Visitors are always interesting

The speed picked up at the museum. Had about 150 visitors, and it was the same sort of weather as the first day ... mostly overcast, some rain, with only a few scattered minutes of sunshine. When the sun’s out, it’s warm - high altitude sun - but it wasn’t out long.

The visitors were an interesting lot ... a family of “neighbors” from Farmington, NM, only 70 miles from Mancos. One couple said they’d been in Zion NP a few days earlier and the temperature was 104 degrees! (They were not enjoying the 30-something temperatures of Yellowstone.) A few people had been or are seasonals, volunteers or interns with NPS, the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service or Corps of Engineers, so we talked shop a little about rangering, resource management, silly visitor stunts, etc. 

One of the last visitors of the day was a lifelong resident of Milolii Mauka, an area in South Kona where I worked on a Bishop Museum archeological crew in the summer of 1965. We talked a little about Papa and Alika Bays and about Napoopoo (where I lived while working at City of Refuge). Brought back lots of memories! I was surprised to learn (shouldn’t have been) that the swarming red ants that infest Kipahulu on Maui are now in South Kona on the Big Island.

The 30-minute video shown at the ranger museum begins with orchestral music. A visitor today heard it and identified it as “Rodeo,” by Aaron Copeland. He went on to say that Copeland had been falsely accused of being a Communist during the witch-hunts of the early 50s. He was called to testify before a Congressional committee, and did so. After they were through with him, according to the visitor, Copeland announced that he was going to go home and write a symphony that people would remember long after they had forgotten the names and actions of his inquisitors. “Rodeo” was the result. 

No pics for Tom; too busy. The power went out in the Norris area around 4 p.m., so we went into West Yellowstone for pizza, gas and a few groceries. On the way back, there was a herd of bison right beside the road, including two calves, the only calves we’ve seen in Yellowstone. Hopefully, Sandy has good pics of the calves. tv