Yellowstone or Bust! Reflections

Saturday, July 6, 2013. I always find the day after returning from vacation to be…difficult. It’s a comfort to be at home in familiar surroundings, but it’s disappointing not to be looking forward to new, exciting things each day. It’s nice to be able to shed the vacation routine of packing suitcases and loading up the van every morning, yet it’s wearisome to pick up my old routine, which now seems rather mundane. It’s good to be sleeping in my own bed, but I miss the camaraderie and foolishness that occurs when sharing a room with others. At mealtimes, it’s nice to be able to eat what I want, when I want, but I miss cooking for everyone and sitting around the table in a group discussing the day’s events and planning the next day’s adventures.

So today, I’m reflecting on the past two weeks and the amazing “Yellowstone or Bust” tour. It was a different sort of vacation than I’ve ever taken, involving three generations of three families and all the diversity that comes along with that type of situation. Was it trouble free? No, of course not. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Here are some random thoughts on what worked and what didn’t, and how it could be even better next time.

TRANSPORTATION

To transport seven people and their luggage, plus camping gear and food, we rented a 12-passenger van with the back seat removed. That gave us plenty of cargo space, in fact, we had much more space than we had anticipated. It may be a good thing that we weren’t aware of the extra room we would have because we would likely have just brought more stuff along! It was the perfect size for our group.

That said, we should not have rented a van sight unseen. There were a few problems with it, most notably the tires that were not suitable for a 3,000-mile trip over mountainous terrain. Two didn’t make the trip home, including one that blew out at 75 mph on Interstate 80! The brakes squealed the entire trip, there were assorted squeaks and rattles that could get really irksome when listening to them for hours at a time, and the back door was missing the mechanism that kept it from swinging wide and banging into the open

This is Carlton, your doorman.

front door if it wasn’t held all the time. One of the seatbelts didn’t work at all, and one worked only part-time.

On a lesser scale, it would have been nice to have had windows that opened for the back-seat passengers. The side windows only swung open from the bottom about an inch, which meant no photos could be taken without getting out of the van. And when wildlife is involved, that might be the only provocation needed for flight. Even a sliding door would have provided the ability to take pictures without leaving the vehicle. We would have liked to have cup holders in the back seats. A test drive prior to leaving would have alerted us that the step was too high for Deb and would require a stool.  But then, we wouldn’t have needed “Carlton the doorman” to open the door and put a cement block down every time we stopped!

Words to the wise: See the actual vehicle you will be renting in advance. And take a test drive. Seriously.

ACCOMODATIONS

For the record, KOAs rock! The cabins are all the same so we knew what to expect, the bathroom and showers are clean, and laundry facilities are available. Some have pools and miniature golf for the kids. Non-KOA facilities were a crap shoot. Custer State Park in South Dakota had the best cabins anywhere; Flagg Ranch in Moran, WY was a shock: no electricity, dirty bathrooms and showers, and a filthy sink to do dishes. The Hostel in Jackson, WY was clean and comfortable, but there were no cooking facilities so we had to eat out.

We actually waited too long to make reservations. If we had started earlier, every stay would have been at a KOA. We had originally thought we would tent camp part of the time, but on our first night out when it was hailing and raining all night, the cabins got everyone’s full support! And the logistics of tent set-up and tear-down adds at least an hour of work daily; frankly, we felt our time was better spent at other things.

Words to the wise: Book early. Book KOA.

FOOD

None of us went hungry, that’s for sure! We had a giant cooler for perishables, and Rubbermaid tubs for the other food. It was loosely organized by category: one tub was for breakfast foods and bread, one tub held mostly snacks, and one tub held food that wouldn’t be needed until dinnertime like canned goods and S’More ingredients.

Breakfasts usually consisted of cold cereal, Pop Tarts, granola bars, yogurt, sometimes PB & J, and fruit when we had it. A couple of times Dan treated us to hot breakfasts at a restaurant. We never cooked breakfast; we were always in too much of a hurry to get a fire going and wait for a hot meal. In hindsight, it wouldn’t have taken very long to scramble some eggs or make pancakes once in awhile, and I brought precooked bacon. But we always seemed to be in a rush in the morning to get going.

Lunches were eaten on the road. We’d find a likely picnic spot and pull out bread, lunchmeat, cheese, chips, peanut butter, and jelly. We also had some fruit cups, apples, homemade potato salad, and a few

Lunch on the road

Lunchables during the first part of the trip. I know sandwiches got boring, but when you’re on the move, there are just not a lot of other options. I’m going to watch for different, quick, and easily transportable lunch ideas for the next time. Pinterest?

Dinners were a mixed bag. If we were in a campground with time to cook, we’d make dinner. If it was late or we didn’t have cooking facilities, we would eat out. It was always a guess as to what type of heat source would be available. One campground didn’t have fire pits so we used propane. At another we burned charcoal. But Tim was good at getting a wood fire started fast so that is what we usually used for cooking. We didn’t stick to just hot dogs, although we did eat wieners a couple times. Some other meals were Italian Beef, brats, Polish sausage and fried potatoes with onions and peppers, ham and potato soup with cheesy bread, Rueben sandwiches, and

Polish Sausage & Fried Potatoes

chicken and rice casserole with garlic bread. I had fun putting some recipes together that were made with ingredients that could be purchased ahead and didn’t require refrigeration, or included precooked ingredients that kept well in the cooler until needed. Because I’m rather frugal, I wanted to purchase food at home, on sale, so we weren’t at the mercy of little overpriced stores in tourist towns. I enjoyed it when these recipes were well received, even by the kids. And we could put a meal on the table and have it all cleaned up more quickly – and much cheaper – than eating out.

For some reason, snacks were always necessary when driving! We had quite a few homemade cookies – Snickerdoodles, Oatmeal Raisin, Gingersnaps, Peanut Butter, and Scotcheroos. Goldfish crackers, licorice, cheese balls, and string cheese were other popular snack foods. Again, it was much cheaper to buy these things at home than on the road. In tourist areas, prices could be more than double what we pay at home.

Words to the wise: If you’re on a budget, plan ahead. Cook and bake before you go. Buy everything possible on sale at home. Purchase only the necessities like fruit, milk, bread and lettuce on the road.

ELECTRONICS

The quantity of electronic devices we had was insane! Computers, cell phones, I-Pod, Kindle, Mp3 players, cameras – all required power almost daily. Coordinating the usage of the few available outlets required a wild combination of cords strung overhead, snaking along the floor, across doorways, and through windows. Our stunned reactions when we discovered we wouldn’t have power for two days are rather funny in retrospect. But with a little creativity – power boxes at unused campsites, bathroom outlets - we made it. Unplugged? Not this group!

