The Brits
Last summer I was introduced to the wonderful world of CouchSurfing.com. This is an online database of people around the world willing to host weary travelers. Searchable profiles allow surfers and hosts to "check out" potentials and arrange meetings and accomodations. Brian and I utilized this network a number of times during out European meanderings. My first encounter was with our host, Drew, and his terrific flatmates. We had a wonderful time with them all and had the chance to return the favor this summer.
Drew and his flatmate Jim arrived on Wednesday and stayed through Monday morning. One of our first outings took us up to Palisade Falls for a quick, long-shadow evening exposure to some of the natural wonders of the area. We ran into an interesting couple from Baltimore, one of which kept insisting that since Drew is from the north of England, he is either a "Yank" or Scottish. Neither of those terms are in anyway flattering to an Englishman from Sheffield nor complimentary to the general intelligence of the speaker.
Of course we had to make our way down to Yellowstone National Park. We took in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Lower Falls, the Norris Geyser Basin, and Old Faithful. The colors in the geysers and streams flowing from them are so amazing and never cease to fascinate me. The different colors, such as the ones in this photo, are cause by the particular bacteria that can survive at whatever temperature the water is. Just from the colors of this bit of stream, one can tell the general temperatures of the water. If I was smarter and perhaps less lazy, I would find some sort of "key" for the colors and tell you the approximate temperatures...but it's summer and I'm on vacation!
We also saw some wonderful wildlife that was all new for Drew and Jim. We saw a coyote, lots of buffalo, elk, and the rarest find, a full mullet in its natural environment. This is not a sighting to be scoffed at but rather revered for its authenticity and near museum quality degree of preservation of times long (and perhaps better) gone: the 80s.
Drew and his flatmate Jim arrived on Wednesday and stayed through Monday morning. One of our first outings took us up to Palisade Falls for a quick, long-shadow evening exposure to some of the natural wonders of the area. We ran into an interesting couple from Baltimore, one of which kept insisting that since Drew is from the north of England, he is either a "Yank" or Scottish. Neither of those terms are in anyway flattering to an Englishman from Sheffield nor complimentary to the general intelligence of the speaker. Of course we had to make our way down to Yellowstone National Park. We took in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Lower Falls, the Norris Geyser Basin, and Old Faithful. The colors in the geysers and streams flowing from them are so amazing and never cease to fascinate me. The different colors, such as the ones in this photo, are cause by the particular bacteria that can survive at whatever temperature the water is. Just from the colors of this bit of stream, one can tell the general temperatures of the water. If I was smarter and perhaps less lazy, I would find some sort of "key" for the colors and tell you the approximate temperatures...but it's summer and I'm on vacation!
We also saw some wonderful wildlife that was all new for Drew and Jim. We saw a coyote, lots of buffalo, elk, and the rarest find, a full mullet in its natural environment. This is not a sighting to be scoffed at but rather revered for its authenticity and near museum quality degree of preservation of times long (and perhaps better) gone: the 80s.
posted by Charity at 2:35 PM
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