We stopped at a gas station in Lovell and get some ice to fill the cooler and buy some hot dogs and head off to Yellowstone National Park via the east entrance. Just a little ways down the highway we see a guy in a cowboy hat riding a horse with mountains in the distance (we are surely in the west!). Drive through more mountains...and through Cody, WY (the Rodeo Capitol of the world, in case ya didn't know. :P ).
When we get to Yellowstone, we plan on going to the Madison campground. Before that though is Old Faithful...so of course we HAVE to stop and see it. We just barely miss it and decide to wait about another hour for it to go off. It was worth it though. Geysers, steaming hot pools... Afterward, we have trouble finding a campsite. Most of em are full, which is strange because the weekend is over! But finally, we find an open spot at Indian Creek Campground. It's a nice distance away from main park traffic and no generators are allowed to be run so it's nice and quiet. (But...we end up driving a short bit up to Montana to get cash at an ATM...they don't accept cards or checks...).
Once we set up camp, we FAIL at starting a fire. We only have big chunks of wood, no kindling, and nothing to cut with...But our neighbors are friendly. Wally, Missy & their 4 year old son Luka from Colorado help us out. They share some of their wood and help us get it going. Luka keeps running up with twigs to burn and offers us "marshmallow sticks." Once the fire gets going, we cook some hot dogs. We sit and chat as it gets darker and Wally comes over and chats with us and shares his Cinnamon Schnapps.
OH, by the way, did I mention we had packed a tent and NO POLES??? Yea...so we end up sleeping in the car. After a nice fire and an AMAZING view of the stars, we go to sleep with the seats reclined and it gets COLDER & COLDER and COOOOLDER throughout the night. I can't believe how cold it gets there at night.
The next day we go to see the Upper and Lower Falls, the Petrified Tree and the Mud Volcano & Sulfur Cauldron. We do a lot of driving around the park and take walks on the trails and viewpoints. We see a lot of wildlife both days: deer, elk, buffalo walking in the middle of the streets! We also see a grizzly bear in the distance just walking through a field! We take lots of pictures. Btw, the second night we SUCCESSFULLY make and keep our own fire! Wally would be proud. ;)
We see a lot of interesting signs and hear some weird ads:
"Caution: Bears are dangerous! Do not approach. Up to $5000 fine."
"Avalanche Area: No stopping for 2 miles."
"Bugs like to eat with you. And eat you. Alive."
"Before meth, I had a brother. Now I have a thief."
After lots of exploring, we head off to Missoula, Montana on I-90 (the same interstate that goes through WI!). We picked it off the map because it sounds like a Western Diva's name. ;) We decide to squat at Ruby's Inn for the night. Back to civilization: TV, Internet, and phone reception again! (And showers!!!!)
Songs of the day:
Uhn Tis Uhn Tis Uhn Tis by Bloodhound Gang
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers
You're the One that I Want by Olivia Newton John & John Travolta <3
Love Always & Forever,
Stephanie
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