Western Frontiers 03

Trafalgar Tours

August 31 - September 10, 2003

After a uneventful flight from BWI to Las Vegas on Sunday, we settled in at the Las Vegas Hilton.   We checked in with our Tour Director, Donard (Don) O'Neill, and discovered we would have a full bus; 52 plus Don and our driver, Richard Pearsall.  That number made us apprehensive but it couldn't have worked out better as we soon discovered.  This page is dedicated to each and every one of the tour group and Trafalgar crew for making this such a memorable experience.

Monday morning arrived late (three hour time difference) and our group was all fired up and ready to leave the hotel at 7:30 a.m.  Most were waiting in the lobby quite early so it provided an opportunity to meet a few of the folks before our departure.  Don was quite organized and explained that our seats were assigned and that we would be rotating three rows a day and alternating sides of the bus each time we departed.  What a great arrangement!

To speed up downloading time I have used small pictures in place of larger ones.  However, please "Click" on any small one and a larger picture will appear.  Click the "Back" button to return to this story.  

Now, let me introduce you to our capable Trafalgar crew; Don is between Dotty and me and Richard is on the right in the picture below.

Our journey began and we were soon outside the city sprawl as we headed up Interstate 15.  Population estimates of Las Vegas varied from 1.6 to 2.1 million depending upon the source.  Water restrictions were implemented on September 1 so there will soon be lots of brown lawns where green ones are now.

Two hours north we made a pit stop at St. George where gas was $1.79 at the Flying J just inside Utah.  Most of our lively group bought lunch sandwiches for our next stop at Zion Lodge in the National Park.  We hear tell that Butch Cassidy had a hideout in these parts!  Even though today was Labor Day, the park wasn't very crowded so there were plenty of benches, rocking chairs and grassy spots under the trees to enjoy lunch.  The weather was pleasant and the views pleasing. 

Up the road a way, we encountered these fantastic rock layers called "Hoodoos."  They were formed by rivers and erosion from wind and rain 10 million years ago.  Viewing them is enough to caste a spell hence the name Hoodoo.  Even viewing this picture is likely to have the same effect as seeing them with the naked eye.  View the picture at your own risk!

Last on our sightseeing for the day was the beautiful Bryce Canyon.  The colors were spectacular and cloud shadows mixed with brilliant sun shining through clear skies changed a view in an instant.  This picture was taken from "Inspiration Point" at about 8,000 feet elevation.  In our group, those who had been to both the Grand Canyon and Bryce thought Bryce to be the more beautiful.

That night we stayed at Ruby's Inn in Bryce Canyon where we enjoyed a delicious buffet.  Next to the restaurant was a country store filled with everything from food to clothing and lots in between.  Found, and bought, the exact small camera tri pod I had sought for months.

Tuesday morning found us going back into Bryce visiting first Sunrise Point then walking a short distance to Sunset Point.  Then we began our journey to Salt Lake City where we arrived after a long, but scenic, trip.  The highlight of this day was visiting the Mormon Temple and Visitor's Center.  Here's a shot of inside the Tabernacle where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs.  

The capitol building was attractive but the garden off to the side of it was beautiful.  You be the judge!

After checking into the Sheraton City Center hotel we took the free trolley to the Church of Latter Day Saints Library to do some genealogical research.  We didn't have any luck on our particular inquiries but we received some good tips for later searches.  The folks there were most helpful and friendly.  What a wonderful service they provide, and all for free.

Departing Salt Lake City Wednesday morning we traveled across the Oregon Trail through the Southeastern tip of Idaho.  We were pleasantly surprised at the beautiful scenery which we got to see from the front of the bus!  There were irrigated fields of potatoes and other crops that filled both sides of the road all the way to the mountains.  Lunch was at the famous Fred Meyer watering hole in Idaho Falls.  The most spectacular view of the day came as we approached Jackson, Wyoming from above.  Here is Dotty enjoying the altitude and fresh air high above Jackson Hole. 

Jackson was surprisingly busy and we must have visited nearly every shop in town.  An early dinner at the Cadillac Grill prepared us for some evening shopping, at least Dotty thought.  And she did!

Jackson Hole encompasses the entire valley and is quite beautiful!  There is lots more than just Jackson as you can see from this map. 

