A Nearly Comical Day of Fishing

Yesterday, since it wasn't a weekend, I decided to fish the Rio Grande River early enough to beat the first float fishing group(s) and possible rafters.  So, I headed first to that section of the river with the cliffs by the Masonic Park and below the railroad tracks where I had taken Rick, Kay and Billy during their visit.  As Billy said, though we didn't catch anything (or get any strikes), he just wanted to be able to say he had fished the Rio Grande and enjoy the sounds of the stream and the beauty around.

When I arrived at the parking area, I noticed a raft just upstream being readied for the trip down the river.  I quickened my pace a bit to get to the stream before the raft arrived with its two fishermen and its guide.  Maybe 15 minutes later they arrived at the bend of the river leading into the stretch of river I had been fishing from the shoreline -- me looking for any spots with sunshine shining on my back to warm me a bit from the chilliness of the morning and the breeze blowing down the valley.  Their first maneuver at the bend had the guide jumping/splashing into the waters and demonstrating some fly-fishing techniques to the novices.  Then, he was back in the raft and back paddling with more splashing as he directed his clients to get their offerings to the right spots in the river (near the bank).  They finally made it past me and I continued making my casts for another half hour with no resulting strikes so, I decided to head back to the area where I had parked my Jeep and try the pools there before going elsewhere.  Only managed to lose the lure in one of the rapids after casting just a bit too far into the current.  This lure, had been the same one I had caught two nice Browns and one Kokanee Salmon with the day before (at Beaver Creek Reservoir).

Well, I headed back to Beaver Creek Reservoir thinking of the day before and hoping to restart the day with a refresher -- minus that lure, of course.  It didn't go any better as I fished the area near the picnic grounds and again had no strikes -- neither did a guy parked in a chair nearby as I learned when I passed behind him on my way to the spot just on the boulders beyond him (where I hoped to lure that big red male salmon into a nice bite).  After dozens of casts from the boulders with no results, I switched lures to a brass with dark body and yellow spots -- only to lose it either to a strong strike with immediate break-off or a mistaken snag on a submerged rock (I tried to peer into the near shallow depths of the semi-murky waters to see if I could spot the shiny brass lure hanging on the edge of some rock but, no results on that either).

With the prospects of having nothing to show for the day, I stopped briefly at the dam and climbed down the embankment under the sign to cast a dozen or more times in hopes of some action.  Again, nothing seemed to be biting so, I decided to head back to the RV to open windows, have a beer or two, some lunch and ponder the rest of the day.

Later, (around 4:40 p.m.) I decided to go back to the river for another hour or two, this time to the nearside of the Masonic Park with the cliff and pond where I had caught that nice Rainbow in the spring.  When I arrived there, I noticed a couple boys swimming in the waters on the opposite side of the river and then two or three other youngsters and their playful white Lab joined the frolicking in the water followed by their father and a sister.  Soon the dog was squatting and peeing in the river and then the boys spotted the dog squatting and crapping in the water near where they had been swimming.  But, they continued to frolick and throw sticks in the water for the happy dog to chase and fetch -- nearly losing the happy animal in the strong currents a couple times.  Then, came some rafters and then a half dozen tubers so, I decided to give up fishing the memorable hole and climbed up the trail to the top of the cliff to peer down at the waters.

From the cliff I could clearly see the submerged section of boulders diverting the stream around the point of the pond I had been fishing -- should have taken my camera to get a picture for my next trip back to the area.  I also noticed another pool upstream from the cliff and as I headed back to my Jeep and neared the pool, I decided again to climb down to the river's edge and try a few casts.  No sooner had I arrived there and tried a few casts, when the next raft full of people came down through the pool and the shallow waters I stood next to -- followed by another with a few out-of-control women shouting words of caution as they approached.  One guy in the first raft asked, "If I was having any luck" and I asked if he was kidding??

