On each vacation, I like to recap the experiences and create
a What I Have Learned List. As we have
started our trek home, I thought this would be a good time to do it. This is at least the first installment, as
our trek is long and we still have vacation ahead of us!
Wherever you travel, there is beauty, scenic vistas, grand
mountains, picturesque streams and waterways and magnificent animals.
- There are friendly people everywhere, people who will share their time, talents, information or local lore.
- In spite of on-line information and volumes of reviews, some RV parks are just better than others.
- What constitutes a “good” RV park is relative and personal. For some it is location and convenience, for others it is shady trees and wildlife and for yet others it is concrete pads and patios, fast Wi-Fi and good satellite reception. Your mileage may vary.
- Montana Lambert cherries are the best I have ever had.
- It is fun to travel with friends and neighbors.
- No matter how much time you spend in a National Park there is always more to see. And you leave with a strong yearning to return as soon as you can.
- Gas prices are volatile. It takes just a bit of confusing news to jack the price up. Also, the price is very dependent on the location of the next gas station. (This last item learned in Lodgepole, MT a “town” with 2 buildings and a 50-gallon gas tank. To partake of the tanks contents would cost you $5.75 – and this was before the refinery slow-down news!)
- Moose do not exist. If I was a researcher and I travelled the paths that I have just travelled, I would say that none exist, as I saw none on the entire trip.
- If the above item is not true, then moose are invisible.
- And if this is not true, then moose are the most lethargic animals in late July and August. And they can hide extremely well.
- Whenever and wherever there is road constructions, there are idiot drivers.
- It always takes longer to do things than you expect. But, often it is more fun, as well.
- Noxious weeds are often quite pretty to look at and fun to photograph. In particular, spotted knapweed’s lovely blue flowers are among my favorite. The National Park Service is trying to eradicate it as it is causing much trouble in the environment where is does not occur naturally (but has been imported by visitors).
- Until this week, I did not know what a glacier really was. While at Glacier I found out that it must be at least 25 acres in size, at least 100 feet deep and it must move. Most glacial movement is slow and difficult to measure.
- Grizzly bears love to frolic in the water, particularly on a hot day in a cool stream.
- Until yesterday, I had never seen a grizzly.
- Geysers and mud pots have a noticeable odor. Perhaps, it is better called a stench.
- Mt. Rushmore can be seen from almost any angle for miles around.
- The Badlands are not bad and the Black Hills are not black.
- Black Hills Gold is not necessarily gold. And when it is, the gold does not come from the Black Hills. There is no gold in the Black Hills. Black Hills gold refers to the design of the jewelry, not its composition.
- There are many mountains. There are all large, striking and intriguing. But, some are more majestic than others.
- It is always fun to do “a first”. Like a first trip to Yellowstone, or a first rodeo.
