Cody - Yellowstone National Park

Proceed through Shoshone National Forest to YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Travel along Grand Loop Road to Artist Point for views of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Overnight in Yellowstone National Park.
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We entered the East entrance of Yellowstone on [Sunday, 31 August], along the Shoshone River and into the Shoshone National Park.

On the Road to Yellowstone

Margaret and Bruce at a Morning Tea Stop

Yellowstone General Store

This lake is opposite the Yellowstone General Store.     Sometimes Bears are seen at the Lake Edge.

Bill at Lake Edge

We travelled along the Grand Luke Road to Artist Point for view of the lower falls of the Grand Canyon Yellowstone.

Artist Point Sign

Artist Point

Artist Point - Yellowstone River in picture

The lower falls were very much like Huka Falls but longer.

Beginning of the Falls

Margaret and the Falls

Falls

Artist Paint Pots

Iron Oxide stains white mud and other pastal colours there were hot springs and mud pools and a section of forest burnt in the 1988 fire through Yellowstone (This went for many months)

The Weather was very showery, but when we got out of the Bus it seemed to clear up.

The route was very hilly and rugged, lots huge boulders and pine trees.

Country side

Arrived at Grand Village - Yellowstone National Park ( On the west thumb of Lake Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Lake

The lake is a huge lake similar to Lake Taupo, which freezes over in the Winter, and in the summer is used for fishing, boating. And in the winter you can Ice Fish.

Our Accommodation is Dormitory style, no fridge, tv. radio wifi at a cost.

There is a lot of little chipmunks here inside as well.

The 6 New Zelanders went to tea, very enjoyable night.    We were joined by Monica and Michael from Melbourne for the photo as well.



Group of New Zealanders out for tea

Cody - Yellowstone National Park

 

Grant Village - Yellowstone National Park
 

Before we left Cody we visited Buffalo Bill's Historical Centre

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Today [Sunday, 31 August] we spent 2 hours at the Buffalo's Bill's Historical Centre. We found this Museum very enjoyable.


Buffalo Bill Centre

These was a huge selection of hand guns and rifles and shotguns, as well as lots of pictures of the Old Wild West.

Museum

Margaret at the Museum

Cody's Firearms in Museum

Firearms

Sculptures were very nice.   Margaret thoroughly enjoyed the 2014 Artist work and sculptures. These were up for auction and 70% to the Artist and 30% to the Museum.

Deadwood - Cody



 

 



This morning, head through high country, where open-range cattle kings made war on the homesteaders in the 1890s. Drive past Sheridan in the Bighorn Mountains, site of battles between the U.S. Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians. Overnight in Buffalo Bill’s frontier town of Cody. (CB)

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We left this morning [Saturday, 30 August] at 8 a.m.   Drove through to Gillette, open range country, then went passed an open cast Coal Mine which trains carry over 100 wagons.  Went through to Sheridan and drove over the Bighorn Mountains which were very high and impressive views.   Stopped and took photos from the top.




From the top of the Mountain Big Horn

Called into Walmart shop very impressive, everything in one shop groceries T.V. clothes.




Walmart

Had lunch and then drove through impressive rock canyon to Cody.   Stopping in cabins tonight little primitive but still comfortable.

Our Cabin

There may be no internet connection for the next couple of days as we will be in Yellowstone.   It is meant to be very cold here for the next couple of days so will get our winter woollies out.   Some people brought clothes on the way through.   Leaving at 7. 50 a.m. to go to Buffalo Bill Historical Centre then continue to Yellowstone not expected to get there until 5. 30 p.m.    Will be a long day.

 

Open Cast Mine

Open caste Mine taken from the Bus as we went past

Country

Country

From the Look out

Mount Rushmore – Deadwood

Comfort Inn at Gulchers of Fun

 

Drive deep into the Black Hills, through what was Sioux Indian territory, to see the stunning granite faces of Mount Rushmore, a giant monument to four great American presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

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 TATANKA:

The Story of the Bison, and experience the richness of the Lakota people. On to Deadwood, a lawless frontier town during the 1876 Gold Rush, where Jack McCall murdered Wild Bill Hickok during a poker game. Overnight here, and discover Deadwood’s Wild West ways as you walk in the footsteps of legends like Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock.
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On [Friday, 29 August] afternoon we visited Tatanka.



