An Epic, Poorly Photographed, Day Trip and A Shameless, Very Proud, Plug

I guess when I made the Cody reservations I was in a hurry to move further north - because we're only here four nights instead of a week.

One drive through town after we set up on Tuesday, and remembering everything everyone has told me about the area, and clearly we don't have time to do/see it all. Oh well, we'll come back.

We're staying at Abaroka Bay RV Park because the favored Ponderosa RV Park was booked this week. Abaroka is a nice park, but we are jammed in here. Very clean, friendly staff, nice green grass (teeny, tiny) at each site, and although on Hwy 14 it is quiet. The gravel pad is level, but the grass is very uneven and we have to be careful not to fall in a hole :-) Stay at Ponderosa if you can.

Priority is getting the Jeep fixed and our appointment is at 8 AM Wednesday. Per usual the service tech is very nice, sounds very competent, gets it "right in". 

We hang out in the comfortable waiting area until we're updated with the expected "nothing specific shows up", and some new "we're getting hidden codes". There are updates needed (we now suspect the Longmont dealer didn't bother to do them), and they make other suggestions with no guarantees. Arrgh.

Bill tells them what he wants done, and to keep it until tomorrow. Around 10 AM we pick up a rental car and head north. If we're going to do the 200+ mile loop we want to drive, let's put those miles on a rental!

I soon realize I forgot my camera! There's always the one on my phone. Before the day is over I'm sooooo mad I forgot it!!

The plan is to take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, cut down to Yellowstone Lake and catch a corner of Yellowstone Park, then return to Cody on Hwy 14.

16 miles later we're in gorgeous country. The route is a steep climb, and the layers of colors and textures in all direction is magical.

At the summit the wind is blowing so bad I'm afraid I'm going to lose my phone - then how will I take pics????

Even bigger views from the top

Our road down the other side

Beartooth Mountain

I only looked at the map to find roads that would make a loop, and I thought that we might catch a corner of Yellowstone National Park. Instead, we enter the park not long after we descend from the summit, and drive nearly 50 miles through even more beautiful everything. And I don't have my camera!!!! 

You only have to drive a few miles to "get it"

I'm surprised how low the small ponds are

Just over the Montana border the road is lined with Lupine

We enjoy lunch in the tiny burg of Cooke-Silvergate. All the buildings must be built of logs, it's a quaint spot.

Soon we enter a huge meadow with the Yellowstone River running through it. And a herd of 100 or more buffalo. It is incredible to see them in the beautiful wild expanse before us. Here we find the crowds - lining the highway and standing (far from the animals) in the field. We don't look for a place to stop, and I don't attempt a shot with the phone.

A few miles later and there is a traffic jam. Rangers are directing several people back to their cars. All are pointing cameras and binoculars toward the trees.

And then I see it. I'm so moved! I point out the window like so many others. Bill sees it too, he can't believe it. I don't even try to get a photo as it's too far for the phone. How could I have forgotten my camera today?!

Because this is the day that we see a baby Grizzly Bear playing on a log in the forest. No sign of mama.

We move on with the line of cars. 

A couple bachelor buffalo are hanging out by the road. There is even one in front of the RV campground sign that I almost miss because I think it's a big rock. Bill points him out as we pass by.

They are such intense animals

They have a very sweet view

The crowd at Tower Falls and the smaller geysers are the reason I didn't make plans to see Yellowstone this year. But because we're able to get past them on the highway I'm still very glad we ended up here. Except of course for the whole camera thing I may have mentioned......

The hillsides above and below us are covered with wildflowers

The Yellowstone is the longest un-dammed river in the lower 48 states

The acres of trees destroyed by the 1988 fire are still very evident

With the high winds Yellowstone Lake has choppy white caps and large waves crashing on shore. Except for a lot of Canada geese, nothing is on the water.

Yellowstone Lake

When we leave the park we have about 65 miles back to Cody. Before long we realize the Wow's haven't ended. The Buffalo Bill Scenic Highway is completely different and just as incredible as the rest of the day.

But my eyes hurt and I am so overwhelmed from absorbing it all that I only take a couple final photos. 

Perhaps we'll come back to this area on Friday :-)

We've heard back from the Jeep dealer, they've done the work, and it's running just fine. I attempt optimism. 

Before you go, let me tell you about a wonderful (truly) opportunity to read unique fiction from a talented young writer. My son, Jeff Ellis. His writing has surprised and delighted me for years, and now I am very proud to recommend that others enjoy it as well. Of course you should feel free to share it as well, if so moved :-))

You can find Pretendious by Jeff Ellis here.

Thursday I remember my camera for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. You've been warned :-)