Obama to YNP; Nate to Ruskin

It was announced the other day that President Obama will be vacationing with his family at some of our nations National Parks, including Yellowstone. He is set to fly into Bozeman, Montana on Air Force One on Friday and travel by helicopter into the park sometime Saturday. He will be speaking in Bozeman on Friday. After his visit to Yellowstone the First Family will be heading down to the Grand Canyon before visiting Phoenix.

Unfortunately I will be leaving Montana on Thursday, the day before all of this Presidential action will be taking place. But, to keep the glass half full, I will be heading back to Nebraska. Actually, heading back to Nebraska has the glass at about 98% full, with missing Obama's visit making up that missing 2%. A visit in Denver with some good friends on my route back will replace about half of that 2%, meaning the glass is almost overflowing.

Basically what I am saying is that I can't wait to get out of here. It has been a pretty decent summer, but I can't wait to get back home. Some people say that "home is where you heart is," to which I sometimes respond: "then your real home is in your chest," but home is Nebraska. See you soon Cornhusker state!

Yellowstone 8/4/9

Old Faithful from the ground.






















Those fools in Wyoming finally learned how to parallel park. In this same place a couple of weeks ago you may remember that this sign was disobeyed.












View of the lower falls from a distance. We hiked a trail that went along the southern rim of the canyon to get to this place. Of coarse once we got to the end of the trail it was apparent that there was a road that would have taken us there as well, but that would not have been as scenic or as much fun.







The hot springs at Mammoth. It is really amazing the difference in the colors. It has something to do with different organisms that can thrive and survive in the heat of the springs.















The view of the lower falls in the canyon from the end of Uncle Tom's trail. The hike down to the viewpoint is very similar to the hike to the top of Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. This one was about 330 steps one way.

West Yellowstone News Police Reports

The West Yellowstone News publishes police reports every week. Many times they are more humorous than anything else. Here are a few of the highlights from last weeks publication.

• Report of someone dressed as Bigfoot on HWY 20 standing in the middle of the road. "Mr. Sasquatch" was almost hit by the reporting party's vehicle
• Report of injured deer on HWY 20. -Deer had already died when officer arrived
• Illegal camping on school football field. -Officer removed camper
• Individual request officer help in locating overdue spouse. -Fremont County Sheriff's Office and Yellowstone National Park were notified. Spouse was located at home waiting for her husband.
• Local apartment manager reported possible arson attempt. -Officer responded. Not an arson attempt, individual had set their eviction notice on fire and pushed it through office mail slot
• Air Idaho Flight for Life was called in. Flight was later canceled because patient was too big

But I am really looking forward to next week's police report because late Saturday night the owner of the campground got into an altercation with some bikers not obeying the quiet hours and sprayed one of them in the face with bear mace. Apparently the biker came at him and may have thrown a punch. But still.... that stuff is made for 500 lb bears, not humans.