Home...at last!

As the sun set over the mountains of Lake Tahoe, we were cruising over the pass with increasing emotional momentum. Home. An elusive place across the country. Unknown territory.

With amazing stamina the kids endured a 12 hour day on the road which included 10 hours of driving time. The afternoon before we had explored Yellowstone at a quiet pace filled with adventure. Though the adventure started a bit prematurely when Chayse threw up all over just south of Livingston, Montana with no services in sight.

Though it was difficult to say good-bye in Big Timber after a wonderful visit with friends. The familiar Crazy Mountains tugged at our heartstrings...



...as well as two little boys who were introduced to each other upon Kade's arrival in the world ten years ago.




In Gardiner, MT we were welcomed by old friends whom we met when Ron worked at the Jardine Mine--probably 15 years ago we resided in this little mountain town. Cold ice-cream as we sat in the cool breeze was a welcomed treat.



Yellowstone National Park is filled with natural wonders, but we had to choose carefully as time was short. Ron and I had explored the park extensively when we had lived there, so we started with a drive to Tower Falls where we saw this handsome fellow sporting velvet.



A little farther down the road, a couple black bears were rooting in the road ditch--no zoom necessary!





Artist's point at Yellowstone Falls is my favorite...



...even with me in the photo!



The bison grazed majestically against the skyline.



Then later in Hayden Valley Ron spyed a wolf in the distance, but I needed a different lens for a good shot at him. It was the first time I had seen a wolf in the park; however, I knew that they were there as the wildlife is not near as prolific as it once was.

After dining at the lodge on Yellowstone Lake, we headed on to Old Faithful.

Chayse wasn't so sure about the smell of rotten eggs!



But we all loved the sunset.



At 9:38 Old Faithful entertained us! In the cooling evening air, the steam billowed.



Then we piled back into the Yukon with five kids, two dogs, and a couple weary adults for a late night drive. The park is very dangerous at night, as the potential to hit crossing animals is great. The vehicles behind us were following too closely--frustrated by our insistence to stay around the speed limit. Then an elk and her calf jumped out. Ron was worried we were going to be rear-ended, but thankfully we averted an accident...from both ends. The cars behind us drifted back a considerable distance as we continued our trek.