++ USA PARKS '98
++
This is the 6 Nov 2003 edition of
this page showing the outline of this fabulous Trip to the
NATIONAL PARKS and several digital photos taken there.
The shutter in my 35mm camera failed at an early stage - and wasn't
apparent until SIX blank reels were returned to me. I also took
about 50 digital shots (thank goodness!!) and some are included
here.
JUNE: THE NATIONAL PARKS OF THE USA.
(continued from Page 1 of USA National Parks)
14 June '98
Having gone through the entrance into ELK RUN LANE, I crossed a big stream amd then turned
left along a walker's path around the lower slopes of a hill.
I followed this a fair way and met VERY few other people. After descending a hilly slope, I joined
'a road with no name' and, on reaching FLAT CREEK DRIVE, I descended until SNOW KING
AVENUE came into view. I saw on my map that a "RODEO GROUNDS" was down there, - and clearly
many people were on HORSE-BACK!![Sorry folks, I don't appear to have taken any 'digitals' for this
phase of my journey!!]
I got a 'Free Entrance' to the low-attendance trials of STEER-ROPING by teams of two. After my
'first viewing', I left the grandstand - and then they returned the steers to the start for the 'second round'.
I watched some of this from outside the grounds as I walked to the Western Town's Centre via
Millward Street, Cafe 245, a Cinema, the 'Legends Gallery' and numerous board-walks making me think
that I'm starring in a Western Movie. NOPE!! This is ALL very REAL, with icecream shops, a twin-storey
board-walks and other arches in the town-centre square.
I went twice around 'gas-light alley', past 'skinny skis', Cyber City (with lots of kids in the 'Internet/EMail'
place) then onto BROADWAY for rain (which was intermittent) and a walk back to the hotel by 12.45hrs.
Our transient visitors were soon to leave and I related the above experiences to them.
In my own room, I filled up with my own snippets of lunch before walking to the shops and various
other interests in the afternoon. I purchased more 'supplies' after further reading of the "Colonies in Space" book.
Later, I filled in various questionnaires about hotels and tour-operators so that they can improve or develop their
future services. The it was a relaxing, lounging time for the rest of the afternoon.
Later, I got a few more food items from a local 'drug-store' which 'doubled' as a garage - and then I ate some
whilst watching "World's Funniest Videos" (this being the U.S equivalent of a U.K programme by Jeremy
Beadle!)
Then it was time to 'pack for tomorrow' so I did a bit of that whilst watching the DISCOVERY channel about
MOUNTAIN LIONS. (That was an Explorer film by National Geographic). Later in the evening on TV, I
watched Touring and Sports Car Racing - and (later still, whilst in bed!) a NASCAR overview and some details.
It was a very relaxing night (physically) as I was in bed by 10pm (ish) - but not relaxing mentally as I didn't get
to sleep until at LEAST 2.20am..
15 June '98
So I slept from about 2.20am (after thoughtless 'Violin Scraping' by someone between 10.30 &11.00pm
last night ... not to mention LOUD voices outside in the car park WELL past midnight!) until awaking
at 5.30am.. I got up, toiletted, wrote notes and dressed from about 6.05 am...
I got my BIG case packed and ready by 6.24am, the remainder being ready by 6.35am.. Then I did some
TV Channel-browsing until breakfast. I found, thankfully, mostly "COUNTRY MUSIC" on 'CMT Morning'.
At breakfast, I joined a couple for a chat, had my usual good breakfast - some fried stuff plus some cakes (this
time with current bread and butter!)..
Later, I watched 'Country Music' on CMTV from 8am until my 9.am departure. I still haven't used my own
PRIVATE JACUZZI in my own bathroom in my own hotel room (en suite)! Shame!!.
Our coach departed at 9am with ULLRICH taking us from JACKSON HOLE via MORAN JUNCTION
and DUBOIS (where we stopped at the BIGHORN SHEEP CENTRE for a film and a talk - but NO
viewings!!) Then onto LANDER where a McDonalds pumped me with Cheeseburger and a large ICE-
CREAM (curiously called a SMALL icecream!) Everyone was well-fed, then we journeyed on to
RAWLINS - where a "punch & biscuits" welcome awaited us.
In Rawlins, I walked along SPRUCE STREET whilst others were 'faffing around', their wives swimming and
nattering etc.. - and I found three cafes and two restaurants (but decided to buy my food & drink at a
GAS STATION!!) I took it back to my room and told others about this QUICK way!
I watched the TNN "Country Music Awards" on TV in the early evening (well, MOST of the evening!) -and
there were GREAT performers 'all the way'! I really need to tell the friends back home in the UK about this!!
There were further Awards and Previews and COUNTRY MUSIC performances. After this wonderful
evening, I read more of the book "Colonies in Space" before bed which came at 21.46hrs.
