Today started early. Nathan got on the road to Emporia, KS, to get the Brake Buddy fixed. The manufacturer was only an hour and a half from Gina's, and they fixed the Brake Buddy for free plus they gave Nathan and wiring kit at no charge. Nathan returned just before 11 and immediately hooked everything up. We left Gina's at 11:50 knowing we had a long day of driving ahead of us. We chose our own route this time as Waze was directing us on lots of back roads. After the experience in Louisiana with back roads, we'd prefer sticking to interstates and US highways. I drove the stretch of I-80 through Nebraska. It was flat with light traffic, which made for an easy drive for us. In North Platte, NE, we picked up Highway 83N to Murdo, SD. We quickly left civilization – and our cell phone service – behind. We saw way more cows than cars. The landscape quickly changed to beautiful rolling hills. It was so remote, only three towns existed between North Platte and the South Dakota border. They were tiny and so rural compared to where we live. We finally got cell service back, but only for calls and texts. We pulled into Murdo, SD, (pop. 628) almost exactly 10 hours after leaving Gina's house. Crazy enough, at almost 10 p.m., it wasn't completely dark. We were still wearing sunglasses at nearly 9 p.m. The campground, American RV Park and Kamp had a nice, concrete pull-through site. It's not a place I'd want to stay for a long visit – we couldn't even put our awning out and there was no grass – but it was great for one night. We settled in quickly and were in bed by 10:45. The girls took a few minutes to settle down, and Nathan and I briefly discussed our plans for tomorrow – a drive through scenic Badlands National Park and a stop at Wall Drug in Wall, SD – then it was lights out for us, too.
Milford, KS to Murdo, SD
514 miles
10 hours of driving
Day 11 – June 13, 2015
We woke up to a chilly morning in Murdo, SD – about 56 degrees! Today was a “leisurely” driving day, with
only about 215 miles to Sundance. Last
night we decided to take the scenic detour through Badlands National Park, as
well as stopping off at Wall Drug. After
sorta filling up – the gas station had a $75/transaction limit AND a limit on
two transactions without seeing the cashier – we headed out. Our first stop was at the Minuteman National
Missile Launch site. The kids weren't
interested, as nuclear war threats aren't exactly on their radar. We did buy a National Park Passport for the
kids, and we stamped it at the Missile Launch site and the Badlands National
Park Visitor's Center. We need to
remember it at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.
I've heard you can get a stamp at each entrance to Yellowstone. After paying $15 to get into Badlands National
Park, we started a beautiful 30-mile drive through it. It's hard to describe it. The rocks we climbed around on were a very
light tan and seemed crumbly. You'd see
plateau after plateau of these, and then grasslands seemed to pop up out of
nowhere. It's very stark, very quiet and
absolutely beautiful. My favorite were
the Yellow Mounds, which were part light tan, very golden yellow and dark red,
rather burgundy-colored. Words can't do
it justice – pictures are better, and seeing it with your own eyes is the
best. The drive was somewhat stressful,
as we had the RV with the car in tow. In
hindsight Nathan and I agreed that it would've been better had we just left the
camper at the Missile Launch site or the visitor's center – less stressful driving,
less GAS, more enjoyable for Nathan.
Fortunately this won't be a problem in Yellowstone and the Grand
Tetons. We snapped some beautiful
pictures that will hopefully jar our memories for years to come. After the drive through the Badlands, we came
to Wall, SD, home of Wall Drug, which is sorta like Ron Jon's Surf Shop for
South Dakota. It was super touristy, but
fun to look around and say we've been there.
We ate bison burgers, and the girls had homemade ice cream in
cones. After quickly walking the dogs,
who were pretty good through all the stops that day, we got back on the road to
Sundance. It was an easy drive through
Rapid City, and we pulled into Mountain View RV Park just after 5 p.m. Mountain
Time. The set-up went very fast –
probably we're getting to be pros at it by now – and we headed into town for
dinner. We ate at Longhorn Saloon and
Grill, a local place that was family-friendly.
