Day 38

Day 38 

6.40

Day 1 of our Internet exile. WE drove from Livingston, MT to the north gate of Yellowstone. The buildings from old Fort Yellowstone serve as the park information center and other park administration functions. Our first stop was Mammoth Hot springs. It is huge and spectacular in it mineral formation and variety of colors. Livingston is only 41miles from the park entrance and we put 165 mile on the car before stopping for the night. We managed to drive 120 miles inside the park. We left very few geysers un-gazed upon. Yes we were geyser gazing with a few geezers in there too. (That's for you Cleo).

We stopped at Colon Geyser just as it went off. Mother earth gave a big sloppy kiss. Most of us got wet and the car was soaked. Lassie now has mineral spots all over her. Of course we stopped at Old Faithful and we were not disappointed. It put on quite a display of violent earth power. When driving around Yellowstone and seeing all of the geysers, fumaroles, bubbling mud pots and deep hot springs one is very much reminded that you are in the largest volcanic caldera on earth.

6.41

Animal sightings: Buffalo are no longer endangered in the park. They are around every bend in the road and they are in the road. Today if the stray out of the park boundaries they can be hunted on a limited basis.

Elk are also plentiful but mostly seen at a distance. We also sighted a yellow bellied marmot along side the road.

We are staying in a charming cabin on Lake Yellowstone. It is part of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. The hotel was built in 1881 and has several additions made. It's construction and appointments take you back in time. It is elegant and simple and beautifully maintained. There is no TV, no Internet and no phones. We had two buffalo across the street last evening and this morning. We also have plumbing, heat, double beds and a coffee maker. What else could 3 girls want? Queen sized beds that what!

6.42

Love to all,

Shawn, Dirinda, Jan

6.43

6.44

6.45

6.46

6.47

6.48

6.49