Iowa to Coeur d’Alene

We headed west across Nebraska towards the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Our plan was to look up friends we haven’t seen in years, while enjoying the high altitude air.

Boulder rocks, Lyons park

We parked the Airstream at a lovely city park in Lyons, Colorado, complete with river running through it, and stunning red rock cliffs. We met Brad and Susie Hendrix at the Laverne M Johnson RV park and spent time walking around the town of Lyons enjoying the local microbrews.

They pulled out of the campground the following morning and we made plans to meet up in a few days to attend the Rocks and Rails music festival.

On Tuesday, we headed towards Boulder to hook up with Ed Terrell and Johanne Gaudreau.

Red Rocks with Johanne and Ed

They were headed out the next day to complete an 800 mile bike ride through the Rockies out of Breckinridge. We hiked up to Red Rocks, just west of Boulder, and were wined and dined in their great house.

We visited the tourist town of Estes Park the next day, and before we left the Boulder area, we reunited with Brad and Susie to attend the Rock and Rails with the Sammy Mayfield Blues Band in Niwot, CO.

Sammy Mayfield Blues Band

The boys at Rocks and Rails

Rocks & Rails train

We enjoyed a fabulous time, and reluctantly hit the road across Wyoming the next morning.

We crossed through the Wind River Range of Wyoming, before arriving in West Yellowstone to camp at the Henry’s Lake State Park in Idaho. We enjoyed great vistas of the lake and surrounding snowcapped peaks with long-time friends Marilyn and Steve Holland, whom we’d traveled with across the South during the winter months.

Steve patiently guided my fly-fishing efforts on the Madison River in very windy weather. Nary a bite, but the scenery was amazing and we at least got to explore Yellowstone a bit.

Fire hole

Mesa Falls, ID

Bridger Wilderness hike

Marilyn & Steve

We walked up into the Fire Hole and skirted the mud pots, being very careful where we put our feet! We’ve been dogged with wet windy weather during our time in the West Yellowstone area and even as we departed to head to Coeur d’Alene, ID through Missoula, MT. Who knew June weather could be so dicey?