Words to the wise: Bring extension cords. With power strips or 3-way adapters. To avoid concussions, don’t drape power cords across doorways! LOL

CLOTHING

Try to pack light - there are laundry facilities available at most campgrounds. But it is difficult to know in advance what you are going to need when traveling to higher elevations that are traditionally cooler. For example, I packed three types of outfits: hot weather (tanks and shorts), intermediate weather (t-shirts and capris) and cold weather (jeans and long sleeved tees). As it was, northwestern Wyoming was having unseasonably hot weather so all I needed were tanks and shorts. Who knew?

Words to the wise: I have none. You’re going to bring what you want anyway. Just remember that you’re the one who is going to have to carry it all.

BLOGGING

I have mixed feelings about this. Obviously, I like to do it because you saw my daily posts. But it does take a whole lot of time. I stayed up late many nights just so I didn’t get behind. While I love having a real-time journal to capture my immediate thoughts and feelings, the time it takes detracts from other activities like sitting around the campfire and telling stories. Staying up too late left me tired the next day. So, I can’t decide. On my WIU ag trips, we kept copious notes and I wrote my journal after I got home. It left my nights free for fun and/or sleeping. Going this route works too, but then you must keep a notebook with you at all times to record everything. I’ve done it both ways, and I still can’t decide which I like best.

Words to the wise: Do what feels right for you. Blog, journal, whatever. But do record something! Those spontaneous thoughts and feelings will be forgotten in a few days or weeks, and by putting it into words you will be able to go back and recapture those moments for the rest of your life. Your grandchildren will thank you someday!

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

Some people are fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants kind of people. I’m not. I like to know in advance what I’m going to see and do. Fortunately, most of the rest of the group was that way too. Although no one had a ton of time to devote to research, each of us women had done a little bit. I had a wonderful guidebook about Yellowstone, and Gin had one for Grand Teton. These gave us directions, history and fun facts about what we were seeing and gave us ideas for what we might like to see. That said, don’t be afraid to slam on the brakes when something interesting like a cemetery catches your eye! Those moments when we struck out to find an obscure sight were a lot of fun. But it was ultimately the guidebooks and brochures that tipped us off.

Words to the wise: Do some reading beforehand. Buy a good guidebook. You’ll be mad if you get home and realize that you were only minutes away from something that’s on your bucket list. Read!

FUN

Ultimately, a vacation is about having fun. There were plenty of goofy moments when every one of us was acting like a silly kid. We photo bombed each other, and made snide remarks when others inadvertently bombed us or others. We made ridiculous Vines. Certain catchphrases made us giggle every time we heard them. (French Whore Campground. Wah! Have the convicts to do that! Quit touching my ball sac!) I humiliated the kids when I wore my mountain man pajamas in public. Yes, we had a lot of fun!

Words to the wise: Act stupid. That is all.

Photo bomb!

Mountain man jammies (with trapdoor) and a coonskin cap!

Check out my ball sac!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Not everyone would consider traveling with extended family like we did. It does require cooperation and patience on everyone’s part. But I think that what we gained by getting to know each other better, sharing the work load, and learning from each other far outweighed the few tense moments that occurred. All in all, it was a great experience!

Words to the wise: Just do it!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 14

Friday, July 5, 2013. We awoke in North Platte, Nebraska on our last day of vacation. We had arrived late last night, so when we got on the road the change in scenery from previous days' was quite a surprise. Once again, I could see green – green grass, green fields, green trees. Though it didn’t look exactly like home, the countryside was starting to look a bit more familiar.

At 9:00 am sharp, we rolled into the parking lot of The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. All of us that had passed this way before had seen the giant arch directly over I-80 just east of Kearney, Nebraska but had never fit it into our travel plans. We didn’t want to miss it this time.

The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument is a museum of the Platte River valley's role in westward expansion. To enter the museum, an escalator leads up and through a moving video display of the prairie and into a multi-media experience designed by a Disney team. Interactive displays and dioramas tell the stories of the exploration and settlement of the west. History unfolds before you in chronological order, from the white man’s first exploration to the pioneers in wagon trains struggling across this vast land; from the California Gold Rush to the overland stage coach; from the coming of the transcontinental railroad to the era of the highway and car travel along the Lincoln Highway, now I-80.

The displays are very professionally done and portray the stories so well you are taken back into the past. One of the most poignant scenes depicted the extreme difficulty of the wagon trail, as emigrants left their belongings by the side of the road to lighten their load and buried family members lost to accidents and disease. One of the most fun scenes portrays an early auto camp, as highways became an easy way for families to travel to see the wonders of the west. There are also windows facing directly over I-80, where you can watch traffic speed under the arch.

We were all happy we took the time to visit this fascinating museum. It was to be our last stop except for gas, food and bathroom breaks for the next 7 hours. Everyone passed the time in their own way; Gin read, Deb and I listened to audio books, Sierra and Dane had their electronic devices to play with, Deb also wrote a letter to the van rental company about our tire problems, Dane and I played some golf and disc golf on his I-Pod, and we all napped while the men drove. For long periods of time we were quiet, which prompted Deb to ask if we had finally run out of stuff to talk about!

Sleeping!

Who knows?

At Gin and Tim’s house we unloaded the van for the last time, and got everything sorted and back to its rightful owners. Hugs were shared all around, and we went our separate ways – back to our homes, our lives, our families. These past two weeks have given us many unforgettable memories and left us both exhilarated and exhausted.  But we are all immeasurably richer from the amazing experiences we shared on our “Yellowstone or Bust!” vacation.

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 13

Thursday, July 4, 2013. Happy Birthday America! Happy Birthday Chance! 27 years ago my baby boy was born, and today I wished him Happy Birthday from Wyoming. It seems like only yesterday I was looking out my hospital window to watch the fireworks, with little Chance sleeping quietly in his bassinet. Where does the time go?

Speaking of time, we are finally heading east toward home today. You know the old saying, “All good things must come to an end.” But before we call it done, we have a few more things to do and sights to see.

We backtracked a little this morning, south on 191 and back to Flaming Gorge. We fueled up in Rock Springs first, and paid $4.11 per gallon. That is the most we have paid this entire trip. We wondered if some unrest had occurred in the Middle East or something, since we have been completely out of touch with the news. But is seems gas prices follow their own perverse logic, so we didn’t waste much time wondering why this podunk little town had the most expensive gas in the state.

