Vacation to Yellowstone, Day 9

Day 9, August 15, 2013

Ketchum, ID to La Grande, OR

We left smoky Sun Valley as visibility declined. The haze continued as far as Boise and beyond. We learned that the forest  fires had grown and that people were starting to leave Sun Valley.

This was a long day of driving without any stops except for lunch in a Boise park.  Heading into La Grande, OR in the afternoon, we found a great park out among the farms. This one had a pool. It was just what we needed for our last night on the road. After swimming we explored a bit and found that a pair of ospreys had a nest at the side of the park, next to a pond. Oliver was very excited to dig out his binoculars.

Off to the pool

ladybug

Zaeda leaping into the pool

Last bit of play on the playground

Vacation to Yellowstone, Day 8

Day 8, August 14, 2013

Victor, Idaho to Sun Valley via the Craters of the Moon

We left Victor, ID and drove several hours through rural Idaho, stopping along the way at  Craters of the Moon State Park. This was another opportunity for a junior ranger program, so we grabbed the form. And then we drove on, eventually making it up to Hailey and Ketchum in Sun Valley, where we shopped around a bit and had some ice cream before settling in our RV park.

Lunch stop at Craters of the Moon.

Ice-cream in Ketchum

At a small park in Ketchum

Blowing bubbles against a smoking sky.

The FIRST and ONLY campfire of our trip! I can't believe we hauled firewood so far and this was our only chance to burn it -- and ironically, in a town that was already on fire.

A walk/bike ride down to the river

After s'mores, the stickiest little girl in the world. 

Once at the RV park, we started to notice the sky turning grey as smoke from forest fires on the other side of the mountain range turned the sun orange. The next morning, our campsite was covered in ash.  One day after leaving, we learned they had started started evacuations from the valley.

Vacation to Yellowstone, Day 7

Day 7, August 13, 2013
Yellowstone through the Grand Tetons

Oliver mailing postcards to his friends

We left Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone and headed into the Grand Tetons. Oliver had another chance to complete a junior ranger program. because we were on our way through, there was just time to walk along a couple lakeside trails.

At Jenny Lake

The kids goofing off lakeside

Zaeda is starting to enjoy posing for the camera

Oliver finds a clever way to fix a Velcro paddle

Vacation to Yellowstone, Day 6

Day 6, August 12, 2013   Fishing Bridge to Old Faithful
(Keith and Jenny's 13th anniversary)

On Monday we headed West toward Old Faithful Hot Springs.  Oliver had been working hard on his Junior Ranger workbook, completing puzzles, listing wildlife he'd seen, coloring, etc. This was the day he aimed to finish it.

Usually for our anniversary, we head up to the Portland Rose Garden for a picnic. This time we switched it. We'd done nothing but picnic in parks since the vacation started, so Jenny and I took the kids to lunch at the Old Faithful Inn instead.  It was the first time we'd eaten out at a restaurant since we started.

Oliver completes a ranger program and gets his Junior Ranger form signed.  He just needs to hike a trail and he's done.

The boardwalk at Old Faithful Hot Springs

Oliver takes a hot spring trail.

Zaeda frequently breaks down on trails and asks to be carried because her legs hurt or she's so tired. More often than not, we oblige and tote her around. Then we get back to the campsite at the end of the day, bone tired, and she wants to ride her bike around in circles for as long as we let her. So I follow her around, sometimes running to keep up with her.  That doesn't tire her out at all. 

Striking a pose at Old Faithful

Silliness

A ranger reviews Oliver's Junior Ranger materials, verifies he's completed everything, swears him in and gives him a badge.

A proud Junior Ranger

Vacation to Yellowstone, day 5

Day 5: August 11, 2013

Yellowstone National Park,  Fishing Bridge to Tower Falls & Roosevelt Lodge

Canyon Falls

Zaeda at Canyon Falls

Jenny and Zaeda at Canyon Falls

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

Stagecoach ride near Roosevelt Lodge

Oliver learning about a bear skull at Tower Falls.

They see a deer in the woods

Roasting s'mores in the camper. After hauling firewood from home, we had yet to find a campsite that allowed an open fire.