I have discovered I have a funny fascination with dead wood. I don't think I knew this until yesterday. I keep wanting to take pictures of the dead trees--and there are a lot of them, having keeled over from the boiling water that suddenly erupted around them. The wood is a stunning and dramatic change from the colorful pools; grey, brown and a bleached white.

Another note from today, we saw a grizzly bear far off from the road. He seemed oblivious to the crowds of people who had stopped their cars to take photos with their magnificent, expensive cameras. I wish I had had one of those cameras. As it was, I was only able to zoom in 12 x, and the bear was quite far away. It was exciting nonetheless. We also saw elk by the side of the road--they too, are stunning creatures with their fuzzy antlers. Of course, later as we came to Jackson, WY where we are to stay for the next few days, we saw several archways made entirely of antlers. I got quite queasy until I discovered that elk lose their antlers every year and the boy scouts go out and collect them and then they sell them at an auction every May. Talk about an interesting fundraiser.

P.S. As a side note we found out that the Boy Scouts receive 10% of the proceeds from these antler autctions (which sell for between $40 and $400 A POUND). Jackson, WY area has the richest Boy Scouts in the country--and now you know why.

Grand Tetons here we come.