After two long days of driving across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming, Thursday I spent the day at Yellowstone National Park. I’ve only been there once before - six years ago in the springtime. Spring was better for viewing wildlife by far, but the nice thing about going in October was no crowds.
Yellowstone River Upper Falls
Norris Geyser Basin
Artists Paintpots
Mud bubble pot. I should have taken video. It was mesmerizing. But I was also hoping to not get splattered.
Gibbon Falls
Grand Prismatic Spring. This spring is vivid with color, due to microbes. The center is bright blue, it’s rimmed with green and yellow, and the flats (microbial mats) around it are an orange-y red. It was such a windy day that the steam made it hard to see the coloration well.
Another view
Old Faithful didn’t let me down
I saw a few herd of bison, including these that were right along the roadside as I was leaving. (Photo taken from inside the pickup as I was waiting in the wildlife-sighting traffic.) I also saw a brown bear as I was near the park exit. Too far away for a photo, but I had binoculars to look up the hill and watch it for a bit. I’d have never noticed it if it wasn’t for the stopped traffic.
Friday I headed home, on my longest day of driving of the trip. Snowy weather was coming and I was hoping to avoid it. I’m thankful to be home safe, having had a great time.
I’m in Madison, Wisconsin and woke up to snow falling from the sky and blowing around. The wind is blowing so hard the weather reports say it’s a wind chill in the mid-20’s. Brrr! Not exactly the weather I was hoping to have for a walking tour of Madison. I dug my warmest coat out of the bottom of my box of jackets, and I think it’s going to be in use the rest of the trip. (And I ended up doing more driving than walking around town today.)
My current plan is to take the next two days to drive to Cody, Wyoming and then go to Yellowstone National Park. After that, I’ll take as many days as I feel like to head home.
It’s Friday night and I’m currently in Erie, Pennsylvania. I spent most of the day at Niagara Falls. I’m definitely happy I was able to stop there along my route home. My photos don’t do it justice - it’s just magnificent. And like I’d heard, you really need to see the area from the Canadian side.
Looking from Canada, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
Horseshoe Falls, Canada
Video from top of Horseshoe Falls
American Falls from USA side
It seemed ominous to walk Charley over the “Rainbow Bridge” into Canada, but we both enjoyed the trip.
The day before, I went to New York’s Letchworth State Park to see its waterfalls of the Genesee River.
Genesee River Upper Falls
Genesee River Middle Falls
Tuesday and Wednesday I drove from Maine through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont and into New York. Here are some pics from that drive.
Hemlock Bridge, Fryeburg, ME
Saco River Bridge, Conway, NH. Same bridge in photo below.
I’m currently in Camden, Maine (Sunday). Thought I’d post a few more photos of my last days at Acadia. Thursday I drove around to a separate part of Acadia National Park on the mainland, the Schoodic Peninsula. It was much quieter there - so few people.
Friday I drove the Park Loop Drive again, stopping at a few of my favorite sights. With a three-day weekend starting up, I could really tell the main attractions in the park were getting busier. The fall colors are getting more vivid too.
Today I drove south to the Camden and Rockport area for a couple of nights before I’ll start slowly making my way west.
This rock formation is called Thunder Hole. When the waves hit just right, it makes a thunderous sound. It was a calm day, so it wasn’t making a ton of noise. But it was fun to watch.
Thunder Hole video
Wednesday morning I got up at 4:30 to drive up Cadillac Mountain to see the first sunrise in the U.S. Access is limited and I bought my permit for October 5 in July, hoping that I’d hit on a clear morning. Nope. But at least it was clear enough to see a hazy panoramic view and a peek-a-boo glimpse of the sun before it all got socked in a half hour later.
While on top of the mountain, I walked the loop trail in the hazy morning fog.
Bass Harbor Head Light Station
In addition to all the hiking trails, Acadia has 45 miles of “Carriage Roads,” put in by John D. Rockefeller and family from 1913 to 1940 to allow for peaceful, motor-free travel through the forests by horse and carriage. They’ve been maintained as vehicle-free paths. You can walk, bike or take a horse and carriage ride.
Outside the park, near where I’m staying is the Asticou Azalea Garden. I see this gorgeous view from the road as I drive toward Acadia National Park.
What’s a trip to Maine without eating your fill of lobster? I arrived at Thurston’s Lobster Pound just as they had taken some out of the cooker. My lobster roll was delicious, but the blueberry crisp was divine.
