Visit to Yellowstone [2014 - 2 - Bison]

In Yellowstone National Park, October, 2014

People visiting Yellowstone are often looking forward to seeing the wildlife. We have visited the Park several times since 1989. Usually we see a lot of bison, aka buffalo. In this visit in October, the bison all seemed to be away from the usual viewing areas and only a few solitary representatives remained for visitors to see. Here is one we spotted near the Hayden Valley ...

Closer look ...

Bison in Yellowstone, 2014

The Hayden Valley is a beautiful area that is frequented by wildlife but it seemed rather barren on October 3rd ...

Hayden Valley
Yellowstone National Park

Wiki says, "Hayden Valley is a large, sub-alpine valley in Yellowstone National Park straddling the Yellowstone River between Yellowstone Falls and Yellowstone Lake. The valley floor along the river is an ancient lake bed from a time when Yellowstone Lake was much larger. The valley is well known as one of the best locations to view wildlife in Yellowstone."

Read more here.

More photos from YNP tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.

Visit to Yellowstone [2014 - 1]

In Yellowstone National Park, October, 2014

Near the center, with a fresh coat of snow, is Electric Peak. We snapped this photo on October 3, 2014, from the edge of the Madison River looking north. The location is just inside the west entrance of the Park on what is known as Riverside Drive.

From Wiki ...

"Electric Peak is the tallest mountain in the Gallatin Range of southern Montana, close to the Wyoming border and rises to an altitude of 10,969 feet (3,343 m). The peak has some of the greatest physical relief in Yellowstone National Park, rising 3,389 ft (1,033 m) above its base.

Electric Peak was named during the first ascent in 1872 by the United States Geological Survey. Members of the Hayden Survey led by Henry Gannett experienced electrical discharges from their hands and hair after a lightning event on the summit."

Stop back for a few more photos from Yellowstone over the next few days.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.

Tale of 10 Cities -- 1886

An item from our collection of antique paper that you probably won't see on other blogs ...

A Tale of 10 Cities

A small booklet published in 1886 by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.  "The object of this little work is to familiarize the patrons of the railway with the localities appertaining to the ten prominent cities of the Northwest, Southwest, and Far West." Being about 128 years old, we doubt if many of these little booklets still exist in 2014. We don't see another copy on the WWW at this time. Our city, Seattle, is not one of the 10, how about yours?

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.

Lake Hotel Yellowstone National Park

We snapped this photo on October 3, 2014 ...

Lake Hotel - Yellowstone National Park

That part of the building with the big windows going around ... they call it the "sunroom." Here is what it's like inside ...

In the Sunroom

From Yellowstone's western entrance at West Yellowstone, Montana, drive to the Madison Junction, turn left to Norris Geyser Basin, turn right to Canyon, turn right to Lake Hotel. The trip will take about one hour and forty-five minutes to two hours. This hotel is a destination in itself and is the oldest hotel in Yellowstone, having opened in 1891.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.

Big Sky Sunrise

We have been in the Treasure State for a few days.

Sky just before sunrise, September 24, 2014
Southwest Montana

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.

Linking up today with Skywatch Friday

North to Alaska [2014 - Day 7 - 8]

Thanks for joining us for this last segment of our voyage Seattle to Alaska and return. Three weeks ago today we were enroute to Seattle with a brief stop in Victoria, BC, Canada. We stayed aboard in Victoria but on past trips have visited the wonderful Butchart Gardens. We arrive in Seattle early tomorrow morning. We've left the clouds behind and are back into clear skies and warm temperatures.

Early Friday morning (September 12, 2014) just before dawn ... clear skies and a half moon ... the rest of today will be spent cruising south along the coast of British Columbia, entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca which separates Washington and BC, USA and Canada. With a relatively late arrival at Victoria, today is almost like a "day at sea".

A beautiful sunny afternoon and a quiet spot to sit and relax ... just watch the ocean roll by ... if this looks boring to you, no worries, there are plenty of things to do on a cruise ship!

One week after setting out (Day 8 - September 13th), we are back at port in Seattle just about sunrise ...

Mt Rainier reigning over Puget Sound is a welcome sight ...

Wrap up: For those of you just stopping by for the first time in a few days ... We've been posting, for the last week or so, some photos and info about our voyage up to Alaska (September 6 - 13, 2014). For those of you who have not cruised before and want to ... now is the time to make your reservations. Cruising has never been more affordable. Check out some of the cruise line websites ... you may be surprised at the prices for a simple cruise to Alaska like we've been showing you. Making early reservations allows you to pick out the stateroom location you want. Lower fares are the interior rooms with no windows. For a person who is worried about sea conditions ... the best location on the ship is mid-ship on lower decks.

Thanks for joining us on our voyage to Alaska and for so many kind comments. We will see you again in a few days.

North to Alaska [2014 - Day 6]

Thanks for joining us as we look back 3 weeks ago today to Day 6 of our voyage Seattle to Alaska and return. Today's schedule calls for us to spend the morning in Ketchikan. This is an enchanting small town that has become another tourist destination in Alaska.

Here's an overview of Ketchikan taken from the ship after docking ...

Cruise ships line up along the dock which is right at the town's edge ...

Ketchikan is tourist shopping at its best ...

One of several totem poles in town ...

Must see shops along Creek Street ...

Interior of a typical gift shop ...

Two photos you won't see on most cruiser's photo albums ... First, an antique fire truck on display at the Fire Department. It was such a nice display and none of the other tourists seemed to be paying it any attention so we thought we would stop in and snap a photo. Then, in the next photo, it's your United States Federal Building in Ketchikan. Possibly the largest building in town. Note the flag at half staff on this September 11th.

We like this scene ... cruisers relaxing at the picnic tables on the dock.  Possibly waiting for travelling partners who are still in the shops.

We just had to include the next shot. The ship was scheduled to depart Ketchikan about 25 minutes ago. We are late leaving because two cruisers haven't returned to the ship. In the photo below you see the big fork lift ready to move the gangway away from the ship. Three of the ship's crew are watching to see if the cruisers are going to return. About 5 minutes after this shot the gangway was removed and we departed ... without the two cruisers. An expensive mistake ... you don't want to miss the ship!

Departing Ketchikan ... we are now on our way to the next port stop:  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Looking back, one last time ...

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.