Great day today. The weather was much cooler, and the roads were fabulous. Went to the West Yellowstone, the small town in Montana, at the extreme west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Taking full advantage of my senior pass, my motorcycle was allowed in at half price...so very nice to aging...heh.
The park was beautiful. Lodgepole pines are incredible...straight as an arrow. There is vast evidence of the 1988 fire when nature took its course and cleansed the park of several hundred acres of lodgepoles...apparently a normal process to cleanse the forest, then the remains decompose and new growth comes back. Quite something.
Of course, the big deal was Old Faithful. So, of course, I enclose a photo of the geyser popping off. I sat there for 90 minutes, faithfully waiting for the big event. I have nine other photos of it, just in case someone wants one. So interesting...there were probably 600-700 sitting in the sun, preparing their cameras and cell phones, getting ready for the vent. A water spout...not a rocket launch, but a natural water spout...and people cheered and kids ooh'd and ahh'd. So simple a pleasure.
Going back to the beginning of the national park, when the hotel was built, this simple pleasure was the source of all attention of the guests of the lodge. The photo at right shows the platforms made from Lodgepole pine that allowed guests to climb stairs and stand and watch the gieser out the window. That is the sole purpose of the stairs and platforms. Simple pleasures...we all need simple pleasures, the same sense of wonder that made the kids ooh and ahh. No doubt about it.
Oh, I almost forgot...the people. During the 90 minutes, I spoke to a group of folks about many things, including the earthquake in the Washington area. It was great. Folks from Abilene, Asheville, Detroit, Louisville, and of all places, China. I sat next to the three folks in photo to the left: Monte, Marcie, and Susan, from Asheville, N.C. I talked to Monte about motorcycles. He had to stop riding about 2 years ago because of health. We were close to Old Faithful rearing its spout, and it got quiet. Monte then leaned over and said "Do you know anything about 'RIDE FOR KIDS''. Now, the chance of he and I being involved in the same small charity is astronomical. I told him the story of my fundraising efforts...and Marcie reaches in her purse and hands me $20. Can you imagine. We shook hands, embraced. He has been involved for 10 years in Asheville...the home of the PBTF. Simple pleasures, and simple people...doing extraordinary things. What a wonderful experience.
The roads were incredible. For the bikers out there, it was over 100 miles of twisties as I drove through Rockies. I went over the Continental Divide, and played all afternoon as I rode and stopped and rode and stopped. The Sheshoni River followed me all the way, shifting left and shifting right. I saw deer, elk, bison...and the wonderful road. So cool. Well, it is late and I need to sleep. I miss home and Frances and Jazz. Glad they are ok and the big "shake" back home didn't affect her. More later.
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