None of the guidebooks we had gave good information on how to get to Chimney Rock, even the one with its photo featured in the article about scenic drives. But by piecing together bits and pieces of information, Gin had narrowed it down. We followed a little side road called Firehole Canyon Road, and it wasn’t long before we found Chimney Rock. Or at least one of them – it seems there is at least one more here, and others around the US. Once more we enjoyed the tapestry of colors and unusual rock formations of the north end of Flaming Gorge before I-80 snared us for the remainder of the trip home.

Just 25 miles east, though, we found another excuse to stop. Point of Rocks Stage Station was built in 1862 as a stage stop on the Overland Trail route across southern Wyoming. Today, this structure built from native sandstone is one of the only stage stations remaining intact on the Overland Trail. While the stables are now in ruins, the station building has been restored and we wandered around the site, imagining what stagecoach travel was like in the 1860s.


On a hill not far from the station was a wooden fence encircling the burial site of seven passengers who were murdered during a stagecoach robbery in 1863. There were no stones, just the fence and an explanation of why this area was enclosed. I find these tiny little historical sites fascinating, and if it’s only a short stop the kids don’t balk too much.

In Rawlins, we made a visit to Wyoming’s first state penitentiary, the Wyoming Frontier Prison. The prison is a remnant of the grisly past of the old west, and our guide gave us an interesting and informative tour full of grim and funny stories as he led us through the building.

Built in 1901, the prison originally had no electricity or running water, and very inadequate heating. It was equipped with different means of disciplining including solitary confinement and a “punishment pole” to which men were handcuffed and whipped with rubber hoses. The prison also used different execution methods, including the Julien Gallows for hangings and a gas chamber. After eighty years, the prison closed its doors and sat abandoned until 1987 when a low budget movie titled “Prison” was filmed there. Significant damage was done to the prison grounds during filming because it had not yet been designated a historic site.

A demonstration in miniature of the Julien Gallows in action began our tour. We viewed the cell blocks, the execution areas, the showers, cafeteria, and yard. At each stop, we were regaled with tales of prisoners throughout the years. At the end, we were even able to climb a small hill and view the prison cemetery. It may not be everyone’s idea of a fun vacation activity, but for our group with its macabre sense of humor it was perfect.

Just east of Laramie, we pulled over at the Lincoln Memorial Rest Stop for a late lunch and to change a tire the men had been worrying about. The front passenger-side tire had bald areas and a large crack, and it was causing the van to shimmy pretty badly going down the road. Tim and Dan replaced it with the spare, and we were on our way in record time. But the tire change didn’t seem to fix the problem much, and the shimmy continued to plague us. Then, at mile marker 379.5 the front driver’s side tire blew out!

 Tim wrestled the van to a stop, and a frightened group of travelers waited on the roadside while Dan and Tim once again changed a tire. Unfortunately, they had to put the bald tire they had removed a few miles ago back on and we all knew it wouldn’t last long. We weren’t far from Cheyenne, and a slow, cautious 15-mile drive brought us to a Walmart whose service center was luckily open on the holiday. In less than an hour, we had new tires were on our way once again. I’m not going to lie, it scared the crap out of me! I think it is inexcusable to rent someone a van with bad tires (and brakes) for a 3,000 mile journey. The end of that story has
                                                                                    not been written yet!

We put some miles behind us, glimpsing fireworks all around us on the horizon as dusk arrived. A bathroom break in the little town of Chappell, Nebraska gave us a brief opportunity to see some fireworks up close. It seemed the whole town was celebrating, with fireworks going off from every direction. This was small-town America at its best, and the quick stop in Chappell put a smile on everyone’s face.

We finally arrived in North Platte, Nebraska and found a hotel. Exhausted, we trudged up to our rooms as our 13th day of vacation came to an end. Was 13 lucky or not? We are still deciding!
                              

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 12

Wednesday, July 3, 2013. After a quick stop at Albertson’s Grocery for a few supplies, we were once again on the road and headed south along the Hoback River. It wasn’t long before the landscape changed and we were seeing rolling hills covered with sagebrush once again. It amazes me that anything can live in this arid desolation. Route 191 south takes you between two ranges of mountains: the Wyoming Range to the west and the Wind River Range to the east. By the time we got to Pinedale, we were ready to get out of the van for awhile. There is a very nice visitor center in Pinedale, and by lucky coincidence a fabric store next door.

Soon after getting back on the road, we spot what appears to be a gravestone by the side of the road. It turns out it is not a gravestone, but a marker commemorating the Sublette cutoff of the Oregon Trail. After 1843 this was the preferred trail to California. This route shaved about 85 miles and 7 days off the main route, but the decision to cross nearly 45 waterless miles before reaching the Green River was not one to be taken lightly. I simply cannot imagine what those pioneers thought when crossing this area. How difficult was it for them to trust that a better place lay past this wasteland? How hard were the lives of the women, trying to get meals together and manage the children while traveling long hours every day under the hot sun? This tiny marker brought so many images and thoughts to my mind. We spent quite a few miles discussing it among ourselves as we traveled in the air-conditioned comfort of the van.

There wasn’t much to see before we reached our KOA in Rock Springs, and not much to see there either. We got an upgrade to a larger cabin with a kitchenette so are all staying together for a change. We are in Rock Springs due to some previous plans to meet with Tim’s brother for fishing; those plans fell through so we are going to try to amuse ourselves. We are not far from Flaming Gorge, so after lunch we set off on the loop tour.









Flaming Gorge lies in both Wyoming and Utah. Right at the state line, someone noticed what looked like a small cemetery at the top of a hill. Always interested in old graveyards, I climbed over a barbed wire fence and scaled the hill, and sure enough it was indeed a cemetery! Not an old one, though. There were only 4 stones, dating from 1978 to 1996. It was an interesting stop, nonetheless. Note to self: don't go exploring in flip-flops here. There are cactus among those sagebrush!


In the core of the Uinta Range, the gorge is one of the most spectacular chasms in America. The Green River has exposed a billion years of nature’s work, visible in the many different colored layers of rock. Unfortunately, it was cloudy so the brilliant colors were not as vivid as we would have liked. It was still quite impressive, though, and we stopped as soon as we saw the Flaming Gorge Reservoir to go for a quick swim. It was quick because the wind had whipped up and it was a little chilly! The visitor’s center at the dam was open, so we got our passports stamped and watched a storm roll in over the mountains. Some of us were having a hard time staying awake on the drive back. I think our vacation is catching up with us!

