Hello everyone! Glad to be back on here and updating you all with my opinions events and such (whether you like it or not). It has been a while since we last talked so I will get to the point. As quickly as I can.
The last time I updated this blog I mentioned that I was heading back to Yellowstone for the summer. And now I am in fact in Yellowstone once again working at the Old Faithful in as a Lead Host. My time here has been eventful to say the least. I have already had some great adventures, met with some new and familiar friends, as well as learned some pretty important lessons in life. I will tell you the specifics of all those as I go on with this blog, otherwise this single blog would be a bazillion pages long :P
I have been here since May 4th and overall I have quite happy here. I love the people I work and play with and just about everything else about this place, with a few minor exceptions. coming back to Yellowstone felt so natural and getting back into the swing of things was pretty much a breeze. Back home I found myself a bit more miserable and depressed then I have been here. This is just what I needed I think to get me out of that stagnation I was feeling back in Oregon. Here in Yellowstone I am loving every minute of my time here. I even have a fondness for my job. Hmm, seeing that last sentence actually written out seems strange to me. Oh well, in any case it is true.
Before even coming here I have tried to decide what I want to do after the summer season is over. One idea that I have been entertaining is too stay here for the winter season. I have already applied for winter and if all goes well I may be staying here in the park for the rest of the year. Another idea is to travel back home with a fellow Oregonian and take my chances at finding a place to live and a job before my funds run too low. Honestly though, I am liking the winter idea more and more. The reason being is that before I left Oregon I made it quite clear to my friends and family that I would not be coming back to Salem to live. My goal has been to find a place of my own, a place for me to call home, and somewhere where I can really find out who I am and why I was put on this earth. I am getting closer and closer to that goal and just thinking about it makes me quite happy and a little nervous. I do not think Yellowstone is that place though, but rather a springboard to help me get to that place I have in my mind.
Anywho, I am just glad to be back here in YNP and among people that I can call my friends. I miss you all back home and hope that you are all doing well! I will talk to you later! hopefully sooner then later haha. Take care!!!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
The Yellowstone Times
Well, it looks like I have found myself back in Yellowstone for the summer and what a summer it has been so far. This blog I have never really kept updated regularly and for legit reasons. Or at least legit to me. my life has been so busy since I left for this crazy and amazing place. I have hardly even had time to sit down and write down about this season so far, as you can see. Now that I have my computer with me however I think doing said writing will be much easier for me now. And I will try to write my blogs as often as I can. For now though, I think I am going to call it a night and try to get some sleep before I head back to work to do it all again tomorrow. See you all!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Meh.
Today I am not going to say much because I am tired and want to go to bed. Plus nothing really has stood out to me today so even if I did want to write something I do not think I would be able to produce a worthy discussion piece.
Anyways, my life goes on here in good old Oregon and I hope yours does for a long while as well.
Anyways, my life goes on here in good old Oregon and I hope yours does for a long while as well.
Monday, January 14, 2013
It's Adventure Time!!!
Oh my goodness, I am beyond excited right now. I can hardly keep still to type this! You may be asking why I am so happy at the moment? Well, I will tell you. Upon arriving home today after a long day at school I discovered a big box, and several envelopes on the kitchen table. All addressed to me. The first thing that got my attention was the box which was from Powell's Bookstore! The books that I ordered almost a month ago have finally come and I cannot wait to crack open the new reads. After inspecting said books I moved on to the envelopes which were response letters from fellow Yellowstoners! I enjoy getting letters from these folk and every other kind of other folk for that matter. Then the last envelope I spied in my pile of late Christmas joy was something that I have been waiting for since November. Yellowstone has finally got back to me and have offered me my old job at Old Faithful!!! This mail is the main reason why I am so excited. This means that I am really going back to Yellowstone this summer! I have been wanting to go back to that amazing place ever since I left it. Granted there are some things that I would rather forget about that place, but overall, for me at least, I thought it was a blast.
I have so much to prepare for now that my second Yellowstone adventure is inevitable! but, first I will have to get this homework assignments done before tomorrow :P No matter! The thought of returning to the land of adventure makes all other problems or obstacles seem so much smaller.
Anyway, that is what I wanted to tell you all tonight. I hope that you all are well and that you keep it real. See you all next post!
I have so much to prepare for now that my second Yellowstone adventure is inevitable! but, first I will have to get this homework assignments done before tomorrow :P No matter! The thought of returning to the land of adventure makes all other problems or obstacles seem so much smaller.
Anyway, that is what I wanted to tell you all tonight. I hope that you all are well and that you keep it real. See you all next post!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Hike Much?
TGIF BABY!!!! One does not really appreciate Friday until their week is full of things to do that do not entirely consist of having fun.
Anywho, I have been meaning to share with you a sort of New Years Resolution that I have decided to embark upon and have already begun. I see it more of a New Years Goal though. And in reality it is just that. A goal. That I have set for myself to reach by the end of this year. They goal that I have set is to take at least one hike a month. And it really does not matter where these hikes take place. The only real rule I have is that they have to be located in places that are designated for hiking and other such things.
The reasoning behind this goal is quite simple really. I LOVE the outdoors. Ever since my Great Yellowstone Adventure I have not been able to get enough of it. Hiking is what I did in my free time out there and I loved every second of it. If I could I would try to hike in a different places a little more frequently. But, seeing as I am back in school I do not have as much time as I would like. So, I thought that one hike a month would be a decent and I would have an easy enough time trying to plan and execute such adventures. For this month I have already taken a 5m hike at Silver Falls State Park. And next month's hike is already in the works.
Also, I think I have just decided to create a second blog that is entirely dedicated to the hikes I take for this New Years Goal of mine. And all other hikes that I take for that matter. Looks like I have a lot of work this weekend haha. Keep an eye out for that new blog! I will post it all up on Facebook as I usually do for this blog.
Well, I better get cracking on it. I hope you are all doing well and I will see you all next post!
Anywho, I have been meaning to share with you a sort of New Years Resolution that I have decided to embark upon and have already begun. I see it more of a New Years Goal though. And in reality it is just that. A goal. That I have set for myself to reach by the end of this year. They goal that I have set is to take at least one hike a month. And it really does not matter where these hikes take place. The only real rule I have is that they have to be located in places that are designated for hiking and other such things.
The reasoning behind this goal is quite simple really. I LOVE the outdoors. Ever since my Great Yellowstone Adventure I have not been able to get enough of it. Hiking is what I did in my free time out there and I loved every second of it. If I could I would try to hike in a different places a little more frequently. But, seeing as I am back in school I do not have as much time as I would like. So, I thought that one hike a month would be a decent and I would have an easy enough time trying to plan and execute such adventures. For this month I have already taken a 5m hike at Silver Falls State Park. And next month's hike is already in the works.
Also, I think I have just decided to create a second blog that is entirely dedicated to the hikes I take for this New Years Goal of mine. And all other hikes that I take for that matter. Looks like I have a lot of work this weekend haha. Keep an eye out for that new blog! I will post it all up on Facebook as I usually do for this blog.
Well, I better get cracking on it. I hope you are all doing well and I will see you all next post!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
You've Got Mail!
