Rockefeller Preserve Nature Poetry

I enjoyed the poetry they had commissioned and displayed around the wall. I think I will buy one of the poet's books. She is nature poet Terry Tempest Williams.

My very amateur photography does not do justice to this nice place. Here is a link to a nice article and photos about this really cool place.
http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/national-state-parks/grand-teton/laurance-rockefeller-preserve-center-offers-grand-teton-visitors-high-def-way-to-experience-park.html

Laurence Rockefeller Preserve

I realized I haven't posted about our day at the Rockefeller Preserve in the Tetons. It was one of the loveliest parts of our trip, and my personal absolute favorite part of the Yellowstone/Tetons.













The hike from the Interpretive Center to the shore of Phelps Lake was near a river, and the bridges and overlooks were all handicapped accessible. The bridges were all different from each other, thoughtful and beautiful designs. Each one a surprise to come upon.


The family once had a large compound here, prior to the donation of this land to the park. They relocated the 17 buildings and were very environmentally aware when they built this center. The center has its own funding for maintenance and improvements in perpetuity.

The center has displays that appeal to all the senses, visual, auditory, touch. It is a very unusual park center. Poetry was commissioned just for this center, and is prominent in the displays. Its lovely poetry.





Neat water fountain, fits the environment.



The galvanized steel bridge was designed to encourage people to touch the artificial waterfall, developed by the Rockefeller family to channel water from a spring to create a fishing pond.


Can you spot the snake Ed found in this photo?? (double click the photo to enlarge.) (Then use your back button to return to the blog.)

Phelps Lake



This is the composting environmentally correct potties way out miles into the woods. They are the most beautiful backcountry potties I have seen I think. Lots of wood and stainless and no odor. Large and solar lighting.

video of Old Faithful

Ok, I'm clearly an amateur with the video thingy, but what the heck. Enjoy!

Back in Vallejo

We drove from Lake Tahoe to Vallejo today, its only about 3 hours. All the Sunday traffic streaming from Tahoe is still here, just like I remember!

It was an awesome weekend, its really fun to be at Tahoe with Ed. Would you believe we met some people from Gaithersburg? The had kids about Amanda and Joey's age, it was fun to talk to them. Two of their kids live in NYC, so we gave them Joey's number. One of them works in Public Health for NYC, so that should be fun. They are related to a young attorney in Scottsdale, and we pondered whether he might have a friend to fix Amanda up with....

We're washing clothes and recovering. I fly back to Maryland on Tuesday. Soon, it will be back to reality. Boo!

Spooner Lake -- Lake Tahoe

Ed and I are celebrating 20 years of visiting Lake Tahoe. We first came here in June 1989 on our move west with Amanda and Joey.

Spooner Lake, a high alpine lake near Lake Tahoe.

Ed on the Spooner Lake trail.
















Remember how huge the Tahoe pine cones are ?















Beautiful Spooner Lake.

Elko Nevada to Lake Tahoe, CA

We're on the downhill side of our vacation. We drove from Jackson, WY to Elko, NV yesterday. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Elko. They had this little deer on the bed, to hug, to sleep with, to pet, and then to purchase.






Today we drove about 5 hours to Lake Tahoe. We had reserved a room in our favorite Bed and Breakfast. When we drove over the hill to Lake Tahoe, it was so beautiful that we both wanted to stay 2 nights instead of the 1 night we had reserved. This place isn't cheap. We had used points for the Holiday Inn Express, so that was essentially free, and the same with the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hampton Inn.

When we got here, Ed went into Contracting Officer mode. I ask if we could keep the room for a 2nd nights. Of course, the room we had reserved wasn't available for a 2nd night. So, he asked which room might be. Of course, the only room available was the Snowshoe Cabin, the Honeymoon cabin. It is a whole cabin, with jacuzzi tub and 5 x5 walk in shower, fireplace, outdoor gazebo and dining table, full kitchen, king size bed, beautiful landscaping, you get the drift.

After he talked to them for a while, we got that sweet cabin for just about the same rate as our single room had been. I can't believe it. He's good, I've got to give it to him. What a negotiator he is.













It is amazingly beautiful here. I had forgotten just how much I love this place. It is great.

Yellowstone National Park, August 2009

Lower Falls

Ed and I were so tired of driving, that we decided to sign up for one of those guided tours into Yellowstone. This was a good thing to do. They picked us up at our Homewood Suites at 7:15AM and we were off. The van was comfortable and the driver a nice guy. There was another couple with us and they were from Northern California, so that was fun too.

Norris Geyser Basin area

Yellowstone is huge. Just amazingly too big for belief.

We were on the road nearly 11 hours, and we just completed the "lower loop" tour. There is a whole lot of territory to cover. We saw about 1-2% of the park!

What we saw was beautiful and inspiring. The "Lower Falls" were roaring and full of water and beauty. Seeing Old Faithful Geyser erupt was especially fun knowing that Mom and her brothers had seen this same thing!

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Inn

Surprises for me:

• There are MANY geysers, not just Old Faithful.
• There are fun walks along boardwalks.
• All the nice park restaurants REQUIRE reservations! Next available table at Old Yellowstone Lake Hotel: 9:30PM (This was at 3:00pm)
  
• NO, you can't get a room in the hotel by just "showing up."
• There are nice restaurants in Jackson itself.
• Jackson is a nice place by itself to visit.
• Driving in Yellowstone is tricky, not just the flow of many tourists, but construction and unpredictable stops to view wildlife by the tourists. Also, tourists that actually hit the wildlife...that's another sad story. Children running in the roads and parking lots....its all pretty stressful driving conditions.
• Sometimes its a good idea to stop at a deli and get a sandwich and fruit to carry for your lunch, as the restaurants are so jammed. But, its more fun outside eating anyway, it is BEAUTIFUL here and weather is being so great.
• Hike away from the crowds, enjoy the park.
• It is really WESTERN here, lots of mounted animal heads for sale....disconcerting sometimes.......even for a girl who grew up seeing deer heads over Grandpa's sofa.
  

Grand Teton National Park

Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, Aug. 2009



Jenny Lake in the Tetons. View from across the lake looking at Inspiration Point.


Hiking to Inspiration Point - Ed on the trail

Jackson, Wyoming

Someone at the Homewood Suites in Jackson has a sense of humor.

Barbara and Ed in Jackson, Wyoming. Aug 09, 2009.


This photo is from Southern Idaho as we drove from Idaho Falls to the Wyoming state line. It was a really beautiful day.


The hike to the Trail Ruts of the original 1862 wagon trains are still visible. This was a great hike, with two tunnels that went under the interstate. I-84

I think Ed is really enjoying this trip. Great road trip.
The scenery from Idaho to Wyoming was dramatic changes. Idaho has miles of beautiful agriculture and bales of hay, bu Wyoming changes to lakes and really steep mountains fairly quickly.

Idaho in August 2009

We've made our Road Trip from Sacramento to Reno (last night) and now tonight - we are in Twin Falls, Idaho.

It was beautiful last night driving over Donner Pass near Lake Tahoe, nearly full moon and warm evening. Great driving weather, the Sierras outlined in moonlight - Ah!

On the way to dinner tonight in Twin Falls, Idaho, we decided to stop and look at the Snake River Canyon. Driving across the Perrine Bridge, we were stunned to see a girl climbing over the railing! She was wearing a small backpack and helmet, so we made a u-turn and parked at an overlook. Turns out she was doing a parachute jump off that bridge!! It was fun to see.