Back at the KOA, it was Rueben Sandwiches for dinner. Our entertainment for the evening turned out to be
in the cabins at the end of the row. Two families (Green and Blue vs. Red and Orange) were having some sort of a domestic dispute. The sheriff arrived, but it got more exciting after he left. Dane sidled over to a

Sweetwater County Sheriff at KOA

nearby cabin to sit on the porch swing and spy. He deduced that Blue was the grandmother, taking care of Red’s child. Red wanted the child, but Blue wouldn’t give it up due to Red’s incompetence as a parent. There was a physical fight and some screaming involved, and it entertained us for quite awhile. After the fireworks were over (not the real kind – those were supposed to be visible over the top of the range behind us but we never saw any), it was time to shower and wind down. Tomorrow we head east, and will celebrate the 4th of July in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Night!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 11

Tuesday, July 2, 2013. This morning started early for Dan and Deb. They had booked a hot air balloon ride and were picked up at the hostel before dawn. The rest of us were able to sleep a little later since our horseback ride didn’t begin until 9:00. It’s another good weather day – perfect for our outdoor activities.

I didn’t want to disappoint Dane before we arrived, but he had decided what kind of horse he wanted on the trail ride and I wasn’t sure they’d have what he wanted. But it must have been his day, because there was one horse of the color he wanted (black and white) and it was still tied to the fence after the other groups had left for the trail. I don’t think the wranglers had planned to send Dollar on our trip, but when Dane asked, the black and white horse was his. Sweet! Our guide, Chris is a native to the area and wrangling is her summer job; the rest of the year she is a schoolteacher.

Our 2-hour ride took us high above the Snake River, and climbed into the hills where we were able to see three mountain ranges: the Tetons, Gros Ventre, and Uintas mountains. In the aspen forest, the scars from bear claws were visible on one of the trees we passed. A stone cairn allegedly marked the place where a Native American was buried, but Chris didn’t know any more or if it was just a legend. Fireweed and Indian Paintbrush were blooming profusely among the sagebrush.

An enjoyable ride was suddenly chaos when a group (herd? pack? gaggle?) of bicycles suddenly passed by and the odd buzzing sound they made caused Tim’s horse to bolt. He had to jump off and the rest of the horses, startled by the commotion, also began to act up. Fortunately, Tim wasn’t hurt but his horse was nervous the rest of the way back to the corral.

After our exciting ride, we picked up Dan and Deb and went to lunch. We shared stories of the morning’s events and planned the rest of the afternoon. It seems everyone had a different idea of what they wanted to do, so we split up again for our own activities. Dan, Tim, Dane and Sierra went to the alpine slide; Deb got a manicure and pedicure, and Gin and I visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The museum itself is a work of art. It is a stone building that has a resemblance to a castle, and is perched on a hillside overlooking the wide green meadows of the National Elk Refuge. Two interesting exhibits we enjoyed were the Traveling Trout (a statewide art competition which challenged 37 Wyoming schools to turn plain white fiberglass trout into distinctive works of art) and the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest (students of the Junior Duck Stamp educational program may draw, paint or sketch a picture of a North American waterfowl species; one image will become the next Junior Duck Stamp). It is amazing to see the talent of these young people.

Once again we assembled, only to go our separate ways once more. The Wrays wanted to shop some more in Jackson; Dane wanted to see Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum so the Fords and I accompanied him there. As you might expect, Ripley’s contains an odd assortment of eclectic sculpture, unusual collections, and strange exhibits. Of course, Dane loved it!

Back in Teton Village, Tim and the kids took a gondola ride up the mountain. We all met at the Mangy Moose for dinner, and Dane and I ended the day with some Foosball and pool at the hostel (he beat me at everything!). Everyone is exhausted; I think we may all need a vacation to recover from our vacation! Time to sleep…g’night all!

                         

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 10

Monday, July 1, 2013. Another day dawned clear and cool, with the promise of another unseasonably hot day to come. We were happy to be leaving our primitive campground, proud of the fact that we could indeed survive two days without power, Internet or cell phones. More silliness ensued at the Grand Teton  National Park sign; we all pointed to our own ‘tetons’ in the group photo and laughed liked crazy.

Dan treated us all once again to a buffet breakfast and we were full as ticks when we finished. Gin had some stops planned for the morning, and we set off to learn some history of the Jackson area. One of the early settler’s of Jackson Hole was William Menor, who arrived in 1894 and built his homestead on the banks of the Snake River. He constructed a ferry that became a vital crossing for the early settlers of the valley. His original whitewashed cabin and store, as well as other outbuildings, remain there on the bank of the Snake. A replica of his ferry boat sits nearby.  Another cabin on site belonged to Maude Noble, who bought out Menor and took over his ferry business in 1918. Maude would later become instrumental in the founding of Grand Teton National Park.

The crowning glory of Menor’s Ferry Historic District, however, is most definitely the Chapel of the Transfiguration. Built in 1926, the log church sits on land donated by Maude Noble. The chapel is built of lodgepole pine, and the pews are from quaking aspen. Above the altar is a window framing the Tetons; I think this is seriously the most beautiful location for a church that I have ever seen. The grandeur of the mountains and the plain log church create a perfect match of magnificence and simplicity. It is absolutely stunning.

Another piece of Jackson Hole history is the Mormon Row. This early settlement from the 1890’s was a thriving community, with ranches, homes, irrigation ditches, a church and school. Mormon Row dispersed in the mid-1900’s as the land was acquired to expand Grand Teton National Park. Many of the historic buildings survive, but we were most interested in the barns. One of the barns is the most photographed barns in America, and we wanted to get a picture too. There were a few other visitors to Mormon Row this morning; a huge herd of hundreds of buffalo happened to be passing through. Once again we were in the right place at the right time, and we watched until the herd passed far into the meadow.

We took our barn photos and lots of buffalo photos as well, and headed for Teton Village where our hostel is located. Our route was the Moose-Wilson Road, an eight-mile stretch of narrow, sometimes rough road that is prohibited to vehicles 20 foot or over and is closed in the winter. As we wound our way through meadows, marshes and forests we had another stroke of luck. A moose was grazing in a creek near the road! This elicited a raucous outburst from every one in the van; we had been dying to see a moose and here she was, right in front of us. We bailed out and watched her browse, snapping photos all the while. Now our list of wildlife sightings is almost complete; only a wolf sighting has eluded us…so far.

