for destination) was full when we arrived there about 11:30 a.m. Norris campground also full. We finally "landed" in Indian Creek Campground.

-- First attempt at a campsite ran afoul of the folks who'd occupied it; they left absolutely NO EVIDENCE that it was taken. Glenn had the camper half-way up when I found out!

-- Next site proved to be actually superior. That is, after Glenn finally got the camper situated. An ill-fated first try on his part ended up with the pop-up backed into a tree; broken taillight and bent bumper. Much swearing, too.

-- Wildlife sightings this trip were great! Five bears (three grizzlies and two black bears); many, many elk and bison,of course. A few coyotes. Two ospreys that we observed catching fish. My favorite, coming upon (while fly fishing) a nest of baby plovers, still fluffy and stumbling about in grass three times as tall as they!

-- Fly fishing nearly every day! A few catches. I caught my first fish on a sub-surface lure. Big highlight for me!

-- Visited, also, Grand Teton National Park and the newest visitor center there. Really, really nice.

All told, a great trip, great weather ( it only rained in the night). It was cold in Indian Creek -- ice on the picnic table every morning.

Can't wait to go back!