Outwest with Peggy

August 2020

European traveling is great, but there are some awesome places in the USA! Read more

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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 15, 2020, 11:47pm
- 🌙 21 °C
- Altitude: 722 m
- United States Montana Custer County Carbon Hill 46.39871, -105.82346°23’55” N 105°49’23” W
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Day 1
Go West!
August 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
When Europe and Canada are closed to US travelers, time to rethink what is in your own country. Some states I have been to, but a very long time ago, and Peggy hasn't so we are making the most of the next 7 days. I saw we got a pretty good start today; left NC at 9a (left the house around 7a to get to the Greensboro airport). Landed in Rapid City, SD by 1pm local time, luggage, car rental, Walmart and on the road. Crossed into ND and had a great dinner at Grazier burger and brews. Then onto Montana, Best Western Miles City. Tomorrow we head to Yellowstone for 3 nights.Read more
Traveler Looking good guys!!
8/16/20Reply
Traveler Good to see you’re behaving! (Or is it misbehaving?)
8/16/20Reply
Traveler Dang, no riding bison after that meal!! :). Looks yummy
8/16/20Reply
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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 16, 2020, 1:00pm
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 1,501 m
- United States Montana Gallatin County West College Park 02S05E13CBD_01 Well 45.65982, -111.0554845°39’35” N 111°3’20” W
Day 2
Yellowstone National Park
August 16, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Moving right along, we head west again to Bozeman then down to the north entrance of Yellowstone. We headed through Canyon Village to Bridge Bay campground right on Yellowstone Lake. On the way we saw more bison than we could count, along side the road, in the road, rolling around and around in the dry land or in the mud. Glad we ate our bison burgers last night. They have the right of way here, so don't be in a hurry! Finally got to the campground and on our site, set up tent and started a fire, which did not cooperate. We had celery and crab dip for an appetizer accompanied gin and tonics. Oh, did I forget to mention the 2 distilleries we visited in Bozeman??!! Dinner was Turkey and cheese sandwiches. Too late and too dark to look for kindling. Monday's another day, more adventures await.Read more
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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 17, 2020, 6:00am
- 🌙 7 °C
- Altitude: 2,553 m
- United States Wyoming Teton County 44.3982, -110.6553844°23’54” N 110°39’19” W
Day 3
1st full day in Yellowstone.
August 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 7 °C
To think a year ago I was writing about Budapest and The Danube Viking River Cruise, so many new & beautiful places to see there. Just as many if not more to see here in the US, some places I've never been to. Peggy was heading to New England to visit some states she has never seen.
Weather here was beautiful on Sunday, not too hot, 92ish, but boy did it get cold, needed to get up in the middle of the night and put on long pants. Was 48° in the morning.
We got the fire started and what was supposed to be last night's dinner became this morning's breakfast... grilled pork and rice. Along with the French pressed coffee of course. Off for our morning hike, down to the marina and walk long the lakefront. Then off to the Natural Bridge hiking trail. Beautiful day for a hike. I am by no means in good enough shape for a long hike let alone an up hill one, but I made it to a beautiful view point, Peggy continued on. Headed on to Old Faithful, not knowing when the next eruption would be, but we walked around and found a perfect spot (in the sun), ate lunch and waited. A couple of teasers and finally - what a sight... somethings you have to see in person to really believe and understand.
Little bit of shopping and back to our site for dinner and fire. What a day, slept great.Read more
Great stuff!! [Mark Holmes]
8/22/20Reply
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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 18, 2020
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 2,351 m
- United States Wyoming Teton County Steamboat Point 44.52773, -110.3042244°31’40” N 110°18’15” W
Day 4
Beauty of Yellowstone
August 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
So much to see and do. On our 2nd full day in Yellowstone we headed out to see the views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Beautiful waterfalls. Canyon Village is a great starting place, then onto view points for 3 waterfalls. Yellowstone Lake Hotel, though it was closed for 2020, we could go in to see some of the 1st floor and the views it offers are breathtaking. Many of the parks' restaurants are open with limited menu of to-go items, so we had a picnic lunch at the waterfront of Yellowstone Lake. Jerry and Mama-coon joined us. As we drove around to the other side of the lake we saw an amazing sunset.Read more
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- Aug 19, 2020
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 2,110 m
- United States Wyoming Teton County Sheffield Creek 44.08892, -110.6743244°5’20” N 110°40’28” W
Day 5
Moving on... Yellowstone to Grand Teton
August 19, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Today we packed our camping stuff and headed down to Grand Tetons National Park. One last stop for sunrise over Yellowstone Lake then stopped at Grant Lodge for breakfast to go. Next 2 days we'll be staying in a cabin, so tent is packed and left as a donation for a group from Utah who run a nonprofit outdoor adventures.
Wanted to make the most of these 2 days, as we couldn't get into the cabin we drove down to Jackson. Peggy had a Groupon for Snowking Mountain Summer Adventures, where we did the Cowboy Coaster and Sky lift. Awesome views of Jackson City and the Tetons in the distance. So close to Idaho, why not... we found a distillery who produces a potato vodka.
