Last day of BBB

Tuesday, July 24:

Today we were not in a hurry and it was very relaxing. We spent the day in Yellowstone, at different picnic areas, and we stopped at a few overlooks. We left about 3:30 and drove to Rexburg, ID where we spent the night. So, actually today wasn't our last day, but I don't count the 25th because we just drove home!!! Anyway, here are a few picks of our drive to Rexburg.

BBB Day 6

Monday, July 23:

So two "Bs" down [Baby & Battlefield] one to go. Yea right. Technically I guess we actually got 2 Bs for the price of one - just not the one we had hoped for [Bear]. We drove to Yellowstone today and took the Beartooth Highway [that's 1]. That was the most beautiful highway I have ever been on. We took all day and just enjoyed the drive and stopped along the way whenever we wanted to. 

This one just took our breath away, because we had no idea, until we got out of the car, that the lake was there!

Look how deep the snow gets in the winter:

I think we were obsessed with the snow because it was such a pleasant change from the heat of Orem!!

Speaking of Orem [or I-15 or Colorado etc. etc. etc.] - there is no escape!

Look at these gorgeous wild flowers!

Does this look kind of like a bear's tooth?

Our destination

Second B of the day: Buffalo

AND more construction

Our last site of the day.

We spent the night in Canyon Village in Yellowstone. It was so pleasant outside that we played cards out on the patio until it was too dark to see! Awesome, awesome day!!!! [even without the Bears] 😀

BBB Day 5

Today we were able to begin the day at Sacrament meeting in Casper, Wyoming. We had totally forgotten that it was almost the 24th. It was pretty cool to sing "Come, Come Ye Saints" in a place that is along the Pioneer trail!!
Our main objective today was to visit  Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. We saw some beautiful scenery on our way:

We said goodbye to Wyoming and hello to Montana.

The monument is inside the Crow Indian Reservation.When we arrived at the monument we went to a dramatic retelling of the battle. The ranger was fantastic! I only got a couple of short snippets but you'll get the idea:

After the presentation we drove to the end of the road and followed the events of the battle in chronological order. We had a brochure that we read and also read the signs at each stop along the way. It was very interesting and educational. We both enjoyed it very much. 

Off to the right is a National Cemetery in honor of those lost in other wars. It is across the road from the rest of the monument.

"Last Stand Hill"

The site of the river is known as Retreat Crossing. The soldiers were losing badly, and retreated to the higher ground in the foreground. 7,000 Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho were encamped below along the Little Bighorn River. Led by Sitting Bull.

Notice the winding path of head stones, marking where 2 companies of men were killed attempting to join Custer on Last Stand Hill:

In 1876, Custer and his command are quickly buried in shallow graves near where they fell. Custer's remains are now at the military academy at West Point. This memorial stands in the center of a mass grave where the bodies of Custer's command now lie. The shaft bears their names, as well as those of scouts and civilians who died in battle.

It wasn't until 1991 that George H. W. Bush signed into law this memorial to honor the Indians who fought in this war and to change the name of the National Monument from Custer Battlefield to Little Bighorn Battlefield.

This is the monument as you come up the hill:

This is the entrance:

This is one portion of the inside of the circle:

In 1999 the National Park Service began erecting red granite markers at known Cheyenne and Lakota warrior casualty sites throughout the  battlefield. 

My last stop, of course, was the gift shop:

We ended the day in a Comfort Inn in Billings, Montana. Lovely, lovely day!!

BBB Day 3 & 4

Friday, July 20:

Today on our way out of town we noticed that some of the streets were named after early U.S. Presidents. However, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the two non-democrats, were not included! 😆 

Our first item today was to drive up to the top of Pike's Peak. It is one of the highest paved roads in America. They are in the middle of building a new facility on the top, so we could only drive to mile 16 [out of 20] and then we had to park the car and take a shuttle the remaining 4 miles. The drive was great, the view from the top was somewhat anti-climatic!! That's why these pictures are of the drive only.

Me on the shuttle:

Marmot:

When we arrived back at our car, we drove until we found a lovely spot to eat lunch and play cards. 

I was anxious to be on our way, because our next stop was the first B in our trip - Baby Suni! Of course, we think she is the most adorable baby ever, since our last grand child! 😉

 This is her adoring daddy and our son, Jonny:

Indian food for dinner then ice cream afterwards with lots of snuggles:

Gosh, I miss her!!! At least they are closer now and we can see them more often. Love all 3 of them - don't know why we have no picture of our sweet Emilee (Suni's mama)!

Saturday, July 21:

Today was basically a farewell and travel to Casper, Wyoming. It was hard to say goodbye to our little family. They fed us a delicious breakfast and then we had to go. 😢

We made a stop in Greely at the State College there [for pictures for Kent's research]. This is what I did while he went off to take pictures:

 EEEWW!!

When we got into Cheyenne we went through a very intense rainstorm that lasted a few minutes. It was really heavy where we were but we could see blue skies around us. Weird!!

Soon we joined the Platte River and so were following the Mormon Trail. In fact, we stopped at the Overland Trail Museum. Actually, we THINK that is what it was called. Anyway, it was an interesting and interactive Pioneer museum.

This one you could sit inside and "take a ride across the river"

We took this one in honor of our neighbor, who makes these kinds of things out of iron

So we ended our day in Casper, Wyoming.