So went the day of fishing but, I had three nice fish ready to cook on the grille (from the day before) -- and then came the rains (followed by just enough clear time to enjoy a couple beers outside and cook those fish).  Some days you "fish" and some days you "catch" (maybe today will be a day of catching).

Beautiful Vista Revisited

For more than 35 years, I have had this beautiful view in my mind as I have recalled many beautiful places I have been here in Colorado -- like Deckers on the South Platte and those family drives over Independence Pass in the fall to see the Aspens changing to their beautiful golden yellow colors.  When I ventured down here last July with my Jeep and pop-up camper in tow, that view was in my mind but, I only stayed a few days before heading back east and didn't get out much to see the surrounding scenery.  I had thought the "Vista" was somewhere on Wolf Creek Pass but, in my one hurried visit to the summit, I didn't see what I had hoped to see -- thinking perhaps that the road may have been rerouted somehow to accomodate the ski area that developed this side of the summit.

View from Wolf Creek Pass

Last Friday, I headed out early to get to the nearest Wells Fargo Bank in Pagosa Springs (on the other side of the pass) and this time I stopped at a "Scenic Overlook" off one of the sharp curves and found the scene that had been embedded in my mind for so many years.  It really did exist and I had found it again.

It must have been from an early visit to Pagosa Springs (35 years ago) with my brother Rick, his wife Kay and my future wife Kathie when we stayed in Arthur Ashes condominium and fished and hiked for more than a week -- certainly Rick might not have wanted to remember much then as he came down with Rocky Mountain Spotted fever on the way back and we had to stop in Colorado Springs to get him some treatment.

Treasure Falls - 105 ft.

I also stopped on my way back from Pagosa Springs to get a look at "Treasure Falls" (on the road up the pass) but, didn't have good light for getting a nice shot.  I will revisit this spot and take pictures in the afternoon from the trail to the falls -- didn't have enough time as I had promised to join some neighbors at a buffet lunch in Monte Vista and had offered to drive my Jeep with part of the group.

The week had been busy and full of dinners with various RV neighbors, card bingo on Tuesday evening and my second meal out at Dos Rios in Monte Vista -- a really yummy buffet shared with six other people from the campground -- and some beautiful scenes.

Looking Around and Other Things

After the nice visit from my brother Rick, his wife Kay and their son Billy, I decided to have some new neighbors over for dinner Monday night (the 16th) and shared some of the fish we had caught on Sunday as a family.  Doug, his wife Jeannie, Jeannie's sister Patty and her husband Robby came over for a nice long evening of food and visiting -- Patty stayed later and the others went back to watch some movies about the Pacific battles of World War II.

Patty and I seemed to have a connection as she was born two days less than a year after I was.  We talked until it got dark and a little later Robby joined us after watching one DVD of the series -- we stumbled around and looked at the beautiful night sky full of beautiful stars before all headed back to their places (Robby and Patty are in the cabin behind me).  I went back out later after doing dishes and looked again at the sky and spotted the Big Dipper hanging right over the cabin -- this after Robby had wondered where the Big Dipper was (apparently hidden by some clouds).

On Wednesday, I decided to head out early to hike to the Big Tree near Beaver Creek Reservoir and then to Poage Lake some 11 more miles up the road.  The Douglas Fir is 66 inches in diameter and is the largest tree in the Rio Grande Forest.  The hike is 1/3 of a mile but, I found myself having to stop more than a few times as the hike was a steady climb up the mountainside (at over 9000 feet too).  As I neared the tree, I had a sense that I had spotted it among the other trees around and found that to be true.  There also were some enormous Aspens of some 12 to 18 inches in diameter nearby and more of them on the road to Poage Lake -- whole hillsides of them 50 or 60 feet tall.

The beauty of the surrounding hillsides and the valley were wonderful to enjoy on the easier walk down the mountain from the huge tree.  Didn't see any wildlife or forest creatures other than ground squirrels and chipmunks -- a few birds too.