Early to bed at the Antler Inn in the heart of town then a leisurely Thursday morning to eat, and shop, before departing at 10 a.m.  It's difficult to believe but Dotty found the perfect cowgirl ensemble for the Annual Allen Hoe Down.  Barely made it back in time to pick up our carry ons and get on the bus.  A passerby took this picture of the popular Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, next door to the Cadillac Grill, as we prepared for that final shopping opportunity; in Jackson!

The air was brisk and clear as we made several photo stops in Grand Teton National Park.  This picture of the impressive Tetons was taken at Moose Visitors Center. 

Lodging for Thursday and Friday was at the Grant Village in the Yellowstone National Park Lodge, comfortable but austere.  Not even a radio!  Yellowstone Park, as you may know, was the world's first national park and is one of the largest.  Covering more than 2.2 million acres; 96% WY, 3% MT and 1% ID; it was established in 1872.  Elevations range from 5,282 to 11,358 feet and 80% of the land is in forests.  Unfortunately, most of our circuitous route today was in areas that were still recovering from being burned over past years.

On Friday morning we stopped for pictures at the Upper and Lower Falls just south of Canyon Village where we ate lunch.  Here's a shot of the Lower Falls, the prettiest of the two. 

Near Madison, on the westernmost part of our route, we got off the main road and followed the Firehole River.  It was an exciting ride with the road adjacent to a steep drop down to the river. On the opposite side of the river there was lava rock of an eruption centuries ago.  

The final stop of the day was at Old Faithful.  Before its scheduled performance we did a quick tour inside the lodge.  The huge stone fireplace that ran up through the four story high atrium was impressive.  Dotty is pictured below waving outside the lodge.

Outside in a light rain we hustled over to the viewing area to get front row seats . Within 5 minutes of the estimate, she blew!  It was a sight to behold though not as dramatic as it might have been under a clear sky.

As we depart Grant Village heading for the East Entrance we quickly encounter part of the latest fires to hit Yellowstone. You can smell the smoldering ashes and stumps.  We were fortunate to be able to exit this way to the east; it was closed until just recently.  A previous tour had to take a different and much longer route.

With Yellowstone behind us we encounter some of the most dramatic views since Bryce Canyon. As we race downward everyone leans into the curves beside drop offs of over a thousand feet.  Hairy!! For a while we were going relatively slow behind a camper pulling a small car.  After he pulled over to let us pass we must have broken the speed record to reach Buffalo Bill's Lodge.  There I was conned into tending bar, as you can seen in the picture below.

Finally we get real close to some of the many bison that we've seen over the past two days.  There were three of them and they just stood and posed until we decided to leave. 

Before going to the\ Buffalo Bill Historical Center our driver gave us the cook's tour of Cody, population 8 K, elevation 5 K and regular gas at $1.64.  It was a clean town with lots of interesting shops, according to Dotty.  The bad news was that there would be time to shop!  We tried, and enjoyed, our first buffalo burger in the Center cafeteria. 

The five museums in the Center equaled the guide's billing as the Smithsonian of the West.  The recently opened Draper Museum of Natural History was awesome!  Sounds of animals and birds startled us as we walked close to natural habitats populated with the animals making the sound would look like.  Days would be necessary to assimilate all that each of the five offered.  Colonel Cody was quite a man and this testament to his accomplishments is well deserved.

From Cody we continued our journey to the north arriving at the Sheraton hotel in Billings, MT; population about 85K, at 4 p.m.  Dotty's Aunt Jeanne from FL and cousin Cynthia from Red Lodge, MT arrived for a visit with us shortly thereafter.  After a warm reunion in their room we enjoyed a great dinner at the hotel.  It was so nice of them to join us.

Our Sunday morning departure was at 7:30 and we were soon enjoying the beautiful countryside on our journey to the Little Bighorn Battlefield.  It was only an hour away and we had almost two hours to absorb Custer's Last Stand and the carnage associated with it.  

One of the Park Rangers, a Lakota Indian himself, gave us a 40 minute lecture about the battle of June 25, 1876 and the events leading up to it.  He also made note of the fact that there is still animosity between the tribes.  I am overlooking the well maintained burial grounds where much of the fighting took place.

Next stop was Deadwood, SD where Wild Bill Hickock lived for two short months just before he was shot to death in a saloon.  After a stroll through town to check out the casinos and shops, Dotty took our only nickel and won 80 in a slot machine.  Naturally it was all returned; but no more.

