Yellowstone trip- Part 1

The Drive -

John Day Dam, Oregon, windmills on the hillside

Camping trip is exciting enough by itself and if the location happens to be the first National park not just in USA but in the world, then excitement just multiplies. S and me had planned to drive to Yellowstone National Park for our camping trip for the fourth of July Weekend. Our campground reservation in the Grant Village area of Yellowstone meant we had to drive a little under 900 miles to get there. S had taken a day off from work so that we could get two full days at the park apart from the two plus days of travel. So we set off on wednesday afternoon, having loaded our car with tent, sleeping bags and other camping gear, not to mention food supplies and water. 

 

Haystacks and farms, Idaho

With both of us driving in shifts, the long drive would not be strenuous we thought. Our plan was to check into a motel by midnight, catch some sleep and hit the road after breakfast.  While Portland is green and dotted with trees, as we headed towards South-east Oregon, the landscape gradually turned dry and grassy. The zig-zag roads with hairpin curves through the Columbia Gorge soon made way for roads along the dry scrubland of Oregon high desert. 

Potato fields with sprinklers turned on, Idaho

Before midnight we had crossed state lines, and entered the Mountain Time Zone. It was time for a night-stop in Boise which we later realized was the state capital of Idaho. Rejuvenated, we headed toward the western entrance of Yellowstone in Montana. This final stretch was long, straight roads endlessly for as long as our eyes could see. On either side of the roads of 'Potato State' were potato fields. Vast stretches of green fields that were covered with tiny white/purple flowers being watered by huge sprinklers was what we kept seeing for a long time. Finally around 5pm in the evening nearly 26 hours after we had left our home, we entered Yellowstone National Park. Shelling out the entry fee and collecting a complimentary map, we began our drive through Bison/Bear country. Animal crossing signboards greeted us at regular intervals, and before long, we spotted a bunch of cars pulled over and parked off the road.

Day-1 at Yellowstone-

Entered the bison territory aka Yellowstone

It was time for us to follow suit with camera and binoculars. It was like a tea-party on the riverbank for a bison herd, a couple of them  grazing, a couple rolling around in the sand. The brown ones are the calves. A few clicks and closer look later, we were ready to head towards our campground.

First Sighting, Bison herd by the river

Hardly a mile later, we pulled over again, this time for an elk that had stopped by to welcome us.

(w)elk(ome)!! 

Further along the drive,  white mist seemed to be rising from the ground, sure enough the next board read "Fountain Paint Pot". With a name so inviting, we had to take a look. There was a loop trail of around half a mile. So we sauntered along the boardwalk, clicking pictures of colorful geo-thermal features. The odor of sulphur was a constant feature all through the geyser basin.

Lodgepole pines

Silex spring

Morning Geyser

Bacteria mat

Fumaroles

Leather Pool

Our tent nestled behind trees

After a quick stop at the old faithful geyser just in time to see it erupt, we drove to the campground to register ourselves. Grant Village Campground is nestled in a partly wooded area near the southwest shore of Yellowstone Lake. It has over 400 sites on offer including tent, RV and group campsites. Stepping out of the car at the Grant Village Campground, we were greeted by a bunch of over-friendly mosquitoes :P. We picked up firewood and kindle at the registration desk before driving to our campsite. Our campsite had a fire-grate and picnic table while a public restroom was a short walk away. S and me then set up our tent, before settling down to a hearty dinner of a desi style taco, puri in place of the tortillas. The wolves howling in the far-off distance as we snuggled into the sleeping bags was the perfect sign-off for Day-1 at Yellowstone.

To be continued...

Note- Click on the photos to see enlarged images.

4th of July weekend

It is summer here in the US of A. And that has meant a wide range of activities to indulge in. In fact, this has been the story since spring but a lazy bug that I'm, I have been putting off posting about them. Since early spring, S and me had been planning for a trip to the Yellowstone National Park. We decided to make it a road trip and that meant it would be a 4-5 day trip with a minimum of 2 days on the road. S felt that we could have a camping trip this time around,  and accordingly 4th of July weekend seemed to fit well in our calendars. S had already savored quite a few camping trips while this would be a first camping for me.

