YELLOWSTONE TRIP DIARY

My father and I had never been able to take a trip together. Finally we were able to do just that. We traveled in a Dodge Ram pickup with a "topper" from Bonnieville, KY. to Yellowstone National Park. We packed our clothes, some food, fishing gear, and two cots (with a couple of thin blankets) into the back of the truck and took off...

This is a beautiful lake and campground! We spent our 2nd night on the road here.

DAY TWO: Monday, July 26th

6:20 a.m. - We leave the rest area outside Boonville - the temperature is 62 (we turn on the heat in the truck to get the chill out of the air - this is summer in Missouri?)

8:00 a.m. - traveling through Kansas City (MO) and entering into Kansas.

8:20 a.m. - Stop for breakfast in West Topeka. We see some camels on a farm outside of town.

11:30 a.m. - Stop for gas in Salina. We have traveled 278 miles so far.

1:15 p.m. - turn off I-70 at Hays and are going north on 183.

4:30 p.m. - stop in Gothenburg, Nebraska to see the Pony Express Station and the Sod House Museum (miles 547). Both the Pony Express Station and the Sod House are wonderful. The lady at the Sod House was very friendly and we spent several minutes talking with her. The life-size Buffalo and the Indian on a horse (both made out of barbed wire) are something to see.

8:00 p.m. (approx). - Another 110 miles and we stop for the night. We are at Lake McConaughy outside Ogallala, NE. This is one beautiful lake. We could choose between parking on the beach of the lake above the dam, or the wooded camping area below it. We choose the camping area (although many choose the beach). We had hot dogs for supper, walked around a bit taking pictures, and called it a night. MILES FOR THE DAY: 660 TRIP: 1152

DAY THREE: Tuesday, July 27th:

5:00 a.m. (MT) - We wake up to a brisk wind and another 62 degree morning. It's hot chocolate, cinnamon rolls, and a Moon Pie for breakfast. The sun came up over the lake and I got some really great pics. This is a wonderful place to be - I wish we had some time to fish. (Cost: for park sticker & to camp for the night).

MID-MORNING - Cabella's in Sidney! This is everything that I heard it was! What a place. I could spend several hours (and a lot of money) here. But I need sunglasses (this western travel in hard on the eyes); a couple of shirts (thanks dad for the one); and some fishing gear.

12:14 p.m. - We're in Wyoming now...another first for me!

5:00 p.m. - Casper, WY. We saw some prong-horned sheep and plenty of prairie dogs along the way. We stop and buy food at a SafeWay grocery store and gassed up at a Flying J for $1.729/gal.

8:00 p.m. - We stop for the night at the Boysen State Park, outside Shoshoni, WY. (Danger Creek campground). This is nothing like last night; there are almost no trees and the ground is very rocky. We met an older couple from Washington State who were very friendly.  We helped them collect firewood for the evening. I think we are in for a very windy night. (Cost: .00)   MILES FOR THE DAY: 477 TRIP: 1629

6:11 a.m. - We're up and out of the campground! It was a very windy night! This is a really poor campground, I am surprised at the number of people here.

        Shoshoni:    Population: 635     Elevation: 6132'

6:30 a.m. - Stopped for breakfast. We wanted to get a breakfast bar and were beginning to wonder if anyplace in town offered one! Finally, we found JB's who served us up a great breakfast....yes, all we could eat! It's 55 degrees out this morning.

8:47 a.m. - Kinear WY:     Population 44

10:15 a.m. - DuBois, WY:     Population 962     Elevation 6917'         This is our first "wild west" town. All the buildings have wood fronts. We stop and get some pics. This is a really cute place. In a store window I see an elk antler carved with a mural, the price is !

10:55 a.m. - Our first crossing of the Continental Divide! We are at more than 9000' and for the first time I see snow on top the mountains! 51 miles to Yellowstone.

11:15 a.m. - We get our first look at the Teton Mountains! They are AWESOME! We stop at the Togwotee Overlook and take in this beautiful sight.

11:39 a.m. - We enter the Grand Teton National Park. Soon afterward we see a lot of people stopped along the roadside. I quickly learn that this means that there is a wild animal close by. Sure enough, by following the crowd, we get to see a moose swimming across a small lake. It is a huge animal! Back in the truck we got a little furthur until we stop at Colter Bay. The mountains are nothing short of astounding!

YELLOWSTONE IS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY...

   Dad, mom and "granny" came over to Bonnieville from Louisa (KY) the night before our treip was to begin. On Sunday (25th), I preached at both the Bonnieville and Camp Ground churches.

   After church we came back to the house for lunch and to get things packed in the truck. At 2 p.m. (CT) we said our "good-byes" and headed out.

   We traveled north to Sonora (KY) on 31E, and over to the Western Kentucky Parkway. From there we turned onto the Audubon Parkway and north to Evansville, IN.

   North of Evansville, we turned west onto I-64. Later that evening I got my first look at St. Louis, MO. The arch is a huge structure. I would love to be able to go up in it sometime. Our plans were to do just that on the way back, but our plans would be changed.

   Just outside St. Louis, we picked up I-70 (in Wentzville). Day one ended as dad and I piled into the back of the truck to sleep at a rest area just outside Boonville, MO. (approx. miles traveled - 490) 

It was hard to decide which picture from the Pony Express Station and the Sod House Museum to put here. Both are great places to vist. The life-sized buffalo made from barbed wire is really a hoot..as is the Indian riding a horse.

You can't travel anywhere CLOSE to Sidney, Nebraska without stopping at the very first Cabella's store. If you love the outdoors, then this is the store to shop.