In Jackson, we booked a whitewater rafting trip for later in the day, than ate lunch. We had some time to kill before we could check into the hostel, so spent some time downtown browsing the art galleries. Wow, are we out of place here! This is definitely a place for the rich, with paintings and sculptures costing in the tens of thousands of dollars. But it was fun to look, and dream. If I ever win the lottery…..

A word about the hostel. It is a clean, simple place to stay with showers and beds. It is very busy in ski season, but it has quite a few guests at this time of year too. Some of the group was totally freaked out when they heard we were staying in a hostel. It had the nickname “Hostile” and “Armageddon” before we even arrived. But once we checked in and the haters saw our rooms, the bitching pretty much stopped. Hell, we didn’t even have power at our last location! It’s all good, people.

After arriving at the rafting office, we loaded onto a bus to take us to the Snake River. We were soon buckled into our life vests and met our guide, Eric. He hit it off with our group immediately, and after a few quick instructions we were on the water. If you’ve ever done whitewater rafting, I don’t need to tell you how much fun we had. If you haven’t, nothing I can say will come close to describing it. The sheer rock walls rising above us, the roar of the rapids as we approached, the adrenaline rush when paddling hard through the frothing water, the exhilaration after each section of white water…..yes, it’s awesome!  5 of our group of 7 got blue bracelets for being on the swim team, i.e. jumping into the river. Even me! I will wear it proudly.

                      

An hour of laundry and a late dinner finished out the day. Another wild, wonderful day in Wyoming has come to an end. Goodnight!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 9

Sunday, June 30, 2013. Do people really get up before dawn on vacation? Apparently, and apparently we’re some of them. Tim, Gin, Deb and I wanted to see the sunrise at Oxbow Bend on the Snake River. There you can get a photo of Mount Moran reflected in the slow-moving section of the river. When we arrived, there were a dozen or so others with their fancy, expensive cameras just waiting for the perfect moment. The scene is one you’ve probably seen in books about the Tetons, because it is a very famous shot of these mountains.  Now we all have our own pics of this breathtaking scene.
                       
Do people really hunt down old cemeteries on vacation? Apparently, and apparently when I’m along we’re some of them! Gin had found some information about the Charles Allen cemetery, which the guidebook said was in a grassy field between the Snake River and the highway near the Jackson Lake Junction. Charles Allen was an early Jackson who opened a hotel and general store at the site in 1902. Allegedly, when he eventually sold his land he insisted the cemetery not be moved. Well, we looked in that field, even with binoculars, and there was no cemetery that we could find. As we were driving around, Tim spotted a ranger and pulled over to ask him if he knew where we could find the cemetery. He had no knowledge of a cemetery at that location, but gave us directions to another old cemetery on top of a hill nearby. His directions were spot-on, and we soon found the old graveyard right where he said it was. It was overgrown with sagebrush and arrowleaf balsamroot, and there were a couple dozen graves, some old, but some as recent as the 90’s. Oddly enough, there were a few Allens buried there. Maybe the cemetery was moved after Charles Allen died and could no longer have a say in it. Regardless, the stupid people writing the guidebook should check their information a little better before they publish it. In spite of their bad information, we did find an old cemetery and that is sweet!

After we went back to the campground to pick up the rest of the group, we stopped at the Chapel of The Sacred Heart. The little log church on a hilltop overlooking Jackson Lake was built in 1937, and still holds masses to this day. The wildflower-covered hill behind the chapel slopes down to Jackson Lake, and we strolled down to look at the crystal clear water with its magnificent view of the Tetons. Dane showed off his impressive rock-skipping skills for us. Wow, is he good! The rock would literally skate over the water’s surface.

There is a wonderful fragrance in the air here; Gin noticed which bushes were emitting the lovely smell and Deb found out they were Thimbleberry bushes. I hope to find some candles or sachets with that wonderful essence so I can surround myself with it back home.

The drive south to Jenny Lake gave us many opportunities to stop and take pictures of the mountains. At every turn is another magnificent view, and we couldn’t resist stopping again and again to take yet another photo. These rugged, snow-capped mountains are simply breathtaking with the morning sun shining off their slopes, and soon we were among them at Jenny Lake, ready to explore. This lake is named for the Shoshone wife of trapper “Beaver Dick” Leigh. Ol’ Beaver Dick has given us quite a few giggles, let me assure you. I told you we are all acting like we’re about 12 years old on this trip.

We all took boat rides on Jenny Lake, Dan and Deb to take a scenic cruise around the lake, and the rest of us to the foot of the Cascade Canyon Trail. The first part of the trail to Hidden Falls is a half-mile, and another half-mile trail takes you up to Inspiration Point. It’s not a difficult hike, and it’s made more pleasant by the twists and turns that bring you around again and again to Cascade Creek. The water tumbles and froths around boulders and cascades down the rocky streambed. Some bridges allowed us to cross the creek and enjoy the sights both up and downstream. We viewed the falls through a frame of pine trees; the torrent of snowmelt rushing down to meet Jenny Lake.

The next section of trail took us away from Cascade Creek and up the mountain. The path became steeper and narrower and the footing more treacherous as we ascended. We rested a few times in the thin air, but finally arrived at the 7,200-foot peak. A magnificent vista spread before us of Jenny Lake with the mountains beyond. After the climb, we took some time to enjoy the view and take some pictures before beginning our descent.
 
Then it’s a mile down and two miles around the shore of the lake back to the parking lot (that is, when the main trail isn’t closed for renovation and you have to take the horse trail, which adds not only length but difficulty.) Even though Dane claims he hates to walk, he hung right with us and pointed out interesting sights along the way. He always has some witty commentary to keep us entertained. We were a sweaty and hungry group when we met Dan and Deb at the visitor’s center, stamped our passports, and headed for a shady spot for lunch.

We had one more passport stop to make at the Moose Visitor Station. It has some excellent wildlife exhibits, but Dane was most fascinated by the pay phone. He had never used one, and made a call to his mom just to try it out. By then, we were all ready to go back to our primitive cabins and relax a little after our strenuous day.

We decided to make one more attempt to find Huckleberry Hot Springs. Tim had talked to someone who wasn’t stupid and got some better directions. The directions were excellent and the hike to the springs wasn’t too long; unfortunately the hot springs were too damn hot to get into! So back to the Polecat River we trekked. We found a nice section with a rocky bottom and some small rapids and waded in. It was warm enough it was obvious there was some hot water feeding into it upstream. Dane, Sierra and Tim worked on a dam and us women just relaxed in the water and enjoyed the scenery.