As many of you know, I love to write letters. especially to my friends. I love everything about it. The scratching sound my fountain pen makes on the paper, the flow of the ink with every word that I print. Even the occasional blotches of rouge ink on my paper makes it all so much more real. You will never find a letter from me typed from a computer. I just do not like writing personal things on a computer because it becomes much less, well, personal. Even creative writing I detest doing on a computer. All inspiration is sucked right out of me when there is nothing but a blank white screen starring at me, almost forcing me to write something. Anything at all. But, When I have a blank sheet of lined paper in front of me and a fully inked pen in my hand, that is when things start cooking.
Every letter that I have written by hand I have put much effort and thought into. Probably much more then is needed, but I believe that is what letters are all about. If you are not willing to do what needs to be done to get your idea or feelings across on a piece of paper then why bother in the first place? Using a pen and paper just makes what you are writing much more intimate then the same thing typed and printed out. The fact that you directly caused the letters on your paper to appear may sound simple, but I regard it highly. In a sense it is kind of like magic. One minute you have one letter, the next, you have hundreds. At least that is how I see it.
And yes, it does take a little more time for your handwritten letter to reach it's destination and in this day and age we have ways of getting the same point across at pretty much the speed of light. But, you do not get the same feeling or emotion when you read a messege on a screen that you do when you read a messege from a piece of paper that you are holding right in front of you. It is much more personal when it is physically present. Much like how talking to a person face to face is more personal than instant messaging them.
In the times that we live in, I believe that we have traded the intimacy of communication for its convenience.
Every letter that I have written by hand I have put much effort and thought into. Probably much more then is needed, but I believe that is what letters are all about. If you are not willing to do what needs to be done to get your idea or feelings across on a piece of paper then why bother in the first place? Using a pen and paper just makes what you are writing much more intimate then the same thing typed and printed out. The fact that you directly caused the letters on your paper to appear may sound simple, but I regard it highly. In a sense it is kind of like magic. One minute you have one letter, the next, you have hundreds. At least that is how I see it.
And yes, it does take a little more time for your handwritten letter to reach it's destination and in this day and age we have ways of getting the same point across at pretty much the speed of light. But, you do not get the same feeling or emotion when you read a messege on a screen that you do when you read a messege from a piece of paper that you are holding right in front of you. It is much more personal when it is physically present. Much like how talking to a person face to face is more personal than instant messaging them.
In the times that we live in, I believe that we have traded the intimacy of communication for its convenience.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Edumication
Well, today was a much better start to Winter Term than I originally thought it would be.
Despite the fact that I had to wake up at a time when I would rather be nice and toasty in my bed, I actually thought that my first day of classes went well and I actually am looking forward to them. Now, I only have two classes, but here me out. In the past, I have never gotten along with school and school has never gotten along with me. So, needless to say, going into this term I have been quite nervous and anxious along other negative feelings. Not so after today however. I only have two classes (Chemistry and Pottery Art) but I think that this should be enough for me. At the moment anyhow. If all goes well, next term will bring even more classes, pain and suffering...Why am I excited about that?
Anywho, I am totally pooped, which is why this blog is short and only about one thing. Usually I write a bit more than this, but hey you can't produce literary bloggity gold every time right? I hope that all is well with you and wish you the best of luck. See you next post!
Despite the fact that I had to wake up at a time when I would rather be nice and toasty in my bed, I actually thought that my first day of classes went well and I actually am looking forward to them. Now, I only have two classes, but here me out. In the past, I have never gotten along with school and school has never gotten along with me. So, needless to say, going into this term I have been quite nervous and anxious along other negative feelings. Not so after today however. I only have two classes (Chemistry and Pottery Art) but I think that this should be enough for me. At the moment anyhow. If all goes well, next term will bring even more classes, pain and suffering...Why am I excited about that?
Anywho, I am totally pooped, which is why this blog is short and only about one thing. Usually I write a bit more than this, but hey you can't produce literary bloggity gold every time right? I hope that all is well with you and wish you the best of luck. See you next post!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
I AM BACK!
It really has been sometime since I have written anything on this blog hasn't it? For this I apologize. And upon reading a fellow blogger's blog I plan on getting my butt into gear and keep this blog squeaky clean with blog posts three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Just like the good old blogging days haha.
A quick little update since I have your attention now. Tomorrow marks the beginning of Winter Term for me and many other college students in America and I am both excited and un-enthused by it. I am sure all will be well and at the very least this going to school will rid me of the useless feeling I have been having for a bit. Yay for staying busy! :P Also, I have made a New Years Resolution (Well, more like a New Years Goal actually) to do at least one hike a month for each of this year of 2013. I have already done my hike for January at Silver Falls State Park, which was a brilliant way to start this whole thing off. Oregon forests have an unexplainable beauty that I have yet to find anywhere else. Anywho, I am still in the process of picking another hike for next month, but rest assured that when I do decide on one I will let you all know on here.
I believe that is enough updating for now. Gotta save some stuff for tomorrow's blog. I hope that you are all doing well and hope that you enjoy following this little blog of mine. See you all next post!
A quick little update since I have your attention now. Tomorrow marks the beginning of Winter Term for me and many other college students in America and I am both excited and un-enthused by it. I am sure all will be well and at the very least this going to school will rid me of the useless feeling I have been having for a bit. Yay for staying busy! :P Also, I have made a New Years Resolution (Well, more like a New Years Goal actually) to do at least one hike a month for each of this year of 2013. I have already done my hike for January at Silver Falls State Park, which was a brilliant way to start this whole thing off. Oregon forests have an unexplainable beauty that I have yet to find anywhere else. Anywho, I am still in the process of picking another hike for next month, but rest assured that when I do decide on one I will let you all know on here.
I believe that is enough updating for now. Gotta save some stuff for tomorrow's blog. I hope that you are all doing well and hope that you enjoy following this little blog of mine. See you all next post!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Why I Write
I write for multiple reasons. It really depends how I am feeling at the moment when I pick up my pen. I could be writing to remind myself to do something later in the day or even recording a thought that I that was worth keeping.
Lately though I have been recording the happenings, thoughts, and people that I have come across during my Great Yellowstone Adventure. I still am writing things down I do not want to forget. And that is really why I started writing in the first place. I do not want to forget. And I in return to not want to be forgotten. Almost everyone wants to be remembered, it's an odd thing about us humans and I can't explain it.
And the best way to be remembered in this world is to leave behind gifts or heirlooms for the next generation. I am doing just that by writing in my journal. I intend to fill that book up with adventures, thoughts, people, etc. in the hopes that who ever I leave it to will better understand me as an individual.
Lately though I have been recording the happenings, thoughts, and people that I have come across during my Great Yellowstone Adventure. I still am writing things down I do not want to forget. And that is really why I started writing in the first place. I do not want to forget. And I in return to not want to be forgotten. Almost everyone wants to be remembered, it's an odd thing about us humans and I can't explain it.
And the best way to be remembered in this world is to leave behind gifts or heirlooms for the next generation. I am doing just that by writing in my journal. I intend to fill that book up with adventures, thoughts, people, etc. in the hopes that who ever I leave it to will better understand me as an individual.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Home Sweet Home
I am now home. I have been for the past few days as some of you have noticed actually haha. It feels so good to roam around the land that I call home.