The excitement of living in a tent put me on overdrive, what all food could we munch on while we camped? We could finally sit around an actual camp-fire on our camping chairs, roast buns in the campfire and chatter idly under the starlit sky surrounded by trees. Oh I was planning and dreaming on and off about it. Internet searches about things to do in and around Yellowstone became my favorite afternoon activity. With night temperatures in Yellowstone expected to fall below 40F even though it was summer, we decided to purchase heavy duty sleeping bags.  We even bought a good pair of binoculars on a friend's advice and it was worth every dollar, we got to observe wildlife from a safe distance. 

And so July has been all about Yellowstone, the run-up to it with the planning and packing, the actual trip and then the unpacking and returning to routine. I have been trying to catch up with the posts of my fellow bloggers and haven't posted any of my own, will surely get back to blogging soon. I will certainly do a detailed post on Yellowstone shortly complete with geysers,  canyon,  elk herds, the ever-so-visible passive looking bisons and even the loving mosquito welcome we got at the campground. 

Picture is from Yellowstone 's photo collection

Delightful dandelions

Gazing at the clear blue sky dreamily,

peeping out of the green strands shyly,

eager to greet summer breeze, 

ready to swing and sway,

delightful dandelions!!

Refreshing summer breeze wafts along,

leaves rustle as if chorusing a song,

humming alongside bumble bees,

inviting them to come and play,

delightful dandelions!!

Lilting to gusts of refreshing air,

tiny white flowers twirl around with flair;

Like fragments of thoughts set free,

gossamer bits of fantasy float away,

delightful dandelions!!

Picture is from Google images

Z for zephyr

Zephyr echoes love,

tidings of beloved drift in,

across seven seas.

PS: Although the challenge ended last week, I'm putting up this post for the sake of completeness.
This post is shared with April A-Z blogging challenge for alphabet Z. 
This post is inspired by Haikuhorizons's prompt SOUND

V for vacant

Parched earth cries for help

empty skies, empty tears-

miserly monsoon.

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pause awhile, reflect

rest weary mind, aching limbs,
vacant bench beckons

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This post is shared with Haikuhorizons and this week's prompt is EMPTY

This post is shared with April A-Z blogging challenge for alphabet V

Golden gravel

Bouncing up and down,

through sea of golden gravel,

ship of desert sails.

Winds of change at work,

never-ending draft of life,

puff of golden dust.

This post is shared with  Haikuhorizons and this week's prompt is SAND
Picture is  from Google images

Comeback.

Alarm starts beeping,

flight of fantasy cut short,

return to routine.

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Sandals back in vogue,

winter boots beat a retreat,

spring in step returns.

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This post is shared with  Haikuhorizons and this week's prompt is RETURN

Applause

Greatest show on earth-

parents try funny antics,

child claps gleefully.

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Thunder claps resound,

flashes of silver light skies,

peacocks dance in joy.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is CLAP

Dew

Sky blushes at dawn,

world wakens to new promise,

bejeweled grass gleams.

Bejeweled grass gleams,

lush green carpet beckons soles,

soul stirring sojourn.

This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is DEW

Rivulet.

Her playful murmurs, 

as she brushes past pebbles;

soothe my aching heart.

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Rivulets of pearls

glisten over rosy cheeks;

bruised knee, broken heart.

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Rivulets of thoughts 

trickle on fragrant paper;

letter of love inked.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is RIVULET

Seventh heaven.

Striking the right chord,

seven notes blend seamlessly-

rhythm resonates.

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A vow for a step,

bond to last seven lifetimes-

forged by holy fire.

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Streaks of vivid hues,

bridge of dreams across skies

seven shades of hope

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is SEVEN

Grassy

Waves of gold rustle,

tiger lurks behind dry grass;

whiff of fresh food wafts.

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Only few more steps,

greener grass lies just yonder -

never ending greed. 

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is GRASS

Fall colors.