Back to Jackson City for a beer flight and appetizers of baked brie and roasted brussel sprouts (which ended up being dinner) then back to the cabin. Ready for bed and another day full of adventures.Read more
Quite an adventure!!! Gorgeous pictures!!! [Karen]
8/22/20Reply
Traveler Looks beautiful
8/22/20Reply
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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 20, 2020, 8:00am
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 2,153 m
- United States Wyoming Teton County 43.93268, -110.4511743°55’58” N 110°27’4” W
Day 6
Horseback riding in the Grand Tetons.
August 20, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
If I could pick from the list of my favorite things to do; horseback riding is on top of the list. What a beautiful morning to ride along/thru a creek, up to a vantage point to see the Tetons and back to the corral. I would highly suggest this. A large but local family owned stable with 130+ beautiful horses & friendly staff . After a 2 hour ride ready for a hike.Read more
Looks like a fabulous time!!! Top of my list too! Let's go sometime!!!! Beautiful place!!! [Karen]
8/22/20Reply
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- Aug 20, 2020, 6:00pm
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 1,924 m
- United States Wyoming Teton County Teton Village 43.58564, -110.8267943°35’8” N 110°49’36” W
Day 6
Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake and sunset.
August 20, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
So after getting off a 2 hour horseback ride, I would have liked to soak in a hot tub or at least a swim, but access to the lakes were close, did get to put our feet in Jackson Lake. More beautiful views from Jenny and Jackson Lake. Seems hazy, but that is the smoke from the fires in California. Almost hard to see the outline of the Tetons, but made for an interesting sunset.Read more
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- Aug 21, 2020
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 1,404 m
- United States South Dakota Pennington County Keystone Buckeye Gulch 43.89714, -103.424643°53’50” N 103°25’29” W
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Day 7
Leaving WY, back to SD.
August 21, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Long drive ahead, we packed most everything last night so we could head out early. Peggy hard boiled the last of the eggs, breakfast on the road, with a stop for gas and coffee. Headed into Rapid City and lunch with beer flight at Firehouse Brewery SD's oldest brewery. Down the road a piece is Wall, SD and the large Wall Drug Store were Peggy found a few last souvenirs.
Back to Keystone, SD. and stop at Crazy Horse Monument and finally Mount Rushmore. President trail to get a closer look. Spending the evening in Keystone Baymont, sitting on the outdoor patio, enjoying a National Park beer, you have a decent view of Mount Rushmore. Been a great week.Read more
Interesting history on the development [Karen]
8/22/20Reply
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Traveler Outwest with Peggy
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- Aug 22, 2020, 12:00pm
- ☀️ 31 °C
- Altitude: 967 m
- United States South Dakota Pennington County Green Valley Rapid City Regional Airport 44.04133, -103.061944°2’29” N 103°3’43” W
Day 8
All good things must come to an end.
August 22, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Last day here in Rapid City, SD. After a breakfast bag and coffee on the patio, we drive into the historic district of Rapid City. On every street corner is a metal/brass statue of the past presidents. Stopped at the Historic Alex Johnson Hotel, he was famous for initiating the railroad project to come west. Many famous people and presidents stayed here, there is a wall of pictures, of course I forgot to take a picture...
Picked up some cold cuts, cheese, bagels and buffalo jerky to have for lunch (no food service at all on the flights). Dropped off the car, that we put over 2000 miles on, good thing this rental had unlimited miles. Found some outside seating before going through security for lunch, then time to head to the gate. Next stop home!Read more
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- Aug 22, 2020, 11:00pm
- 🌙 21 °C
- Altitude: 305 m
- United States North Carolina Yadkin Township Chestnut Grove Goff Creek 36.29875, -80.368836°17’56” N 80°22’8” W
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Day 8
Happy to be home.
August 22, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Rapid City, Chicago, Greensboro, King! Great to get away, wonderful to be home. My heart is full of memories and I am blessed to have shared this journey with my little sister, Peggy.
The flights were thankfully uneventful; all masks on and not full flights. Gate change in Chicago was in at G3, out at G1A (both commuter flights). We had our sandwiches, gouda cheese and celery to snack on with cran-apple juice; which Peggy bought in the airport. They now make a pre boarding announcement that there will be no beverage service at this time so feel free to purchase something in the airport and bring it on board. Wonder if the gate agents are getting a cut from the restuarants??!!
Only 2 minor issues: Peggy stayed to collect the bags and I went to bring my car to baggage claim. Almost couldn't find it, I was on the wrong deck. But I get in, starts right up then I see the warning light - low tire pressure and the number 1. Back left tire FLAT. Moved the car up a bit to load the luggage and noticed a nail, must have been there and the week we were gone the air slowly leaked out. Luckily their is a garage attendant who brought his work truck around and filled the tire. Cautiously, I drive home... pressure is good, but Monday morning it's going to the shop.
All luggage in the house, unpacked most everything, we did bring back some glass bottles of tasty spirits. None of those we broken, the French Press coffee pot was shattered. It served us well.
Long story short, great vacation, learned a lot, tons of pictures and we both are healthy!

The End.... until next time...Read more
Traveler Now there's a sign worth photographing! :)
8/23/20Reply
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