'18/#14 Starting To See Our New Neighborhood

The reason we live this lifestyle is so we can see the country. We picked this location so we could see more of Yellowstone National Park. On our days off we drove into the park with the goal of seeing some of the things we didn't get to see when we stayed in Cody Wyoming 6 years ago. We also went back to some of our favorite places from our last trip. Mary took so many pictures that we could put them together and make an old fashioned "flip-book" of buffalo.

As close as we need to get!

Japanese tourist looking to get gored!

This trip we finally got up to Mammoth Springs and the Gardiner entrance to the park that is marked by the Roosevelt Arch. Gardiner itself was kind of disappointing A couple of blocks of homes and a row of tourist shops does not make a town. Inside the park is the site of Fort Yellowstone which has a little more historical significance and is a bit more scenic. We didn't spend much time there but we have all summer to go back.

Of course there is the wildlife and the majestic scenery. We drove through the newly plowed and opened Dunraven Pass and out to Lamar Valley. The valley is, I feel, the most unspoiled part of the park. If there was no road there would be no sign that man had been there. It is what I imagine the west looked like 300 years ago. Herds of buffalo, numbering into the thousands, sharing the valley with bear, wolves, deer, and elk. With the Lamar River meandering through and the wide open grasslands it is a very peaceful and serene place that I never get bored seeing.

No trip to Yellowstone would be complete without a stop at the Old Faithful Geyser. We opted not to stick around for almost an hour to see it spout but we will another time. We will also head to the south entrance that takes us to the Tetons and the Grand Teton National Park. This is another road that has just recently been cleared of snow and opened for travel. So much to see and all summer to see it. Ours is a wonderful life.

I am actually on the clock right now in the campground and have some things to do. So I am signing off from our home in West Yellowstone because....

Home is where we park it,
Fran and Mary