US - Yellowstone

We were in Yellowstone National Park ($25 per car) on May 7-8.

Steve face with Bison face

Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River

Bison and calf

Sapphire Pool at Black Sand Basin

Two Ribbons

Coyote

Pine tree covered in frozen mist from a nearby geyser

Beryl Spring

Norris Geyser Basin

Black bear

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

 

 Bull elk

 

Old Faithful

US - Devil Tower, Little Bighorn and Bighorn Canyon

We got into Wyoming on May 5, and our first stop was Devils Tower National Monument ($10 per car).

This was the first national monument designated by president Teddy Roosevelt, back in 1906. Seeing it up-close, it's easy to understand why people have regarded this as a sacred area for so long.

Devils Tower is well guarded by a large village of prairie dogs. Prairie dogs in South Dakota & Wyoming appear to outnumber the human inhabitants.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Memorial ($10 per car) in Montana.

Neat place to visit, though solemn.

We drove from Little Bighorn to north entrance of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

We found the road to the visitor center was closed, and we can just see the Yellowtail Dam far away.

We drove back to Wyoming to the south entrance of Bighorn Canyon.

The horseshoe bend.

  

   

US - Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and Crazy Horse

Wind Cave National Park is one of the few caves in the world has these delicate 'boxwork' formations.

$10 is the adult fee for the "Garden of Eden" guided tour which is the only they had on May 4.

Geologists have a few competing theories about how these honeycombs (boxwork) are formed.

There are 2-3 different guided tours in Jewel Cave National Monument.  We joined the tour that was about to start when we arrived there. It is The Scenic tour, $12 per adult.

The long and thin formation like a 'soda straw', which is a hollow tube that has been growing so long it has connected to rock below.

There was a lot of variety rock formations, they formed by water filtering through the ground into the cave. 

These are 'jellyfish' formations.

Some of the ground above has high iron content, which contributes a reddish color to some formations, like this 20 foot long piece of 'bacon'.

The entrance fee at Crazy Horse Memorial is $11 per adult.

And the bus ride is $4 per adult to have closer view.

It has been under construction for several decades already, but progress has been slow. So far, only the face has been completed. 

They are just beginning work on his hand and the head of his horse.

This project is funded entirely by private donations.

The white statue is the vision of the final monument. 

US - Badlands, Minuteman Missile and Mt Rushmore

There is a Prairie Dog town in Badlands National Park.

  

The entrance is $15 for a car, but we bought an annual pass ($80), so that we can use it for other places.

The wildlife, Pronghorn Antelope.

And Bighorn Sheep.

Badness, so dry.

We joined a guided tour for the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. 

The underground launch control center.

It was after working hours when we arrived at Mt Rushmore, so we didn't have to pay the parking fee ($11). No staff but the gate is open. 

Date: May 3, 2014

Bird babies growing up

續‘鳥夫婦有四孩子’的故事，這季節的結局。。。

Continuing the 'Bird couple has four babies' story and this episode season finale... 

這是最後一隻小鳥孵育出來後的隔天。
可以看到眼睛閉着的頭及腿，我想那應是長子。

This was the the next day, after the last baby hatched. 

You can see a head with eyes closed and a leg, I think that must be the eldest baby.

第二天，可以看到一粒還未成熟的大眼睛及頭。

The second day, you can see a head with a big eye but still not mature. 

鳥媽媽，恭喜啊！妳會慶祝彌月之喜嗎？
我希望能裝一個録影機録制你們的生活，但我怕被你們告我侵犯私隱權。我可負擔不起。

Hi bird mother, congratulations! Will you have a celebration?

I wish to put a video camera documentary of your life, but I am afraid you will sue me on your private life confidential. I can't afford it. 

第三天，可以看到牠們有些黑毛。

The third day, you can see they have some black feathers.

鳥在家時，還可欣賞我們美麗的鳶尾花。

From their nest, the birds have a nice view of our irises.

第四天，可以看到牠們有較多的黑毛了。

The fourth day, you can see they have more black feathers.

第五天，可以看到眼睛閉着的頭及喙。

The fifth day, you can see the head with eyes closed and beaks. 

鳥夫婦，你們給我上了一課。
你們展示你們的生活都只是依賴大自然。。。
你們可以自己築起家。。。
你們可以生育及照顧自己的孩子。。。
你們可以靠自己找食物。。。

Bird couple, you gave me a lesson.

You are showing me your life just depends on nature... 

You can make your own house...

You can deliver and hatch and take care of your own baby...

You can get food by your own effort...

我的成長需要依賴很多人。。。
物質由某人製造。。。
醫療由某人提供。。。
食物由某人生產。。。
我現在所擁有的都是别人貢献的。
我真的很感恩一切及所有的人。

I grew up depending on a lot of people...

Materials are made by someone...

Medical care provided by someone...

Food is produced by someone...

Everything I have now is done by people.

I really appreciate everyone and everything.

第六天，可以看到有些東西在鳥窩週圍。
那是什麼？

The sixth day, you can see something around the nest. 

What's that?

好了，我們將會數日不在家，我想回來時，可能小鳥都長到能飛走了。
所以，這是劇终。
謝謝觀賞。

Well, we will have several days away from home, I think by the time we come back the baby birds may have grown up enough to fly away.

So, this is the end of story.

Thank you for watching.