After a campfire dinner of Chicken & Rice and garlic bread and some much-needed showers, Dane and I took over an empty campsite with a power box and charged all our electronics. We watched the videos he had taken, and marveled once again at the buffalo crossing we had watched at such close range yesterday. When we finally turned in, the girls’ cabin was in a goofy mood. We lay in the dark, giggling and making a list of everything this campground had wrong. If they’d just listen to us! We finally drifted off in those incredibly hard beds that we decided might be made with recycled tires. Nothing else could be that hard! That’s all for today, folks!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 8

Saturday, June 29, 2013. We weren’t in a hurry this morning, so breakfast and packing up was a relaxed affair. We made a quick side trip to Idaho, which was only 3 miles away, just to add another state to our list of states visited this trip. After the photo shoot, we entered Yellowstone to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of this magical place one last time.

Since Yellowstone is such a seismically active location, we had all been wondering how many earthquakes had occurred during our visit. I looked it up on the US Geological Survey last night, and it turns out that in the three days we’ve been here there have been 15 earthquakes, registering between 0.27 and 1.49 on the Richter Scale. There are earthquakes here every single day – mostly small ones – but the possibility always exists that something larger could occur. Hopefully not while we’re here!

Firehole Canyon Drive is a one-way road that loops next to the Firehole River for a couple miles, passing along 800-foot high lava cliffs. The road climbs along the canyon wall past the Firehole Falls. The rushing water churned around and over massive boulders in this classic trout stream. It was a spectacular way to start the morning.

I had a special request to stop at the Nez Perce picnic area on Fountain Flat Drive, near where Nez Perce Creek enters the Firehole River. I wanted to find a grave I had read about, and as soon as we pulled in Sierra immediately spotted it. It is the grave of Mattie Culver, a winterkeeper’s wife who died in the winter of 1889. A heavy fence protects the little white marble stone, and there are silk flowers decorating the grave. When I get home, I plan to find out some more about Mattie if possible, and why she is buried all alone in this picturesque spot.


A little further along Fountain Flat Drive, we had the remarkable luck to be in the right place at the right time. A herd of buffalo, about 90 cows, calves and bulls, was crossing the road. We parked right where they crossed, and watched the whole amazing spectacle. We stood quietly as they passed just feet from where we stood. The calves made little grunts as they trotted next to their mothers. The herd entered the river and had a drink, then moved en masse into the meadow on the other side. The pictures and videos we took will never be able to capture the incredible feeling we had to witness this at such close range. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event! Lucky us!

More Yellowstone wonders awaited us at Fountain Paints Pots. A short hike led us past steaming hot pools, geysers, and mud pots – pools of hot clay blooping and spitting. Dane particularly likes mud pots, and he took some video of the action. The weather is perfect again today, making our hike through this little thermal area quite pleasurable. A little further along the way, along Firehole Lake Drive, we passed two lakes with hot water shooting up from their bottoms. Great Fountain Geyser, which I was fortunate enough to see erupt when I was here last on my geology trip, was quiet so we passed by. I can’t get enough of these thermal features, each one a little different from the last, and all made possible by geological forces too immense to comprehend. But we have seen enough for one trip, so we passed by Biscuit Basin and Midway Geyser Basin without stopping. Next time!

As we headed south, I continued to read highlights from my Yellowstone road guide about the features we were passing to my captive audience. The learned about the biggest stagecoach robbery of the 20th century - $2,000 – that occurred near Scaup Lake. How DeLacey Creek was named for a prospector who passed this way in 1863. How an old wagon road near Shoshone Point was the location of a robbery of fifteen stagecoaches by one man, who spent five years in Leavenworth for his crime. I love these little historical tidbits, and I think my fellow travelers do too. At least they haven’t thrown my book away and told me to shut up yet!

We crossed the Continental Divide at 8,262 feet and found little Isa Lake, full of lilypads and leeches, and a salamander.  We crossed again at 8,391 feet and found a traveling gnome that we picked up to transport to a new location. A short stop at West Thumb visitor center was necessary so we could get our passports stamped, and in the bookstore there Gin found a book I couldn’t live without, “Yellowstone Resources and Issues Handbook.” Our last stop in Yellowstone was when we crossed the divide yet a third time at 7,988 feet, and left the gnome to wait for his next adventure.

As we passed Lewis Lake close to the park’s south entrance, we came upon an accident scene where a pickup truck had almost gone into the lake. Only the thick stand of pines kept it from going down the steep bank into the water. At 1:30, we exited Yellowstone for the last time. The last time this trip, that is! I’ll be back!

Our campground was right outside the park, so we checked in. The cabins looked quite new, and it took a moment for us to comprehend that there was no power. No light, no outlets, no way to charge our phones or cameras or I-Pods or computers! The stunned looks slowly gave way to acceptance as we realized we would have to rough it for a couple days. We also have no cell phone service or Internet. This is primitive! I wonder if we’ll survive?

After a quick lunch, we headed off for a swim. We asked about the hot spring that was supposed to be near here, and the boys behind the help desk gave us some vague directions. We set off and ended up at Polecat Creek. We couldn’t find the hot springs from the directions we had received, so just gave up and sat on the rocky creek bottom in the sunshine. Since that didn’t work out so well, we got back in the van and headed south to find a grocery store. Along the way, we passed Jackson Lake and it looked so inviting we went in for a swim. Though a little brisk, it felt good and we swam and played in the water with the snow-capped Tetons as our backdrop. Much better than Polecat Creek!

After picking up a few groceries, we made a dinner of ham and potato soup with cheesy bread. We can’t leave anything outdoors because this is bear country, so we cleaned up well and used the last of the daylight to look at brochures to plan our adventures for the next few days. On a lawn chair with my laptop, this blog was written in the bathroom where I had power. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Goodnight!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 7

Friday, June 28, 2013. It was cold this morning when we woke up – cold enough to see your breath. But we had seen the forecast and knew it was going to be clear and in the 80’s, so we dressed in shorts and tanks, plus hoodies. We were on the road by 7:00, ready for more adventures.