Good food, if a little pricey.
Back at the camper we chatted with our neighbors, who had done extensive
RVing over the years. They suggested a
scenic drive through Spearfish Canyon and a tour through Deadwood, and to take
the Original Deadwood Tour Bus company owned by Kevin Costner over the others. Soon after we settled down for the
night. What an amazing day – one I hope
to never forget.
Murdo, SD to Sundance, WY
215 miles~4 hours of driving, with a 30-mile, 1-hour loop through Badlands National Park
Day 12 – June 14, 2015
This morning I woke up and took Dolly for a run. My normal run around our neighborhood is 2.35
miles and takes 25-30 minutes, depending on how many times Dolly stops. I didn't wanna carry my phone to GPS my
mileage, so I checked the time and decided to check it again after three loops
around the campground. Dolly and I were
tired after three loops, so I checked the time – only 19 minutes! I called it quits. It was chilly and muddy, and my ears and
throat felt yucky. I'll gladly blame the
elevation – roughly 4,750 feet – for the difference. Then we all got ready and headed out for a
drive through Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills National Forest and a stop in
Deadwood. The drive through Spearfish
Canyon was beautiful, of course. The
dark pine trees and black rock and soil definitely explain the naming of the
forest. That drive was so much better in
the Focus. We also saw a couple
waterfalls along the route. Then we
headed to Deadwood, which is known as the place where Wild Bill Hickok was
assassinated. The big draws are the
casino and gaming industries and Wild Bill's assassination. We ate at Mustang Sally's on Main Street and
set out looking for the Original Deadwood Tour Bus Company. At $11/person and $5/child, though Anna was
free, it was a little pricey for what you got, but fun nonetheless. Bus Driver Dave incorporated the rich history
of gold mining, gambling and prostitution of Deadwood with a good amount of
humor and sarcasm. The tour included a
stop at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are said to be buried
side-by-side. After the tour, we set our
GPS for a Wal-Mart in Spearfish, SD, to get some groceries, then we took our
exhausted bums back to the camper in Sundance.
Day 13 – June 15, 2015
Today we woke up to a wet, foggy, gray day. No run for Dolly and me today. We headed out about 8 or so to get to Mount
Rushmore, but first we had to get fleeced at the gas station. Luckily it was only in the Focus, a tiny,
10-gallon tank. The whole drive I kept
asking Mother Nature to cut us a break.
It went from rainy to a small break in the clouds, back to rainy...the
whole way. We stopped in Rapid City to
get cash, and I overheard the gas station owner say Colonial House Restaurant
and Bar was a great place to eat. I mentioned
it to Nathan, and we agreed to eat there after Rushmore. So we made it to Keystone...holy tourist
trap! We just kept driving on to Mount
Rushmore. You catch a glimpse of it from
the road, but it's really amazing to see up close. We got several good pictures AND the rain
held off! It was damp and chilly, but
thankfully we weren't soaked. We watched
a 14-minute video about the construction and carving of each face. It's so amazing that a person could conceive
such an idea and plan all the logistics for blasting away rock to carve out
four faces in a mountain. I was surprised
by how you can precisely detonate dynamite to carve out exact features. The logistics is almost more amazing than
seeing the result. After getting the
girls' National Par k Passport stamped, we headed back to Rapid City for
lunch. Colonial House turned out to be a
great place to eat! Ava had fish sticks
that were real pieces of fried fish and homemade chicken noodle soup. Even the noodles looked homemade, and my
loaded potato soup was absolutely wonderful.
I definitely need to give it a review on Trip Advisor or Yelp -well
worth the stop. Next stop was Camping
World to pick up some mud flaps to protect the front of the tow vehicle. Nathan installed them when we got back to the
camper. The rest of the wet, dreary day,
we hung out, relaxing in the camper.
Tomorrow is Devils Tower, Warren Peak and maybe Hulett Museum. For now a good night's sleep in on tap.
