Amazing Road Trip to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks! The Beginning of the Adventure Starts Here!

I've been wanting to go to Yellowstone for the last few years and every year SOMETHING prevented it.  I was determined to make it happen this Spring and, with the help of my wonderful daughter, I was able to make it happen.

I wanted to go in Spring so I could see BABIES hopefully.  And I also didn't want to be there during the busy time of year (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, primarily) because I'm not one for crowds in the first place plus we are still dealing with this pandemic.

I had my second Moderna vaccine shot 3 weeks prior to my trip, so I was happy because the timing for me to take a road trip was really working out.  

As you may know, I love to see churches and temples for their architecture and beauty and my route would be taking me through parts of Idaho where my mom and dad lived and married.  I was happy to drive though these places I hadn't seen since my childhood. 

I left California on Sunday afternoon/evening and headed up I-80 towards Wells, Nevada. 

I drove until just as the sun was coming up before I started to feel tired enough to take a nap.  I stopped at a Truck Stop/Casino in Wells Nevada and climbed into the back of my SUV for a short nap.  I woke up to quite a gorgeous view of the East Humboldt Range. 

After my nap, my road would take me through Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls.  I vaguely remember having family around Twin Falls (Burley) and Pocatello (not sure) and my parents got "sealed" in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple.  So, since I had to stop for gas and to stretch my legs and such, I decided I would take photos at each of the temples.

First on my route was Twin Falls:

And next, I saw the Pocatello temple from the freeway and was a little surprised because I didn't know there was one in Pocatello.  Turns out it is under construction but was still pretty photogenic from the right angle.  It is up on a hill which makes it look really cool from a distance. 

Pretty with a similar look to Twin Falls, but the layout is akin to the Idaho Falls Temple.  Speaking of which...

The Idaho Falls Temple is definitely the Queen of the three!  Gorgeous architecture on a gorgeous location.  I walked around a bit but would love to go back again to explore more fully.  

Next leg of the journey took me from Idaho Falls over the mountain pass into Wyoming.  And into the incredible beauty of Grand Tetons National Park.  

To be honest, nothing really prepared me for the beauty I was about to see.  Photos that I had seen didn't really do it justice and mine may not either, but let's get to it in the next post!

xoxo

Nikon D600 & D7200

Trip to Montesano, Washington - 2016

Not going to lie...today has been a hard day.  My oldest brother, Robert (or Bob as he's known in Washington) had to have emergency surgery for a burst appendix and he isn't doing well today.  I went up to see him just after his birthday last year (that is so weird to say as it's just after New Year's) so, in his honor, and out of my love for him, I'm going to post the photos from that trip.

As usual, I crammed a LOT into a very brief trip.  12-14 hour drive each way, a blown-up phone, and 2 1/2 days of family time.  

So here is day one - The Drive:

I wanted to start very early in the night/morning, but due to the health problems I've been 'enjoying' since March of 2016, it didn't happen.  However, I did get to the Sutter Buttes just in time for sunrise!

Next stop:  Weed Airport rest area, home of a thousand blackbirds.

Talk about an angry bird!

Due to the numerous forest fires burning, Mount Shasta and Black Butte were shrouded in haze.  

Notice all the mounds at the bottom of the picture...it's such a fascinating geological area! 

Here's another view of the ones to the northwest of the mountain. 

Next stop was the Medford LDS Temple, which: Newsflash!  Is not actually in Medford, Oregon!

It's a pretty building, but it didn't have the grandiose look that I usually expect from LDS temples.  /shallow 

 There was also a really cool abandoned-looking ranch just down the road that I couldn't resist!

Such a beautiful day!

Next I made a quick detour to drive by Table Mountain.  I will go to hike this place next summer!

Looking south was an awesome view of Mt. Mcloughlin. 

Time was really dragging for reasons I will not go into here.  So I tried to not stop until I got to the Portland LDS temple.  

This is an absolutely stunning temple; one of the most gorgeous in my opinion.  And it's surrounded by beautiful woods and gardens.  So I took a lot of pictures (including some for others as it turns out) in this gorgeous and spiritual setting.

I'm going to do a more in-depth post about LDS temples that I've visited so I won't post all my photos here.  Just a few to illustrate it's beauty.

One last photo of a beautiful flower...

...and then I had to hit the road!!

I was hours late with a dead phone.  And then to compound matters, I got a little lost! Booo!  And couldn't call anyone.  I finally made it about 3 hours behind schedule with a very anxious niece and daughter waiting for word of me!  

But I made it into the arms of my loving family, safe and sound.  

xoxo

Nikon D3300