Yellowstone National Park Day 1

 Monday 18th September 2023

We drove to Yellowstone National Park. The park was established in 1872 and covers 3472 square miles, 2.2 million acres and extends across three states. It is bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

The park sits on top of the largest super volcano in North America.

It is hard to wrap your head around the size of the park and the time is takes to get to different areas especially as there is only one road that loops around and the speed limit is 35mph as the roads are very windy, narrow and steep in a lot of places plus very very busy.

 We decided to make our first visit a driving day to get to know the area and as we would be out all day we took Morgan with us. Dogs are only allowed inside a vehicle and at car parks. They cannot go on trails so this made it difficult for us to spend time there without her as it took us over an hour just to drive to the Northern entrance gate.

We would have loved to go to see Old Faithful and other geysers and also do some hiking but they were too far away. Another time!

The first day we drove over 150 miles which was very tiring but we saw some amazing scenery and just as we were leaving we saw a lone bison and then as we approached Mammoth Springs area we saw elk.

It was rutting season, the males who have spent all year wandering alone in the mountains come down to lower elevations looking for some action!  Next to the post office in the town (was a town but really more like an administration and housing area for park staff) each afternoon the female elk go to chill on the nice lawns. We asked a ranger why they would want to be there in the middle of cars and people, he said they think it is because they actually feel safer as there are no wolves or bears and they go there every afternoon. Imagine when you clock on for work that day to find your shift is patrolling the road near the elks shouting at people to stay away from the elk and to keep the traffic moving.

The male elk we saw was huge. We did see some you tubes of the same area showing the males running after the females and making very loud noises early each morning. Poor girls.

https://www.tiktok.com/@ourseattletails/video/7280365012592446766

The drive to Yellowstone

You can't see me, I'm hiding!

You found me!

The town of Gardiner 

Storm hit as we were driving home.

Livingston Montana

 Saturday 16th September 2023

I had a quiet first week at Yellowstone's Edge as John was working and I did not want to go tootling into the nearby town on my own as he was taking the next week as vacation so then we could go explore together. 

This has always been a problem for me even when we were back in New Jersey. I want to see places but I feel guilty as John is stuck working and it's not the same if he is not there.

On Saturday when his vacation began we drove twenty plus miles north to the town of Livingston. Was a quiet town but it had a good book shop, bakery, health food store and a small thrift store.

Yellowstone's Edge RV Park, hike & Emigrant

 Saturday September 9th 2023

Note, I lost my proof reader as he is very busy so apart from Spellcheck it's just me! 

We left 7th Ranch and drove 200 miles east to Yellowstone's Edge Rv Park which was in an area 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Was another beautiful drive with amazing views and stormy skies.

Not going to say much about the RV park as it was not great. I was stuck for choices in the area and this was the best of the lot. The worst part was having other rvs parked so close and our long term neighbor who ran a rock tumbling machine 24/7 and it was right outside our bedroom window so all we heard all night was stones rolling around a tin can. We did ask if they could turn it off at night but they said it was on a program but they would move it, which they did....about 3ft. Rocks? Sorry I just do not get it.

Totally crap site

Yellowstone River

Wildflour Bakery, Emigrant, Montana

Sunday 10th September we went for a hike to Pine Creek Falls. It was a great trail that wound up through pine trees to a small waterfall. The only downside was it was busy with being a Sunday and everyone had dogs that were meant to be on leashes but were not so that was a pain. Didn't see any bears though we had our bear spray ready just incase.

We had seen there was live music at Old Saloon in the nearby town of Emigrant. Usually live acts in pubs do not begin until after 9pm which with us being old folks who go to bed early doesn't work but this venue posted a 7pm start, yeah! But no. We got there 6.45pm, were happy they had non alcoholic beer on offer and sat watching the band getting ready.......and we watched .....and watched. Meanwhile the sun was setting and with the season once the sun set it got cold and still no sign of any music so we left.