I am feeling both sad and happy about me coming home. Happy because I am now surrounded by family and old friends that I have not seen in the last four months. Sad because I left the tight knit group that after a time I considered my family as well. I left the adventures and experiences I had with them. Every person yearns for those things and leaving them really was not easy. It had to be done though I know that for sure. I miss my fellow Yellowstoners very much and I believe I will for as long as I consider them a part of my family. Thank God for facebook and other ways to communicate, otherwise I am sure my bonds with these people would just wither away over time.
I also have no intention of forgetting them. While I was in Yellowstone, I bought a Journal with the distinct goal of writing down all of the adventures, experiences, and people I came across. And I have done exactly that. Everyone and everything is now immortalized in my journal and therefore my mind. I will not, I cannot, forget my Great Yellowstone Adventure.
Now that I am home the question of "what's next?" seems to popping up a lot. And rightly so Honestly I would like to be able to find another job soon and work on becoming more independent as well as getting some schooling out of the way. At this point in time, that is my plan. If things prove to change or force me to take a different course I will try my best to do so as painlessly as possible.
For now though, I think I will just take a couple more days to relax, catch up with friends, and enjoy being home. Also, these posts will become a regular thing again. Three times a week just like before :) See you all next post!
I am feeling both sad and happy about me coming home. Happy because I am now surrounded by family and old friends that I have not seen in the last four months. Sad because I left the tight knit group that after a time I considered my family as well. I left the adventures and experiences I had with them. Every person yearns for those things and leaving them really was not easy. It had to be done though I know that for sure. I miss my fellow Yellowstoners very much and I believe I will for as long as I consider them a part of my family. Thank God for facebook and other ways to communicate, otherwise I am sure my bonds with these people would just wither away over time.
I also have no intention of forgetting them. While I was in Yellowstone, I bought a Journal with the distinct goal of writing down all of the adventures, experiences, and people I came across. And I have done exactly that. Everyone and everything is now immortalized in my journal and therefore my mind. I will not, I cannot, forget my Great Yellowstone Adventure.
Now that I am home the question of "what's next?" seems to popping up a lot. And rightly so Honestly I would like to be able to find another job soon and work on becoming more independent as well as getting some schooling out of the way. At this point in time, that is my plan. If things prove to change or force me to take a different course I will try my best to do so as painlessly as possible.
For now though, I think I will just take a couple more days to relax, catch up with friends, and enjoy being home. Also, these posts will become a regular thing again. Three times a week just like before :) See you all next post!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Two Months and Still Adventuring
Once again I come to you all to tell you of the adventures and happenings that I have experienced here in Yellowstone National Park and beyond. Let me start off by telling you about work.
My work here really has not changed much. There are good days and there are bad days, luckily more good than bad. The only real change around here are the faces I see come and go. People that I have come to consider good friends are either now gone or going to be in the next few weeks. This saddens me. But, I have been making new friends as well. As more people keeping coming here for work, I find myself feeling less lonely here. When it is my time to leave I know I will be very sad to leave my friends here. Thank God for Facebook.
My latest adventure has been my best yet I think. Last weekend I joined a group of my friends on a hike called the Mary Mountain Trail. This has been my longest hike here in Yellowstone by far. Coming in at 24 miles (27 or so if you include all of the wondering we did trying to find the trail again after we had lost it a couple of times) The whole trail was mostly flat with some uphill and downhill areas. We also came across just about every type of terrain imaginable. Hiking the trail made me feel like I was on an epic quest of some sort. The land was so beautiful.
We started for the trail head at about 4:30 AM and were able to see a magnificent sunrise along the way to the trail. We got to the trail head about 6:30 AM and were on our way. Our first wild life encounter was a huge herd of elk. They were so close and every time we got closer they would run over the next hill making their eerily beautiful sounding calls. I had never heard an elk call until then and now I am glad that I did. It some how makes me appreciate them a bit more.
We also came across dozens of male bison scattered all over the landscape. Needless to say, those bison in the way of our paths were given a very wide birth as we passed by. We even ran into a lone coyote and even though we did not see any wolves they indeed had been where we were not too long ago judging from the prints we found. Many skeletons of elk and bison were found along the trail as well. Some bleached from the sun and others with still a bit of meat on them!
After we had past the half way point of the trail (the halfway point being May Lake) things were pretty uneventful., but nonetheless beautiful and awe inspiring. I am glad that I took my camera along for the trip because the pictures I took really are the only way I can show you what I have seen . I have posted the photos from this adventure on my facebook here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150953027938909.437299.660493908&type=3 .
Towards the end of our journey we were weary and out of water and food. Not a very good thing if you are on an all day hike. And the face that the last part of the trail was pretty much dessert with hot thermal features here and there did not help at all. Luckily we reached the end of the trail before dying of thirst or starvation.
After Mary Mountain I am a bit hiked out, but I have already been making plans for my next big hike which I will share with you all after it happens.
This most recent weekend of pretty chill though. Mainly it consisted of a trip to Bozeman where my friends and I ate sushi, shopped for some needed items for Yellowstone, and watched the new Batman movie. Which is freaking amazing by the way. Oh, and I even got to ride in the bed of a truck to Bozeman too! :D Needless to say I was so excited to do so and I was even more excited to find out that it is perfectly legal to do that in Wyoming and Montana. The weekend also consisted of me having dinner with someone that I have grown rather fond of here. I am hoping a second meeting will be in the future soon.
Things are changing here and I will do my best to make the best of these changes. whatever they may be. I hope that you are doing well at home and that the future holds good things for you. I love and miss you all! See you next post!
My work here really has not changed much. There are good days and there are bad days, luckily more good than bad. The only real change around here are the faces I see come and go. People that I have come to consider good friends are either now gone or going to be in the next few weeks. This saddens me. But, I have been making new friends as well. As more people keeping coming here for work, I find myself feeling less lonely here. When it is my time to leave I know I will be very sad to leave my friends here. Thank God for Facebook.
My latest adventure has been my best yet I think. Last weekend I joined a group of my friends on a hike called the Mary Mountain Trail. This has been my longest hike here in Yellowstone by far. Coming in at 24 miles (27 or so if you include all of the wondering we did trying to find the trail again after we had lost it a couple of times) The whole trail was mostly flat with some uphill and downhill areas. We also came across just about every type of terrain imaginable. Hiking the trail made me feel like I was on an epic quest of some sort. The land was so beautiful.
We started for the trail head at about 4:30 AM and were able to see a magnificent sunrise along the way to the trail. We got to the trail head about 6:30 AM and were on our way. Our first wild life encounter was a huge herd of elk. They were so close and every time we got closer they would run over the next hill making their eerily beautiful sounding calls. I had never heard an elk call until then and now I am glad that I did. It some how makes me appreciate them a bit more.
We also came across dozens of male bison scattered all over the landscape. Needless to say, those bison in the way of our paths were given a very wide birth as we passed by. We even ran into a lone coyote and even though we did not see any wolves they indeed had been where we were not too long ago judging from the prints we found. Many skeletons of elk and bison were found along the trail as well. Some bleached from the sun and others with still a bit of meat on them!
After we had past the half way point of the trail (the halfway point being May Lake) things were pretty uneventful., but nonetheless beautiful and awe inspiring. I am glad that I took my camera along for the trip because the pictures I took really are the only way I can show you what I have seen . I have posted the photos from this adventure on my facebook here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150953027938909.437299.660493908&type=3 .
