http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/atom_2087.xml 2009-08-11T16:35:18Z Expressions Photoblogging http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334555 jcowlin 2009-08-11T09:35:16Z 2009-08-11T09:35:16Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334555" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1250008516.jpg"/></a><br> For most of our three days in Yellowstone National Park, the weather was cloudy with frequent rain storms. I love Yellowstone in this kind of weather. It suits the mood of the park. However, when we were at the West Thumb Geyser Field, the sky opened up with a hail storm. It was very beautiful in an erie sort of way. Here's a shot of the boardwalk along the edge of the lake covered in hail. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334359 jcowlin 2009-08-07T11:03:43Z 2009-08-07T11:03:43Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334359" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249668231.jpg"/></a><br> We camped in the Choteau City Park a couple of days ago. It was a lovely park with big trees and a little stream running by the camp sites. I'm a snob about camping and will go 20 miles out of my way to find a secluded spot. But we were pleasantly surprised when we saw the sign and investigated the park. It was conveninet and gave us time to walk around Choteau the next morning. One great find was Meeting Grounds where we had breakfast. We also enjoyed the local museum and a very good used bookstore, Oasis Books. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334214 jcowlin 2009-08-04T18:25:42Z 2009-08-04T18:25:42Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334214" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249435543.jpg"/></a><br> Barb's Blog Post: After a long drive and a lovely visit with our friends Regina and Bill in Big Fork, Montana, we continued on to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, in Canada. It's on US Route 89 on the other side of the border. My first experience camping in Canada was a positive one! An A+ rating for bathrooms. They were clean, had flush toilets, and even had paper towels. Access to a nice bathroom is of critical importance in my opinion. You have to pay for a fire permit, which gives you the right to make a fire at your campsite. The really great part about this is it includes free wood, as much as you need, available stacked up close to the campsite. This is great for someone like me, who loves to have a campfire at night. The campsite was isolated from the other spots, surrounded by trees, with a view of the spectacular peaks. A primo place to set up for the night. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334211 jcowlin 2009-08-04T18:12:09Z 2009-08-04T18:12:09Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334211" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249434730.jpg"/></a><br> Barb's Blog Post: Waterton Townsite Campground, which was our first choice turned out to be full. We were disappointed because according to descriptions, it was right on the lake, with great views. After settling into our lovely site at the Crandall Campgound, we drove into the Waterton Townsite Campground to see what we had missed out on. As you can see, this isn't a quiet and secluded spot. Overrun with RV's and trailers, it does offer showers in the bathrooms, but only at the expense of being right on top of your neighbors. Sometimes the second choice ends up being the better deal! http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334121 jcowlin 2009-08-03T07:56:06Z 2009-08-03T07:56:06Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334121" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249311368.jpg"/></a><br> We drove into Afton, Wyoming, in the Star Valley just before 5:00 pm and stopped to check out the selection at Dog Eared Books. Barbarea is always on the look out for reading material and I like to check out the local travel books. We noticed people gathering along the street and discovered the the county fair parade was imminent. I love when serendipity takes over and presents an opportunity for photography. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334120 jcowlin 2009-08-03T07:49:29Z 2009-08-03T07:49:29Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334120" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249310972.jpg"/></a><br> It's peach season in Utah. We stopped at one of the fruit stands on US Route 89 north of Salt Lake City near Willard. The peaches and apricots were delicious. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334119 jcowlin 2009-08-03T07:46:52Z 2009-08-03T07:46:52Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/334119" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249310814.jpg"/></a><br> We camped for two nights at Palisade State Park in the Sanpete Valley of cental Utah. It is typical of the Utah state parks—very family and recreation oriented. We had a nice site on the lake. Early on the morning we left, I took this picture of one of the boys from the family next to us. He was fly fishing and seemed to be enjoying himself although I didn't see him actually catch anything. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/333964 jcowlin 2009-07-31T14:38:28Z 2009-07-31T14:38:28Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/333964" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249076311.jpg"/></a><br> Barbara enjoyed her first cup of coffee and a read in the Pod at Bonita campground in Sunset Crater National Monument, a fine way to start day two of the road trip. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/333963 jcowlin 2009-07-31T14:29:20Z 2009-07-31T14:29:20Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/333963" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1249075831.jpg"/></a><br> Our first night of the road trip we camped at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument north of Flagstaff. This photo was made with the last rays of the setting sun, an appropriate time to being photographing here. http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/305623 jcowlin 2008-08-17T16:11:42Z 2008-08-17T16:11:42Z <a href="http://us-route-89.my-expressions.com/archives/2087_1934663380/305623" style="border:0;"><img src="http://my-expressions.com/up_media/2150/pblog/2068/et_1219014714.jpg"/></a><br> You never know what you might find on Route 89! We were wandering the downtown area in Gunnison, Utah, and noticed a little poster for a mosaic located in an underpass. After driving back and forth for awhile, we finally located it. No sign, no markings. It was next to an Ace Hardware, and the underpass is actually a bike path. Lo and behold, there was this spectacular mosaic tile dragon. It was designed and produced by the community. Not only was it a beautiful example of a community art project, it roared. Yes, the trucks and cars passing above produced a variety of sounds that are just what I imagine a dragon would make. It's a must see on 89!