Day 14 – June 16, 2015
Today we woke up with a leisurely morning planned – meaning we weren't
setting out for sightseeing first thing.
It was anything but leisurely, though, between putting away dishes,
walking dogs, cooking eggs and sausage, washing two loads of laundry...it was
busy! And that didn't include getting
two kids and myself ready for the day.
Ava and I did manage to get some ping pong time in – mostly us laughing
at ourselves and our horrible playing skills!
Just before noon we headed out to Aladdin (pop. 15!) to go to Cindy B's
Cafe for lunch. It's a local place well
off the beaten path that plenty of people recommended. The food was really good, and our desserts
(root beer floats for the girls and raspberry cream cheese pie for me) were
delicious! After lunch we drove to
Hulett to check out the museum in town.
There were several dinosaur bones that were locally excavated, as well
as many Native American artifacts and old memorabilia from the 1800s and early
1900s. The curator was incredibly
knowledgeable and friendly. He took
quite a lot of time explaining all the historical data to us. I took several pictures of things in the
museum. After that we headed to Devils
Tower. We got a couple pictures from
outside the park, but when we pulled up to it, the sheer massive formation was
pretty awesome. The long columns of
stone are so symmetrical! It was
amazing. We hiked the Tower Trail, which
was about 1.3 miles, an easy hike for Nathan and me, but the girls did a fair
amount of complaining. Poor things...no
energy in those little legs. It was a
gorgeous day for a hike – partly cloudy, a slight breeze and temps in the low
70s. The stillness in the air and the
quiet that surrounds Devils Tower was so calming, until Anna's whining pierced
the air. Ha! We asked two different people to try to take
a family picture of us with the whole tower in it, but none of the pictures was
very good. That's a little
disappointing, but we each had pictures with the girls and those will do. We left Devils Tower around 4:30 and between
Ava's sore throat and Anna dozing in the car, we decided to forego Warren
Peak. We stopped quickly at the grocery
store in Sundance and went back to the camper.
Ava had a fever by this time, though I didn't pack a thermometer, so I
have no clue how bad it was. Motrin
didn't seem bring it down, so two hours after that dose, I gave her some
Tylenol. Nathan didn't see any white
pockets in her throat, so hopefully it's a cold virus brought on by this crazy
change in weather we've had, and not strep throat. Tomorrow we leave Sundance for Moran, WY,
situated between the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Par. Hopefully Ava's feeling better, and we have
an easy day of traveling.
Day 15 – June 17, 2015
Today was another day of driving.
We left Sundance at about 8:15 a.m.
We stopped about an hour away in Gillette to gas up and get groceries at
Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart was really nice –
very clean, well-stocked – definitely a step above the Wal-Mart in Spearfish,
SD. We pressed on and filled up again in
Casper, WY. This was also the last place
we had reliable phone service. We
arrived at Headwaters Lodge at about 7:30 p.m.
The last maybe 80 miles took more than two hours. It was full of steep inclines and elevation
above 10,000 feet. The engine was not
pleased! At one point we chugged up a
mountain at 33 mph, getting about 3.8 mpg...OUCH! There were even still patches of snow on the
ground. Ava was bummed that we couldn't
stop to play in it. There just wasn't a
good place to pull off. The views,
though, were absolutely stunning. I
still want to pinch myself that we're here and this really is happening! The patchy snow-covered mountains, the tall,
green pines, the beautiful lakes reflecting it all...it's hard to pick what is
most amazing. I'm excited for the next
week in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone!
We settled into our campsite, which is nestled into some pines
(unfortunately bursting with pollen; hello Zyrtec!), and located near the bath
house and just a little walk to the dumpsters.
It's quiet and peaceful...and also has no cell service and no wi-fi in
the campground. But maybe I need a bit
of time unplugged. I do have
intermittent service around the parks, so I should be able to check in with
family at least once a day. So we ate a
late dinner, and then we immediately went to bed. It's going to be a fun evening tomorrow when
we horseback ride through the Willow Flats area of the Grand Tetons. We're all pretty excited about that.
