Retirement Adventure Yellowstone

Day 8 We awake to a 29 degree morning but nothing can deter our enthusiasm, we are heading for Yellowstone this morning.  Just a 10 minute ride from our Teton campsite and we are in the park.  

Our first stop is Grand Junction and we are soon aware that this campground is closed, although we had no intention of staying there, it dampens our mood to learn that the 7 campgrounds in the park that are first come first serve only 3 are still open.  We go to the visitor center, and talk to one of the park attendants.  She is great and calls up to our campground and manages to get us an extra night.  One huge problem solved.  We take a deep breath and head to OLD FAITHFUL, a must see here.  

Another huge crowd, but inside people wear masks with no hesitation and outside the waiting crowd is reminiscent of a carnival.  There is a lot of light banter amongst the throng and I feel happy.  Old Faithful blows right on time and we are suitably impressed!

We travel along to the prismatic geyser, it is a good hike and I am wishing I had grabbed water and possibly oxygen.  We climb higher and higher and it is worth the effort.

We head to our campground, check in and make sandwiches for supper, make a campfire and call it a day.  

Day 9 There is so much beauty here, we can't really get our heads around it, every turn is a new surprise, mountains, animals, geysers, waterfalls, canyons, here are the pics:

The Cascades

 Mammoth Springs

The Elk at Mammoth Springs

Yellowstone Lake

Our last night in the park, we walk down to the river near our campsite.  Suddenly we hear the bugling of the Elk.  We walk toward the sound and there is a huge bull elk.  He is calling his harem.  They come out of the forest with yet another Bull.  We are joined by fellow campers and for an hour we watch the Elk, it is mesmerizing.  Will the Bulls fight?  The Does seem oblivious to the tension and there is a young doe bouncing around the terrain.  We final say adios and head to a campfire and dinner.

Elk near the river

(too far for a good pic)

 

We say goodby to Yellowstone and head to the Big Horn Mountains. I don't know much about them, but people tell us they are called the Twins of the Rockies, we are headed to Sheridan Wyoming for the night.  We are astounded by the beauty of these mountains, maybe the prettiest we have seen on this sojourn.

 

This ride is one corkscrew after another, and we are going up and over these mountains. The view is beautiful and we are exhausted when we finally arrive in Sheridan.  We check into our hotel, order Chinese food for dinner, take much needed showers and turn on TV!!