We’re staying in West Yellowstone, Montana so we enter the park through the west entrance. Our route ran alongside the Madison River, and in the valley next to the river was a huge herd of elk. These were cows and calves, which live together in herds during this time of the year; bulls live in bachelor groups or alone. This early in the morning, there is very little traffic on the roads. It’s nice to be able to stop to watch wildlife, or turn onto a pullout without cars backing up behind us. One thing there are a lot of this morning are bikers – bicycles, not motorcycles. I simply cannot imagine biking here. There are so many steep grades that to me seem totally impossible by leg power alone. And they are hauling all their gear with them. It makes me tired just watching them!

Another advantage to being out early in the morning is that the thermal features are really dramatic in the cool air. The temperature difference makes them very steamy. It’s unbelievable how many thermal features are here. As you drive along, puffs of steam of all sizes are a stark contrast against the green trees and grassy meadows. Steam rises from the surface of lakes and streams, and innumerable vents pour out steam and hot water. Our first stop was at Terrace Spring, a small thermal area with very clear pools and streams. The water surfaces were steaming and bubbling among the green grassy meadow. The short walk along the boardwalk in the crisp air was enough to get us all fully awake and ready to face the day.

The 84-foot high Gibbon Falls caught our attention next. More interesting than the falls itself was the display telling how the roads were constructed in the 1920’s. A payroll record for the workers show that foremen made $8.00 per day; laborers made $4.50. The photos depicting the road building show the daunting task it was to put roads in. When you look at the precarious locations of some of the roads, it seems unbelievable that it was accomplished with teams of horses.

Beryl Spring is another small thermal area next to the road with a boiling pond and a roaring fumarole. We made a quick stop there before visiting Artist’s Paint Pots. A ½ mile trail led back to the Paint Pots, and there were a lot of downed trees from forest fires along the trail. This brought up once again Deb’s problem with all the fallen trees. This conversation has been gathering steam since we entered the park. She is convinced prisoners should remove the deadfall trees from along the road. She became even more convinced since yesterday when she heard that the large mammals travel on the roads more since the fires, since it is too difficult to step over fallen trees all the time. Prisoners are the answer, she insists. We’re not convinced yet, but are all quick to point out those areas that are extraordinarily laden with logs. We’re helpful that way.

The Artist’s Paint Pots are, as the name suggests, very colorful. There are orange pools, blue pools, and Dane even pointed out a purple pool. The different colors come from both minerals and thermophiles, algae that thrive in the heated water. The most fascinating feature for everyone, however was the boiling mud pots. Looking just like smooth drywall mud, the pools of white mud are burbling like boiling water and shooting clumps of mud up into the air.  We all loved it, and hung out watching the mud fly and waiting for some to make it to the boardwalk. That it could was evidenced by the splatters along the guardrails. It was an interesting and entertaining area.


Norris Geyser Basin was next on our agenda. This is one of the hottest and most dynamic of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. The trails led us through a weird and wonderful world that looked like an alien landscape. Hot springs, geysers, lakes, pools and vents are all here at Norris, in a variety of colors and shapes. Our favorite feature turned out to be a surprising little geyser called Vixen. It seemed to be just a steaming little hole in the ground, but it started to gurgle and a quick little eruption followed. When the eruption was finished, the hole drained just like a toilet. It even sounded like a toilet flushing!

Most of the morning was spent at Norris, and we stopped at a campground for lunch at a picnic table. While we were eating, a lady charged at us like a mad bison since we were at her site (even though there was nothing set up on the site yet). She calmed down a little when we explained we were just having lunch and her companion seemed cool about it, but she was all fired up and wouldn’t even wave when we passed her a few minutes later as we were leaving the campground. Bitch!

There is a ranger museum near Norris, and we made a quick stop there. It is the old soldier station from the time Yellowstone was maintained by the army. The kids weren’t impressed, but us old folk enjoyed it. I was most fascinated by the recreated emergency cabin. The list of things to do before leaving so it was ready for the next person in an emergency was extremely interesting, and depicted the military orderliness that was required by early park rangers.

Sawmill Geyser

Next stop: Old Faithful! Old Faithful is in the Upper Geyser Basin, which has the majority of the world’s active geysers. We toured the magnificent Old Faithful Inn, an immense log hotel built in 1904. It is the largest log hotel in the world, and was bustling with activity. We took our seats to wait for Old Faithful, enjoying the sunshine and blue sky while we waited. The eruption was only a few minutes past schedule, and we ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ with the rest of the crowd at the amazing spectacle. Afterward, some of the group decided to hike to Morning Glory Pool. It was a 2.8 mile hike, with many more amazing features along the way. Sawmill Geyser, Turban Geyser, and Grotto Geyser were just a few we saw along the way. Morning Glory Pool, although beautiful, has lost some of its amazing blue color due to vandalism. Objects thrown into the water clog the plumbing, which change the temperature and therefor the color. We decided Deb may be onto something with the prisoner idea; some well-built tatted up convicts guarding the thermal features would stop vandalism and keep people on the trails. We think her idea deserves a second look.

Morning Glory Pool

It was quite hot on the hike, and when we got back to the lodge it was lots of cold water and ice cream all around. Refreshed, we headed back to West Yellowstone for a dinner of leftovers (Italian Beef, brats, and hot dogs) and salad at the campground. A little shopping in town rounded out the day.

After showers, all the girls and Dane hung out in our cabin. Dane had us all rolling with laughter as he look up silly YouTube videos of animals marking their territory (it started out legit when we tried once again to figure out what that bison was doing yesterday, and went quickly downhill from there). We don’t have to get up quite so early tomorrow, and everyone was relaxed and in a silly mood. There’s a lot of snoring going on in this room right now, so I think I’ll join them. Goodnight!

Yellowstone or Bust! Day 6

Thursday, June 27, 2013. In the interest of brevity based on my intense need for some sleep, I will give just a recap of today’s activities. The parentheses following each bullet are my random thoughts and impressions.

