Updating the Ramblin Ruis’
Sunset over ice covered Lake Yellowstone
Well here it is May 29 2018 and we are starting our second month
of our second season at Fishing Bridge RV Park in Yellowstone NP. We are well
into our routine at the RV park the training is over and we have been open
almost 3 week now, before we know it the season will be over. Most of us have
returned from last years crew but we do have some new faces. Another change
this year is I have been assigned as one of the three lead agents. This
requires more assigning of sites and dealing with people’s problems than
checking in of the guests. It’s a lot like working a puzzle trying to find a
place to put 346 campers in 346 sites in three different site sizes. It’s a little more than I was looking for as a
retirement job but it keeping my mind sharp and me on my toes. Oh yea I forgot
the best part I am responsible for supervising my wife……..Glad we get along so
well or this could be bad but she has been a great wingman to navigate this
journey with. Well now let’s get caught up on how we got here from Arizona.
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We pulled out of Arizona on April 20 and started our trip back
to Yellowstone. For those that haven’t been to the desert southwest in the
spring there are a few things that stand out one is the temperatures start
rising and the second is the winds pick up out of the west. So, as we headed
out across the desert we got blown around a bit. It also caused us to change
our route north and avoid the bridge over the Hoover Dam as the high winds
there have been know to blow tractor trailers and RV’s over, so instead we
crossed the Colorado River at Bullhead City Az. Bullhead City is a resort town
sitting in a valley on the Colorado River. SO down we went and then back up we
went out the other side headed to Las Vegas. This is open desert so you have to
have plenty of fuel and everything working well on your vehicle. After hitting
Vegas at rush hour we made it to I-15
which took us north to Hurricane UT where we stayed in a nice KOA
campground. Hurricane is one of the gateways to Zion National Park and the area
is surrounded by high red rock cliffs and mountains. This area was first settled by Mormon
settlers.
Leaving Hurricane, we continued north on I-15 toward Salt Lake
City Utah. This is an easy drive and was one reason we went to Arizona for part
of the winter as we hoped this would help us miss the turbulent spring weather
across the mid-west in April. We made it
to Bringham City Ut on the second day where we decided to stay two nights as we
were making good time on our trek north.
We spent that afternoon and the next
day exploring the areas Bear River Wild Life Refuge which is the world’s
largest bird migratory refuge. The
refuge is a wetland with a river, lakes and ponds on the northern end of the
great Salt Lake and it just happened to be prime migration time for northbound
birds. Now I wouldn’t call us expert bird watchers but because of Ashley’s
influence on us we have developed more interest in bird watching and
identification. There was a dirt road that traveled about 12 miles winding
through the refuge where we saw a wide variety of ducks, birds, cranes and
pelicans. We enjoyed this so much that we spent two afternoons in the refuge.
Also located nearby was the Golden Spike National park located
at Promontory Summit Utah. This is where in the late 1800’s the east met the
west in the western expansion of the Railroads. Promontory Summit is where the
railroad from the east met the railroad from the west on May 10, 1869. This was
a neat place to visit but as a travel advisory don’t make a special trip just
to see it, took about 30 minutes.
There was also a missile research facility in the area which was
responsible for building the solid rocket boosters of the space shuttle among
other things.
After leaving Bringham City we headed north toward Idaho Falls
Idaho where we spent our last night outside of Yellowstone. We hit the local
Walmart to resupply before heading into the park.
After leaving Idaho Falls we headed east on Rt. 20 which carried
us to West Yellow Montana where we met up with 3 other couples that we worked
with last year. We exchanged warm greetings and then went and had a country
breakfast before convoying into Fishing Bridge RV Park.
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| 2018 Fishing Bridge RV Park Crew |
The winter of 2017/2018 brought a lot of snow to the Lake area
of Yellowstone and it was obvious as we arrived at the RV park. The roads and
the campsites in the campground had been plowed but high mounds of snow were
everywhere. Unfortunately, one of our co workers caught the rear of his camper
on a snow bank and it wasn’t pretty to say the least. Fortunately, its was cosmetic damage and not
structural damage so they were able to get set up and with a little duct tape
we were able to get them sealed up until the fall when they can get it
repaired. Our site was plowed but we had
high snow banks on both sides which would not allow the slides to open unless
we dug out.