I continued up the dirt road another 11 miles to park near Poage Lake and hoped I might find another gem here for more fishing.  I had heard from a guy I met at the dam at Beaver Creek Reservoir that this lake had some huge Cutthroat Trout.  He had also said it is about a half mile hike to get to the lake and I didn't know which way to go from the parking area(s) and no signs pointed in any one direction.  So, I made a couple bad assumptions and ended up walking probably more than a mile and a half through two hail storms and some thunder and lightning before finally arriving at this high meadow, shallow lake (with lots of dead, fallen trees in its shallow waters).  No one I met had caught anything of any good size and the only fish I caught was barely twice as big as the lure I caught him on.  Most people seemed to be fly-fishing and were again only catching fingerlings from what I observed.

With my poncho still on and after sliding around in the muddy shores of the lake, the threat of more nasty weather had me heading back to my Jeep after less than an hour of fishing.  Not a fishing spot I would recommend to anyone and there is a 2 fish limit to boot (no one seemed to be keeping any of the fish they had caught -- me either).

Denver Burches

Billy, Kay, Rick and me

WiFi has not been working as well since the campground filled up and I lost my notes pertaining to their visit the weekend before last but will try my best to recall the highlights -- besides the good company and the good meals together.

They arrived midday on Friday and after unloading their things into the RV (including some yummy things for dinner and a breakfast meal), we headed up to Beaver Creek Reservoir even though brother Rick had some issues with pain from the 4-1/2 to 5 hour drive.  Of course, we had a beer or two before getting into my Jeep and everybody was hyped by my reports of the good fishing (and the pictures too).

We took the easier walk along the dam to a beach-like area halfway across, beyond the heavily bouldered sections near the parking area.  Nephew Billy and I worked our way back over the boulders while Rick and Kay fished from the more level shoreline.  Rick got the first fish on but, unfortunately lost a nice one near the shoreline.  Shortly after I worked my way off the boulders and over to the farthest sandy shores, I heard a yell from Billy and he had landed the first Brown trout of the day.  Soon thereafter, I heard more yelps, this time from Kay as she brought in the first Kokanee Salmon (which I recently learned was not a Lake trout with nephew Billy's guidance) and she sought Rick's assistance in getting it unhooked and secured on the stringer with Billy's catch.

As the afternoon winded down and our thoughts drifted toward a "Happy Hour" at the RV, Rick did hook and landed that nice Brown trout (perhaps the one that got away earlier).  I believe the only fish I caught was the one already in the sink from a morning outing (to verify the water conditions before the Denver Burches arrival, of course).

After a few cold Coors Lights and with the task of cleaning the days catch completed (and put in the freezer), we gathered together for a tasty steak dinner from the grille (cooked by Billy).  Salads, fruit and devilled eggs rounded out the meal to complete the end to a perfect day -- everybody caught something and could sleep well with thoughts of more fishing to come.

Next morning, after a tasty breakfast, we headed to the Rio Grande river just up the road from Grandview RV park near the Masonic Park.  The walk to the section of stream just inside the west fence of the Masonic Park was less difficult than the walk at Beaver Creek but, as we arrived to park in the Coller Wildlife Area, I could see a drift boat just disappearing around the bend along the stretch I had hoped we would be fishing -- with some chance of success.  This section of the river has a fairly long stretch of deep water on the farside where some cliffs drop off from the railroad tracks above -- made more accessible if you wade a short distance in the shallow water (which Billy and I did).  Also, a good stretch to try throwing a fly to the little eddys just at the boulders on the farside which Billy tried.

Because it was Saturday, I expected to see many rafts, canoes and kayaks coming through disrupting any chances of catching some good fish -- which, of course, happened and therefore, we had no luck at all -- only the joy of being there and enjoying the beauty of the river and the surroundings.  We wrapped up our morning of fishing by trying some of the pools near where the Jeep was parked but, after another half hour or so, we decided to get back to the RV, refresh a little and head up to Beaver Creek Reservoir again for the afternoon.

