2,333...[part two]

I know this is beyond late, the part one was posted two posts ago, but I figured I did at least need to finish with a few pictures from Montana itself, as that was the ultimate goal of our road trip.  So on we go.

On July 20, 2010 we got up and headed on to Butte, Montana. Why Butte you might ask? Well, that is where my grandfather grew up, and now currently lives again (well for the summer time that is).  It was important to me that Kennedy got to meet her Great Grandpa while she was still little.  I had to have the pictures of her with my grandpa. 

We ended up being in Montana for Evel Knieval Days again, yes, you read that right, Evel Knieval Days. Evel Knieval was born and raised in Butte, and therefore they celebrate his life and stupidity every single year by having stalls with crap for sale, stunts being performed and drunken debauchery by the event goers.

(waiting while Marty and Bryan did the bungee chair - if it is called that??)

 While there Kennedy also fell absolutely in love with her cousin Sidney.  They were the cutest things when together and Sidney can make Kennedy laugh like no one else.

Watching Spanky's stunt out of Great-Grandpa's window on Grandpa's back :)

The sites around Butte are beautiful, it is a mining town so they're not the "norm" I guess you could say for some Californians, but still beautiful in their own way.  

There is the Berkeley Pit, which is a big open copper mine pit full of incredibly toxic water.  Sounds wonderful huh?

We do a lot of walking when we are with my Grandpa.  So we get to take pictures of the old railroad tracks/trail, and the Gallows Frames.  The bottom black and white one is one Austin took on our previous trip, but I love it, so I am sharing it again anyways.

While it was great to be there and see my grandpa, Evel Knieval Days is just a lot to deal with. It was agreed upon by all (including my grandpa) that we would not be visiting during that time again, and in fact (fingers are crossed) grandpa may be coming out to California during that time next year!!

It was a great trip, while there Kennedy learned how to wave and is working on crawling. She is currently face planting and trying to scoot herself forward that way, unfortunately she usually ends up scooting herself backwards essentially not getting to where she would like to go, and then pisses herself off. While we find it amusing and laugh, it is sometimes sad to see the frustration in her face.



Our summer trips definitely weren't and and aren't yet over (well for Kennedy they are as she'll be hanging with the grandparents). Austin and I have two more weddings (at least) to go to, and possibly one more in New Mexico if we can swing it. We'll be heading to San Diego for Siler's wedding (Austin's long time best friend and best man from our wedding) (I will post a few pics from this soon as it was a week ago now!) and to Napa for our friend Nick and Katie's wedding.

2,333... [part one]

miles that is.  That is how many miles we drove this last month on our vacation to Montana.


View Trip To Montana 2010 in a larger map

(This is probably going to be a very picture heavy post (as per usual) so I will split it up into two or three.)

We left July 16, 2010 and headed up to Cameron Park, CA where my Aunt and Uncle live.

From there we left on July 17, 2010 and headed to Elko, Nevada, for a total of 407 miles the first day,quite a drive through nothing, well there were a few towns and quite the polite gang member in Lovelock along the way, but really nothing.  (he had tear drops tattooed on his face, so I was assuming a gang member?)

Kennedy got to go swimming while we were in Elko, and we laughed as people tried posing for pics with the Harley's in the parking lot of the hotel.  Other than that, we called it a night and got ready for the next day of driving.  

(we couldn't get the camera in time to get the pic of them with the bikes, but it was funny).

YAY for being out of the car!

On July 18, 2010 we headed straight through Idaho to Jackson, Wyoming (another 400+ mile trip).   What a beautiful town, and man what a beautiful area.  Traveling through the Tetons is just amazing!

  

  

On July  19, 2010 we got up and headed out of Jackson through Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone National Park.  We only traveled about 150 miles that day but we wanted to take the time to see everything, so I think it was likely our longest travel day of all.

Trip out of Jackson through Grand Teton Nat'l Park...

 

On the way through I looked over and there was a mama bear and two cubs on the side of the road.  By the time Austin and I could stop they had started to move away, I am sure my family got much better pics as they were behind us.

Jackson lake was beautiful.

Of course we got stopped in a long line of road construction traffic just outside of Yellowstone park.

So we had to stop at the last rest area before heading into Yellowstone.

Yellowstone into Gardiner, Montana....

This is what you see as you enter, there are signs EVERYWHERE about not disturbing the animals, it being bear country, buffalo country, moose country, whatever is out there.

YET, crap like this continues to happen... A woman was attacked by a buffalo a couple of days after we were there in the parking lot near Old Faithful.  Some idiot didn't care and provoked the buffalo.

So now on to our drive through Yellowstone. We started at the south entrance and drove around to Old Faithful, then up through Mammoth Hot Springs and out the North Entrance into Gardiner, MT.

Along the way we say plenty of animals, and the wonderful marvel that is Old Faithful.

However, once we got to Old Faithful for the predicted 6:23 p.m. time, we waited and waited, as no one can really get mother nature on schedule :)

Once it was done we ran to the car as the rain was about to start, and headed out.  But thanks to the rain we got to see this beauty...

And then on our way out of course we saw more animals and some other beautiful sights...

I swear that is a buffalo out in the field

I think I'll call this enough for one post, to many pictures can make one gloss over :)  I'll be back soon with the next part of the trip.