Sundance, WY to Moran, WY
485 miles~11 hours of driving
Day 16 – June 18, 2015
Today's first order of business was a family snuggle in our bed. Nothing beats squeezing in with our girls for
some much-needed hugs and kisses. I need
these special, wonderful moments to remember when the girls are acting
ridiculous and making me crazy. Plus
nothing beats a little set of arms holding you tight! We stayed around the camper/campsite for most
of the morning. I did a load of the
girls' linens in the laundry room – super nice, clean facilities. Nathan and I washed the car, and he cleaned the
windshield and front of the camper. The
girls and I tried to log into the wi-fi over at the lodge, but that was a
bust. We drove down to check out the
grocery store in Colter Bay – not bad, and I'll buy milk there, but I'll get
whatever else we need in Jackson tomorrow at Albertson's. We picked up our tickets for the horse and
wagon dinner ride, too. We came back to
the camper long enough to feed and walk the dogs before heading back to Colter
Bay for the dinner ride. Earlier we did
drive until we had phone service. Nathan
was able to reach his dad, but I wasn't able to reach Mom, so I called Gina so
she could pass along that we were basically incommunicado for the week. We also got pictures of the beautiful scenery
in the Grand Tetons – truly breathtaking.
We arrived at the corrals, received our safety briefing and saddled
up. It was warm, but so incredibly
beautiful! The quiet peacefulness that surrounds you is so wonderful. We had
views of Mount Moran, which stands 13,770 feet up. There are still patches of snow covering it,
and it's so beautiful with the contrasting dark earth and green pines. I've seen pictures, but in person it is so
much more. All the peaks and valleys,
the sun shining off the snow contrasted with the still lake below and trees
lining the shore. I love it. This was our view during dinner, minus the
lake. We saw elk off in the distance and
plenty of whistle pigs, little rodents that live in holes in the ground. Dinner was good, too – steak, potatoes,
cheese biscuits or cornbread, salad, corn on the cob, cowboy beans and smores –
cooked over a real fire with sticks picked up off the ground to roast the
marshmallows. Ava was a bit taken aback
by that. Anna didn't care. After dinner, I admit, I wasn't eager to hop
back on Jalapeno's back, but thankfully it was a shorter route back, and the
horses moved at a faster pace, too. I
guess they wanted dinner and treats, too.
The setting sun over the mountains was lovely to see, though the
mosquitoes were not. Thank goodness for
bug repellent spray! The girls were both
tired, so we showered quickly in the bath house and got ready for bed. It was a wonderful first day in the Grand
Tetons. Tomorrow we're heading into
Jackson to see the Million Dollar Cowboy Saloon and eat at one of the Diners,
Drive-Ins and Dives places in town.
Can't wait!
Day 17 – June 19, 2015
This morning we woke up later than normal, but clearly we needed the
sleep. After breakfast and getting
ready, we set out for Jackson Hole, WY.
We decided to try one of the DDD places for lunch, Sidewinders. We tried all the recommendations from the
show – the pretzel, the French onion soup, Cowboy Mac and Cheese and Chicken
Pot Pie. It was all absolutely amazing,
and we left completely stuffed. I was
really impressed with the prompt, friendly staff, quick food delivery and
wonderful taste of the food. I'd
definitely go back if we're ever up that way again. After lunch we walked around the town
square. We took a picture under the arch
of antlers and sat in the park under a tree.