A short time later we had a one hour tour, on a small bus, through town.  When Deadwood was in its prime, beginning in 1876 with a Gold Rush, prostitution thrived.  To portray what a pedestrian might have witnessed, the upper level of this store has models posing at the windows as the prostitutes might have back then.

The driver, a native of Virginia, noted that the town had suffered two major mud slides after fire had recently burned dangerously close and rains loosen the scorched soil.  One would think that the more than 11 feet of snow they get annually would be enough of a problem!  High up on a hill overlooking Deadwood is Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried.  This picture was taken at the grave of Wild Bill as our bus driver lectured us.

Our drive ended in Rapid City, SD, population about 60K, at 6:30.  We had an expeditious check in at the Radisson Hotel and dinner before preparing ourselves for another fun filled day.

Monday was a fabulous day for sightseeing.  We started early and drove directly to visit Crazy Horse.  Our two hours at the Visitor's Center wasn't enough to absorb the enormity of the project and the vision for it.  So far, all offers of tax dollars have been refused as the originator, Korczak Ziolkowski, wanted it to be a private undertaking.  Now that he is deceased, seven of his ten children and wife are carrying on with the project just like he wanted.

Carved out of pegmatite granite, this sculpture dwarfs Mount Rushmore.  Progress continues at a pace commensurate with donations and in cooperation with the weather.  This picture shows the 1/34th scale model in the foreground and Crazy Horse in the background.  It honors the spirit of the Chief as well as all North American Indians.

Next on our agenda was Mt. Rushmore which was impressive and inspirational.  Their ice cream cones were truly monumental!  Prior to releasing us to explore we gathered for this group shot.  All 54 of us are included in this picture!

After leaving Mt. Rushmore, we dropped off part of our group at the hotel and then took an optional tour to the Badlands.  That was a worthwhile decision.  The Badlands look like what one would expect to see on the moon and the name is certainly apropos.  There were lots of beautiful colors, with many spots visually changing as the sun and clouds played games.  We saw several coyote and antlered animals during the day.  Dotty is wind blown at this overlook.

Shortly after leaving the park we stopped at the famous Wall Drug.  Famous because of a suggestion by the owner's wife many years ago; offering free ice water to weary travelers.  People not only stopped but they shopped.  Up to twenty thousand people stop there in a single summer day.

The place was packed when we arrived, especially the cafeteria.  After a bite we shopped in many of the small shops that are part of the massive building.  Crazy!  Dotty loved it and wanted to stay beyond our two hour limit.  As it was we didn't get back to the hotel until 8:30.

Tuesday was an all day drive day. We left Rapid City at 7:45 and arrived at our hotel in Denver at 4:20.  Had only two stops during the more than 400 mile drive so we were happy to reach our destination.  We did drive right through the middle of Denver to get a look at this beauty: population of over two million and, as everyone knows, is a mile high.  The new football stadium is designed to look like a horse saddle!  

Tonight we enjoyed a farewell dinner.  It was bittersweet!  Eleven of our group of fellow travelers leave the tour here; the other 41 plus a few new ones will continue back to Las Vegas.  There was lots of picture taking, hugs and kisses, and promises to stay in touch.  It was truly the most congenial and fun group we have had on any of our more than a dozen tours.  And, the Tour Director was the best ever!  Here we are, everyone accounted for at our six tables.

Wednesday morning we headed for the airport where we met with two of my first cousins, originally from Denmark, SC.  What a fun time we had reminiscing about our youthful adventures and catching up on family.  Margie, pictured on the left, lives in Ft. Collins and Jean, next to her, lives in Wellington.  They are sisters and their parents were like another set of parents to me.  The culmination of our Western Frontiers Tour couldn't have ended on a nicer note.

Leaving Denver wasn't that difficult since we were flying from there to Reno for my VMF 232 squadron, 1956-'57 era, reunion.  Twenty of our pilots, most of their spouses and a few guests will be celebrating, exaggerating our aeronautical skills and attending the Reno National Championship Air Races and Air Show.  The reunion is recorded under "Military" and "Reunion 03" on my Home Page.  Check it out and you'll see how Fighter Pilots celebrate, even in their seventh decade.