• Wake up. (What time is it? 6:20? OMG that is just too early! I shouldn’t have stayed up so late blogging last night. When will I learn?)
• Answer phone. (It’s Mariah! How nice! Oh, she’s wishing me Happy Birthday. God that’s right I’m 54 now. That’s ancient! Like dinosaur bones! I feel every minute of it right now. It’s good to hear from home. I wish my kids were here!)
• Dress. Pack. Carry stuff to van. (No thoughts. Head is empty.)
• Eat breakfast. (This granola keeps growing! I’m chewing as fast as I can and I know everyone is waiting on me. Even Sierra is ready before me. Chew! Chew!)
• Receive cupcake with a birthday candle from Dan. (Awwww! That is so nice! Now I have chocolate for a lunch treat. Everyone is singing Happy Birthday. Awwww! Damn, I’m old!)
• Pass: Boiling River area where we went last night. (Man that was fun! I can’t believe how strong that current was – and how hot that water from the hot spring was. I want to do it again!)
• Pass: 45th parallel sign. (This spot is midway between the equator and the North Pole. Interesting! I wish I had a photo of that sign. Oh, well. We passed it already.)
• Stop: Rustic Falls on Glen Creek. (Pretty little falls – and right next to the road. How convenient! Not much traffic this early. It’s going to be a beautiful day!)
• Pass: Sheepeater Cliff. (Perfect columnar basalt. It’s ok not to stop – no one but geology people care about columnar basalt. It really is a perfect example, though.)
• Stop: Open Air Museum by Obsidian Cliff. (This stone and log shelter is really neat – and it’s been here since 1931! It’s one of the first wayside exhibits built in Yellowstone. Oh, and look at this information about rock thieves taking away pieces of obsidian for souvenirs so now it’s not as scenic as it used to be. Hmmmm….would I or wouldn’t I take a little piece of obsidin?)
• Pass: Obsidian Cliff. (Ok. The stone thieves have all the good stuff anyway.)
• Stop: Near Obsidian Creek, subtitle: Close Encounter of the Bison Kind. (Two bison bulls hanging out in the steam on a thermal area. What a cool picture this will be! What are Deb and Dan doing? They’re taking the trail down closer to the bison. Good idea! They will get some good pictures. Wait a minute…that bison is headed straight for them! Wow, Deb is moving pretty fast! Run, Forrest, run!)
• Stop: Roaring Mountain. (This whole barren mountainside is steaming! And listen to the fumaroles hiss. The sulfur smell is not that bad. Is that runoff cool or hot? I think I’ll touch it and see. Just lukewarm.)
• Stop: Frying Pan Spring. (Seriously – it looks just like water simmering in a pan. This is really neat! Bubble bubble! )
• Pass: Stuff. (There are thermal features everywhere. Just random steam coming out of creeks, lakes, vents. It looks just like a normal area then, bam! Hot water and steam squirting out. We’re climbing. You can look out now and see a whole mountainside – green pine trees, grassy meadows, and steam rising up in multiple places. Bright blue sky, forest green trees, and stark white steam. This place is surreal!)
• Stop: Virginia Cascades. (This is a spectacular drive. The mountain falls straight down next to the road! And the 60-foot falls cascading down into this steep steep canyon is beautiful! Cameras, everyone! Yes, go out on that rock a little more. Dane, be careful! My turn. Your turn. My turn again – I don’t want to look like a wussy girl because I was too scared to stand on the rock. I want a retake standing up. Dane, that pin-up pose with your bison scrotum is too much! LOL!)
• Stop: Cascade Creek Meadows. (Look at that buffalo in his wallow. More bulls are really close to the road. What is he doing? I thought bison peed from underneath like bulls do. But it looks like he is peeing from his butt – and in spurts. What is going on?! Hey, this guy looks like a local. He is! I’m going to sound like a dumbass but I’m going to ask. Bison bulls mark their territory by shooting urine out from behind like a girl bison? That sounds sketchy. But it certainly looked like that is what  he was doing. We’ll have to look that up on Google later.)
• Stop: Hike to brink of Lower Falls. (Look at those elk next to the restrooms! They are right next to the parking lot! Cameras everyone. We are so close. Look at the velvet on their antlers. It looks so soft. The antlers seem too big for the elk’s neck to hold up. Ha! He uses them to scratch under his belly. He is totally aware of where his rack is – look how he lifts them gracefully over those branches. This is incredible! Oh he’s moving on. Let’s hike now. Wow we are right where the falls drop over the edge! The water is hypnotic. It’s rushing so fast. Look at that snow patch on the opposite canyon wall. What a view down the canyon!)
• Stops: Lookout Point. Inspiration Point. Glacial Boulder. Brink of Upper Falls. Uncle Tom’s Trail. (Two osprey nests. Cool. Look, there’s a baby in one. It’s huge! Inspiration point is a bust – I guess when an earthquake knocks the cliff down with the observation platform on it there’s not much you can do so tourists can get a good view. That boulder moved how far in a glacier? 328 steps for yet another view of the falls? Really? Ok, we can do it. A rainbow at the bottom of the falls! Whew, that was strenuous. Look – there is a recliner in the back of that van instead of seats! Are we having lunch soon? Are we ever going to have cell phone reception so these texts will send?)
• Stop: Artist’s Point. (Lunch in the shade in the parking lot? Works for me! I get to eat my birthday cupcake. Throw a flaming hot Cheeto to that bird and see if he likes it. Look at this view! This is like every painting you see of the falls – what a gorgeous place! Totally worth all the hikes and stops we’ve done.)
• Pass: Hayden Valley. (Herds of buffalo. These are mommas and babies. Herds of Canada geese too.)
• Stop: Sulfur Cauldron. (This water is as acidic as battery acid! No wonder it ate away the foundation of the overlook and collapsed it. The ground is bubbling, boiling, steaming. That pool is poisonously green. Look at that bison lying down on the barren ground. Isn’t he hot?)
• Stop: Mud Volcano. (More bubbling boiling frothing steaming pots and pools. We walked all the way to the top and have to turn around because a bison decided to lie down next to the trail? Seriously? Wah! That is ‘Wow’ in Chinese? Dragon’s Mouth is the best! It’s like hell is breathing!)
• Stop: Yellowstone Lake Visitor Center. (Gotta get our passports stamped! I can identify the birds I’ve seen from this exhibit. This lake is immense! Let’s wade in the water. The sand is hot but the water is cold!)
• Stop: Yellowstone KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana. (Here are our little cabins. Let’s get unloaded and get back to town for dinner. I’m hungry again!)
• Stop: West Yellowstone, Montana. (Shopping. Lots of souvenir shops. Gin and Tim bought a buffalo hide for their living room floor. Let’s eat at this pizza and pasta restaurant. Elk Italian Sausage spaghetti? Don’t mind if I do! Dane’s going for the buffalo ravioli. Mmmmm! Tim bought dinner for my birthday. Awwww! That is so nice! Ice cream? Sure! Dan bought ice cream for my birthday? Awwww! This is quite a special day!)
• Stop: Yellowstone KOA in West Yellowstone, Montana. (Shower. Laundry. Blog. Bed. Whew, what a day!)