Day 11-Yellowstone, July 11, 2013

The sun and air are different in this part of the country. We started noticing it in Omaha. The air is so dry. My lips feel like I've eaten a jumbo bag of chips-they're pukery feeling. My skin is dry and we keep shocking each other. Also the sun is so much brighter. When we walk outside we put our arm over and eyes and complain like we are part vampire-arrggg the sun is too bright! I've told the kids it's because there are no forests of pine trees to filter the sun. Regardless of the reason we feel like the moisture is sucked out of us, but that doesn't slow us down (the altitude is doing that-got oxygen?).

We leave Cowboy Village in Cody, WY and set our GPS for Yellowstone. I am hopeful we can get in free with our National Park Pass.

Yellowstone, apparently, is a HUGE tourist attraction. My first glimpse of this is the line to get in-hmmm.
Turns out the National Park Pass only works for one car-unless you hold up traffic, beg and plead, and claim PCS status (yes, I have no shame). Then you can get a couple of day passes for your following cars.

We planned on mostly doing a drive through not realizing that:
1. Yellowstone is huge and the speed limit is 45mph
2. Lots and lots and lots of people trying to see the same things
3. Road construction

My front view

My rear view-Haley is the first car, Yany is the second

 

 

We were able to see Old Faithful erupt. It used to erupt approximately every 66 minutes-thus the saying, "every hour, on the hour." Some earthquake in the 1950s changed the eruption to approximately every 88 minutes, so we caught the 2:53pm show. It was quite spectacular.


I didn't realize there was a huge lake, forests, grasslands, and swamplands. I guess I've watched to much Yogi Bear and thought I was going to see bears crashing picnics.

The only bear we saw-we bought, he loves his new backpack

 Snow on the mountains

 Really big lake

Buffalo roaming around

We found out that you can become an official Jr. Park Ranger at most National Parks; one family we talked to has earned 7 badges. Alyse was interesting in earning a badge.

After spending too much time sightseeing and waiting in line we needed to leave. Alyse was very diligent and completed her badge requirements. She received her badge and this made Kasen cry. Therefore, Haley had to earn Kasen a badge or we won't get any peace, Kasen is VERY persistent. We convince Haley that she's completed enough-let's go. The "not real nice" Park Ranger was disappointed in our feeble attempt and denied our badge request. He suggested we work harder and mail in our paperwork to receive a badge. He gave Kasen a sticker and tried to send us on our way. If you remember, Kasen rides with me. I stand in front of "not real nice" Park Ranger and beg and plead (and let Kasen scream and cry) and eventually Kasen is also granted an official Park Ranger badge-I believe I also mentioned being shameless. "Not real nice" sent us on our way without a ceremony and I put 2 happy Jr. Park Rangers in their seats in my car.

We are becoming road weary and hotel leary and are ready to make it to our new home. We've got two more nights in a hotel and then we will be at our new home-sweet-home. Tonight's stop is Butte, Montana.

I'm glad we saw Yellowstone, but if we come back we will try a less popular time.

DeeAnn- Military Lifer Wife