8/29 - GRAND PRISMATIC, FAIRY FALLS AND A BEER PRINCESS

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NOTE: We are aware of the hurricane out in the Atlantic. Tim and I have come in to town to get signal and assess the situation at home. Thank you to our family and neighbors who are helping us out and who have contacted us. We will be deciding which ‘Plan B’ to put in motion. We will be moving to Grand Teton on Saturday and will hopefully have better connection and an idea of exactly what the storm will do. 

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Beer Princess. Yes, Beer Princess! While we were at Old Faithful yesterday we thought we would pick-up some beer but as we got details of the weather/hurricane heading towards our home in Florida we kinda forgot about the beer. 

So this morning my sister JoAnn  (the surprise visitor) showed up at our basecamp to hang with us for the day and brought us some BEER!!! Thank you Beer Princess! Perfect timing.

Earlier in the week we had decided we would want to do something that neither she nor we had done here in Yellowstone. Our decision landed us at the hike going to the Grand Prismatic overlook. 

The Midway Geyser Basin holds Grand Prismatic Spring! Other than Old Faithful this is another one of those must see iconic stops. Five years ago I visited here without Tim and walked the boardwalk that surrounds it and knew the overlook would serve it better. 

Once at the overlook we took our tourist pictures. Realized this was the better place to be than down below. Then we met a fabulous group of people that we had a great conversation with and we hope to cross paths with again.  After exchanging information and hugs from everyone we departed ways. 

Now realizing that Fairy Falls was still on our list and just over a two mile hike from where we stood, onward we went. The hike was about five miles round trip, rated as easy and we were so glad that the effort was made to get there. 

On our return a young couple warned us of a wolf ahead. We were lucky that he was still in the area and we were able to quietly watch him from afar. The wolf was aware of us and was working the edge of the prairie next to Grand Prismatic. A rare and amazing siting! 

On the return drive to basecamp we saw another wild swan in the river. Then we pulled over at the Firehole picnic area for a quick, late lunch before getting back to the Airstream. 

At basecamp we had one final adult beverage before saying our final goodbyes. My sister needed to return home before dark. These are not the best roads to be on at night. Great hike. Great company. Great memories. The day was perfect!

Every evening at 9pm there is a Ranger Program here at the outdoor amphitheater in the campground. Tonight Tim and I were able to attend and enjoy the Ranger speak about Bears in Yellowstone. There had to have been over fifty people there! It was very educational and fun listening to the young kids ask questions. It’s the little things like this that will last in the memories of these youngsters forever and possibly create/inspire our next generation of Park Rangers. 

Today’s quote - 

‘A place where hell bubbled up.’ - Jim Bridger 

8/28 - LOWER GEYSER BASIN and OLD FAITHFUL

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In the morning we took three nice side road diversions on our trek from Madison Campground to the Lower Geyser Basin. First up was Firehole Canyon Drive. We had to copy a pose made there by our nephew a year ago. We have officially named it ‘The Rock of Jax at Firehole Falls’. 

Next up was Fountain Flat Drive followed by Firehole Lake Drive. All displayed an interesting pallet of colors. Then we took an interesting hike around the boardwalks at the Lower Geyser Basin. 

Now that we were moving into early afternoon we needed to return to basecamp to tend to Jett. Tim and I had dinner reservations at Old Faithful Inn this evening and would need to get ready for a linen dinner! 

Old Faithful located in the Upper Geyser Basin did not disappoint. There was an eruption just as we arrived and since we got there early for our dinner reservation we were lucky enough to see it again. 

Here is a tip for taking in the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn. This is a must see! First park in their parking lot at the Inn.  Don’t park where the other signs direct you to go. Next right after you are done picking your jaw up off the lobby floor take a short but worthwhile walk up the stairs to the second floor. 

Now I will give you a few options. Either take a moment to sit on one of the comfy couches lining the hand rails to overlook the lobby on the first floor below. If you are lucky like we were you can enjoy a violinist or pianist playing. What a grand view and nostalgic atmosphere to enjoy.  Please take a moment to absorb your surroundings here. Or grab an adult beverage from the corner mini bar and take it outside to the 2nd floor porch that over looks the one and only Old Faithful Geyser! This is a more intimate and better vantage point on which to watch Old Faithful.  