16 June '98
I had various 'over-night wake-ups' but didn't really get up until 6.02am., when I got my calculator
out to do the 'Denver to Rawlings' coach mileage estimations (it turned out to be 2581 miles!). This
needed to be added to the 'total computation', today, which included an update on yesterday's 295
mile contribution.
Then I got dressed whilst the overnight rain continued to pour down outside. I filled in a bit more of
the SAGA Questionnaire (relating to the BIGHORN SHEEP CENTRE visit, yesterday) before making an estimate
for RAWLINS to DENVER mileage of 250 miles to add to make a 'total mileage' estimate for our
voyage (DENVER to DENVER) of 2831 (again this will have to be modified by a corrected value
for yesterday!! All this personal indulgence in numbers paid dividends at the end of the trip when I
picked up the main TOTAL MILEAGE prize!!
Before breakfast (7.15am.- 45 minutes ealier than expected), I finished reading the book "Colonies in Space".
That breakfast was quite a good one, including pancakes for the first time on this trip! After some interesting
conversations with some 'fellow-travellers', I returned to my room, completed the SAGA Questionnaire,
sealed it in an envelope and browsed the TV for personal interests - here in Rawlins.
On the coach, I modified the overall mileage calculation because of yesterday's error and added some extra
estimates for 'Optional' excursions (mostly that I hadn't been on!) making my 'competition estimate' a total
of 3167 miles. [NOT my total mileage!!]
I took part in a 'refreshment and toilet' break in LARAMIE (Wyoming) on the way to DENVER. - and then
Ullrich 'cut out' CHEYENNE by going across the mountains to SIDING and then via FORT COLLINS and
INTERSTATE 25 to reach DENVER at about 1pm..
There, I got settled-in at the EXECUTIVE TOWER HOTEL (the same one as at the start of this tour) - but
just for the night - as I'm off to Heathrow tomorrow! I therefore got all my relevant items in position for their
repacking for the UK. I shouldn't, however, forget the 'Farewell Dinner' at about 7pm..
In the meantime, I bought another map of DENVER and went for a walk (the whole length of the
"16th Street Mall" - searching for ice-cream shops!) - right up to the STATE CAPITOL BUILDING,
through the 'Civic Center Gardens' and back to my Room 1109 at the EXECUTIVE TOWER HOTEL
via 14th Street. [Sorry folks, I don't appear to have taken any 'digitals' for this
phase of my journey!!]
I, then, did a small amount of food-shopping before reading FRAN's notice-board about the time and place
for our dinner. I also was interested in finding out about tomorrow's times, including breakfast, 'case' time -
and our departure!
Back in my room, I passed time watching TV, including the "Jerry Springer Show"!! At our evening meal,
I joined the rest of our group PLUS ANOTHER "SAGA" group who have also finished a similar trip. I enjoyed
my lettuce hors d'ouvres, chicken meal and cheese-cake for 'afters'.
This 'other' group entertained us all with a cabaret/jokes/stories etc - before ULLRICH announced the TOTAL
MILEAGE for our trip was 3190 - and FRANCES announced that the closest was ROY PETERS with his
ESTIMATE of 3167!! I was then presented with a VIDEO of the MESA VERDE in VHS PAL format.
So
my 'estimate', aided by my own notes and calculator, had provided me with a fair 'dividend'!
[ I had done the calculation this morning]
Back in my room, I watched lots of TV, did my PACKING for tomorrow and went to bed at
'just gone 10pm'.
17 June '98
After waking up at a baffling 1am, I appeared to have slept right through to 4.55am!! Mind you,
I might have forgotten the 2am awakening! Still, by 6.20am, I had arisen for further toiletry and
note-writing. I need to get the case 'outside the door' by 8.00am! I'd probably get breakfast at
about 7.45am - and be READY for departure for the airport by 8.45am.. That airport would
be DENVER's!
Some beautiful fresh air wafted past my nose from the air-conditionning (ah - that's nice!!). I told
myself "You'll have to get MORE of that, Roy!" I proceeded to get dressed, very slowly.
We wiil be leaving for the airport in TWO PHASES - the first for the people going to Heathrow (on
Flight AA536 -taking off at 12.04hrs) and the 'others', like Margaret for Manchester, somewhat later.
Our "Round the World" Scottish couple is moving on to ALASKA from here!!
I waited in the Hotel Lobby and met and said "goodbye" to fellow-travellers. Some were other SAGA
persons, some were 'arrivals' - they were 'allsorts'!
Margaret Campbell and I said our 'multiple-goodbyes' (four in all!) and I also bade farewell to three
others in the EXECUTIVE TOWER LOBBY - plus FRAN near the bus!!
