Yellowstone & Colorado
June 28, 1952 - July 15,1952
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June 28, 1952
Saturday
Away at 5:20 this morning. Mother and I would gladly have changed our
minds about going (at least for three hours or so) when the alarm went
off this morning. "Oh, how I hate to..."! However, Bill and son Billy
were
in rare good fettle. Billy is a marvelous little seven month old
traveler.
He's such fun.
We ate lunch in Fredericksburg and saw Ken Jackson, an ex-football player from UT, and his family also eating breakfast there. Bill had to buy a paper and check out how the Olympic tryouts were going. At least two of our Texas boys have made the team.
We surely wish for a radio on this trip. The Republican convention is going to be a dilly now.
We got to Anson at 11:15. Oscar, Iris, and Binks are all well. Had a super visit and rest. To bed early -- we want an early start tomorrow.
June 29, 1952 Sunday
This was our honest day. Around nine o'clock it was pretty terrible,
but then clouds came up and helped us some. After two it was hot again.
We left Iris's at 4:30 this morning; so we saw several early morning sights. We saw several wild turkeys and rabbits, and later we saw a herd of antelope and two deer came galloping across the road ahead of us. The meadow larks really sounded of, too.
We ate lunch by the side of the road in Kansas -- they have no roadside parks there (but gas was a nickel cheaper). And about three miles later we were in Colorado and watching for our first glimpse of Pikes Peak. We had it.
We got to Norman's at four, but they were at a show and didn't get in until a little after six. They're all well -- 'n fun.
June 30, 1952
Monday
We stayed at Rena's and washed clothes and rested today. Bill road
horseback with Norman all morning. Then this evening we went out and
fried
steaks outside. It was the best food I've ever eaten: steaks, fried
potatoes,
salad, collards, tea. Mmmm good. Billy slept through his first picnic.
July 1, 1952
Tuesday
We left Norman's at 6:15 amid numerous goodbyes and drive carefully
-- and I wanna go, too, from the kids. It was cool and brisk, and Billy
fairly chortled.
The drive got pretty hot, but at noon we stopped at a little county park in Wyoming where Ayer's Natural Bridge was. There was a real cold rushing stream there, and it was so nice and cool! We liked it. The food was good, too.
Then we drove on to the Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming. Such strange formations! It was just very intense erosion, but it surely was peculiar.
The afternoon ride was pretty hot. Bill commented as we drove along, "Yellowstone had better be good -- there's sure nothing along here!".
We got to Thermopolis about five and found a cute little log cabin for the night.
After supper we went to the State Park and saw the world's largest hot springs, and, brother, it's hot! We also saw the terraces made by the mineral deposits from the hot springs. They were pretty. There was a heard of buffalo in the park, too.
To bed at nine -- tired. Bill had to go see a grass fire for an hour.
July 2, 1952
Wednesday
We left Thermopolis at eight o'clock after a good breakfast and music.
There was a miniature stage in the cafe with a band that jumped and
hopped
and played "music as the jukebox played. Great furn.
The ride then from Thermopolis to Cody, Wyoming, was not so good; there was nothing much to see. But we stopped in Cody and made some purchases -- food and sundries and cards and drove on to the park. We saw our first bear just a few miles into the park -- a cute little black fellow. Then we saw four moose (or would it be meese?), two deer, three more bears, and an antelope. The scenery and drive in the park from the East entrance to the Old Faithful area where we had reservations was perfectly wonderful. Beautiful pines -- we skirted the lake most of the way. We stopped at several of the lookout points and we ate lunch on some fallen logs in the heart of a pine forest. Keen.
After we got to the Old Faithful area, we watched Old Faithful "play" or erupt. It is quite awe inspiring. We weren't the least disappointed in that show! Then we went to our cabin -- a cute one with one double and one single bed, a stove, a lavatory, two stools, a chair, and a table. The beds are keen.
We rested until supper time and then we ate at a cafeteria on the grounds -- good food and quite reasonable for a park area (note: supper for the three of us, $6.97). After supper we drove around a two mile scenic loop and saw more geysers and hot springs and pools. It's fabulous. Then Bill went to a park lecture (in the open) and mother, Billy and I went to a community sing and "savage" program in the recreation hall. Home and in bed by nine. It was cold.
July 3, 1952
Thursday
Billy got me up twice last night. The last time I kept him in bed with
Bill and me because his hands were so cold. It got a mite chilly last
night.
We slept under two blankets and a spread and it felt good.
