Yellowstone

Sunday September 11

We drove to Cody Wyoming to take the Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tour.  Our guide drove us and another couple in a van to BLM (bureau of land management)  land where a herd of 150 wild mustangs live.  We traveled back over dirt roads and hiked over sage brush fields.  Finally we spotted a portion of the herd. We were able to get within 500 ft of them (legal limit).  They were beautiful, magnificent animals. There were two young stallions that the older stallions would not let into the group in fear of losing their mares. They were forced to stand alone and as one approached the group an altercation ensued. The dynamic of this group was so interesting to watch.   (reminded me of the school playground)

group

lone stallion

On to Yellowstone. 
Wow, we are really here.  We’ve talked about this park for years and have finally arrived.  We are actually pinching ourselves each day making sure we are not just dreaming.  This is truly a trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful to be able to be taking it.   

 
As we entered Yellowstone from the east, we immediately saw 
the smoke from the fires that have been burning since June.  Fortunatelyit did not obscure the beauty of the park.  

As we drove along we came upon more smoke and assumed it was more of the fires.  Oops,  it was the bubbling mud pots and sulfur cauldrons .  You don’t want to stand down wind of these because the sulfur (rotten egg) smell is over whelming but they are are amazing to see.

mud pots

sulfur cauldron

It was another beautiful day however thunderstorms were predicted for the next several days.  So we decided we would go see the canyon next. It was top on our list.   OMG it is one of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen, we don’t even have words to describe it.   It is referred to as the ‘Grand Canyon of Yellowstone”.  Having seen both, we don’t think they even compare.  It is unique to itself with its beautiful waterfalls and magnificent colors.  Pictures will never do it justice but we tried.

canyon waterfall

canyon

                         

we met her along the trail

Finding a campsite is not an easy task late in the day.  Most are filled first thing in the morning.  Our first choice was full so we moved onto our second. We camped at Madison along the river with a beautiful view for two nights.   This was our first camping experience on our trip and we were excited  to set up camp and utilize all that stuff we brought.   Such a deal ~ with the Golden Age Pass it is $10.00/night (gotta have some benefits to being old).   Days were in the 70’s and nights in the 30’s but we managed to stay warm in our sleeping bags and layers of clothing.

Family and camping friends will appreciate that the        

bathrooms had seat covers, soap, paper towels 

AND were heated.   .

 If you look very closely you might see us sitting by the fire.                

view behind our campsite

sun setting over the river behind our site

setting sun