| After getting some essentials for our campsite in | | | | to the mouth of the falls. The sign said it was |
| Yellowstone National Park from the Visitors | | | | only a 3/8 mile hike down to the falls, so we |
| center, we loaded up the 'extras' and saddled up | | | | decided to go down. |
| to find our campsite. | | | | We passed a guy with his family shortly after |
| We arrived at our site, and it was nearly perfect. | | | | getting on the trail headed down, and he was |
| We had a fire ring near the center of our site and | | | | breathing pretty hard. We asked him if it was |
| two perfect spots for the tents. There was also | | | | tough climb back up the trail. His reply was 'Yes, it |
| a picnic table toward the back of the site placed | | | | may only be 3/8 of a mile down, but it seems |
| neatly between two trees. | | | | like about two miles back up'. With that to look |
| We started the unloading of gear, and proceeded | | | | forward to, we headed on down the trail. |
| to pick out the spots for our tents. Deciding | | | | After a short time, we approached the mouth of |
| where to pitch a tent is a pretty important part | | | | the falls. The climb down itself was not hard, |
| of camping. I had the smaller of the two tents | | | | except we had to lean backwards to keep our |
| 'the coffin', so I took a smaller spot between two | | | | feet from outrunning us. At the base of the trail, |
| trees off to the left side of our camping area. My | | | | there was a walkway with a rail that led us out to |
| brother in law took a spot on the right. I think I | | | | the brink itself. Standing directly over the brink of |
| got the better deal, though, because his spot was | | | | the falls allows you to really experience the power |
| on a small incline. It wasn't a hill exactly, just a | | | | of these awesome forces. After a few pictures, |
| small slope while my spot was relatively flat. | | | | and a moment of catching our breath, it was time |
| Once we had our tents pitched and the fire ring | | | | for the climb back up the trail. |
| and picnic table surrounded, it was time to start a | | | | The hike back up the 3/8 mile trail was a |
| campfire. We gathered a little wood and soon the | | | | challenge. It was all switchbacks going up, and the |
| fire was born. We happened upon a really big | | | | incline was pretty steep. We must have stopped |
| piece that looked like the folks there before us | | | | to take a short rest about five of six times |
| had tried to burn it, so we added it to the fire | | | | before reaching the top. The guy we passed on |
| once it was burning good. | | | | the way down was right about it seeming like |
| A little chow, and a couple of drinks later, and we | | | | two miles back up!. |
| were kicked back at the picnic table reminiscing | | | | Once at the top, we took a short break before |
| about our journey so far. From the Rocky | | | | hopping back on our motorcycles. |
| Mountain National Park, to the Grand Tetons, and | | | | We took off again, headed southbound to the |
| now Yellowstone, this had been quite an | | | | southern 'loop' of Yellowstone National Park. We |
| adventure so far. | | | | approached one of the areas where we could get |
| Soon, it was lights out (so to speak), so we could | | | | up close and personal with a few of the Geysers. |
| plan where we were going to go in the morning. | | | | The first thing that hit me was the smell. It was |
| We only had three days planned in Yellowstone | | | | undeniable. To me, it smelled like burnt matches - |
| and wanted to make them the best we could. | | | | sulfur. The air was full of that smell. I didn't really |
| As darkness approached us on our first night at | | | | bother me, it was just different. |
| Yellowstone National Park, the signs of rain began | | | | The pools were bizarre. Just seeing the intensity |
| to appear. Fist, a light sprinkle, then as it grew | | | | of the heat boiling up from these things is |
| closer to sleepy time, the rain began to fall even | | | | awesome. It is really interesting the things that |
| faster and harder. Not unbearable - no typhoon, | | | | nature brings us. I sure wouldn't want to wade in |
| just one of those annoying rains. We put all of our | | | | one of those things, though! |
| food items in the nearby Bear Box as to avoid an | | | | We were headed in the general direction of Old |
| uninvited visitor into our site. | | | | Faithful. We wanted to see the famous Geyser. |
| It was late enough that we decided not to deal | | | | It's a must see if you're in Yellowstone National |
| with it the first night, but thought we should pick | | | | Park. Along the way, we passed some wild |
| up a small tarp and some rope at the Store by | | | | animals. We saw some buffalo. These things were |
