This was a good one.
Yellowstone got better every day.
We hitched up this morning and drove the trailer south and east and
south a little more (Yellowstone is set up like a figure 8) toward the Lake and
the east entrance to the park. (Our
exit). On the way we stopped at Mud
Volcano. I didn’t know how parking would
go with the MPG, so we left pretty early to beat the crowds. There was great RV parking at Mud Volcano. This was another little loop of boardwalks
around some very smelly hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots. I think there was a geyser too. We all thought this was a fun stop even
though it was more of the same. The
girls decided their favorite geo thermal feature was here: Dragon’s Mouth. It was a hot spring, but was also very noisy
and steamy. We videoed it just to catch
the sounds. Amazing stuff.
Then we went on to the Fishing Bridge VC. It was right on the lake, so I was hoping for
a nice swimming/relaxing spot, but I wasn’t sure what it would be like. It had plenty of RV parking and was not very
crowded. The VC had tons of stuffed
birds and animals. I checked on hikes
and swimming. Turns out this was the perfect
spot for swimming. Just behind the VC
was a beautiful beach. We went to the
truck and changed into swimsuits and grabbed lunch and chairs and headed back
to the beach area.
On our way, right by the VC at the picnic area, we saw a
bear! It was the biggest black bear I
have ever seen. It was thrilling and
terrifying at the same time. Brad had to
remind me to take pictures. I was just
sort of staring in amazement. Carmen has
been fearful of seeing a bear in Yellowstone.
I think being so close to a building and lots of other people helped her
not panic. The bear was just walking
around and then would stop and look at the people. We were too close, but couldn’t seem to back
away. (Maybe 75 yards.) He finally turned and went parallel to the
beach away from the VC. We turned and went
to the beach too, in the opposite direction!
The ranger came out and told us there was a bear in the area and if he
should come out onto the beach, we should grab our food and get to the VC which
was about 30 yards behind us. We were
the only ones on the beach for a while.
The rangers were walking up and down the beach. They finally went in and people started
coming out. Then it got crowded. We stayed out there for 2 or 3 hours. I read, Brad drew, the girls played in the
water and in the sand. It was a great
day!
Yellowstone Lake is beautiful. It is so big. The wind and waves and size make it feel like
the ocean. The black obsidian sand and
mountains and bear make it feel like … something completely new and surreal.
Before we leave Yellowstone, I want to mention that it was
the first National Park. It was founded
in 1872. I definitely wanted to come
here, but mostly because I felt like we had to.
It exceeded my expectations.
We drove the scenic drive through the Shoshone National
Forest to Cody and found a nice little RV park: Ponderosa. It was amazing how quickly the landscape
changed after we left Yellowstone. It
turned into desert and giant rock formations.
It looks like you think WY should.
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