ULLRICH drove us to the airport which was 42 miles away - a nice surprise.
There were lots of friends on the bus - and at the airport - earlier having waved 'goodbye' outside the hotel to our
later-leavers. I spent most time in DENVER airport with two 'couples' from KENT (including Rita and Don). I,
then, caught a SUPER80 from DENVER to CHICAGO (to take 1hr51 mins on the 3hr15min schedule!). Perhaps
we put our clocks forward an hour on landing!!? I was seated with by coach-partner, DINAH.
Yes - indeed, that was a pleasant journey and I arrived at 15.20hrs!!
After a wait for abour 3 hours, chatting with the wife ('right-wing!') of the main Tory on the trip, we caught a 767-300
from CHICAGO to HEATHROW. Despite being a TORY, she was quite an interesting woman - and our conversation
extended until we boarded the plane at 18.00hrs..
I tried to sleep between 21.00 and 23.30hrs (Chicago-Time!) to avoid loss of sleep tonight - ready for tomorrow!
18 June '98
I landed at 9.00hrs at HEATHROW (having advanced the watch SIX hours during the flight, in the
early morning to be ready for BST in England). I called on 'baggage reclaim' and refitted the big case
with its own wheelie device - and then made my way to the UNDERGROUND!
I got the £3.40 ticket to VICTORIA - and, from there, followed the long unsigned walk to VICTORIA
COACH STATION. I got there at about 10.55am - and then went off to re-explore OXFORD STREET,
SOHO and HYDE PARK. (The left luggage facility was helpful, for that exercise!)
On arrival back at Victoria Coach Station, I attempted to catch up with my note-taking, getting matters
fully 'up-to-date'. For this phase, I sat at Gate 16, where coach 511 is supposed to depart from at 17.00hrs
this evening. There was nearly six hours to wait, but it was far better than at Heathrow!
I estimated that I should be in Malvern at 20.50hrs, getting home by 21.15hrs and the ZANUSSI washing-
machine's task finished by 22.10hrs. I chatted with one woman at Gate16's waiting area, and a small group
of us (independent travellers) 'looked after' each other's cases whilst toiletting etc..
The coach ride to Malvern went well - and I got home at 9.30pm and 'fired-up' the Zanussi! 48 items of
mail had accumulated over my time away, so I counted, identified and 'grouped' them (into personal,
miscellaneous business and 'charities'.)
I wound the VIDEO RECORDER back (it'd be working under my instructions whilst I was away) and I
watched a few whilst having a 'cuppa'. I abandonned the 'watching' when the Zanussi had finished
its tasks - then I took the laundry out and racked it in my breakfast room.
I went to bed at about 23.00hrs (BST) as I was 'so tired' and NOT because my body-clock thought it
was 17.00 hrs 'mountain time'. So I got some sleep..... zzzz..
19 June '98
.. but I woke up at 2.00am, ready for doing all sorts of things. Not tired!!! Now, the body-clock thinks
it is '8pm last night'!! So I got my diary 'up-to-date' by 2.34am (BST) and I then planned to let my body
over-rule my mind by letting me do some 'sorting out' before I felt tired again!! I reasoned that the body
wants the 'brain to work' - so I let it.
I restricted the use of mental-energy to limiting it to emptying and putting away things from both my main
case and the holdall - rather than the taking of my medication tablets (with which I'm quite a bit behind on!)
For the record - I returned the empty luggage items and myself to the bedroom at 3.20am. It was quite
a useful session!! By then, I was quite tired - was it because the 'body clock' still thinks it is 9.20pm
(Mountain-Time) last night? Or what?? My mind is 'well-awake'!
Could it be that the body is more tired than the mind due to the fact that we are now (in Malvern) at an
altitude of A MILE LOWER than in the 'rockies'? (i.e physically, I'm trying to breathe very THICK AIR
- with greater strain!) I was conscious of the physical effort required to breathe the THICK Malvern air
whilst laying in my bed. NO, my mind reasoned that it is a temperature problem (despite the fact that,
for me, the mind 'packs up first' as temperature rises!)
I decided to get up again at 4.57am (BST) and start the "Amorous Adventures Summary" in the
Word Perfect format .. as well as getting the diary notes further up-to-date. I completed these activities
by 5.45am. and I calculated that my mileage on this US trip had amounted to 13200 miles.
[I also pondered on the fact that, at 47325miles so far this year (which has only HALF gone) I had already exceeded
last year's annual record of 27331 miles!!]
Alright, all you well-travelled readers, where did I take this photo? As a clue, it was on this trip!!
Return to USA Parks - Page 1
or return to 1998 index page
or return to Roy's home page for full
list of books
and other writings either finished or under
preparation.
roy@olympus.u-net.com