Towards the end of our journey we were weary and out of water and food. Not a very good thing if you are on an all day hike. And the face that the last part of the trail was pretty much dessert with hot thermal features here and there did not help at all. Luckily we reached the end of the trail before dying of thirst or starvation.
After Mary Mountain I am a bit hiked out, but I have already been making plans for my next big hike which I will share with you all after it happens.
This most recent weekend of pretty chill though. Mainly it consisted of a trip to Bozeman where my friends and I ate sushi, shopped for some needed items for Yellowstone, and watched the new Batman movie. Which is freaking amazing by the way. Oh, and I even got to ride in the bed of a truck to Bozeman too! :D Needless to say I was so excited to do so and I was even more excited to find out that it is perfectly legal to do that in Wyoming and Montana. The weekend also consisted of me having dinner with someone that I have grown rather fond of here. I am hoping a second meeting will be in the future soon.
Things are changing here and I will do my best to make the best of these changes. whatever they may be. I hope that you are doing well at home and that the future holds good things for you. I love and miss you all! See you next post!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Mountains and Grizzlies
Since my last blog entry many things have been going on here
in Yellowstone; Some good things and some not so good things. Let me start with the good things.
Well, my weekends
here have been amazing! I have been camping twice already and each time has
brought new adventures for me. The hikes I have taken of late have also been
epic. My first trip was to Grand Teton National Park and let me just say now,
the scenes there are gorgeous. I had a hard time putting my camera down to do
anything else. You may have already seen
the pictures that I took on that trip on my Facebook. I am especially proud of
the black and white photo that I recently posted there. I may have it printed
and framed when I get back home. The
people I camped with are amazing. I have come to know them well since I have
met them here and I feel so blessed to have them in my life. Even if they do
get a little crazy at times ;) We say many specimens of wild life and even saw
an antelope. Which I am told are not all
too easy to find. Bison were also on that list of things we saw. In fact, while
we were visiting a place called Mormon Row, there was a huge herd of bison in a
nearby field. Needless to say we did not get too close to them, especially
since there were many calves around. The calves were so cute though. That was a great way to start my camping
experience out here I think.
My last weekend
also consisted of camping, this time though we decided to go back country
camping. This was my first time doing any back country camping here in
Yellowstone and I was excited. We found a pretty awesome campsite in an area
called Sentinel Meadows. Just the name made me feel like I was in a whole
different world where civilization had never touched the beauty that I saw
before me. Again, you may have already seen the photos I took of that trip. I
seem to have a habit of posting my photos sooner than I do these blogs. Perhaps
it is the fact that posting photos is a bit easier to do. Anywho, it was an
amazing trip and I am glad that I went. Although: I will say that I was not
pleased with the fishing there. The ranger that told us about the area said
that the fishing there would be good. I did not see one fish while I was
there. We were kind of hoping to fry up
some fish for dinner but, no such luck. It was a good thing we brought tons of
snacks. Besides the horrible fishing Sentinel Meadows was an amazing experience
and I hope to go back country camping again.
This weekend has been
quite enjoyable for me. I think that after the last two weekends of camping, I
am willing to take a break from that for a bit before I go again. Yesterday (my
Saturday) my friend and I decided to go climb to a place called Avalanche Peak.
And on the way there I saw my first grizzly bear! :D It was pretty amazing. It
was a bit far away so I couldn’t get any pictures, but still, it was epic. So,
basically we climbed a mountain. And let
me tell you; It was one hell of a climb. I had never been so exhausted and
weary on a hike. It was steeper than anything I had ever climbed in my life and
just as traitorous. There were times I thought I was not going to make it back
down the mountain. Our ascent lasted for about 2 and half hours or so and like
I said, every second was tough for me. Somehow though, I did it. I made it to
the top and I have the photographic evidence to prove it ;) The view was so
worth the climb. I wish we could have stayed on the top for a little longer.
Unfortunately my friend needed to get back to Old Faithful to work the dinner
shift :P So, our descent began, which
only took about 45 minutes since we literally were running down the mountain
like a couple of mountain goats ;) We even were able to sled down part way
because of the snow that was still around. That was an experience that I will
never forget. Once we made it back to
the car we drove back to Old Faithful just in time for my friend to make it
into work on time. The only problem I had on the ride back home was that my
stomach was not being friendly to me at all for some reason. I literally was not able to focus on my
surroundings because the pain was so bad. And on top of that I had gotten a
splitting head ache that started about the same time the stomach pains started.
The car ride home for me was not pleasant :P We saw some male elk on our way
back that I barely remember seeing because I was pretty out of it at the time.
When we got back, I went straight to bed and took a several hour nap.
Thankfully that nap worked wonders for me and when I woke up I was feeling much
better than I was before. So much in fact, I was actually able to eat again. The
rest of my day was pretty chill. I tried some new ice cream with a friend, (I
got ice cream called Huckleberry. It was amazing!) went to the employee pub
shot some pool and threw darts with a couple other friends, and to finish off
the night we all took a night hike. And today I sit here just chilling writing
my blog for all you wonderful people.
Now, onto the not
so good things that have been going on here; work is where all of the trouble
seems to be coming from. Go figure right? :P First, people have been either
quitting and leaving Yellowstone all together or getting fired for some reason
or the other. Most have been leaving because of family issues or personal ones.
Or just because they think things are getting too tough for them to handle. This
has resulted in the kitchens being understaffed and not able to work at full
capacity. This just makes things horrible for us who stay and try to make the
best of things. More than once I have
thought of joining those who seem to fleeing. I do not think I will do that
though. I came here to work till September 16th and I will keep that
promise I made before I came here. Even if I am the only person on staff left I
will stay till the bitter end.
Other than those
things I just mentioned my time here has been an experience of a lifetime. I am
so glad I decided to come here. I have met so many new people, done so many new
things, and seen so many things that I thought I would never be able to see in
my lifetime. I do miss my home, family,
and friends dearly, but when the time comes for me to leave a piece of me will
stay here in Yellowstone.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Adventures
Phew! I finally have some time to write an update for you all. I wish that these little posts of mine could be a bit more reliable and frequent, but really, as long as I can actually write this every once in a while, all will be well.
Things here in Yellowstone have not really changed much. Buddy is still hanging around, the EDR food is still terrible, and work is barely bearable. I have had a few adventures since I last posted here though. My latest hike took me to a knew area of the park that I had not yet explored.
One night after work a few friends of mine decided that a night hike should commence. The night was so warm and the moon so bright that it was almost like taking a hike in the day time. In fact, Many times we found that we did not even need our flashlights since the moon gave off so much light. We walked through Geyser Basin, which basically is our backyard, and into Biscuit Basin, Another geyser filled basin part of the park. Once through biscuit we started to hike up the roots of the mountains that surrounded us and out basin of geysers. Along the hole hike we encounters sights that would put the same sights in the daytime to shame. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera. Even if I did though, I don't think my photos would have done justice to the grandeur and mystery that each sight brought to us.