 For a couple of weeks now the weather has been near perfect here in Portland. In the morning, sunlight trickles through layers of fog that soon melts away to unveil clear blue skies. For most part Clear blue skies and tall green trees interspersed with colorful trees make this place look like a postcard. The pavements have begun to resemble patterned carpets for they are dotted with colored leaves. Oh yes, it is autumn (पतझड़) or fall as it is popularly known here. It is that time of the year when the nature begins her preparation for the cold winter that follows.There is even an old weather proverb that states, "If autumn leaves are slow to fall, prepare for a cold winter". While spring has fresh and tender blossoms to add to its beauty, in autumn, the usually green leaves decide to dabble in color. You have leaves in hues of yellow and gold, foliage in a whole wide palette of pink and red vying for your attention. The beauty of trees resembling bouquets is something that words cannot describe fully.
  
It is only the deciduous trees that are color crazy, the conifers stay green as you can notice in the second image. Apparently oak leaves turn orange while big leaf maples, birch, ash, aspen and alder turn yellow. For those who like vibrant red, you can choose between dogwoods that turn burgundy and vine maples and huckleberries that sport the color red. Even the shrubs and bushes sport the colored look. Fall colors are a major tourist attraction too, with some regions pulling in more visitors during this season, after all rich color always presents nice photo-opportunities. Alas nothing lasts for ever and soon all trees will shed their colorful foliage that will decorate the pathways for a few more days. Whenever we take a walk these days, we find a carpet of colored leaves laid down in our path. The air has a leafy scent and as we walk we hear the unmistakeable sound of leaves crumbling. Although late September is when the season of fall begins officially, mid October up-to early November is supposed to offer the best view of fall colors. In a couple of weeks, most trees will wear a barren look making us wait for spring eagerly. Until then it is nature's color-fest all the way.

 

Click on the photos to see enlarged images.

Portland- City of roses

Portland is known as the "City of roses" or "Rose city" apparently since as long as 1888. According to wikipedia, the origin of this epithet is the introduction of a french rose variety. In years to come, thousands of rose bushes were planted along the streets of the city and soon Portland started hosting annual rose festival. During the first world war, rose hobbyists rallied to start a Rose test Garden to protect hybrid roses grown in Europe and before long rose enthusiasts began sending roses to Portland for conservation. The initiative has grown stronger over the years and now it is a center that experiments on roses and keeps growing a varieties of roses.

A week after we arrived in Portland, we decided to head to the International Rose Test Garden that is nestled in the Washington Park right in the heart of downtown Portland. The word "park" can be misleading as we soon found out. The tall trees that adorn the hilly climb of Washington park made us feel we were entering a forest and not a park. It also houses other attractions namely an Arboretum, a forestry museum, a children's museum, Oregon zoo and a Japanese garden apart from a war memorial but since this city is now our home we decided we would get plenty of opportunities to explore it in a detailed manner. So we drove to the park hoping to spend a fabulous afternoon with nature. But Portland is synonymous with rains and the usual drizzle turned into a shower and so we had to cut our trip short. We sought respite from the rain in the Forestry museum(a post for another day) and then decided to take a quick look at the rose garden before returning home. Needless to say, the garden is a visual treat  and we got to see roses of almost all colors and sizes. There are a host of hybrid tea roses, some of the varieties are named after the region of origin and some are named after their creators, and if they are still under test, the variety just has a number in place of a name. It was a lovely walk in the rose garden in the drizzle with the fragrance of roses wafting around. It was a dream stroll although the steady drizzle meant we couldn't really browse through the garden as much as we wanted and the photographs were all quick clicks.

The annual rose festival and floral parade take place around Memorial Day which means during the late May and early June. This event is something I'm looking forward to savor the next year. For now, these are glimpses of the floral feast that we relished during our visit to Portland's rose garden, you can click on the image to view full sized version.

                           

                                                     

                                                     

We walked back to the car hoping that our next visit would be under blue skies and not the gray overcast kind captured below.

PS: For more details, you can check the link : http://www.rosegardenstore.org/international-rose-test-garden.cfm

Click on the photos to see enlarged images.

Nature -fresh!!

Tender blossom smiles,

soft curls kissed by golden sun;

start of a new day.

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Precious pearls drop down,

soft wet grass caresses feet;

earth soaked in fresh rain.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is FRESH

Late again!!

Gaunt gaze haunts the sky,

unploughed earth eyes unsown seeds;

delayed monsoon scathes.

