Part Two: Yellowstone

We are on the road to Yellowstone and found some really awesome scenery. 

And some road construction.

And the Tetons.  (Be sure and visit Webshots to see more if you want to.)

Make reservations for camping in Yellowstone!

We started out by going into Yellowstone and found no spaces for our camper.  We went on in and decided to see what we might be able to do before heading out.  Let me tell you, Yellowstone has changed so much since we were there 20 years ago.  First there are LOTS more people!  And the road system and parking around Old Faithful was like a mini freeway and lots of parking.  And again - LOTS of people.  When we were there it was so easy just to meander around and find us a place to sit.  Could not believe the change.

At this point we went to get a bite to eat before the eruption.  The prices were surprisingly not too bad. 

From there we called Wagon Wheel RV in West Yellowstone, MT, just outside the west gates of Yellowstone and got us a space.  This cost us about $55 for a night and believe me this in on the high end of our places to camp.  Then we called the reservation part of Yellowstone itself and found us a place to camp for the next two nights.  Don't you just love cell phones with internet?  Lesson learned.  Next time we plan a trip we will make sure we have places to stay.

Old Faithful and some of the other areas of Yellowstone kept us entertained as we meandered out of the park to our night's lodging.

 

Anyway, we stayed at Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone after spending the night in West Yellowstone.  The areas was nice, clean, close to bathrooms and FULL of people from all over in every kind of camping apparatus.

And then we took and made the loops.  So much to see!  The rangers give free shows at night and in the early evening about the park, animals, etc.  The second night we went to one about bears.  Very interesting.  Wish we had gone the first night.  Kind of wish we had stayed a few more days!

 

I took so many pictures this trip.  There is no way I can ever put this many on this blog.  Please visit Webshots!  A few more and I quit for the evening.

Bald eagle in the top of this tree.

These tiny tiny fish would come up and feed almost from our hands.  It was a small stream near a pullout where we had a picnic lunch.

Look closely in this picture.  There are cutthroat trout about 18 or more inches.  In this area of the river there is no fishing allowed due to the spawning area.  So cool to see them here.

       

Zane has a very sensitive nose and anyone who has been to Yellowstone knows that lots of those areas have STRONG smells.  Like sulphur which smells like - well - a giant fart!  Finally at the Devil's Mouth he just could not take it anymore.  He was crying and wanted GONE from that area.  It was so funny but I am sure painful for him.

  

Finally out of Yellowstone via the northeast loop.

 

More later!

Vacation is over and time to post something!

It has been quite awhile since I posted but that is because we were gone for two weeks on vacation and before that just getting ready to go.  Getting ready to go is a lot of work!  I think I will share with you vacation days.  It may take me a few posts to do it all.  And remember, I have LOTS more photos in my Webshots albums - five albums!

Day one we left here at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 11 to drive to Estes Park, CO.  Made pretty good time actually but when we got to Estes found there was a rodeo/festival there that week.  Know what that mean?  No place to camp!  Finally found a campground that had a couple of slots but boy was it packed.  I am so glad we did not have to stay there all the time.  We kind of like the state or national campgrounds because you cannot really hear your neighbor snort.  So believe me, the one we stayed at packed you in. 

We had elk in a little clearing right in town.

That night we made reservations for the dinner ride (horseback) for the next day.  Got up Sunday and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park.  If you have never been there, you really should go.  The very top of the mountain is an Alpine tundra.  It is really so beautiful.  LOTS of little tiny flowers and lots of wildlife.

The views are really spectacular.

And yes, it was a bit chilly.

We saw more elk, a few moose and some mountain goats.

This baby was lost from mama and seemed to be just a bit terrified!

 

From the park we went back to Estes for our steak dinner ride.  Last time I rode horses was here 4 years ago.  I really miss riding.  Sigh.  Need more practice! 

We went to the Sombrero stables, same place we used last time.  They are so good with the little ones and so patient with us old folks.  Zane was ready to ride.  He and Zachary were so excited.  Zachary took to horseback riding like most sports.  He was getting really good at pulling his horse's head up and moving him along when Little Brother, the horse, wanted to munch on the vegetation. 

First horse they put Ross on nearly pulled his hips out of joint so they had to find him a horse that was big but narrow.  After that he was fine.  And yes, we put helmets on the boys which they kind of liked.  Just to be safe.

 

This picture of me is actually from Kathleen's camera and she was turned in the saddle shooting blind.  Pretty good, huh?

The ride was great and so much fun.  I really would have love to put my horse into a full out gallop but you know how these places are.  Slow and steady.

From Estes Park we headed north and west towards the Tetons and Yellowstone.  We stayed the night in a little town called Lander, Wyoming.  Good place to stay, not expensive and nice. We stopped at the site of Sacajawea's grave.  You know who she is don't you? She helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Interesting graves there.  You could feel the Indian culture.

And while we had stopped Zane announced he had to poop.  Mind you, we were in the middle of nowhere with no potty except in our popup.  So we raised the top a bit and Mike and Ross pulled it out just enough so that we could put Zane on the potty.  Too funny not to pass these photos on.

And so went the first part of our two week saga.  More to follow.  Next time we will visit Yellowstone.  That was an adventure all it's own!