The Faces of Babs

One of our biggest stresses before we left was Babs.  She is 16 years old, and we weren't sure she would be around when we left.  But if she was we were committed to taking her with us.  I loaded up on food (but not enough, as you know if you have been reading this. Luckily I found more of her specialty food!), put several of her little coats in the RV, brought her little bed and her kennel, and we took her with us.

Although she never got off her leash, she did great.  She seemed to enjoy the different smells, she ate heartily, and she made it home.  Success!

Bear Hunting!

One of the most surprising things to me was how she wanted to share my seat with me.  Now the RV seats are large, but not that large.  When Sepia was alive he slept on my lap.  Not Babs. She wanted to be next to me.  I rode half on/half off the seat for much of the trip . . . but that was ok.  She was happy.  For at least 9000 miles, she sat next to me.  That's a lot of time together!

A selfie of Babs sharing the seat with Karen

So here are a few pictures of Babs throughout the trip.

Imitating Snoopy as a vulture

Sleeping in her bed

At Yellowstone Falls

The seat all to myself!

Lovey

When we arrived in Eaton, Chris, who had been the videographer for the entire trip, made sure that Teri filmed us as we walked in the door.  Teri had arranged a fabulous dinner for us - fresh corn, filet mignon, cucumber/onion salad like I have never eaten before, and peach crisp.  Man oh man . . . eating like a Queen.  But then, of course, I am the Queen of Kings on the Corner . . .

Never mind that last sentence!  After we ate, Chris called her husband, Ed, to come pick her up so she could go home.  After talking for a few minutes, I figured out that he had brought Lovey, Chris's dog, with him.  Well, of course, he had to go get her.  Since she is a Sheltie, she is a little shy, but she very obediently sat next to Ed.

Chris was in the house, so she didn't know Lovey was there.  But once she came outside . . . well, I wish I had thought to have my camera.  It would have made you cry.  Lovey was so happy to see Chris.  She wiggled and waggled, then she waggled and wiggled.  She jumped and turned, then ran around a little.  It was so very sweet.  Chris is definitely a dog person - maybe worse than I am - and Lovey indeed adores her.  It was a great way to end the trip.

Then Chris left, and it was just Katie, Teri, Don, and me.  Very definitely the final stages of our awesome trip.

Homeward Bound

Once we left the mountains, we really left the mountains.  Although the scenery was beautiful, it was beautiful in a different way.  No more mountains, but lots of color!  Fall is just beginning in Wyoming, and we had the opportunity to observe some beautiful valleys.

Then we dropped into New Mexico-like scenery.  It has been very dry, so there isn't much green, but the rock colors were stunning.

Don wore his Alaska animal shirt, which was certainly appropriate for the drive.

By the time we arrived in Eaton, we were very tired.  But we had plenty to do once we arrived.

Heading Home

Leaving Yellowstone was definitely an indication that our trip was nearly over.  Next stop, Katie's, where she and Chris would leave us and we would come into Wichita on Tuesday.  But little did we know, we had a few more fun discoveries ahead of us.

First, as we exited the park, we saw this antique truck pulling this antique camper.  The camper is not tall enough even to stand up in, but we thought it was really a neat set-up.

As we drove through Teton National Park, we drove by Jackson Lake, a gorgeous lake that usually reflects the Grand Tetons in its waters.  Unfortunately, because of the drought, there is no water for a reflection.  Very sad.

After we exited Grand Teton National Park, we saw a few cars by the side of the road.  That usually means there is a critter somewhere, so we stopped to look.  Sure enough, there were two bears foraging just off the road.  We stopped and I hopped out of the RV with my trusty point-and-shoot camera.  As I was snapping pics of the two, a third one one ambled over, and they began moving toward us.  Within a minute or two, they were close enough to snap this wonderful shot!  One woman actually crossed the road and was WAY too close, but when I said something, she ignored me.  Well, ok then.  Get eaten.  Good thing the bears were focused on the berries they were finding.

We think it was a sow and her two two-year-old cubs, but we don't know for sure.  Whether they were a family or three cubs trying to figure out life, we don't know.  But it surely was fun to watch.

It was awesome having one last spectacular shot of the bears!

Bests

I asked Chris, Katie, and Don to tell me what their favorite parts of the trip were.  It was hard to come up with just one.

Don loved that we had various people join us throughout the trip, that all of his planning really did work, and that we got to see the aurora at Lake Kathleen.  He said it was because I was so excited about it, but he got some awesome pictures, so I think that was what made him happy.

Chris really enjoyed Seward - going to Exit Glacier, going to the Sea Life park, walking to the marina, meeting up with her friends from Massachusetts (that she just met, but they seemed like friends because they both pronounced beer "beah").  She also loved getting to meet so many people - not just those of us on the trip but also the many people she met in stores, parks, and different tourist sites.

Katie struggled to identify a favorite; there were many parts, but she, like Don, really enjoyed being with family.

I loved the people part of the trip:  my siblings, my children, my husband, and I all got to go on a trip together and enjoy it so much; we spent time with Uncle John and Aunt Margaret, whom I had not seen since 2006; I had the opportunity to see Mallorie Carter Owens and her hubby, David, when we were in Anchorage;  I saw Beth Heuer (and met her husband, Ted) after 30+ years; I saw Betsy and Matthew; Chris joined us and added so much.  The people made it the best, but I also loved the Glacier Cruise in Seward.  Everything that could go right, did, which is the opposite of the one we took in 2006.  Thoroughly enjoyable.

I have to admit, not one person mentioned the wonderful songs that I sang along the way. Somehow, I think maybe they would include that as a lowlight, but I like to think I kept things lively!

Stand Up For the Champion

I am the champion, my friends,

I played Kings on the Corner to the end!

I am the champion, I am the champion . . . 

Ha, ha!

Chris had taught us how to play Kings on the Corner (or Kings on the Cahnah, as Kenneth, imitating Chris, would say), and before we arrived in Yellowstone, she, Don and I began playing.  The first night, we each won a round.  The second night, we each won a round - in exactly the same order.  The third night, we each won a round, but in different order . . . and I only won because Chris made a mistake.  But that is part of the game.  Her loss is my gain:)

So Sunday was the championship.  Don won the first game, Chris won the second, and lo and behold, the last one was mine.  As in any competition, we had to hold a "winner take all" game. And guess who won it?  Yours truly.  So now I can really say I am the Queen!  The Queen of Kings on the Corner!  What an auspicious honor!

South Yellowstone

The southern part of Yellowstone was surely the more crowded, since there is much more to see from a tourist standpoint.  We were anxious to see what Chris would think of the geysers and the hot pools, so we left earlier than yesterday.

We stopped in all of the major places - West Thumb, the paint pots, Biscuit Basin, and the Old Faithful Loop.  We were lucky to see several geysers erupt, including Old Faithful (we could not have left without Chris's seeing that), and we managed to get nearly 20,000 steps in the process.  This was the most exercise we had had in awhile, so we were very glad to be able to walk through the different areas.

The tour cars at the Old Faithful Lodge

Morning Glory Pool

It isn't Yellowstone without a picture of Old Faithful

We were pleased that Chris really did like the geysers.  It was good that we had Yellowstone to look forward to, as it was a great way to end a wonderful trip!