Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Wildlife at the Lake

25 Sept 2006 – We had not seen a single deer in Yellowstone or Grand Teton so it was ironic that I came upon a Mule deer and her two fawns on my last walk. The geese were having a disagreement as I came around a bend in the shore which turned out to be caused by a Goose from another ‘flock’ that had intruded on these birds. He was chased away and returned to his own flock. Appropriately the geese swam away as it was time to return to our trailer. Farewell!!


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A Walk Along the Shore

25 Sept 2006 – On what was to be our last day in Grand Teton I went for an early morning walk around the lake to try to catch the early light. These are some of the photos from that walk. The first is an ‘air plant’. I had seen them before but never in the ‘wild’. The lake was in good form!


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Around Grand Tetons

25 Sept 2006 – It is time to catch up on photos I did not have time to put on the Blog before we came to California. Here in 29 Palms it has been a busy time but good for Dot. Teresa, Cassandra and Alta her daughters have all been here along with Dan’s brother Lynn and wife Pat from Tennessee. Cassandra’s newly married daughter, Ra and her husband Dr. J came for several days along with Teresa’s sons Cameron and Andrew with Andrew’s new wife Tara. Dr. J’s parents came up from San Diego for the funeral and the day so Dot was surrounded by family and did well. She continues to fight the good fight and we look forward to improvement in her mobility as she resumes therapy next week.
The photos were taken in Grand Teton on our final drives in the area. The aspen were just beginning to get some color and were beautiful.


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Friday, September 15, 2006

Dan Ross Edmonson

14 Sept 2006 – Dan died sometime last night. Charles, my other brother-in-law called this morning to tell me. Becky and I did what we have done so many times lately – went through our check lists and hooked onto our fifth wheel. This time though we were not headed to our next adventure but to be with Dan’s family as they prepared for his funeral. It was not a trip we looked forward to.

Dan was my brother-in-law for as long as I remember. I have a vague remembrance of his marriage to my sister, Dot, but very vague. He was 20 years older but for most of my life we seemed much closer in age. They lived in the same town with Mother and Dad and me for only a few years but lived about 50 miles away for several more years before moving to California. In spite of that, I grew to know him quite well as the two families were frequently together.

After moving to California Dan always scheduled what little vacation he had for the summer when his three daughters were out of school so they could all come back to Arkansas to visit us and his parents (driving straight through he could make it in around 24 hours). During these visits it was always mandatory that Dan, Dad and I went to the river to take a float trip and fish. For us fishing always meant fly fishing. The legend according to Dan was that it took at least 3 years paddling Dad and watching him fly fish before anyone was qualified to be in the front of the boat fly fishing himself. True or not, we all DID paddle my Dad and we all DID learn a lot about fly fishing by watching the expert.

When the recession hit Arkansas in the 50’s and Dad could not find work, Dad went out to California and lived with Dan and my sister so he could support me and my mother. I know that could not have been easy for Dan but he never mentioned it. A decade later I was ready to leave Arkansas but did not have a lead on a job. I went to California and lived with Dan and my sister for two years working for the city of Barstow at a job they had matched me up with. Again Dan never mentioned this.

Those two years allowed me get to know Dan about as well as a person can know another one. We worked together, hunted together, went to lodge together and, obviously, lived together. I got married after two years but continued to live in Barstow and have a close relationship with Dan for another 12 years. As best I know we never had an argument or disagreement. Believe me, I am a pretty easy going guy today but I am definitely not THAT easy and was certainly not that easy then. Dan was just that easy to get along with. Hardly anyone reading this Blog knew my mother. However, trust me when I say she was the total opposite side of Dan when it comes to ‘getting along with’. I know of very few people in her life she did not manage to find fault with (definitely including her three children!). That makes it just about miraculous that she NEVER spoke a bad word about Dan. I must admit I envied him that distinction sometime but never enough to emulate him. Without speaking out of turn and with all my love for my sister, his love and understanding of her over all the years they were married is yet another example of the kind of man he was – one of a kind.

As we travel the almost 1000 miles from Yellowstone National Park to 29 Palms, California, I have had plenty of time to remember my times with Dan. They have been sad times and happy times (the memories – not the times; the times were ALL happy). I needed that time I think as it will be hard to find the time to just REMEMBER once we get to 29 Palms. I miss him already but have MANY good times to reflect on. I did not see him very often over the past 20 years but I always knew what to expect when I saw him – the same old Dan, steady, unique, somewhat of a character with his handle bar mustache and grey hair, slow speech and movements, full of ‘old sayings’ from his Arkansas youth and always, always, honest, good hearted, a good father and husband and, for me, good brother-in-law. I know you are in our Father’s house now receiving your just reward and still being just Dan.
Thanks for everything. I hope you knew how special you were to me. It was always nice to be called ‘Young Fellow’ no matter how old I became! I’ll miss you.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Rivers, Falls and Picnics

11 Sept 2006 – Leaving Old Faithful we had a look at the parking lot and, as you can see, September is still a crowded time in Yellowstone – too crowded for us. The river views and falls are, as I have said, very attractive to us. We stopped along one of the streams for a picnic lunch (one way to enjoy a bit of the quiet).


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Old Faithful and Friends

11 Sept 2006 – We observed 9/11 by visiting Old Faithful on our return visit to Yellowstone. After Old Faithful (late, I might add) we finally got our first close view of a bull elk. Not a very impressive rack but exciting none the less. The little one was pretty much without fear of humans! Old Faithful was not as impressive as I had expected but perhaps my expectations were too high!! The rivers in Yellowstone are VERY impressive and beautiful. Becky and I agree they will be the most memorable thing we take away from Yellowstone.


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More Tetons

10 Sept 2006 – We continued on the back roads after seeing the moose and these are some different views of the Tetons. The back roads put you closer to them and we are enjoying our close proximity in camp and as we drive. It is not quite as crowded here in the Tetons as in Yellowstone but still plenty of people. Back to Yellowstone tomorrow.


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Back Roads Home

10 Sept 2006 – We took the back roads to out campground and got a few shots that may be worth keeping. The cow moose (or is it moose cow?) was along the road believe it or not! Not the greatest of shots but my first sighting since Vermont of a moose so we took what we had. Too bad the big bull was not close by (or if he was he certainly kept quiet and out of sight).


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Jackson, Wyoming

10 Sept 2006 - The town of Jackson was a bit touristy for us but had been a great little town before being discovered by most of the free world! The entrance into the park certainly appeared to say deer and elk abound somewhere! The visit was alright but a few hours was plenty and diesel at $3.54 a gallon will not attract us again soon.


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Wildlife Art Museum

10 Sept 2006 – We shot a few photos and then drove down to Jackson for a Festival they were having. On the way we stopped at the National Art Museum for Wildlife. The photos are of the exterior and interior. The building was unique and the art exhibits included the major wildlife artists of the world. Great exhibit!


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First the Mountains

9 Sept 2006 – This was our first good look at the Tetons. The first shot was from the truck as we came over the last pass and it was pretty dramatic! The other shots are of the peaks visible from near our campground and include Moran and Grand Teton. As you can see visibility is not great; they are having problems with fires (including those in Montana) bringing smoke into the area. Hopefully we will have a clear day before we leave or I will learn more about some of the filtering capability of our new camera. They are still beautiful!!


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