I've Met Many New Friends

On this trip I've had the opportunity to make many new friends. I'm kinda laid back so it's easy. I just look at them with my big brown eyes which say "pet me". Y'all know I love being petted. Anyway, here's a few pictures for you! Rudy

Last Day in Yellowstone continued - includes Video

All of these pictures are of Travertine being created and rising above the earth at a rate of several inches a year. This is so incredible!

My Last Day in Yellowstone - What a Day! (Aug 28)

What a whirlwind of a day. We saw plenty stuff - The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Whew, made me dizzy. 3 Waterfalls - Upper Falls, Lower Falls & Tower Falls. The first two were the prettiest but the last one was the longest. We saw forests of burned lodge-pole pines that were burned in a really bad fire in 1988. Glad I wasn't around then. We saw lots of pretty stuff. And at Mammoth Hot Springs we saw the most unusual thing. Water seeps deep into the ground and warmed by heat from magma. (Look

that one up yourself) Carbon Dioxide dissolves in the water making some kind of acid solution which dissolves the underground limestone. The rest is too long but what happens is that when all of this happens it turns to travertine. That the expensive stuff that Paul says he sees in new houses. It doesn't look like a counter top or floor but you'll see this for yourself. You might think it looks like snow but it ain't cold! It's really HOT

What a place!!! (Aug 27th)

We start out today touring mud pots which are actually boiling mud. I don't think Deb's going in for a massage. There are colorful springs with boiling water. The organisms that live in this boiling water make it colorful. Then there are some sulphur springs. Either way, they don't look like anything in La., or smell like it. Phew! There was this large geyser (Paul calls then geesers & Debi just looks at him with that look of hers) That thing was HUGE! All these people were sitting around just waiting for it to explode like a fire hydrant with the top knocked off! I wouldn't pee on this thing - for sure. Debi & Paul toured this very old hotel - the Old Faithful Inn. It took 1 year to build from June, 1903 - June 1904. A lot of the rooms don't even have bathrooms. They give guests a nice robe to go down the hall. Can you see one of those wrapped around Paul. He'd look like a Polar Bear! And Debi, she'd have to walk all night! Anyway it was a great day. Paul & Debi went to a restaurant but I just slept in the car. It smelled delicious!

Yellowstone, Here We Come (Aug. 26th)

Leaving Cody WY this a.m. we headed west. But first we saw this huge dam..I heard Debi say "Dam" before so I didn't know if I did something wrong or what but I found out differently. It was my first time to ride on a golf cart too - to the info center. Then we drove all the way. More of those big cow-things. We went up huge mountains and around streams, saw geysers (they are very colorful but are very hot & dangerous) Yellowstone Lake was the biggest (water) thing I've ever seen. It looked as if the world were turning to water. We stopped & had lunch @ this lodge and there were more buffalo. We saw a waterfall & at the continental divide I met more friends. After driving from the east entrance all the way to the west entrance, we called it a day in West Yellowstone. This little town is very dog friendly; must be, I've seen plenty. I'm going to have a great day tomorrow. Actually every day with Deb & Paul is a great day. They treat me so special. I'm a 'Lucky Dog"!!!

Tue Aug 25th What a Ride!!

We headed out early for a long trip. Did you know Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried side by side? Well they are on "Boot Hill" in Deadwood S.D. Other than that, it's a gambling town - kinda like it was in the old days. Our next stop would be the 1st National Monument (1906). Can you guess from the picture? It's famous & you should recognize it. How about Close Encounters of a Third Kind? Yep, Devil's Tower. This thing is HUGE - 1,267'. The top is actually 1 1/2 acres. When we entered the National Park, there was a prairie dog colony. That's some fat little rascals. Came on up to the car like they were going to get some of my dog food. It was time to head on over to Cody, WY, our stop for the night. In doing so we rode thru Big Horn Mountain Range and Big Horn Canyon. You'll see from the pictures how beautiful it was. One granite section was over 3 Billion years old. We've never seen anything quite so beautiful. Tomorrow I tour Yellowstone National Park. This is USA's first national park established in 1872. There are 2.2 million acres - whatever the heck an acre is. I'm sure if we do enough driving, I'll find out -- if I can stay awake!!!

Aug 24th What a Day!!!

We stayed the day/night in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Traeboy show the kids on the map) We started off at Custer State Park. Unlike it's name, it was NOT where the battle took place. It was very pretty, & lots of HUGE cow-like things called Buffalo. From there we headed to the Crazy Horse Monument. I wasn't allowed in the visitor's center but I could roam other areas. You'll see me in a picture. I couldn't go down to the base of the monument either but I was more than willing to wait in the car. The weather was very nice & I just took a nap. The last stop was Mt. Rushmore. Actually I only got out of the car for a few pictures and a couple of times for walking and...doing personal stuff. It wasn't nearly as big as the Indian but it surely made the visitors feel proud. Paul actually went down on the stage with the other active military and veterans for the flag ceremony and the National Anthem. We didn't get back to our room until around 10:30 or so but it was a full, fun day!

Aug. 23rd

Lookout Wyoming here we come. We stopped at the tourist info so I could take a picture to prove I've been here. Still looking fo Buffalo though. Not a single one in sight. We saw the Oregon Trail complete with ruts caused by wagon wheels. Then on to Fort Laramie which was a mid 1800s army post. We drove on to South Dakota and arrived late tonight in Rapid City. We are all pooped! Debi has to help me update this then she said she's going to sleep! It's only 12:53 B.R. time! Miss you all.
Rudy

Aug 21 & 22

Well after I was sprung from Jail, we headed to Colorado Springs to see Pikes Peak. The ride nor the altitude bothered me. We were HIGH! Over 11,000 ft. Afterwards we headed to Denver to visit my cousins - Angelique, Josh & little Holland. They all went to a gumbo cook-off that was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain LSU Alum Association. All those Tigers living out here. They had a great time then headed to a concert at Red Rocks Ampitheater. I had to stay home.

Aug 20

I'm sending this msg from 'jail'. Debi & Paul went on a train ride in the gorge then white water rafting on the Arkansas River. The same river I saw from the suspension bridge. They don't let dogs do these fun things. I miss them. I've never been to jail before and can't wait until they pick me up Friday morning. Tomorrow it's Pike's Peak or BUST! Email me with your comments. I miss you all. Rudy

Visit to the Royal Gorge Aug 19th

I learned that this suspension bridge is the tallest in the world, 1053 feet. It didn't phase me though because I never looked down. I met a lot of new people from 1 yr old kids to "old chics". I may be a chic magnet for Paul but 85, come on Paul, we can do better than that!