This time, we decided to fish the area near the picnic ground about halfway up the reservoir toward the boat ramp end -- and the restrooms.  Billy did get one of those Kokanee Salmon hooked and beached but, it flopped its way back into the waters and left Billy thinking of the one that got away (like so many of us fishermen).  Think we did come back wth a couple of those Brown trout but, don't remember who exactly had caught them but, Billy did the cleaning this time while I got some Cutthroat trout ready for cooking on the grille (ones I had caught while fishing the Snake River below Yellowstone Park).  A couple packs of rice and salads again filled our stomachs with a sip of chilled Sambuca for an after dinner drink -- shot of Johnnie Waker Black Label too for Billy and I after the Sambuca.  Another good nights sleep followed.

Sunday morning we decided to fish the reservoir again near the dam for a few hours before they headed back to Denver.  We stopped first at the Rainbow Grocery so Billy could pick up a replacement Panther Martin lure he had lost the previous afternoon (the one he had hooked the fish that got away on).  I think Rick and Kay each caught one of the Kokanee Salmon and Billy caught a nice Brown trout by the time we decided to head back to pack for their trip back to the Mile High City -- nearly 3000 feet lower than South Fork.  They left the fish with me (to clean and freeze) so, I went back out later and caught 3 more Brown trout to add to the days catch.

Really a fun family visit and am looking forward to another before I leave this lovely section of Colorado.  Anyone feel like a visit?  Fishing is good and weather is great.

From Geysers to Geezers

And I am one.  It's been a fairly rapid transition from the camps in Yellowstone (Flagg Ranch) to the one here in South Fork (Grandview) and along the way the one in Ogden (Century Park) and the KOA in Moab - all those seemed to have an abundance of younger folks and youngsters playing around in the parks (riding their bikes, running around throwing footballs or yelling and screaming around the pool).  Here it's mostly Geezers and only a sprinkling of some younger folks as we gathered to celebrate the Fourth at a cookout -- everything shifted to the clubhouse because of the rain (which has just nearly stopped).

I had expected to see many youngsters amid the hundred or more campers but, didn't see one -- only one possible teenager (or slightly older perhaps).  The 99% majority was grey haired retirees like myself and most were signed up for at least a month or two or three to spend the summer months in the mountain air and the coolness the locale provides.  I made a platter of my deviled eggs and cut some cantaloupe wedges with strawberries to take to the cookout and by the time I got to the table, my deviled eggs were gone -- all that remained was one made by my neighbor just across from me (at least I got to compare and mine were spicier and tastier, I think).

Darkness has settled in and the rain drops have started to fall again after going back to listen to some local musicians play and the beautiful voice of Chelsea Beck (a newly wed staying in the camp).  Think she had been yodeling champ for a few years but, will need to check and am looking to buy one of her CDs -- they were on the table but, my hip decided I should leave rather than sit in one of the foldup metal chairs.

So maybe another 180 plus sunsets to see for the rest of the year and tonight it passed without a chance to get a look unless I had been on the other side of the mountains.  For now, I am content to be in the comfort zone here in South Fork -- Fishing and Relaxing.

Happy Fourth

Bathroom closed for cleaning.

Boy am I glad not to be still in the desert and we actually had some rain last night and thunderstorms in the afternoon -- had to cut short my fishing on the Rio Grande.  Only caught two small Brown trout and released both -- found a new spot with a nice hole (if only the half dozen rafters didn't come barrelling by when I was trying to catch that trophy fish).

Not the Golden Arches.

Leaving the KOA Park

Into the Canyonlands and on to Colorado.

More Is Always Better

Kepler Cascades - Yellowstone

Except for car troubles, taxes and a few other things.

The Bison herd at Yellowstone had lots of attention from the hillside viewing point and this herd was near Canyon Village grazing in the fields near the Yellowstone River.
Glad I didn't buy a fishing license for Yellowstone as the 6 mile section of the Yellowstone River was closed to fishng -- guess the bison objected (too many people).

Upper Yellowstone Falls

No shortage of pictures if anyone wants to see them.  I'll be in Colorado for a month or two.

