Montana. Livingston I presume?

Montana the last state before we hit Canada, once again we are hiding out in a motel. Rain and hail falls outside on the motorcyles, as we lay in bed catching up with this blog. Snow is falling higher up the pass. Livingston has 6000 residents and a cinima so we will watch the new Prince of Persia and wait for the sun to return. W seem to be too early in the Season. Normally it's 20 degrees here, today just 5 degrees. We are watching the weather in Canada closely. We don't wont to hit a big snow storm in the middle of no where.. All's good though a comfortable bed, internet but no phone signals, the land lines wont let us make international call for some reason..Oh well TV and munchies... Glacier National Park when the snow moves on..

Yellowstone

Like most people in the UK, we have heard of Yellowstone, seen the footage of bears and wolfs. I was aware we had arrived early in the year and just days before we had roads closed due to snow. As we approached the park we were greeted with fantastic vies of the Teetons Mountains. A fantastic ridge of mountain peaks that stretched for as far as the eyes could see. Surely Yellowstone couldn't be as good as the Teetons?

It was, as we drove into the park we snaked our way up a very steep road following a river, that turned into a gorge then a canyon, The view became larger and grander. It was stunning, we stopped to take pictures of the gorge and i wished i had a better camera to capture the scene that lay before us. Buffalo, Deer, elk lined the road. We headed higher into the snow line. The roads were clear but the snow banked six foot to either side. Old Faithful geyser was not as faithful but the other guysers were beautiful, hot springs and steam bellowed from small craters with fantastic colours of volcanic rock. Yellowstone Park have board walks that stretch over the craters and you can get real close without damaging the delicate environment. We stopped and took pictures and right in front of us was an imprint of a wolf that had crossed the area a few days before its track clear and large. Next to to the wolf track was a Grizzley bear track it s print the same size as my boot. Were later bought some bear spray.
That night we camped, at Madison, at 8000 feet or so it became cool, but we had a fire and spent the evening chatting to a lovely couple from Vancouver Island Bruce and Pam.

Rock Springs to Yellowstone

On route from Zion we had a few days off from riding , once again due to the weather. We hid out in a little town called Rock Springs, it was a three horse town, just! it had a cinema and a few wall marts but it felt like the town was built but people hadn't moved in yet. After two days holding up watching the USA channel we had to get out of there. We drove a fantastic road into and out of Rock Springs over the tops of a mountain range, but it was so cold and the weather was changing to snow.

Eventual we arrived at Jackson Hole, a real tourist trap, but with a hint of the old west and an alpine ski resort. We found a great hotel, The Painted Buffalo, got warmed and settled and headed off to explore, we stumbled on an old style cinema, you know the type where there is a booth outside where you buy your tickets. Inside was an old type confectionary stall. The Movie: Shrek Forever in 3D, we laughed at the modern movie in the old style environment. Jackson is a great place and only sixty miles from Yellowstone, it is a haven for travelers.

Picture will follow when we get a better internet connection.

Zion, Canyoneering

Zion is a fantastic place, its like being in the Grand Canyon, on either side you are surrounded by giant red rock mountains.
We spent two nights there one night in a hotel and the second camping. On the second day we went canyoneering, which is similar to gorge walking but on the is canyon there was no water so lots of absailing down sandstone gullies. Watching out for Rattle snakes.

Vegas Repite

After being on the road and not taking many breaks we started to get tired and grumpy, so we hit Vegas! or rather hit a hotel in vegas. Our first night there we headed to the main strip, margarita's in hand and little dabble on the slots. Before we new it we were a little drunk and we had won a few bucks and was suffering exhaustion. tipsy we retired with a out winnings

Route 66

After the Grand Canyon, we spent a night in Williams and then headed down the old Route 66, the largest section thats left. We stopped at a town that resembled CARS the movie, as the film told the story of the I40. Seligman is that town.

The Grand Canyon

After the Strawberry Volcano we headed north to the South rim of The Canyon, we had dreamed of this place for years and it was a definitive land mark in the trip. The road up to the canyon offered fantastic views and we even thought we were looking at part of it, but it turned out to be just a little canyon! The Navajo have loads of land here and offer a vast cultural history behind the canyons. On arrival we met a group of bikers who were had training and usual conversation were swapped, were are you from? etc.
We strolled to the viewing point and our expectations were fulfilled. it truly is wonder of the world. The canyons, volcano's and the meteor crater seemed insignificant to the sight that lay before us. I wanted to capture its beauty and vastness but realized a mere photo could never do that. So we present our little pictures safe in the knowledge that its beauty has to be seen to be believed.