Yellowstone Trip Diary: Part Two

1:15 p.m. - After traveling over 2000 miles, we have arrived at the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. We actually have to wait in line to get into the park. There are several campers, cars, trucks and motorcycles in the park.

We drive around the south end of the park, up to West Thmb, and then over past the lodge and Old Faithful. It is absolutely beautiful!

2:30 p.m. - We get a campsite (#D142) at the Madison Campground on the west side of the park. This is a more level, highly wooded area with lots of shade. There is a warning here that everything is to be put away while you are away from your campsite and at night becuase of the danger of bears. Thankfully, we are close to the restrooms!

   We set up camp and eat a light luinch. We saw 4 elk along the way. There are a lot of people camping here and the scenery is awesome. I don't have any cell phone service here.

   The plan for the rest of the day is to go back to Old Faithful and then to the other geyser basins. The day is sunny and cloudless, but there is a chance of rain/storms later in the day. Current Temp: 78. 

9:00 p.m. - The campground is officially full. We went to see all the geysers...well most of them in this area at least. There were hundreds of people waiting to see Old Faithful and we we not disappointed. All the pictures (including mine) that you see can't do it justice...you have to see it for yourself. It does like to "tease" you into to thinking it is going to erupt several times before it actually does, but when it does it is worth the wait. For the day we saw several pronghorn sheep, elk (17 at one place), 2 buffalo, 2 sandhill crane, and other small game.

   We snack around for supper as the sun is going down behind the mountains. I'm pretty tired and have smelled enough sulphur to choke a horse (Dad says it's good for you, but I think he has gagged a time or two as well) ~ GOOD-NIGHT!

All times listed today are in the Mountain Time Zone.

7:00 a.m. - Wake up to a cold 42 degree morning, but the sun is up and it looks like another beautiful day. We have coffee (me), hot chocolate (dad), bacon, eggs, and biscuits for breakfast here in camp. After breakfast the plan is to drive to the northeast to find one of the campsites that have pay showers (That's right, our last shower was back on Sunday! Thank God for deodorant and Old Spice refreshing wipes).

10:30 a.m. - Out of the showers at the Canyon Area campsite. We're about 28 miles from our camp. Here they have a laundry & shower building. The shower cost $3.00 (unlimited time, shampoo, and soap), a great bargin after you've waited 4 days to shower!

2:15 p.m. - We stop at Gull Point for a hot dog & chips lunch. We are at Yellowstone Lake, it is masive. There are several boats (large & small) out of the lake. It is still very windy and the water is choppy. We have been to the Upper and Lower Falls; Fishing Bridge; Inspiration Point.

3:30 p.m. - Back at camp and time to crawl into the back of the pick-up for a nap. This is fast becoming an everyday event. After all the riding, walking, and climbing we need this so we can get up and do it again later.

4:48 p.m. - We head out the west entrance to the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. This is a tourist town and is very nice. It's weird to see the trashcans on the streets with steel tops bolted on them so that the bears can't get in them and make a mess.

8:05 p.m. - The sun is setting and we are getting ready to eat a supper of chicken & gravy, baked potatoes and biscuits back at camp. On the way back from West Yellowstone we saw several elk, trumpter swan, osprey, ducks, and geese. Also we could see fish jumping in the Madison River. Another wonderful day.

7:00 a.m. - Woke up to a chilly 45 degree morning. We had oatmeal, bananas, peaches & milk for breakfast and left camp heading north.

2:00 p.m. - We are back at camp after a busy morning. We went to Gibbon Falls, Sheepeaters Cliff, Golden Gate Pass, Mammoth Hot Springs, Undine Falls, and Tower Falls. Along the way we saw a lot of wildlife and took several pics.

   After eating a lunch of cheese & crackers,olives, and peaches, we rested in the truck for a little while.

   After our rest we went back into West Yellowstone, MT. to do some shopping. We bought shirts for Sarah, Mike and the girls (I had gotten Marla, Brooke & Ginna's gifts at the lodge earlier). On the way back to camp we saw several elk.

7:00 p.m. - Supper tonight was hot dogs, Fritos and peaches. Afterward we take down camp and pack up the truck. Our plan tomorrow is to get up early and head out the western entrance. We are going to head south on Rt. 20 into Idaho and pick up the Teton Senic Bypass. It should be a beautiful drive. Dad has walked up to the pay phone by the Campground office. We plan on being back in Kentucky by next Friday afdternoon.

   It's getting dark now, the temp is 59 degrees so it's going to be another cold one. A family from Alberta, Canada just pulled in beside us. I talked with them a bit, this is their first time at Yellowstone.

   Dad just got back from talking to mom on the phone and things are not good. Mom seems to be having some heart problems and so we are leaving for home tomorrow. I can tell that dad is worried - it will be good for him to get home with mom.

I hope to put a majority of the pictures I took on the 'net. There will be a pictures page placed on this site soon. I hope you enjoy them, and the diary. Send me an e-mail and let me know what you think.

OLD FAITHFUL

Gibbon Falls

(Brooke calls this my "Thomas Kincade" picture...it is beautiful)

What a beautiful elk...yum,yum!