Geyser Basin near Old Faithful

As I said before, amazing colors all around the geyser basins and the contrasts were very appealling to my eyes -- too bad I can't explain all the reasons for the different colors from a geologist's view.  Think sulphur gives us the rotten egg smell.

The Dragon's Cave at Mud Volcanoes had a big gurgling mud puddle in front -- and the stinky steam coming out.

Geez!  I saw so many things, it gets hard to remember them all.

Looks like enough space for the Winnebago -- what do you think?  Should I make an offer?

Moab and More

Leaving Yellowstone

After leaving Yellowstone, the trip south took me by the Grand Tetons again and down through Jackson, Wyoming to wind my way southwest to Ogden, Utah and warmer weather as I headed here to southwest Colorado -- South Fork to be specific and Grandview Cabins and RV Park.  The trip down route 89 was seemingly the most direct but, the winding and climbing through Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah was slow and tedious at times.

Passing Bear Lake in Idaho and Utah made me think the whole city of Denver would fit into it with room to spare -- the climb up the pass from the lake had me stopping a couple times to keep the RV from overheating but, the views were impressive at the top.  The lake was beautiful and the colors of the waters reminded me of the turquoise colors of the waters in the Keys of Florida.

I had hoped to get past Salt Lake City (maybe to Provo) but, the slower, tedious pace had me tired and content to stop in Ogden if an RV park had a spot open for the night -- first I found the nearest Walmart to restock on some things.  I called two places from the Walmart and the second had a spot for me and was less than two miles west of the Walmart.  Funny how that always seems to be the case -- except here in South Fork.

Before heading out the next morning, I called ahead to Moab to reserve a spot there for two nights and hoped my one full day would be enough to see all the best Moab had to offer.  The trip across the hot (over 100 degrees), high plains from Ogden was another test of the RVs cooling system and again I had to stop numerous times before finally getting to the cutoff from route I-70 onto 191 south.  Immediately hit construction after the ramp from I-70 but, the slow (or really stopped) pace let he diesel keep running cool and the AC inside was good too.

The road construction continued all along the way down 191 into the town of Moab and picked up again on the other side of the town -- couldn't even turn into the RV park I had called ahead to reserve because the asphalt was freshly layed so, had to call again to the Moab KOA farther south.  I misread the address and headed back north and had to turn around into the stopped traffic again before finally getting into the RV park.  Boy, was I hot under the collar and all over (think it had been over 105 that day and supposed to continue the next day).


Delicate Arch

After getting into the spot at the RV park, I learned from one of the park staff that the road would be closed the next morning (my one day there) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. so, an early start would be required to get out and see all that I hoped to see.  First, I figured to got to the Arches National Park and hike early before the temperatures started to climb -- only problem with hiking was that when I unhooked the Jeep the night before, the towbar fell on my left foot (second toe) and cut/smashed two toes (only had sandals on).  Did manage to hike 3 miles round trip to Delicate Arch and then another mile round trip to Landscape Arch -- going downhill was a killer on the toe and after those 4 miles it said No!  No more hiking.


Landscape Arch

When I had finished most of my water and snacks, I left Arches National Park and headed back for a midday break to check on the cats and the RV -- called ahead to be sure I could get into the park.  The temperature in the RV got into the 90s as the heat outside reached nearly 107 so, I stayed with Tiger and Molly until the afternoon temps started to drop (around 4:30 p.m.) before heading out to the Canyonlands National Park -- knowing there wouldn't be much hiking I could do and the brochure I had said mostly asphalt road with pulloffs or viewpoints (just what my foot needed).

Balancing Rock - Arches N.P.










Arches and Caves (No Hike)



It was a longer drive than I expected from the Moab KOA but, well worth taking the drive to the end -- Grand View Point (with numerous stops along the way down and back, of course).  Most of the turnouts or pulloffs gave quick and easy access to take pictures of the beautiful landscapes -- good thing there was a little breeze working too.  Longest walks were in the hundreds of feet from the parking/pullouts.