Thankfully the plow crew was still in the campground working on the
other loops so I commandeered one of the bobcat operators and 5 minutes later
our snow banks were reduced to snow flakes and we could get set up.
Shewwww……thankful for the bobcat.
As training began we had a field trip early one morning as one
of our maintenance guys advised of a grizzly bear nearby. So, with the boss’s
permission we all loaded up and headed to Pelican Creek where we found a very
hungry grizzly. The bear had pulled what appeared to be an Elk skeleton from
the creek and he was eating the bones trying to get the bone marrow for the much-needed
protein. Now this was an ideal spot to watch as we were on the bridge and he
was below us only about 50 feet away. Now I’ve known that I wouldn’t want to be
eaten by a grizzly bear but if I ever had any doubt it’s gone after hearing him
crunching and crushing those bones as he was eating. IMPRESSIVE strength and
drive. Needless to say this was the most exciting day of our almost two week long
training. 
Last year Paula and I drove who knows how many miles and covered
almost every inch of the park roads multiple times but this year we have
decided to be more selective in our adventures(fuel prices). We also broke down
and got DISH TV this year which will give us another option for entertainment.
We were also advised when we arrived this year that our campground will be
closed next year to be updated and refurbished so we are focused on seeing
certain things that we didn’t see last year on the outskirts of the park in case
we don’t return in 2020.
Most of you may be aware that Steamboat Geyser has been going off
for the first time since 2014. We were headed to West Yellowstone 4 weeks ago
to attend church with some of our coworkers when we topped the ridge and saw
the steam towering above the trees. Steamboat was living up to its name as the
world’s tallest geyser. Needless to say, we made a detour to see such a rare
occurrence. Come to find out it was the steam phase of an eruption from Friday
night some 36 hours earlier. Needless to say, it was still impressive as Old Faithful
is only 90 feet tall and Steamboat is 300 Feet in full eruptions.
We headed off
to church and we were only 15 minutes late. The church we attended is West
Yellowstone Baptist church a small congregation that grows with the increased
summer workers and visitors to the area. This was the first time I have been in
church where after the prayer concerns and praises the congregation gives a
wildlife sightings report. Sharing with each other the beautiful creation that
God has given us to enjoy. Best of all this was first Sunday of the month which
is a covered dish meal. Now the sermon was good but the food was just as good
as several of the ladies who are here for the summer are from the south so we
had good food and a delicious surprise cake (some will recall this is very
close to Margie Morris pineapple cake). We have asked for Sunday & Mondays
off so we could continue to attend church but unfortunately because of our
staffing and scheduling it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out. But even
if we can’t make it to church every Sunday we are very thankful to be
surrounded by this wonderful creation which allows us to worship God every day.
Today as we were driving through the park on the way for a short
get away and grocery trip we went through the Lamar Valley to see some
wildlife. As we rounded a corner the road was block by a heard of bison 75 to
100 strong. They were headed our way on the road which was guarded by a high
ridge on the left and a raging Soda Butte Creek on the right. As they got
closer to us the leader of the herd decided to cross the creek. Now keep in
mind it is springtime and the herd has a number of month old calves “Red Dawgs”
in their numbers. As the herd entered the swift flowing creek from the snow
melt you could see the current immediately start sweeping the 2000-pound adults
downstream and then the small calves followed. The “Red Dawgs” got a real
survival test in the evolving circle of life.
Paula was about to jump from the truck and wade into the cold swift
water to try and rescue the “Red Dawgs” and interfere with the circle of life.
Thankfully all of the “Red Dawgs” made it out and no one had to rescue my wife
who can’t swim.
water rescue
Well that’s about all for now we will try to update when we can
but with out reliable internet in the park it will be probably only be once a
month or so.
Until next time
Paula and Allen
Ramblin Ruis