Tatanka the Story of the Bison

This place was funded Keven Costner     The story of the Bison, and experience the richness of the Lakota people.

 

The Indian (Native American) our host mentioned New Zealanders commented how he looked and spoke like a Maori and he was over 6 foot tall and 16 - 17 stone.



The host

Outside on this hill is sculptures of Bison and Indians capturing Bisons, these were very good.
 

Bill with Bison Sculptures

 

Teepee

Bison

We were picked up from this place by a local guide who took us for a tour of Deadwood in an very old school bus.    This guide was a brilliant commentator, very funny. 

 

 

Bill at Deadwood



Bus

Tour Director

Deadwood

 

Deadwood

Keystone - Mount Rushmore-Deadwood

Mount Rushmore

Drive deep into the Black Hills, through what was Sioux Indian territory, to see the stunning granite faces of Mount Rushmore, a giant monument to four great American presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

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Today [Friday, 29 August] we went to Mount Rushmore, not a long drive,  weather very nice.    We spent 2 hours there, very impressive.   Bill went on the walk around the Mountain I went part way and then went back.   A lot of people here.   While Bill was away I went into the Museum and Theatre.     The faces of four great Americans were very clear to see.   I took many photos and movies here. 

  



Mount Rushmore

 

Mount Rushmore

Margaret at Mount Rushmore



 




Denver - Cheyenne - Black Hills of South Dakota - Keystone



Mount Rushmore White House Resort

Depart Denver and travel north to Cheyenne. See the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and continue to Custer. Then, see the CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, a monument carved out of a mountain that pays respect to the great Native American hero, Chief Crazy Horse. (CB)

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We left this morning [Thursday, 28 August] at 8 a.m. had to be at the bus by 7. 45 a.m.    Bill and myself had walked around the block before we went for Breakfast.    

Our Bus

We drove for many miles and saw only tussock grasses with very little stock on it and very few towns.   Two lanes each side, not including passing lanes.

Roads

There were unusual fences that I notice while driving on the road, They were for snow drifts.   They had also started to plant trees around these fences.


 

Fences 

There were lots of ranches on these roads, did not see many horses.

We had morning tea just out of Cheyenne very cold  and then travelled on very flat straight roads some wheat and sunflowers planted.

Bus very comfortable we were sitting in the very front, tomorrow we move clock wise back three seats, names tags above seats.

We also called into Wyoming.

Bill at Wyoming

Margaret at Wyoming

Stopped at Torrington, raining and a small grain town not very big for lunch.   Had a beef sandwich average and curly fries.

Travelled on through to Crazy Horse Sculptor on the side of the mountain.

Gates to Crazy Horse



Crazy Horse

Museum excellent and this large statute on the end of a mountain is only partly finished.    It was started in 1948 and his family are carrying on after his death and are funding it with donations and from the Museum.



Museum
 

Rocks

Gates

We paid to go in a bus to the bottom of the hill where the sculpture is and took many photos.

Bus and Driver

Monument carved out of the Mountain

Margaret at the bottom of the Hill

Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski was born in Boston of Polish descent.    Orphaned at age one, hew grew up in foster homes.    He was completely self-taught and never took a formal lesson in art, sculpture, architecture or engineering.    He was born on the 6 September 1908 and died 20 October 1982.       Since his death in 1982 his wife with seven of their 10 children, working in concert with the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Board of Directors.    His wife before her death was involved in the Museum which was excellent.

We spent 2 hours there and you could have spent more.  

Pays respect to the great Native Hero, Chief Crazy Horse.

Monument in side with Mountain in the back ground

We carried on to Keystone tourist town.   Very pretty with high rock on one side.

Mountain Goats on the way to Keystone

Went out for tea tonight, both had different kinds of chicken and salad.

Sign at Keystone

Keystone

Keystone

Margaret at Keystone

Map of America done in Magnetics, taken through a shop window

We also met Bruce and organised our options, we are doing 6 which includes a meal at night at Jackson.