Yellowstone National Park and no Yogi Bear!

I'm here in the USA. I've seen Old Faithful, the Morning Glory pool, a black bear, plenty of geysers and lots and lots of burnt trees. Yellowstone National Park is beautiful and strange too - the hot springs and other geo-thermal features are quite breathtaking (not least of all because of the stink of sulphur!).
Disappointingly there is no mention anywhere of Yogi Bear and Booboo - so anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s watching the Smarter than Average Bear outwit the Ranger won't find them here at the real Jellystone Park.
So, having seen all of that we've moved on and now we're in Jackson Hole, Wyoming - a real (tourist) cowboy town....Tomorrow I'm off with the kids to spend the day horseriding. Thursday we're going climbing in the Tetons (yeah, be jealous!) so it's busy, busy, busy...whitewater rafting later in the week, a rodeo tomorrow night and sometime around the weekend I shall be slumped in a heap somewhere!

One of the things I've really enjoyed since I've been here is French Toast (posh eggy bread) - I would never dream of eating it back home in the UK but here, with maple syrup drizzled over....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And I've been eating ice cream each day, huge ice creams - great flavours and toppings. Yes, I shall return carrying some excess baggage I suspect, in the shape of a few extra pounds...

Going Away....

Later this week I’m off to the States with my parents and the kids – an epic road trip starting in Billings, Montana and ending up in Los Angeles, with a quick stop off with family in Detroit before returning to the UK. I’m hoping that while I’m away I’ll be able to post the occasional blog entry and certainly keep up with friends via email and as I’ve even been able to sort out a cell phone for the US I may be able to phone some of you too…

I have sort of mixed feelings about the trip: on the one hand it’s going to be great to get away, visit a beautiful part of the world, go climbing in some amazing places, spend time with the kids, with my parents, go horse riding, white water rafting and generally be on the go the entire time…But on the other hand I’m going to be spending the entire time with my parents, the kids, all up close and personal and I won’t have the usual outlet of seeing and talking to my closest friends on a daily basis….I know I’m not gone for ever, but I won’t be back until the beginning of August and right now that feels like a very long time….

But life is all about experiences and adventures and I’m about to go on a big one! Added to which, this time I’m in charge – those of you who know me well will also know that being in charge pleases me….Not that I’m bossy or anything you understand…..But in my experience things just tend to be much better organised when I’m in charge….Now please stop rolling your eyes.

For those of you whose addresses I have I shall endeavour to send postcards, otherwise, check back here for an update on the road!