It was a beautiful day – 75 degrees and breezy with no clouds. We took the girls into a toy store and bought
them a couple of solo player games for the car rides. Our last stop in the town square was Moo's
Gourmet Ice Cream. I had the cinnamon
ice cream, and it was right up there with some of the best ice cream I've ever
had. Highly recommend Sidewinders and
Moo's! After a quick stop at Albertson's
for some groceries, we headed back to our camper. Just before we got back to Flagg Ranch, we
pulled off to see Snake River. The girls
played around in the river, despite the water being very cold. We agreed to bring them back another time to
play. Back at the camper we relaxed, and
then I did some laundry, put away dishes, washed grapes, peeled and cut
carrots...the chores never end, even on vacation. We had a nice dinner of grilled chicken and
peas and carrots. We had a quick bonfire
with sticks Ava found lying around, and then we all went to bed. More than two weeks of family vacation, not
enough sleep and lots of activities have left us all exhausted. Every night I am asleep before my head hits
the pillow. Anna has dark circles. Ava is very short-tempered. We are all feeling the effects of an extended
vacation.
Day 18 – June 20, 2015
Today we decided to finish seeing the things we wanted to see in the Grand
Tetons, which included Jenny Lake and a hike around to Hidden Falls and
Inspiration Point. Again it was a really
beautiful drive. You really can't beat
beautiful, snowy mountains, as far as views go.
When we got to Jenny Lake, we learned that the trail between Hidden
Falls and Inspiration Point was closed, making seeing Inspiration Point
impossible for us. It would be more than
three miles round trip, and the park ranger said it was a steep, difficult hike
for little ones. We settled for a shuttle
boat ride across Jenny Lake and an easy 1-mile round trip hike to Hidden
Falls. Jenny Lake is surrounded by the
Grand Tetons. It's quiet with the tall
mountains looking down on it. I wish I
had the words to describe the beauty of the Grand Tetons. I'm just not that good of an author, I
suppose. We docked and found the hike to
Hidden Falls easy, though Anna disagreed.
Hidden Falls was pretty, though not what I expected. I thought we'd be seeing a waterfall, but I'd
describe them more as steep rapids. The
water tumbling and rushing over rocks and fallen trees made for beautiful white
water and a really lovely white noise – wish I could record the sound to listen
to later! We all climbed down a little
ways, and the girls dipped their hands in the water. The water was snow four hours previously, so
I believe the girls when they said it was COLD!
After a short hike back to the boat, and (sadly) an even shorter boat
ride across Jenny Lake, we headed back to the camper. Next time I'd love to do the Jenny Lake
Scenic Cruise instead. On the drive back we stopped at Jackson Lake Dam and
Reservoir. Again, gorgeous views, and
hopefully we got picture that do this all justice. We ate lunch fairly quickly back at the
camper, because Nathan and Ava had to go check in for their raft trip down the
Snake River, and Anna and I were heading to Jackson Lake Lodge so she could
ride a pony. Nathan needed some cash for
a tip for the raft guide, so he took some out of my wallet. Anna and I relaxed for a bit and then set out
for Jackson Lake Lodge. It was about a
25-minute drive. It's beginning to feel
like going anywhere is a drive, mostly because it is! We got out of the car, and I grabbed my
purse, which felt strangely light. My heart sank as I confirmed that my wallet
was not in my purse. I had no cash, no
ID, nothing on me. Anna's face when I
told her we couldn't ride a pony was almost heartbreaking. I told her we'd come back after we got my
wallet. I was so pissed! I'd said several times to everyone how important
it was to put stuff where it belonged.
Ahhhhhh! Anyway, we get back to
the camper, and my wallet was not there.
I grabbed the laundry quarters, just in case, and decided to ask the
front desk to call Jackson Lake Lodge to make sure they'd take quarters. Turns out they weren't doing them anymore
today. Thank goodness I hadn't make the
drive again! Anna was bummed, but perked
up when I told her we'd head to the Snake River to splash around. She went in about thigh-deep, but mostly
played in the sandy dirt for about an hour.
We came back and sprang the mutts from their kennels for a walk and
dinner, and then I got a bath myself. By
the time I got out, Nathan and Ava were back (with my wallet!), and we went to
the pizza place at Leeks Marina 20 minutes away. We had a quick campfire where the girls ate
two S'mores each, and then it was lights out.
I'm completely exhausted at the end of each day, and I usually pass
right out. Tomorrow is our first trip
into Yellowstone – so excited to see that park!