Anyway, once at the roots of the mountains we hiked up a narrow trail along a large and formidable sounding river. If not for the moon and the loud sound, I do not think I would have been able to know the river was even there. After about a mile and a half up the narrow and sometimes rough path we finally made it to our destination: Mystic Falls. My goodness what a sight to see! The falls were situated in a crevice carved out of the mountains themselves with enormous amounts of water flowing through it. The moons rays allowed us to actually see the falls in the night and somehow the moonlight gave the falls, and the rest of our surroundings for that matter, a mythical and unreal feeling. Like were were somehow transported to another world. This place seems to have that effect on people.
There were many springs along the way up the mountain too. Some of which we were able to inspect up close. Once we had had out fill of the views we started out way back. We had hiked about six miles and been out for nearly 3 hours before we made it back to our dorms.
My next adventure was basically the same as the one I just told you about. Except that this time I brought a camera and it was daytime. Even during the daytime the hike was still spectacular. I have already posted the photos of that hike on Facebook if you would like to see. Here is a link (put link here). Another difference about this hike was that there were many more people along the way. I still find it astounding to see so many people here.
My latest adventure actually took me out of Yellowstone and into the state of Montana. I was invited on a banzai trip to a place called Chico Hot Springs. Since I had the time and the money for such a trip I thought it would be a nice change to get out of the park. And for the most part it was a nice change. The drive to Chico was very scenic and beautiful. Driving through the Rockies gave me so much to take photos of, but once again though, some force beyond me made sure that I had forgotten my memory card for my camera -_- I really need to double check these things.
Once at Chico we got our accommodations for the night in the Inn where these famed springs were located. After some sleep and a hearty breakfast, we headed straight for the springs. Now, these springs are actually just man made pools, but the water/heat is being pumped into the pools from natural springs located underground. Even though it was not what I expected, it nonetheless was satisfying. The springs were so warm and tranquil that I did not wish to leave anytime soon. Although at one point I did feel like a lobster in a boiling pot of water. In fact, I am sure that I even looked like one once I finally came out.
Once out lunch was finished we made our way back to the park. The ride back is where things went a bit downhill for me though. Apparently, I had caught some sort of illness while at Chico. I do not know what really though. It would have been some of the food or a bug going around. Again though, I am not quite sure what it was that hit me. All that to say by the time we made it back to the park I felt like crap. So much in fact, that I had to call in sick for work :P I hate doing that, but I do not think I would have been much use at work had I gone. After having the rest of the day and half of the next to rest I am feeling much better and am back at work. Overall, the trip was fun. I may have to make a planned trip sometime soon though. Hopefully soon I can go to the Tetons. Everyone who has gone there tells me it is even more grand than Yellowstone is.
Anyway, those have been my latest adventures. I hope that you all have enjoyed reading about them and stick around to read more of them. I am not sure when my next post will be, but most likely it will be after my weekend (Tuesday and Wednesday). Alright, I better get some sleep. I am going to be meeting a friend for lunch at the Old Faithful where we both work. Hopefully I will have my first taste of bison tomorrow. If so I will make sure to tell you all how it is.
Okay, I am really going to sleep now. Goodnight everyone! See you all next post!!
Things here in Yellowstone have not really changed much. Buddy is still hanging around, the EDR food is still terrible, and work is barely bearable. I have had a few adventures since I last posted here though. My latest hike took me to a knew area of the park that I had not yet explored.
One night after work a few friends of mine decided that a night hike should commence. The night was so warm and the moon so bright that it was almost like taking a hike in the day time. In fact, Many times we found that we did not even need our flashlights since the moon gave off so much light. We walked through Geyser Basin, which basically is our backyard, and into Biscuit Basin, Another geyser filled basin part of the park. Once through biscuit we started to hike up the roots of the mountains that surrounded us and out basin of geysers. Along the hole hike we encounters sights that would put the same sights in the daytime to shame. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera. Even if I did though, I don't think my photos would have done justice to the grandeur and mystery that each sight brought to us.
Anyway, once at the roots of the mountains we hiked up a narrow trail along a large and formidable sounding river. If not for the moon and the loud sound, I do not think I would have been able to know the river was even there. After about a mile and a half up the narrow and sometimes rough path we finally made it to our destination: Mystic Falls. My goodness what a sight to see! The falls were situated in a crevice carved out of the mountains themselves with enormous amounts of water flowing through it. The moons rays allowed us to actually see the falls in the night and somehow the moonlight gave the falls, and the rest of our surroundings for that matter, a mythical and unreal feeling. Like were were somehow transported to another world. This place seems to have that effect on people.
There were many springs along the way up the mountain too. Some of which we were able to inspect up close. Once we had had out fill of the views we started out way back. We had hiked about six miles and been out for nearly 3 hours before we made it back to our dorms.
My next adventure was basically the same as the one I just told you about. Except that this time I brought a camera and it was daytime. Even during the daytime the hike was still spectacular. I have already posted the photos of that hike on Facebook if you would like to see. Here is a link (put link here). Another difference about this hike was that there were many more people along the way. I still find it astounding to see so many people here.
My latest adventure actually took me out of Yellowstone and into the state of Montana. I was invited on a banzai trip to a place called Chico Hot Springs. Since I had the time and the money for such a trip I thought it would be a nice change to get out of the park. And for the most part it was a nice change. The drive to Chico was very scenic and beautiful. Driving through the Rockies gave me so much to take photos of, but once again though, some force beyond me made sure that I had forgotten my memory card for my camera -_- I really need to double check these things.
Once at Chico we got our accommodations for the night in the Inn where these famed springs were located. After some sleep and a hearty breakfast, we headed straight for the springs. Now, these springs are actually just man made pools, but the water/heat is being pumped into the pools from natural springs located underground. Even though it was not what I expected, it nonetheless was satisfying. The springs were so warm and tranquil that I did not wish to leave anytime soon. Although at one point I did feel like a lobster in a boiling pot of water. In fact, I am sure that I even looked like one once I finally came out.
Once out lunch was finished we made our way back to the park. The ride back is where things went a bit downhill for me though. Apparently, I had caught some sort of illness while at Chico. I do not know what really though. It would have been some of the food or a bug going around. Again though, I am not quite sure what it was that hit me. All that to say by the time we made it back to the park I felt like crap. So much in fact, that I had to call in sick for work :P I hate doing that, but I do not think I would have been much use at work had I gone. After having the rest of the day and half of the next to rest I am feeling much better and am back at work. Overall, the trip was fun. I may have to make a planned trip sometime soon though. Hopefully soon I can go to the Tetons. Everyone who has gone there tells me it is even more grand than Yellowstone is.
Anyway, those have been my latest adventures. I hope that you all have enjoyed reading about them and stick around to read more of them. I am not sure when my next post will be, but most likely it will be after my weekend (Tuesday and Wednesday). Alright, I better get some sleep. I am going to be meeting a friend for lunch at the Old Faithful where we both work. Hopefully I will have my first taste of bison tomorrow. If so I will make sure to tell you all how it is.
Okay, I am really going to sleep now. Goodnight everyone! See you all next post!!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Missing EVERYONE!!
At the moment I am feeling quite lonesome. Sure I have friends here, but it is the presence of friends and family from home that I crave right now. I know it sounds sappy and such, but it really has been eating at me for the past few days. Work seems to do a good job of distracting me from that fact, but as soon as I finish my shift I realize just how far away from home I really am. My hikes and adventures with my friends here take an edge off the loneliness, but again, as soon as I sit down and take stock of where I actually am I get a bit bummed that my closest friends and family are not here to experience all of the amazing things there are here.
