Northwest wonders

I now will make my way back to Kansas City on Sunday. I'll be visiting my friend Lisa in Denver, and from there, I'll get on a plane to Kansas City. Using a pre-booked GrandLuxe flight, I only had to pay for changing the ticket, no additional airfare. So it wasn't too painful.


The GrandLuxe Express is now owned by the bank and is making its way down to San Francisco tomorrow so it will have a frost-free winter and hopefully be bought up by some multi-billion dollar investor. I'm not holding my breath.


As for my trips through the Northwest, they were magnificent. The Northwest beauty is more my speed. I absolutely love all the mountains and trees. Grand Tetons will always be one of my favorite parks, but there are some definite rivals.
During these trips we went through the north entrance of Yellowstone, and I have to say it's my favorite. This is a photo of the falls at Artist's Point, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

A day in the Red Jammer Buses. My first trip through Glacier National Park in mid-August it was 42 degrees. Very cold in a convertible top! A week later, it was in the 70s. Fall comes quick in the mountains!

Mt. Rainier National Park - Spring came late, so we were still enjoying wildflowers in August.

Kylie, a fellow tour leader, and I ride the carousel in Missoula with our guests. If I were to live in Montana, it would be in Missoula. It has the necessities, but it's a clean, fun and artsy town that's minutes from the mountains.

Mt. Rainier from my Tacoma hotel.

The train going over the trestles of Montana.

Mt. Moran reflecting in Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park.

The train rolling through the mountains. I believe we're in Montana, near Three Forks. This is where the Gallitan, Madison and Jefferson Rivers converge to form the Missouri River.

Kylie, Michele and I's last day as tour leaders for GrandLuxe Rail. You can tell that we haven't heard the news! It was a lot of fun working with these gals!