Day 19 – June 21, 2015
Today we drove into Yellowstone for the first time. Our first stop was at the Continental Divide
– elevation 8,391 feet. Fortunately some
other tourists got a family picture for us.
Next stop: Old Faithful! We missed the 10:34 predicted eruption,
because of the long drive – not miles long, but time long. The speed limit is 45 mph, except on steep,
winding curves and when some form of animal is spotted. Then traffic is at a standstill. We got to Old Faithful around 11, and had
time to get the kids' passport stamped before they announced that Beehive
Geyser was showing signs of imminent eruption.
We made it out to see Beehive, which is more powerful, shoots higher and
lasts longer than Old Faithful, though less predictable. It was beautiful, as was Old Faithful. We had good seats, and it was cool to see the
small eruptions leading up to Old Faithful finally erupting, only two minutes
past the predicted time. It lasted just
a few minutes – the normal time span is 1.5-5 minutes. On average Old Faithful erupts every 88
minutes. We got back in the car, and our
next stop was Grand Prismatic Spring.
The parking lot was FUN, but we managed to get a semi-decent space. I have to say it...I was disappointed. Every
picture you've ever seen of Grand Prismatic Spring is an aerial shot. It's stunning – the turquoise pool surrounded
by oranges and yellows. But walking
along the boardwalk, you do not get the picturesque views. It was pretty, but I walked away
disappointed. I'd have LOVED to hike up
above it to see the spring from that view, but the kids wouldn't have
lasted. The girls did get a kick out of
the crazy static electricity, though, and kept touching each other and Nathan
and me. The steam billowing off the
spring sorta reminded me of the Florida summer breeze coming off the ocean –
somewhat like standing in front of a moist hair dryer. Made me miss home just a little! After this stop, I can't remember the order
in which we saw bison up close and elk, and Artists Paint Pots. The bison we saw: one was up close and several a little further
away, then an entire herd down in Hayden Valley. We also saw a couple make elk and one
female. I'm crossing my fingers to see
some bears over the next couple days.
Artist Paint Pots was pretty, but I didn't see much, because Anna had
her first public meltdown on this short walk.
Poor thing – 19 days of not enough sleep, too much excitement and
constant on-the-go sightseeing put her over the edge. I was wondering when it would happen. So far it had been at home in the camper, but
she's used to about 11 hours of sleep each night, and she hasn't had that even
once since we left Florida. A 4-year-old
can only take so much. After that we
headed back to our camper, still an our and a half away. The car ride seemed forever, and we were all
glad to get out. We noted places we
wanted to stop on another day. I also
realized we needed to plan better – for food, for drinks and for
sightseeing. There are few dining
options in Yellowstone. It is even more
remote than the Grand Tetons. Tomorrow
I'll pack for the day better. Nathan
immediately started the grill when we returned, because hey it's Father's Day,
and I bought steaks to grill for him. We
ate, did a load of dog towels in the laundry and got the kids to bed early in
the back bed. We hope they'll sleep
longer and better back there with fewer noises from the dogs, etc. Nathan is sleeping on the pull-out couch, and
I'm taking the dinette. Should be
interesting. Hopefully the girls sleep
well; tomorrow is a long drive up to Mammoth Hot Springs and down through the
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
It's so long of a drive (time, not miles) we're taking Dolly and Red
along. I hope they'll be a distraction
for the girls, and they won't be cooped up all day again. Little things are starting to get on my
nerves, but at the end of the day, I feel so fortunate to have the means and
opportunity to take this amazing trip with the three most important people in
my life. That, I'll take with me
forever.
Day 20 – June 22, 2015
Today got off to a rocky start.
Last night we let the girls sleep in our bed, in hopes that the quiet,
dark room would give them many peaceful hours of slumber. It did – for Anna, which after two meltdowns
yesterday, she desperately needed 12 hours of sleep. Apparently she's quite the cover hog, though,
as Ava did NOT sleep well and woke up crabby.