I honestly did not think I would miss everyone back home this much. I knew I would to a degree, but not this much. And the fact that I still have about 3 and a half months here does not help. the only contact I have had with friends and family at home is either through Facebook, or through writing letters using the USPS. The letters I have received thus far have really brightened things up for me here. I absolutely love reading them. Receiving and writing letters are another thing that seem to take the edge off of my low point moods.
Despite all of that, I am doing alright here. I think I will be able to survive until my time here is done. I have been trying to find some good hikes to go on for my next days off and I think I may have found one. Which means that you all will be getting a whole new batch of photos to look at soon. I love taking pictures here. The land is so beautiful that all you have to do is point and shoot to get a good photo. I hear the Tetons are much more pretty though, so I am going to have to take a trip there very soon to find out for myself.
As usual work is crazy. Lately people have either been sick or just not showing up, which means we all have to pull a little extra to survive a night. And sometimes that little extra and put some of us over the edge. I know I almost lost it tonight. If it were not for my amazing manager and my awesome co-worker I do not think I would have made it tonight. Some of the people I served were great too, so that helped as well. I love talking to people who are willing to chat it up a bit. Just the other night I met a women from Salem, Oregon just like me :) And tonight I met a cool British couple and some friendly Australians. Among other nice people too. Overall, the work sucks sometimes, but there are some bright spots that keep me going. I just hope those bright spots don't stop.
Well, it is pretty late/early so I think I am going to get some sleep so I can actually make it to breakfast on time. Remember that I love and miss you all and that I wish you all could be here with me.
I honestly did not think I would miss everyone back home this much. I knew I would to a degree, but not this much. And the fact that I still have about 3 and a half months here does not help. the only contact I have had with friends and family at home is either through Facebook, or through writing letters using the USPS. The letters I have received thus far have really brightened things up for me here. I absolutely love reading them. Receiving and writing letters are another thing that seem to take the edge off of my low point moods.
Despite all of that, I am doing alright here. I think I will be able to survive until my time here is done. I have been trying to find some good hikes to go on for my next days off and I think I may have found one. Which means that you all will be getting a whole new batch of photos to look at soon. I love taking pictures here. The land is so beautiful that all you have to do is point and shoot to get a good photo. I hear the Tetons are much more pretty though, so I am going to have to take a trip there very soon to find out for myself.
As usual work is crazy. Lately people have either been sick or just not showing up, which means we all have to pull a little extra to survive a night. And sometimes that little extra and put some of us over the edge. I know I almost lost it tonight. If it were not for my amazing manager and my awesome co-worker I do not think I would have made it tonight. Some of the people I served were great too, so that helped as well. I love talking to people who are willing to chat it up a bit. Just the other night I met a women from Salem, Oregon just like me :) And tonight I met a cool British couple and some friendly Australians. Among other nice people too. Overall, the work sucks sometimes, but there are some bright spots that keep me going. I just hope those bright spots don't stop.
Well, it is pretty late/early so I think I am going to get some sleep so I can actually make it to breakfast on time. Remember that I love and miss you all and that I wish you all could be here with me.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Working Like a Dog
I know that this post is a bit late and being posted at an odd hour. Things have been way busier then I expected and I can hardly find time to even think. Let alone find time to write these posts. This really is the first chance I have gotten to breath and make sure that I am still alive. So, without further ado, let me tell you all that has happened since my last post.
Well, all that has really been going on is work. for the past several days I have been working like a dog in the kitchens of the Old Faithful Inn. the first few days of real work was tough. learning how to make the dishes and where ingredients is stored really was tough to learn. Luckily though after asking a bazillion questions and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I have managed to stay afloat. After yesterday's shift, I feel like I am confident on how things run and my job as Pantry in general. There still are questions that I ask and I am still learning. But, like I said before, I am managing to stay afloat.
At times my job can be pretty intense, and I don't mean the good kind. This is definatly the most fast paced job that I have ever had. Things never seem to stop. And then there are times that things never seem to speed up. One minute I could just be standing there waiting for an order and then take a break, and then come back to my station to find that everyone in the world has ordered either some kind of salad or dessert. Thankfully I do not have to deal with this craziness alone. I have a co-worker and usually this is my saving grace when there are too many orders for myself to fill.
On the whole though, I am content with my job. I do my job and everything else in between. I do my very best until the job is done and I think of nothing else when I am on duty. As long as I am focused on my work, time flies and it feels as if the past nine and a half hours went by in a couple of minutes. This is my life for the next four months. Might as well try to make the best of it.
On a non work related note, I actually was able to go stargazing with a new friend of mine that I have made here. She works in Pantry as well and so we see each other whenever our shifts overlap. We were able to see everything in the in the sky. I don't think I have ever seen that many stars in the sky. With the help of my friends star chart we were able to locate six or seven constellations and the North Star. We even were able to see the Milky Way! It looked like just a streak of cloud in the sky to me, but when I asked my friend what that was her answer just blew me away. Planetariums do not do the real sky justice. At all.
Today and tomorrow are my days off thank God and I will be spending them doing what I do best. Going in hikes so that I can take some amazing pictures for you all to see. My new friend and I have picked some really great trails to hike for both of my days off and I am very excited to start them. It is supposed to be cold when we are going to hike so I should probably bring a coat.
I have also been able to take a short hike and grab a few pics for you all to see. I am uploading them as I write. If you would like to check them out then go to my facebook page located here: http://www.facebook.com/david.valdivia.77 They are in The Great Yellowstone Adventure album.
Well, I think that is pretty much it for now. Like I said before things are busier here than I thought so when I start working again I do not know when I will be able to put up another post. I will try my best to post when I can though.
Know that I miss all of you and that you are all in my thoughts while I am here in this wild and crazy part of the country. See you all next post!
Well, all that has really been going on is work. for the past several days I have been working like a dog in the kitchens of the Old Faithful Inn. the first few days of real work was tough. learning how to make the dishes and where ingredients is stored really was tough to learn. Luckily though after asking a bazillion questions and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I have managed to stay afloat. After yesterday's shift, I feel like I am confident on how things run and my job as Pantry in general. There still are questions that I ask and I am still learning. But, like I said before, I am managing to stay afloat.
At times my job can be pretty intense, and I don't mean the good kind. This is definatly the most fast paced job that I have ever had. Things never seem to stop. And then there are times that things never seem to speed up. One minute I could just be standing there waiting for an order and then take a break, and then come back to my station to find that everyone in the world has ordered either some kind of salad or dessert. Thankfully I do not have to deal with this craziness alone. I have a co-worker and usually this is my saving grace when there are too many orders for myself to fill.
On the whole though, I am content with my job. I do my job and everything else in between. I do my very best until the job is done and I think of nothing else when I am on duty. As long as I am focused on my work, time flies and it feels as if the past nine and a half hours went by in a couple of minutes. This is my life for the next four months. Might as well try to make the best of it.