Nest day had me going through a small section of the far southeast part of the Canyonlands -- past the south rim entrance off 191 to the Needles Area.  I imagine the views there would have been more spectacular with both of the rivers visible from there (the Colorado and the Green rivers).  What I saw was still spectacular.

The distances across these canyons is hard to conceive and can't imagine even setting out to attempt to cross portions of them.  If you want a great test for your 4-wheeler (and your nerves), try the Shafer Trail down the cliffside to the bottom of the canyon.

Shafer Trail

Or just stay on the asphalt and walkways as I did.

Green River zoomed in

Another Day In The Park

Not like going to your local park for a leisurely day of relaxing and picnicking or laying around but, instead 60 miles each way to get to the Canyon Village section of Yellowstone.  A semi-early start to a full day but, not like having to get up to catch that 7:00 a.m. shuttle the day before.

Before I entered the park, I stopped at the picnic area just outside the park and on the Snake river to finish my second cup of coffee -- and try some fishing.  Beautiful scenery, good coffee but, no bites so, only a small amount of time spent there before continuing on into the park.  Same 22 mile trip to West Thumb and then onto the east fork through the Lake Village and Fishing Bridge areas along Yellowstone Lake (which had many nice viewing areas/pull-offs and toilets too).

Yellowstone Lake

The skies were much clearer than the day before but, the winds had white-caps lapping at the shores of the lake making it less inviting to stop for any length of time or walking down to the water.  The approximate hour and a half drive seemed to take longer perhaps because of the bleak landscape around the lake where the ground was covered with dead, fallen trees and very few small new trees were growing back in there place.

When I neared Canyon Village, I decided to take South Rim Drive to Uncle Tom's Point and Artist's Point where I hoped to see Yellowstone Falls and hike around a bit.  As soon as I made the turn onto the drive, there was the usual chaotic scene with cars half blocking the road and their occupants out in the fields and hillsides -- just shy of the parking area of course and us sensible, polite drivers jockeyed around the stupid people's cars to get in the parking lot and find a real parking space.  Apparently all the fuss was centered around two huge male Elk grazing just by the entrance to the parking lot -- both of which I encountered on the trail as I hiked to the Upper Falls (a 3/4 mile hike each way).

The hike to the Upper Falls was pleasant and a little up and down the hillside with little spots along the way to take pictures of the upper falls, rainbows and beautiful scenery -- and wildlife like the Elk.  Just getting past the Elk safely posed a bit of a problem as one of them got startled by a motorcycle when it tried to get up on the road and it came bolting back down the hillside next to the trail (I chose a spot behind a nearby pine to wait for the Elk to move along at its own pace -- others did too).

Upper Falls

After the hike and after getting numerous pictures, I headed farther down South Rim Drive to Artist Point where I hoped to get a picture to match the ones on the brochure.  There were closer approaches to the falls on the North Rim but, not as good for taking pictures since they were right at the top of the falls.  I think I made the right choice but, didn't go to the north side to confirm it.  Maybe some other time (with grand kids).

Yellowstone Falls

I decided after having some lunch to head back out of the park instead of going the additional 37 miles to Mammoth Springs (on the northern most side of the park) -- had my mind set on doing some more fishing at the bridge over the Snake River.

On the way back, I stopped at the Mud Volcanoes and its geyser basin where a large Buffalo was laying down right under and next to the wooden walkways.  I also approached another one on a hillside where it seemed to be isolated from any of the other Bison in the herd -- thought he might be laying down to die (too much rotten egg smells for him to take any more).

The decision to go back and fish some more provided a memorable afternoon at the river as I saw firshand a "rise" of amazing portions as numerous Cutthroats were feeding on a "hatch" of some sort.  I couldn't get them to touch my usual trusty Panther Martin lures so, I looked in my mini-tackle box for a fly to possibly through at them.  I didn't have a bobber or float so I tied on a little piece of a tree branch and threw it into the current to drift toward the highly active fish.