Unfortunately for her, Nathan and I maybe got 3.5 hours of sleep
each. It was cold, Dolly was moving
around, every electric thing had some kind of light, the booth bed sucks and my
blanket was kid-sized. I seriously
considered staying at the camper today, but two cups of coffee brightened my
mood. I'm glad we did go to Yellowstone,
too, because Mammoth Hot Springs has been my favorite sight in Yellowstone
yet! The white terraces looked like ice,
even as we watched steam rise off of them.
The different oranges, yellows and whites seemed to shimmer like
pearls. The girls and I jumped out of
the car to get a passport stamp, and on the walk back, several elk were chewing
grass right in the middle of town! It
was so amazing to see them up close! I
got several pictures, so hopefully they turned out OK. On the drive back to the camper, we saw some
steep gorges and climbed so high in elevation that we saw snow again. Unfortunately there wasn't a good pulling off
shoulder, so Ava wasn't able to touch the snow.
The drive was a little nerve-wracking for me, because there were very
few guard rails. Nathan thought it was
hilarious, but I was glad to get down in elevation a bit. The green, pine-covered mountains and the
steep, rocky cliffs were some of the most beautiful scenery in
Yellowstone. We briefly saw the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone River, but we plan to drive the north and south rim
tomorrow, which is where Upper and Lower Falls are, as well. We do think we saw a bear, but it was so far
off, we have no idea what kind it was. I
am really hoping to see a bear closer up, but I may have to settle for what we
saw today. Tomorrow is out last day in
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We're
taking the girls pony riding in the morning, and then our last sights will be
Lewis Falls, Upper and Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, mud
volcanoes and Sulphur Cauldron. We also
have to stop and take a picture at the Yellowstone sign and buy souvenirs from
both places. Then we pack up and hit the
road bright and early Wednesday morning.
I'm glad a bad night didn't make for a bad day. I've loved this trip, even if I'm ready to
move on AND have cell service again!
Day 21 – June 23, 2015
We're three weeks into our vacation, and today is our last day of
sightseeing. There are things we'll miss
– the views, the beautiful drives, the sights – and things we won't miss –
pollen, cottonwood, no cell or internet services. Today was amazing, and Nathan and I agreed
seeing Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River was the
prettiest sight in Yellowstone. Standing
at the brink of the Lower Falls was stomach-dropping and jaw-droppingly
beautiful all at once. The tons of water
pouring over the edge, the double rainbows were awesome. The hike down was totally worth it, and Anna
did OK on the hike up – a 600-foot ascent, much harder than the 600-foot
descent. We stopped next at Artists
Point, which gave us a full view of the Lower Falls. Breathtaking.
Next stop was Sulphur Cauldron and Mud Volcano, and man it was
stinky. The bison sure didn't mind,
though. The boiling mud pit wasn't
exactly what I pictured. It looked more
like dirty water bubbling up. The
dragon's mouth cave was really neat.
Seeing steam and bubbling waves coming out of the cave, as opposed to
the moon causing waves was pretty cool.
Our final stop was Lewis Falls, only about 10 minutes from the south
entrance. While not as majestic as Lower
Falls, it was pretty. The last photo
opportunity was the Yellowstone National Park sign, and we also got pictures of
the reverse side that said Leaving Yellowstone National Park. It was a busy evening prepping the camper for
a quick exit in the morning. We were all
in bed by 9:30, with the alarm set for 6 a.m. The sightseeing is mostly done,
and I'm so glad we had this opportunity to travel. I thought by this point I'd be tired of the
small space, but I'm actually OK with it.
I think I could handle doing the minimalist thing, if we really had
to. There are some constraints to having
less and less space, but the freedom of not caring for so much stuff is kinda
calming and nice, too. I am ready to
have a phone and internet again, though.
I'm over this off-the-grid, unplugged environment. I'm OK with my addiction to modern
technology! Long day tomorrow –
hopefully we make it all the way to North Platte, NE.