On a non work related note, I actually was able to go stargazing with a new friend of mine that I have made here. She works in Pantry as well and so we see each other whenever our shifts overlap. We were able to see everything in the in the sky. I don't think I have ever seen that many stars in the sky. With the help of my friends star chart we were able to locate six or seven constellations and the North Star. We even were able to see the Milky Way! It looked like just a streak of cloud in the sky to me, but when I asked my friend what that was her answer just blew me away. Planetariums do not do the real sky justice. At all.
Today and tomorrow are my days off thank God and I will be spending them doing what I do best. Going in hikes so that I can take some amazing pictures for you all to see. My new friend and I have picked some really great trails to hike for both of my days off and I am very excited to start them. It is supposed to be cold when we are going to hike so I should probably bring a coat.
I have also been able to take a short hike and grab a few pics for you all to see. I am uploading them as I write. If you would like to check them out then go to my facebook page located here: http://www.facebook.com/david.valdivia.77 They are in The Great Yellowstone Adventure album.
Well, I think that is pretty much it for now. Like I said before things are busier here than I thought so when I start working again I do not know when I will be able to put up another post. I will try my best to post when I can though.
Know that I miss all of you and that you are all in my thoughts while I am here in this wild and crazy part of the country. See you all next post!
Friday, May 18, 2012
I Love The Smell of Sulfer in the Morning
My goodness, It has only been a few days since I arrived here in Yellowstone and I am having an adventure of a lifetime. There are so many things to do here that it is hard to decide on just one thing to do. It's a good thing that I have four months to do everything that I can think of before I leave.
Well, as some of you may have noticed on my facebook page, I have finally gotten around to uploading some of the photos I have taken here at the park. Here is a link to that: http://www.facebook.com/david.valdivia.77 . Even when I look back at those photos I still have a hard time believing that I was and still am actually here. Every morning I wake up to the sight of geysers literally in my backyard and the smell of sulfur. The sulfur smell does not really bother me, in fact it reminds of the Fourth of July.
The weather here has been as bipolar as the weather back home. One day it is 80 degrees and then the next it is almost cold enough to snow. Wyoming, you are starting to remind me of home just a little too much ;) The landscapes here are so gorgeous. Plenty of trees that also remind me of home and hot springs and geysers that contribute many pillars of steam throughout the landscape. It really is a remarkable site.
My actually job here is better than I expected. I officially work in Pantry. Basically that means I spend my whole day in our high tech kitchen slicing, dicing, cutting, and occasionally cooking things. The people I work with are pretty awesome. The chef I work for is such a great person, I couldn't have asked for a better boss. Today I work and I think that it is going to be as busy as ever because the Inn that I work at is now opening for the season today. Wish me luck.
I have started writing letters and will deliver them ASAP. finding time for both my letters and the blog has been proving to be difficult, but not impossible. I just need to manage my time a little better. Which should not be so hard once I get a schedule that does not just go as far as the next day :P
Oh! And we have a bull Bison that hangs around the dorm that I live in. Apparently he thinks this is his turf and just chill with people walking around. I have been told though that it would be wise to keep my distance seeing as bison can be pretty dangerous. I think of him as our mascot of a sorts. People have even given him names. Some call him Buffalo Bill, others just Phil. My room mate and I agreed to call him Duke. My first day Duke was literally only a few yards away from the porch of my dorm where I was walking and he surprised me. I could not believe a bison was just sitting there. I still can't believe it when I see him.
Well, I better be going, I have to be at work in a little bit and I want to take care of a few things before I do. I will talk to you all again when my next post comes around, which should be Monday. I miss you all! Bye!
Well, as some of you may have noticed on my facebook page, I have finally gotten around to uploading some of the photos I have taken here at the park. Here is a link to that: http://www.facebook.com/david.valdivia.77 . Even when I look back at those photos I still have a hard time believing that I was and still am actually here. Every morning I wake up to the sight of geysers literally in my backyard and the smell of sulfur. The sulfur smell does not really bother me, in fact it reminds of the Fourth of July.
The weather here has been as bipolar as the weather back home. One day it is 80 degrees and then the next it is almost cold enough to snow. Wyoming, you are starting to remind me of home just a little too much ;) The landscapes here are so gorgeous. Plenty of trees that also remind me of home and hot springs and geysers that contribute many pillars of steam throughout the landscape. It really is a remarkable site.
My actually job here is better than I expected. I officially work in Pantry. Basically that means I spend my whole day in our high tech kitchen slicing, dicing, cutting, and occasionally cooking things. The people I work with are pretty awesome. The chef I work for is such a great person, I couldn't have asked for a better boss. Today I work and I think that it is going to be as busy as ever because the Inn that I work at is now opening for the season today. Wish me luck.
I have started writing letters and will deliver them ASAP. finding time for both my letters and the blog has been proving to be difficult, but not impossible. I just need to manage my time a little better. Which should not be so hard once I get a schedule that does not just go as far as the next day :P
Oh! And we have a bull Bison that hangs around the dorm that I live in. Apparently he thinks this is his turf and just chill with people walking around. I have been told though that it would be wise to keep my distance seeing as bison can be pretty dangerous. I think of him as our mascot of a sorts. People have even given him names. Some call him Buffalo Bill, others just Phil. My room mate and I agreed to call him Duke. My first day Duke was literally only a few yards away from the porch of my dorm where I was walking and he surprised me. I could not believe a bison was just sitting there. I still can't believe it when I see him.
Well, I better be going, I have to be at work in a little bit and I want to take care of a few things before I do. I will talk to you all again when my next post comes around, which should be Monday. I miss you all! Bye!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Finally Here!
Well, folks I am finally here at Yellowstone National Park! Today has to have been one of the longest days of my life :P
This morning Dad, Tim, and I set out to the bus station where I would then depart on the last part of my journey to my new job at Yellowstone. As we came to the station we could see other people with packs and luggage of their own. This was a good thing to see and reassured me that I was not alone on this unknown voyage. The bus ride to the entrance of the park was uneventful, but scenic. I do not think I have seen any mountains like the ones we drove through today. We also got to some bison and elk on our way to the Old Faithful location where I am now.
So far, I have met people from all walks of life. Mostly I have run into some pretty cool characters who I will be working with. This is good. And they all come from different states. It is good to find someone from Oregon or even the Pacific North West though.
After we got to our location the next few hours we had to kill consisted of actually exploring where we are. I am liking this place. Everywhere I look there is steam coming from the ground and geysers going off every other minute. It truly is a great thing to see.
And after a long day of traveling and lame speeches I visited the employee pub with my new friends. Needless to say, fun was had by all. Did not get drunk though, so don't worry mom I am fine ;)
And now, I am sitting in bed with my computer updating this blog for the day. I am tired and just want to fall asleep forever. By the way, now that I am here in Yellowstone I will be updating this blog three times a week. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will post an update just like I used too.
Well, it is getting late here so I think I am going to call it a night. I wish you all a very fond farewell and I will see you next post. BYE!!
This morning Dad, Tim, and I set out to the bus station where I would then depart on the last part of my journey to my new job at Yellowstone. As we came to the station we could see other people with packs and luggage of their own. This was a good thing to see and reassured me that I was not alone on this unknown voyage. The bus ride to the entrance of the park was uneventful, but scenic. I do not think I have seen any mountains like the ones we drove through today. We also got to some bison and elk on our way to the Old Faithful location where I am now.
