7/26/23

 We were on the road a little before 6:30 this morning on our journey to the Yellowstone. We had a big day ahead of us. We had plans to see a lot of things. 

We visited the Biscuit Basin with the Mystic Falls hike. My back was still super sore so Avery and I did the 2 mile ish hike while everyone else did the 3.5 mile hike. On our hike we saw an endangered wildflower (I used my app to look up what it was).  

We saw the blue sapphire Basin. It was brilliant. Such a beautiful color. I can see why some people want to go in those, they look so inviting (but deadly).

Avery and I hiked to the falls. Everyone else did too but we were slower. It was so pretty.

We then had a picnic lunch at the Whiskey Flat picnic area, under the shade of some amazing smelling pine trees. We had fun people watching as a place like this really brings out the worst in people and their kindness towards others.

We left there and visited the Artists paint pots, blood geyser and then we arrived at Gibbons Falls picnic area. You could access the river and walk to see the falls from the bottom.The river was cool and refreshing. Most of the adults went to view the Gibbon’s Falls. The kids, Auntie Julie and I stayed back and walked along the river bank and in the river. We looked for yellow stones in Yellowstone.

We made a boat and timed how long it would take to flow down the river. The sun was hot. We saw Buffalo poop and I kept thinking they could be watching me from the heavily wooded area.

On our way to the last stop, we got hung up in a traffic jam. The number one rule in Yellowstone, is “Don’t stop unless at a turnoff location or parking lot.”

Second rule, “Dont exit your vehicle to view wildlife.”

So of course people just stopped their cars in the road and were trying to photograph a bear. We saw the bear from our car. It was cool.

The last stop was so exciting. We went to the Grande Prismatic Spring. The walk was tough only because my back was hurting pretty good by then. It was totally worth it and stunning. The colors were amazing. It was truly a work of art.

We retreated back to our lodge for the night and grabbed dinner. We had drinks at the Old Faithful Inn and headed outside to watch Old Faithful erupt. While waiting we came up with different scenarios of goofy and silly things to do when Old Faithful blows, one suggestion was to be like “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick” and the candle stick was Old Faithfull. We also had good people watching.

The day came to and end and it felt so good to lay down. Exhausting? Yes! Worth it? Also, yes!