Immediately, a big fish took the fly and I struggled to keep him on and get him to shore but, as soon as he saw me on the shore he took off downstream into the current as fast as he could go and broke off the line -- taking the fly with him.  After that I caught three 16-inch Cutthroats, kept two and released one.  Then, I got another bigger fish on again and he too broke off the line.  The two that got away had to be over 20 inches from what I saw of them -- had me hungry to go back the following day (after getting the RV ready for the road trip to Ogden, Utah).

Yellowstone - At Last

Now that I am (with great relief) back in South Fork, Colorado for the month of July, I too can at last write things down in my blog as I wait for water to boil for my coffee (as you know takes longer at higher altitudes).  With the ordeal of the Jeep finally behind, things now seem a blurr as last Monday began early at Flagg Ranch in order to catch that 7:00 a.m. shuttle bus to Jackson where the Jeep hopefully would be ready after 2 weeks of being in the shop.  The long 2-1/2 hour bus ride through all the Grand Teton stops only added to my anxiety as I waited to call the shop to be sure the Jeep was really ready at last.

Luckily, it was and I immediately drove it around for about a half hour testing it before heading back up the road to the Flagg Ranch and then on to Yellowstone.  First, this old man needed a rest and some food before heading up the road for the afternoon.  I planned to head to "Old Faithful" in my whirlwind tour of the park and expected the drives to be long and slow (which they were) with numerous stops to take pictures of all I could see along the way -- and did so.

The first leg of the drive to West Thumb, where I would head west to Old Faithful, had the most trees that seemed to survive the devastating fire of 1988 and the recent pine-bark beatle infestation.  The gorge where the Snake river dropped from the high meadows had few pullouts for stopping and just one or two cars already being there made for problems getting safely off the road -- of course, there were those who didn't seem to care and just let there butts hang out on the road creating hazards for everyone.  Upon reaching the high meadows, I was impressed with how green and lush everything looked there and the river again beckoned for me to get out one of my fishing poles (but, I didn't).

Lewis Falls were a small beautiful set of falls but, the short trail to the falls was closed as workmen split stone and made improvements for future visitors.  Still, I managed a picture from the far end of the nearby bridge before heading on past Lewis Lake to the fork at West Thumb.  This next section of road had all the signs of the monster fire that swept through the area and dead trees were down all around with small ten foot trees dotting the landscape of green grasses and shrubs.  Occasionally a small stand of larger trees would appear and made a sharp contrast with the smaller young trees surrounding them.

As usual the appearance of a few grazing Elk in a grassy meadow would create chaos as people parked erratically and carelessly jumped from their cars to get pictures -- I didn't stop except to get around their poorly parked vehicles.  With only a day and a half, I was focused on seeing at least a couple of the important spots in my mind (Old Faithful and Yellowstone Falls).

When I finally arrived near Old Faithful and parked, it must have been around 3:00 p.m. so, I hurriedly walked through the parking lot and focused on the Old Faithful Lodge as I eagerly hoped to catch the next eruption of steam and water.  I took up a seat on one of the many low benches arranged in a semi-circle around the Geyser and near the lodge I had walked past, choosing a view that seemed to have the trail of steam flowing from my left to right -- possibly making for a better picture once the geyser spewed forth (which I heard from others should be around 3:30 plus or minus ten minutes).  Like a watched pot, it seemed to take forever but, one small geyser on the far side of the basin seemed to gurgle and spout off a little -- perhaps a signal that the big guy was about to blow.  Not so but, shortly thereafter Old Faithful did erupt and I only wish the sky had been clear blue so that the contrast would have been better.

After Old Faithful began to fizzle to the small stream of steam again, the crowds dissippated and I headed around the geyser basin on the platform walkways to get some more shots -- amid the rotten egg smell of the geysers.  There were certainly some colorful areas all around the basin and such different looks from one area to another as pools gurgled and steamed.