We breakfasted in the cabin on cookies, milk, cereal, and coffee. Then Bill and I left mother and Billy at the cabin and went on the 8:15 Ranger nature walk leaving Old Faithful. It was to be a two hour hike, but it was a bit longer, but that was all right. Our ranger, a high school teacher from some northern state, was exceptional. We enjoyed him.
Then we got in the car and started driving and seeing the sights up the west drive of the Park. We went clear to Mammoth (about 50 miles) and saw everything there was to see including two buffalo (bison), two mama bears (one with one cub, one with two), and two baby bears high up in a tree. We tried for several pictures along the way, too.
There were several lovely rapids and waterfalls on this west drive in the canyon, and we saw all the rest of the thermal activity. I believe, besides Old Faithful, of course, that my favorite geyser is the Grotto because it is rather grotesque - in a beautiful sort of way. We saw it erupt, also the Fountain Geyser, which is right on the river. We also saw our first paint pot this afternoon. It is amazing, those huge, heavy bubbles going blurp, blurp in that hot stuff as it boils. It sounded and looked like apple butter cooking - only in Technicolor.
Our count now of wild animals include 11 bear (we'll better that tomorrow on our Eastern book), four moose (all at one time), two bison, one antelope, two deer, several conys or pikas, and several marmots. Not bad.
July 4, 1932
Friday
Happy Fourth of July. No fireworks allowed in the park. "Hallelujah."
says mother, "this will be my best fourth yet".
As there are no laundry facilities in Yellowstone, we've had quite a time with son Billy's seat covers. However, with mama's ingenuity (and hard work) we've rigged up a line and have washed diapers yesterday and last night, and we're all caught up now.
We got up this morning at 7:15. It wasn't so cold last night. However, we slept under a blanket and enjoyed it.
We started up the east loop this morning, toward Thumb, and immediately saw Keplar Cascade and two cute bears - making our count now 13.
Part of our drive today - to the fishing bridge was what we had already gone over when we came in from the East Entrance, but after Fishing Bridge, it was all new stuff- and nice. Mud volcano fascinated me a lot. It was quite different. And the Yellowstone Grand Canyon with those wonderful, lovely falls is super. Bill walked the 480 steps down to the lower Falls -and the 1,000 steps back up, he says. We stopped at all the vistas and points, and at look out Point a woman told us that the bears at the next point were raiding the cars - one had even torn the seats of a car just before they left. Well, after we started we sorta pooh poohed that idea. We said that was probably the way rumors got started. Anyway, at Inspiration Point, we rather jokingly told mother to blow the horn if a bear came. Then Bill and I went down to the lookout -it was built out over the canyon and had about 80 wooden steps down to it. Well, we got down there and then heard and saw some people running up the steps yelling, "There's a bear in our car!". Well, I turned to Bill and said, "We better go!". When we got to the top, mother was frantically blowing the horn and all the windows were up. The bear had visited our car, too, but she got the windows up in time, fortunately. He got in at least two other cars - the owners were frantic, but shutter bugs were having a field day!
Before today was over, we saw 51 bear! We got almost to the point where we'd say, "Oh, just another bear? Drive on.". Almost, that is. We have also seen 6 moose, 3 deer, 1 antelope, 2 bison, and lots of corys and marmots. Great fun. This was a great Fourth of July. We ate $2.00 steaks in the lodge dining room tonight to celebrate.
July 5, 1952
Saturday
Up at eight - we're getting later and later. But, foo, this is a
vacation
- a dilly, too.
We saw Old Faithful play again at 9:30 for the last time, took some pictures, too. Then we checked out of Yellowstone - saw our 54th bear before we left the park boundaries, and saw our 55th about 50 yards from where we picnicked in the Teton National Park. After yesterday, I have profound respect for bears.
The Teton National Park is lovely. After we checked into our cabin at Moran, we drove down to Jackson and down the Snake River Canyon almost to Utah. We (Bill and I) thought the canton quite mild, but when we stopped to turn around, mother said, "Golly, what a ride. I don't mind rolling down a hill, but I sure hate to drown at the bottom!"
We ate at Teton National Park and then drove about 50 yards and saw a bear -- Oh, I said that above. Oh, well, it's worth repeating.
On our return trip from the canyon, we stopped at Moose where there was an outdoor "chuck-wagon" where you could "eat like the cowboys eat". Boy, if they do, I'm in the wrong profession. It was a cowboy smorgasbord with potatoes and gravy, beans, stew, roast beef, tossed salad, hot rolls, butter, coffee and cocoa. Mmmmm, out of this world.
