Our next stop was in Ranchester, Wyoming at the Lazy R Campground Monday night. We were only there one night to rest and then we were off again.
On the way to Yellowstone, the boys saw snow on the mountains so we stopped to check it out. A snowball fight ensued and of course dad dominated, pegging me in the back as I tried to get away.
We entered Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday evening. Everyone was eager to see a bear, wolf or even more bison. We spent all day Wednesday traveling around the park. Our first priority was Old Faithful which was easily an hour or so from our campsite by Yellowstone Lake. There were benches surrounding the geyser area so we sat down and enjoyed a picnic lunch while waiting on the next eruption. It was happening approximately every 90 minutes. Finally the time had come! At 12:50 pm, it started spitting and then the water shot into the air. It continued to get higher and higher. Although it lasted only for a few minutes, it was spectacular! We walked around and viewed dozens of other hot springs and geysers in the area. The water looked so inviting but there were many signs indicating how dangerous it was to get off the paths. Hundreds of people have been badly burned by the scalding waters and some have even died.
On our way back to the camper, we stopped at other hydrothermal features and waterfalls to take pictures. They were all amazing and well worth the drive. We did get to see a coyote, Canadian geese, elk, a grizzly bear (very far away) and huge herd of bison. I walked up on the elk and took some close-ups. They didn’t seem to mind the people hiding in the trees around them taking pictures. I also walked near a bison grazing by the roadside. I am pretty sure that the 25 yard rule was broken. We were all exhausted at the end of the day. The park was huge and we had only scratched the surface.
Thursday was a day to catch up on laundry and phone messages. During that time, the boys had scooter races and built a fort out of fallen tree branches in the woods. It was still early so we took a ride down to the marina and inquired about a guided fishing trip on Yellowstone Lake. There was an opening that evening so we jumped on the opportunity to try and catch some trout.
Chris was our captain on the “Grady 3”. He was late starting our expedition because they previous boat had caught so many fish. There were buckets of lake trout being cleaned and iced. We were ready to get out there and reel some in too! The view on the lake was amazing and we were getting some bites. Nathan was the first to make a catch, a stick from the bottom of the lake. Then I hooked something, another stick! Where were all of the fish? Jason finally hooked a fish and it was a cut throat which was illegal to keep. I got a few more hits but couldn’t set the hook. We were fishing with barbless lures. Jason reeled in another but it was also a cut throat. Our time was ending on our fishing trip and although the Cunningham family was a little discouraged, our guide promised to get us some fish from an earlier catch. The sun was setting and the boys got to help steer the boat back in to the marina.
At 9:30 pm, Jason and Jason Jr. attended a ranger program about wolves which caused nightmares for our 12 ½ year old that evening. Friday morning we had planned to travel around more of the park, but instead we got up and started packing the camper. Leaving Yellowstone 2 days early meant that we could make our next reservation on Sunday in Denver. Before we left, jason Jr. and SamBob stopped to see the park rangers and get their Junior ranger patch. It was really cool that they earned one from Yellowstone National Park. This was the 3rd one earned on our trip.
We exited at the South entrance to the park and through Grand Teton National Park. The peaks alongside us towered above at heights exceeding 12,000 feet. We saw a sign that said Cunningham cabin and had to stop and check it out. It was an original Homestead from 1880 that was owned by a rancher named J. Pierce Cunningham. He eventually sold the property in 1928 to Rockefeller’s company as part of a plan to set aside land to recreational and historical enjoyment. His property as well as others purchased by the Snake River Land Company became part of Grand Teton National Park. We drove through Jackson Hole, a neat little town that was centered around the tourist at attractions of winter skiing and summer tubing on the river. Jason and I joked around about moving there. Not only was the landscape beautiful but it was only a few hours from Yellowstone. It seemed as if everyone lived in a log cabin. Even the bank was a cabin with a drive-through.
We stopped shortly after by the Hoback River to make some lunch and let the boys play. A challenge was initiated to go and get in the freezing water. $5 to get in and lay down up to your neck and $10 to float from the bridge to Jason waiting on the side. Jason Jr. jumped at the opportunity to make some cash. Nathan took a little coaxing but he did it too. SamBob and Wesley eventually tested the water at the edge so they could be brave like their big brothers. In the end, we had to shell out $26. They were all cooled off and ready for some more travel.
The mountains soon disappeared and we saw endless miles of prairie with cows, horses and deer. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to travel this part of the country by wagon or horseback. There was literally nothing out there! A few more hours and we stopped at our favorite store, Wal-Mart to make some dinner and get recharged. Jason was determined to drive as far as possible on Friday.
We drove for a few more hours and stopped for the night at another Wal-Mart in Laramie, Wyoming. Jason was exhausted from being behind the wheel all day. In the distance, you could see the wild fires glowing in the forest. We had heard about them on the radio earlier that day. We didn't need the A/C since it was so cool outside. Everyone was alseep within minutes.