| the visitor center on our way out to explore the | | | | huge! We also were greeted by some Elk who |
| following morning. | | | | didn't seem to mind that we were there. We |
| Into the tents we went, and off to sleepytown. | | | | were able to get pretty close to these beautiful |
| Morning arrived, and the sun peeked into our | | | | animals and take a couple of pictures. |
| tents to awake us. I woke with anticipation of | | | | Yes, our next destination was Old Faithful, but we |
| what wonderful things we might experience this | | | | were not in a big hurry, because the journey was |
| day. I was glad that the rain had stopped | | | | fantastic!. |
| sometime in the night, and that we were greeted | | | | We were headed toward Old Faithful, but we |
| by sunshine this morning. It is going to be a great | | | | couldn't resist stopping at some more of the open |
| day, I thought to myself. | | | | pools with that amazing thermal energy pent up |
| We conjured up some breakfast, managed to get | | | | inside (below?) the water. |
| ourselves woke up, and gathered what little bit | | | | There was collection of them on our route, so we |
| we thought we would need for our ride this | | | | just had to stop. They had placed a walkway |
| wonderful day. We consulted our maps, and | | | | around the Geysers so that we could walk around |
| picked a route for our day. We decided to ride | | | | them to get a closer view. I sure wouldn't want |
| the south 'loop' of Yellowstone National Park. | | | | to fall off the walkway! |
| The park is basically two loops that join into a | | | | We also saw some Elk along the way. These |
| figure eight of sorts. We decided to ride the south | | | | guys are amazing! One of them was so close to |
| loop the first day, then the north loop the second | | | | use that we could almost touch him. He didn't |
| day. One of the things that we knew that we | | | | seem to mind that we were there either. He was |
| wanted to see along the south route was Old | | | | just hanging out, grazing on some of the lush |
| Faithful, the famous Geyser. We were sure we | | | | grasses that are in Yellowstone National Park. |
| would enjoy other sights, but really didn't know | | | | Then we saw it, the sign pointing us in the |
| what to expect at the time, or how much beauty | | | | direction of Old Faithful. We rode on up, and |
| we would be greeted with that day. | | | | parked beside the little welcome center. We |
| Off we were on our trusty steeds. First stop, | | | | wandered around a bit and picked up a couple of |
| gas. We stopped at a station not far from our | | | | souvenirs. There was a sign there that estimated |
| campsite to gas up for the days travel. It was | | | | the time of the next eruption, but the timing has |
| warm that morning, and we could tell that the sun | | | | begun to be a little off over the years, the sign |
| would be shining and it was going to be a beautiful | | | | explained. I didn't really understand the reasons - |
| day. | | | | the shifting of the earth, I guessed. |
| The first place we decided to go to was the | | | | We headed back outside and were greeted with |
| Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We were in | | | | bright sunshine. A perfect day for an explosion! |
| the Canyon Campground, which just happened to | | | | The steam was already fizzing out of the mouth |
| be very close to the Grand Canyon of | | | | of the Old Faithful Geyser. It spit out a steady |
| Yellowstone. It was only about a 6 to 8 mile ride, | | | | steam continuously - something I didn't know it |
| so our motorcycles didn't even really get the | | | | did. |
| chance to warm up good, and it was time to | | | | Sure enough, and time approached the preset |
| park. Oh my! the view here was unbelievable!!. | | | | prediction that was marked on the sign, it started |
| There was short trail to 'Inspiration point' which | | | | - slowly at first, the steam begun to get taller and |
| overlooks the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. | | | | more pronounced. It seemed like only a few |
| This is where we began our adventure of | | | | minutes later and Old Faithful was spewing in full |
| Yellowstone National Park. | | | | force. Unbelievable!! The utter power of this thing, |
| We could hear and in some places see a waterfall | | | | and what it is capable of is truly amazing. |
| not too far away, but it sounded as if it was | | | | If there really is a Great Volcano under |
| below us. As we approached the sound, we saw | | | | Yellowstone waiting to happen, I sure hope I am |
| a glimpse of it, and indeed, it WAS below us!! | | | | a long way away from it when it happens. |
| There was a trailhead that said it would take us | | | | |