After the Ironman - Lily with our mode of transportation, entrance to Yellowstone, us with beatiful scenery and bison and really hot springs, lodge, Old Faithful, taking lots of pictures, Continental Divide (one of many we crossed!), Grand Tetons, eatery in Jackson Hole, antler arches in JH, Utah view, Lily's lake in CO, Rocky Mtns, saying bye in Denver.

The day after the Ironman, we took off for Yellowstone National Park. A BIG shout out to Teddy Roosevelt who had the foresight to establish our National Parks! The next days were unbelievable with each day seeming like a movie, postcard, adventure that could not ever be topped – but each day was better with more scenery, food, laughs, and sounds better than the day before. Words like “look!” “beautiful”, “wow” was heard all day and even at night. The animals we saw were incredible and with the first sightings – we would stop the Ford Expedition and all doors would open and finger pointed and cameras clicked. Of course, I need to tell you that towards the end of our trip to Yellowstone, we were not jumping out at each sighting of bison as we did in the beginning! Got accustomed to the herds of them. But we never got complacent with the scenery – the beautiful, majestic mountains, Old Faithful, the hot springs, waterfalls, streams, aspens, lakes, hot springs, beautiful earth and sky. The Grand Tetons were splendid. The cold lakes beneath them took our breath away but we had to put our toes in them anyway.
We spent 2 days/nights in Jackson Hole. Nice western/ski town. One afternoon, Ken and I were wanting to do something physical (yes, shopping with his niece, Lilly was physical!) and we were told by the hotel staff that there was Snow King Mountain a short walking distance away. So off we went, Lily included, and after the BEST fish tacos ever! What fun we had. Climbing after an Ironman was nothing compared to the altitude. Lilly and I had the hardest time, but Ken patiently waited on us. The view from the various points on the climb (and the ride down on the ski lift) were breathtaking and well worth the oxygen deprivation! In Jackson Hole I had my first ever elk. I did hesitate about ordering the elk, but the server assured us that these were from domestic herds and they were not on the extinct list. So I felt better about this-sorry to all my vegetarian friends! From Jackson Hole we traveled thru Utah and then into Colorado. Every mile of the journey was incredible – the small towns, the food, the mountains, the creatures, and the laughter we shared in our Expedition. I learned to rap the song, “this is why I’m hot” from Lily. The last day found us winding over the Rocky Mountains to Denver to catch our flight. We saw cyclist going up the 2 lane, no guard rail, steep cliff road and both Ken and I decided if we did that ride, we would be in the middle of the road and not on the edge where we usually ride on Kentucky roads!
This was the trip of a lifetime and the Ironman was an athletic adventure I will never forget!