It took Katie and I two full days to drive all the way to Yellowstone National Park. Straight through Washington, Idaho, and Montana, which is really beautiful in it's own way. So different from New Hampshire in that it is so vast and open with mountains ranging off in the distance. It truly is big sky. Katie and I decided to watch Dante's Peak in a little town called Wallace Idaho because it was all we could laugh and talk about after seeing Mt St Helens. We discovered a few days later with some good researching that it was filmed in Wallace, Idaho! One of those crazy coincidences that made the long drive a little more bearable.
Finding a campsite in Yellowstone is like a crazy game show contest. Everyone is running with their gear and throwing it on the ground with a triumphant "Mine!". Well, maybe it's not quite like that but it was a mad dash nonetheless. We were successful, but barely by securing the last campsite in the campground that day at Indian Creek. We knew to get there early in the day and we were so glad not to have to keep looking. Situated south of the Mammoth Hot Springs, we decided that would be our first adventure in the park. It does not disappoint. I've heard stories and watched documentaries on the amazing geological wonders of Yellowstone but seeing it for yourself in entirely different. Hot water bubbles from the springs and cascades down creating, as if flows, intricate calcified designs and pools of many different colors. Some of the springs lay dormant or extinct while new springs slowly bubble to the service creating new geological designs. So on any giving year the landscape could look entirely different. I loved the fact that if I come back years from now there will be different geysers and springs to see.
Towards the end of the day we headed down to the Boiling River. When the springs finally make it all the way down the mountain underground they emerge into the Gardner River creating the most wonderful place! Katie and I would return many times to this spot at the end of our days exclaiming it was "Boiling River time". The hot water from the springs mixes with the cold from and river to create a the most relaxing and enjoyable experience. After a few visits I discovered everyone was having the same conversation,"When I sit over here it's hot! and when I move over here it's cold! Amazing!". Yes, indeed it is just that. I highly recommend.
After that our days consisted of spotting wildlife and watching geysers, Old Faithful among them. Through we were slightly disappointed with Old Faithful, a more exciting geyser called the Beehive erupted right after we had seen Old Faithful and was far more exciting. Yellowstone is a very large place so it is difficult to see everything in a few short days but we managed to see a lot of it. We saw all the wildlife that we wanted to see and our last night in the park we saw a grizzly bear and knew our trip was complete.
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| Beehive Geyser |
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| Yellowstone, it will blow your mind:) |
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| Kate, I think you have something in your ear? |
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| EUREKA! |
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| Lower Falls |
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| Grizzly with an itch |
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| Mr. Griz |
By the last day there we both concluded that we were done with sightseeing and done with "oooing and ahhhing" at any more geological wonders and it was time to go home. We made a 48 hour pit stop in Jackson, Wyoming to stay with some good friends who let us shower and do laundry. The trip down to town from the park is breathtaking. The Grand Tetons sit to your right as you descend into town and it is by far the most beautiful mountain range I have ever seen.
By some strange luck I have two very good friends that both moved to Jackson separately so it makes visiting a blast. We dined and gazed at the mountains and floated a river. All so enjoyable and I will for sure come back to this place to another visit. Sadly, Katie and I had to get going on Sunday morning to make the long trip home. We had decided weeks before that we would just drive straight across the Midwest to get home as quickly as possible. We have a family reunion the following weekend and wanted a few nights in our own beds before making the trip to Maine.
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| Jackson, Wy |
I won't elaborate on the next few days of our lives, I'll just say that they were fairly miserable. We only stopped for one night in Iowa. We arrived at the Mayo Farm mid afternoon on Wednesday after more than 30 straight hours in the car. I DO NOT recommend this tactic but it got us home fast. We were so glad to be home! So excited at crossing the New Hampshire state line!
So it has been two days since we arrived and I still haven't unpacked the car or my suitcases. I don't even want to look at them. Coming home for good is a strange feeling. I think I'm still feeling I am just home for a visit and not for good. I have a lot to think about and a lot of decisions to make that I have been putting off. I am going to take a few weeks to think it all through and decide what my next move will be. A few weeks of enjoying the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire should help I think:) Until then, happy travels.
