2014XC: Day 9, June 20 – Wyoming (to Yellowstone)

So many things that I am enjoying on this trip. One of the things I like though is thinking, as we drive through each state, “could I live here”? So far, Wyoming would be within the top 3 places I would choose. Many of you who have passed through this state have called it a favorite, and I concur! Some of the states seemed to have their landscape dictate their state lines, but not Wyoming. Yet even when the landscape changed, it still felt like “Wyoming”, whatever it is that feels like.

We stopped at a visitors center for a break. The boys found some planes to check out. While I was in the bathroom, Steve thought it memorable to snap a photo of what my “side” of the truck looked like. I can’t tell you how much time I spent trying to find my sunglasses, the map, my phone, the other map, the nail clippers, the charger for the phone, another map, upcoming reservations, the game charger, and yet one more map. I lost my keys about 10 times too. I really like the truck we are traveling in, but just a little more room or compartment for the “navigator” would be golden.

We continued on to Yellowstone…

The campground we had reservations for, Madison, was on the other end of the park where we entered from. That actually worked out for the best because we were able to get a glimpse of a substantial part of the park on our way to our campsite, and it also turned out to the the most impressive route as well, to us at least. We came in to towering hills on steep winding roads, waterfalls, random patches of snow, deep ravines, and, Bison (or as Gabriel constantly referred to them, “Boof-A-LOW!”). Our first encounter was a herd on the side of the road with a traffic jam. Two of the herd had decided to cross the road directly in front of an R.V. Animals have right of way! At first this seemed a unique opportunity to catch, but during our stay we found that this happened A LOT. You would be traveling down a road and then suddenly see a traffic jam. Get your camera ready because you could be sure it was something – Bison, Pronghorn (sort of like deer), Coyote, Elk, or even a bear. It was pretty amazing. So anyway, here’s this herd, and we were all blown away.

And as we continued on our way, here’s another Bison just trucking along on the side of the road. What an awesome start to our trip to Yellowstone.