At some point we made our way back to the first floor lobby and into the lounge to hang out before our reservation. There we were talking to the bartender who asked where we were from. We responded with Central Florida! You know the place where the hurricane is about to hit. I then told him I guess we are safer here. That’s when he reminded us ... You know your sitting on a Super Volcano!!! LOL

Next up came Semicolon. A server from somewhere else in the hotel. Semicolon had a tattoo of such behind his right ear. I commented to him that I liked it and said look at my 10/6 tattoo behind my left ear. At which point he started to freak out a bit and ask ‘What is that?What is that?’. Before I could explain he said that that was his birthday. That’s when I explained that it is the price tag on The Mad Hatter’s hat from Alice In Wonderland and that my name was Alice. Semicolon disappeared very quickly. 

Our linen dinner was very, very nice and exactly what we needed. The food was amazing and we were lucky enough be seated by an open window. 

Today’s quote -

‘Paint can not touch it and words are wasted.’ - Frederic Remington 

8/27 - MUD VOLCANO AND OTHER FUN STUFF

An early morning wake up call came from a pack of wolves coming through camp is how we started our day. That was at 5:30 am’ish on Tuesday. Of course Jett began barking too. Then they wolves were communicating back and forth at each other as they made their way through. I was just so busy trying to keep Jett quiet that I didn’t look outside. They were so close had I looked out I would have seen them. Just not a fun thing to hear at night while being woken from a sound sleep. I’m just glad that I was not sleeping in a tent or hammock. 

Today’s route took us back through the upper half of the lower loop. We wanted to visit the places in that section that we noted from our drive yesterday. On our approach by Norris Geyser Basin we could see that Steamboat Geyser was erupting! 

First up was a 2 1/2 mile one-way side road that took us to Virginia Cascade. This road is not traveled much and is worth taking the time to drive it and slow the roll away from the crowds. 

Then we drove back through Hayden Valley. Yes, all the bison were still there. If you want to see bison this is the place. Right on the south edge of the valley is Mud Volcano and Sulphur Caldron. This was our stop to check out the thermal features there before heading back towards basecamp. 

Once headed back we stopped at a high pullout in Hayden Valley to eat our picnic lunch and to watch the bison graze along the majestic Yellowstone River below. Then we saw three wild swans chill’n in the river nearby. Continuing on we made our last visit to Canyon Village to grab an adult beverage. The interior of the Canyon Village Lodge is a throw back to the sixties! It was actually built in 1957. I’m obsessed with a chair there. Love it!!! 

Continuing back towards basecamp we also stopped at Artists Paintpots. The small parking lot at Beryl Springs was full so we moved on. You can see it from the road anyway. And then the last stop of the day was Gibbon Falls. Yet another spectacular day here in Yellowstone National Park!!! 

The evening was finished off with a quick cookout on the bbq and a cozy campfire. Later in the week we have a special visitor arriving for the day. Can’t wait!!! 

Today’s quote -

“A thousand Yellowstone wonders are calling, ‘Look up and down and around about you!’” - John Muir 

8/26 - LOWER GRAND LOOP DRIVE YELLOWSTONE

Last night was a bit cold. It got into the upper 30’s and it was the first night we used our Buddy Heater. It worked really nicely and was like having a fireplace in the Airstream. 

Once warmed up and after Jett’s big walk we all loaded up and took off to drive the lower Grand Loop. We didn’t stop at many places but took notes on where we want to revisit during the upcoming week. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation Lake in North America it is beautiful and soooo big. Fishing Bridge has a really cool bird display at the Visitor’s Center there. Mud Volcano was a crazy site to see. 

Now we have completed driving both the upper and lower loops. Hayden Valley was another spectacular place to see bison along the way. Hundreds of them. Everywhere. One last stop at Canyon Village, to check messages and blog, before heading back to basecamp for the evening.