So far, I have met people from all walks of life. Mostly I have run into some pretty cool characters who I will be working with. This is good. And they all come from different states. It is good to find someone from Oregon or even the Pacific North West though.
After we got to our location the next few hours we had to kill consisted of actually exploring where we are. I am liking this place. Everywhere I look there is steam coming from the ground and geysers going off every other minute. It truly is a great thing to see.
And after a long day of traveling and lame speeches I visited the employee pub with my new friends. Needless to say, fun was had by all. Did not get drunk though, so don't worry mom I am fine ;)
And now, I am sitting in bed with my computer updating this blog for the day. I am tired and just want to fall asleep forever. By the way, now that I am here in Yellowstone I will be updating this blog three times a week. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will post an update just like I used too.
Well, it is getting late here so I think I am going to call it a night. I wish you all a very fond farewell and I will see you next post. BYE!!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Over The Misty Mountains Cold
Hello everyone! Sorry for the lateness of this update, but the place we have decided to stay the night somehow has only begun to enter the twenty first century and it is by pure luck I am updating this blog now. Anyway, it has been a long day and I am tired so I will keep this post short and to the point.
Well, we set out from Spokane, Washington at about 9:00 am and traveled for about 6 hours. The actual trip was uneventful just like the first leg of our journey. Except that the scenery was much more enjoyable to see go by. Plus I saw some excellent specimens of local wildlife. Such as a couple of bald eagles, an antelope thingy, and some deer at our first rest stop. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of this part of the journey, but I assure you, I will be taking plenty once I get to Yellowstone. Oh, and we went through the Rockies on our way here :D I have never seen them before and I am glad that I did. I do not think I have seen any geological structure as grand and epic as them. Again, didn't take any pictures though :P
Once we got into Bozeman and checked into our hotel we had the rest of the day to kill and what we decided to do was to go out to eat and see a movie in celebration of my little brother's (Tim) birthday. We went to go see The Avengers, which was a pretty awesome movie. Definatly what I thought it would be from what people told me.
And now, I am here updating this little old blog of mine and just about ready to make the last part of my trip. To be honest I do not think I have been this excited/nervous during this whole trip until now. As my destination gets closer the more excited/nervous I get. This trip up until now has been quite blissful, but now it feels more real than anything. Besides the location and nature of my destination I do not know what lies ahead of me. Whatever it is, I am sure that it will prove to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Well, I better be getting some rest now. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me. Wish me luck! :D See you all next post! (Which should be in Yellowstone if all goes well)
Well, we set out from Spokane, Washington at about 9:00 am and traveled for about 6 hours. The actual trip was uneventful just like the first leg of our journey. Except that the scenery was much more enjoyable to see go by. Plus I saw some excellent specimens of local wildlife. Such as a couple of bald eagles, an antelope thingy, and some deer at our first rest stop. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of this part of the journey, but I assure you, I will be taking plenty once I get to Yellowstone. Oh, and we went through the Rockies on our way here :D I have never seen them before and I am glad that I did. I do not think I have seen any geological structure as grand and epic as them. Again, didn't take any pictures though :P
Once we got into Bozeman and checked into our hotel we had the rest of the day to kill and what we decided to do was to go out to eat and see a movie in celebration of my little brother's (Tim) birthday. We went to go see The Avengers, which was a pretty awesome movie. Definatly what I thought it would be from what people told me.
And now, I am here updating this little old blog of mine and just about ready to make the last part of my trip. To be honest I do not think I have been this excited/nervous during this whole trip until now. As my destination gets closer the more excited/nervous I get. This trip up until now has been quite blissful, but now it feels more real than anything. Besides the location and nature of my destination I do not know what lies ahead of me. Whatever it is, I am sure that it will prove to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Well, I better be getting some rest now. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me. Wish me luck! :D See you all next post! (Which should be in Yellowstone if all goes well)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The Great Yellowstone Adventure
The Yellowstone Adventure that I have been blabbing about for the past few months has finally come and the first leg of my journey is now complete. My brother, Dad, and I set out from our home in Salem, Oregon at 9:00 A.M. and drove for about 400 miles towards Spokane, Washington where we are now resting for the rest of the day and night.
The trip thus far has proven to be pretty uneventful. With the occasional sightings of wildlife on the side of the road, dead and alive. Our stops were limited to food, resting, and refueling. I will say this though; Northeastern Oregon has some of the best scenery I have yet to see. Plenty of trees, the Columbia River, and many grand rock formations. Washington on the other hand has proved to be unimpressive in my eyes. Really all I have seen are vast expanses of flat and sometimes low flowing hills. Those kind of scenes never inspire my inner photographer.
The second leg of the trip will start tomorrow where our next destination is Bozeman, Montana. It should last as long as today's trip and should be as smooth.
Anyways, I thought that I would give you all a quick update before today was done. I will update this blog once again once I get into Bozeman and once I get situated in Yellowstone I will update this blog three times a week, just like I used to ;)
Okay, I better go now. I am hungry and there are some places that look like they deserve a visit. See you all next post!
The trip thus far has proven to be pretty uneventful. With the occasional sightings of wildlife on the side of the road, dead and alive. Our stops were limited to food, resting, and refueling. I will say this though; Northeastern Oregon has some of the best scenery I have yet to see. Plenty of trees, the Columbia River, and many grand rock formations. Washington on the other hand has proved to be unimpressive in my eyes. Really all I have seen are vast expanses of flat and sometimes low flowing hills. Those kind of scenes never inspire my inner photographer.
The second leg of the trip will start tomorrow where our next destination is Bozeman, Montana. It should last as long as today's trip and should be as smooth.
Anyways, I thought that I would give you all a quick update before today was done. I will update this blog once again once I get into Bozeman and once I get situated in Yellowstone I will update this blog three times a week, just like I used to ;)
Okay, I better go now. I am hungry and there are some places that look like they deserve a visit. See you all next post!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Haha, My Bad
Hello everyone! I am sorry that I have not done a very good job of keeping up with the blog, but I really felt like I should take a break from it for a while. And I also apologize for not letting you guys in on my little break haha I am hoping that I will not make the same mistake twice.
Anyway, I intend to update the blog three times a week as I did before and I now intend to just update you all on what has been going on in my life since I left.
This past weekend was fantastic as many of my fellow Salemites have seen. The weather hear has finally come around and we enjoyed 70 ish degree days and finally were able to get out and about in the sun. I spent my sunny weekend just walking around our beautiful parks and downtown. The rest of the week has been pretty boring with little islands of excitement. I am hoping that I will be able to think of more things to write about seeing as events in my life are few and far between as far as I can see. I am sure though that things will get rollings once my trip to Yellowstone starts.
Well, I better be going. I probably should get some sleep. Bye!
Anyway, I intend to update the blog three times a week as I did before and I now intend to just update you all on what has been going on in my life since I left.
This past weekend was fantastic as many of my fellow Salemites have seen. The weather hear has finally come around and we enjoyed 70 ish degree days and finally were able to get out and about in the sun. I spent my sunny weekend just walking around our beautiful parks and downtown. The rest of the week has been pretty boring with little islands of excitement. I am hoping that I will be able to think of more things to write about seeing as events in my life are few and far between as far as I can see. I am sure though that things will get rollings once my trip to Yellowstone starts.
Well, I better be going. I probably should get some sleep. Bye!
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