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 Early bird enjoys,

yet delay is good at times;

early worm laments.

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Fading green cover,
 rising ocean, graying air
 too late to save earth.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is LATE.

 

April ode - part 4

I finally managed to get my lazy brain to complete the last part of the April A2Z heights challenge at Haikuheights. Having missed out participating, I thought I could at least draw inspiration from those wonderful prompts. So this is the final set of Haiku and the prompts of inspiration are Shadow, Tsunami, Uproot, Volcano, Waterfall, Xerox, Youngling and Zebra-crossing

Tales of yore

brought alive with screen and strings

silent play of light

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Water all around

roars, swirls and tugs all away,

leave chaos unbound.

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Watered with love, care

purged of vile, spite, rage and ill will,

blessed life blossoms

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Spell of silence breaks

decades of hurt bubbles up

angry lava spews

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Trickles down like tears,

gushes like unbridled joy ;

elixir of life.

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Loves, chides and guides you

never judges or holds grudges

mother - god's xerox

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Stumbling, tottering,

eager to make its own mark -

newbie finds its feet

 

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 Time to change your way,

step on  stripes of black, white, gray-

at crossroads of life.

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Pictures are from Google images

Floating radiance

Enchanted forest,

bejeweled nature sparkles -

golden beads of light.

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Luminous soft grass

beckons the dreamer to stroll;

floating radiance.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is FIREFLY

Pictures are from Google images

Crescendo.

Sweet nothings murmured,

hearts skip beat in unison-

passionate embrace.

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Coos, chirps blend with tweets;

bird song symphony fills air-

Opera at dawn.

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Man's greed hits zenith,

distraught earth cries out for help-
deaf and blind mankind.

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This post is shared with Haikuheights and the prompt is CRESCENDO

Blossoms galore!!

Petunias and yellow lilies

Nature has different looks for different seasons, but her spring look is by far the most colorful and anticipated of all don't you think? It is that time of the year when most trees come out of their wintry slumber and fresh tender leaves dot the barren barks and twigs. Though there are many flowers that bloom all year round, the blossoms in spring seem to have a special touch. Their fragrance and color palette adds to the joyous start of a new year. Okay not in the sense of the January-to-December calendar that we have adopted now but the traditional one which begins in March/April. The very first season as per that calendar is "Vasanth" or Spring. Isn't that a wonderful way to begin a new year , with fresh hopes and renewed vigor ?

Birds of paradise!!

San-Diego too is in the spring mode now and the trees are sporting their fresh look with different shades of tender green. At this time of the year, back in Bangalore the local markets will be flooded with a wide variety of flowers with the jasmine/mallige dominating the air with its fragrance. Of course there are other scented beauties too like Champaka flower, plethora of roses too that are part of the heady collection. The spring here in US saw colorful petunias and dainty lilies join the party that was until now limited to marigolds and the strange-looking but appropriately named "Bird of paradise" flowers. These flowers look like green cranes sticking out their heads with yellow crowns and a reddish beak. As for the marigolds, they are bigger than the lemon sized ones we see back in India, many of them are as large as a tennis ball. Couple of lanes across the main road from where we stay, there are hedges of hibiscus that bring back memories of how common a garden plant it is back in India.

Twinkle twinkle Blue-stars!!

Mammoth marigolds

Homely Hibiscus

 The one good thing about the housing complexes here is that they all have well maintained greenery in and around them with a variety of floral and decorative plants adding a touch of natural green and brown and rainbow hues amidst rows of concrete blocks. Imagine my surprise when the seemingly leafy patches at many points around our apartment complex broke out into blossoms of  a variety of jasmine. Their fragrance grabs your attention long before the tiny white stars catch your eye. If the warm sun wasn't a reason enough for me to enjoy quiet walks on a summer day, these floral delights ensure that I go out and stretch my legs. The walks are even more refreshing by the light of nature's white bulb up there in the sky long after the sun bids adieu for the day.

The priceless treasures of nature never fail to gladden the heart!!

Jasmine!!

Haiku inspired by the spring :

From bare to blossom,

tender leaves, colorful blooms

usher new season!!