Vantage to Yellowstone and Sun Valley

Our first stop was Vantage, Washington, and the Ginkgo Petrified Forest on the bank of the Columbia River.

This old tractor and plow were beside the road.

This Gem Shop has some interesting things.

This is a view of the Columbia River from the parking lot at the Ginkgo Park looking south.

Looking north into the gorge, you can just see where the old highway ran before the Wanapum Dam was built. Then we drove on to Hayden, Idaho, and spent the night. The next day we drove to Silverwood Theme Park and boarded the train.

We were quickly robbed by miners despite the best efforts of our escort, Deputy Bean.

The log ride was a big draw.

Up the chute.

And down into the water (cold water!).

Dumbo was popular.

And bumper boats with spray nozzels.

The White Water raft ride was wilder and wetter.

Drove north to Sandpoint and spent the night. Then breakfast by the lake and a little exercise.

Bozeman was a long drive but we made it before night fell and checked into the Voss Inn Bed and Breakfast. We walked into town the next day and did some looking around.

Then back to the Voss Inn and loaded up then visited the Montana State Museum.

This is the door keeper there.

Livingston, Montana, is very colorful.

The next day we drove down to Chico for a trail ride.

This was one of our wranglers on Sparky.

Part of the group was from Houston, TX.

They put mesh bags on the horse's mouth to keep it from eating, but you still have to raise their heads.

Grand daughter is a good rider.

Then on to Yellowstone and the boiling mud.

4000 gallons of boiling water leave the Grand Prismatic Spring and flow into the Madison River.

Stay on the boardwalks!

Grand Prismatic Spring was hot.

Old Faithful is still popular.

Yellowstone Lake is BIG.

Bison are everywhere, but bears are not. 

This photo was taken at Yellowstone in 1957 by my father. But no one feeds the bears anymore, and they have become shy.

Breakfast in West Yellowstone, MT, at the Trappers Cafe.

The on to Sun Valley and dinner at the Ram a night at the Inn.

Our room had a deck with a view of Baldy Mountain, where we have skied in the winter. My HP M22 point and shoot worked well, and it makes Video, but I can't seem to upload any.

Re-crossed the Columbia River at Umatilla, Oregon

I always liked this place.