Yellowstone to Jackson Wyoming 7/21-7/23

We decided to take a vacation from our vacation and spend two days in Yellowstone, and one in Jackson.  We left Red Rocks rv park in Idaho early, hoping to spot the family of moose everyone seemed to be able to see just from the road.  I think I'm cursed, because we couldn't see them.  I have yet to see a moose or bear.
We entered Yellowstone through the West entrance and drove what is called the Grand Loop.  Along the way, we saw beautiful waterfalls, and young trees regenerating after a devastating forest fire that occurred in 1988.  Along the treed landscape we saw steam rising up in many places.  The land in this region is part of a huge volcano.  The central part of the park collapsed, forming a 30-45 mile caldera that is filled with geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles(steam vents).  We were constantly amazed by the varied landscape.  At Mammoth Hot Springs visitor center, we saw a movie on the origins of Yellowstone.  It was a peaceful movie about the many geologic wonders and the incredible wildlife within.  We were mesmerized, and then horrified when they showed a home video of a young visitor and her family outside their car approaching a bison for a close up picture.  Next thing you know, the bison gores the little girl and flips her several times.  Everyone in the audience gasped.  We left the theatre in horrified silence!
 The wildlife was numerous, including herds of elk, bison, and black bears.  The only time there was congestion from cars and other motorhomes, was when wildlife was spotted.  Even though you're not supposed to stop or slow down, everyone does, to see what's going on.  There were at least 40 cars stopped observing a mother and two cub black bears.  The  rangers were somehow notified and had to get people moving.  I tried to take a drive by photo of one of the cubs, but managed to only get an obstructed view of it, pathetic!  Minutes later, we saw a bison.  Several people were trying to get a close up photo.  Obviously, they had not seen the movie!
 The canyon surrounding the Yellowstone River was very dramatic, with incredible rock features and waterfalls.
On the way to our campsite at Bridge Bay, we stopped at the Fishing Bridge on Lake Yellowstone.  This bridge was built in the early 1900's to fish from, but soon fishing was halted from here because it was found that native Cutthroat trout which were becoming extinct, were spawning here.
Daren spent the evening at the campground fixing our bike rack.  It was getting very loose and creaking badly.  It turns out a bolt sheared off.  Probably from driving over so many washboard roads and then hitting speed bumps too hard.  Sarah went to the amphitheater at the park and listened to a Ranger Patrick talk about bison.
The next morning we headed for Old Faithful.  Because Old Faithful is very predictable, there were times posted for eruption times, give or take ten minutes.  There were benches surrounding the geyser area, filled to capacity when it was close to the time.  Remarkably, just before the eruption, a bison entered the arena stage right.  The crowd was awestruck.  What to do, what to do?  Pics of the eruption, but the bison.  Fortunately, the eruption occurred and the bison stayed well after.  Everyone could get shots of both!  Unbeknownst to us all, two more bison entered an area behind the ring of seats.  As people were exiting the geyser area, one of the bison became very agitated and started charging people on a boardwalk leaving the area.  Rangers  rushed in trying to get people back and away.  Daren and Silas were on that boardwalk, somehow oblivious to the scene unfolding, and then at the last second realized.  Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the bison left the area.
After that fun, we decided to drive up the road to the Grand Prismatic Spring area and then leave the park and head to Jackson.  We were amazed at this area.  It seemed like something that would be on mars.  The vibrant colors, geysers within the springs, just amazing.

By mid afternoon we headed out of the park through the south entrance, heading for Jackson, Wyoming.  The rain was pouring for most of the drive, somewhat obscuring the view of the Tetons.  By the time we hit Jackson, the rain had stopped.  After setting up camp, we walked to Bubba's BBQ.  Some of the best ribs ever, and buttermilk pie, a first, and delicious.


The next day we all rode our bikes downtown, first to the post office, where Daren had to send a package home of "unnecessary" items.  Then we had a great lunch in town.  After, Daren and Silas went for a bike ride, I went for a haircut, and Sarah went looking around town for interesting shops.  We were pretty antsy to ride again, and got busy getting provisions and getting ready to hit the rode early the next morning.

More pics of Yellowstone and Jackson here, and here, and here