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Wyoming
& Yellowstone - 2nd July 2011
The alarm clock went off at 4.45am and we wearily struggled out of bed
after little sleep. It's essential to get to the airport in time for our
early flights to Dallas TX, change flight onto Denver CO, change flight
again and finally reach Jackson Hole WY. It's a complicated day but
biggest worry is that the booked limo ride arrives as scheduled and that
he's not a bastard like the last one. No need to worry because a text
message comes in on the mobile, "the driver has left for your
address", a little later another one says, "The driver is
about 5 minutes away". And blow me down if the next one doesn't
announce "Your driver is outside your front door. What a relief. It
turns out to be a shining black Mercedes 350 which smells of new leather
and it's driven by a very polite and well groomed hispanic guy. What a
change from our New York arrival experience!!
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Jackson Hole airport was ringed by
snow capped mountains
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Our Chevy Traverse in front our half of condo (townhouse
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It
was a very long day but eventually the pilot of our third flight skimmed
over snow capped mountains and dropped the plane quickly onto the tarmac
of Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming. Sunny afternoon, snow capped
mountains background, and a cute hassle free terminal. We feel free at
last !! Signs bode well for a pleasant five day stay here in Wyoming. We
picked up our rental car and drove out of town where we've rented a
simple but comfortable one bedroom apartment in a small residential
complex.
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This balloon took off right in
front of our car
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We shared some good laughs with this bunch of elderly
cyclists
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Over
the next several days we explored both Great Teton National Park and
Yellowstone National Park. Even though they exist cheek by jowl the two
parks are quite different. We preferred the scenery and lack of traffic
in Grand Teton NP but Yellowstone National Park was definitely superior
when it comes to wildlife spotting. Anyhow, a picture is worth a
thousand words so we'll let the following photos tell our story.
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One of several entrances into
Grand Teton National Park
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Thrilling for we Aussies to be cruising through this of
type scenery
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We spent a pleasant hour or so
mooching around Jenny Lake
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An eagle and nest on telegraph pole extension
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The countryside was simply
magnificent
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Some Chinese tourists took a shot of us amidst the
wildflowers
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A majestic buck checked us out
from an elevated ridge
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Ok, so here are some more widflowers and mountains
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It's early July but the summer
crowds havn't hit the Park yet
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A startled deer just before it bolted
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We drove from Grand Teton Nat Park
to Yellowstone Nat Park
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This intent fly fisherman was unaware of my presence
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Doe and fawn crossing a narrow
stream to green pasture beyond
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A REALLY close look at a passing bison!
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A head of bison drinking from a
shallow stream
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A long range zoomed shot of a black bear in Yellowstone
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Brian reckons he saw a fish....
HOW BIG ???
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The Old Faithful geyser goes off every hour
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This green meadow and serpentine
stream was just gorgeous
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We didn't want to tangle with this guy. No way!
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I'm looking at him and he's
looking at me. Disappointing all round!
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Lynn at the wheel of our Chevy Taverse. Fabulous
scenery.
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I guess this is as close as we
dare get to this big fella.
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We visited the Liu family in Los Angeles. Long time
friends.
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We
were sad to leave Wyoming and vowed we'd come back here again before too
long. We really fell in love with the scenery and the whole Rocky
Mountains ambience. If we do indeed come back you will undoubtable find
a link to where we went and what we did if you visit our family website
at www.tonkin.net.au
Finally,
after leaving Wyoming we experienced a violent storm in Denver CO which
kept us locked in an aircraft on the tarmac for several hours. We
finally arrived four hours late in Los Angeles where we were met by our
old and dear friends the Liu Family (see last photo above). It was great
to spend a night and a day with them in their lovely home before finally
ending our 77 day vacation and flying home to Australia. What a grand odyssey
it has all been. We feel very privileged to have had this incredible
experience and it's been great to have you along for this cyber ride.
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