Bill thinks his leg muscles are permanently ruined after yesterday. when I discuss hiking in Estes, he just moans.
July 6, 1952
Sunday
The alarm went off at 5:30 this morning. We got up at six, and left
at seven. The drive through Wyoming was rather hot and a bit
monotonous.
I was in the back trying to entertain a very fussy Billy when he broke
my glasses -- right across the nose piece. I tried to patch them with
scotch
tape and had no luck, but about two I tried again with string and
scotch
tape and was successful. Rejoice! I was getting a headache.
On we traveled to Loveland, Colorado, and phoned the camp to see if they could put us up -- our reservations didn't start until the 7th, and they said come along. Ate at Pine Room smorgasbord.
July 7, 1952
Monday
Well, we can sure pick 'em. Camp's coldest night of the season came
last night, and today is a damp, drab, drizzly day. It's most
depressing.
We can't wash or hike and tho we drove to Bear Lake, we couldn't even see
Hallets over it. We can't see Teddy's Teeth, either.
This afternoon, however, it cleared and Bill and I went on a nature hike to Nymph Lake led by Mr. Slater, ranger naturalist and Phi Beta Kappa.
Tonight we again ate at the Pine Room.
July 8, 1952
Tuesday
We've had a lovely day today to make up for yesterday's not so good
one. This was clear as a bell, cool, cloudless, keen.
This morning we drove up to the Post Office on Trail Ridge Road. It was lovely, as always. Bill walked all the way down to Iceberg Lake --I about half way and took his picture. Fun.
This afternoon we washed clothes and bummed around down in Estes. We ate lunch at Holland Inn (very nice) after coming off Trail Ridge and we ate supper at the Old Plantation in Estes. Both were great.
July 9, 1952
Wednesday
Nice weather again today. We breakfasted in the Rustic Room and then
started for Wild Basin -- stopping to reserve three places for supper
tonight
at Voekel's. This is to be Bill's birthday supper, but I forgot to
bring
my money; so he'll have to pay for it.
When Bill got back from Voekel's, he said they were having a buffet supper tonight and no reservations are necessary. We won't decide until later whether to go there are somewhere else.
Then we drove out to Wild Basin. We had Billy, food, the buggy, and mother, and we made it to Copeland Falls. But mother surely was huffing and puffing. We ate an early lunch there and then returned to camp and rested. Supper in the Pine Room and then to Moraine Museum to hear Mr. Albert's talk. Billy cut up; so I had to take him to the car.
July 10, 1952
Thursday
Up and breakfast in the Rustic Room. Said numerous goodbyes to everyone
and left for Denver.
We'd planned to pick up some raspberry cider, but we never did see any. Went to Denver via Boulder and the new toll road. It was very nice.
Mother and I shopped while Bill and Billy stayed at the Sherley-Savoy and watched the Republican convention on telephone. We ate dinner at wonderful Roggio's and then started for Matheson.
We got to the ranch about four -- found everyone in fine fetter here.
July 11, 1952
Friday
Spent nice lazy day here on the ranch with the Norman Brookses.
July 12-13, 1952
Saturday-Sunday
Ditto.
July 14, 1952
Monday
We left at four this morning, and it was cold. But it warmed up in
a hurry. By 10:00 and Boise City, Oklahoma, we were hot, but it was
good.
It was hot then until about two in Childress, Texas, where we hit rain. Then it was lovely. Nice and cool.
We got in to Anson at 5:00. Oscar and Iris were both fine. We had fun talking to them. They're keen people.
Billy was a little stinker tonight. He cried and screamed and wouldn't go to sleep! (but he finally did)
July 15, 1952
Tuesday
We left at 8:25 this morning from Iris's. We had a nice visit there,
but, boy, am I ready to get home!!!
We discussed whether to go by Austin or not and finally decided to do it. Iris is planning to be there this weekend, and Ima and the kids are there now. Sooooo ate lunch north of Austin and got to Austin about one. Everyone looked fine! Mother B. looks fine and dandy. And she feels fine, too -- but she's still restricted to her bed and a chair right by the bed.
After we left Austin, we high tailed it for S.A. and got here at five. Boy, did this old musty, hot, dirty, closed up house look good! Hurray for vacations! Hurray for coming home!
And here the journal ends.
Miscellaneous Notes:
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