Yellowstone National Park Days 1 and 2

We spent two nights at the Grant Campground by the South Entrance at Yellowstone Park. Our site was located right next to the Tewksburys which we have found to be an excellent way to set up our sites. We share two picnic tables, one long clothesline and have great access to watching the kids. Speaking of the children, they spent the past three days scripting, directing, producing and acting in their own version of Star Wars. Each kid takes one or two parts, and they act out a fight scene, an action scene or chase scene. It is fun to watch them, and Ian is videotaping each act to post on YouTube later this trip.

At Yellowstone we traveled through to the Dragon's Mouth and the Mud Volcano's. The smell of sulfur was enough to get the kids yelling out the wonders of the natural body (and by this I refer to the human body, not the one mother earth has granted us!). I am sure you can imagine that to which I refer.

ONe of the favorites of Mud Volcano's scenes is the Dragon's Mouth Hotspring. At this spring, which was created hundreds of thousands of years ago and named in 1912 for the sounds that this mud hotspring makes. The gases in the spring explode against the cave walls and create sounds like a dragon. Wicked cool!

We also were told by the park ranger volunteers (after they confiscated our beer which we had left out at the rear of our site) that bears are roaming freely throughout the park. As I believe I already mentioned, the park only opened for camping on June 21st. Since there was so much snow, the bears have wandered down the mountains and into the campsites with greater frequency. the rangers have even named one of the bears the Preacher, since he has a white collar. While we were exceptionally diligent about putting our food and dishes and toiletries in the van, we neglected to put bottled beer (microbrew from local professionals) into the van. The same rangers were kind enough to let me retrieve the beer, with a warning only, no fine, and some sage advice regarding bear sightings. Follwing this advice, we saw our first grizzly bear. By the time we got to the trailhead (in our fishbowl) we were not alone in seeing a gigantic grizzly bear walking and eating his way through a meadow and fallen trees. Amazing. This bear was dark brown, and huge. Some great shots were taken, by me and my camera, and hope to post tomorrow.

We have a general list of animals we hope to see while in Yellowstone that includes grizzly bear, eagle, bison, prong horned antelope, elk, and any other creatures that care to grace our path. Today we saw the bear and soem moose. Right on the side of the road.

Once we knew about the bear sightings that had gone on in the past five days, only Dave slept well last night. Ian, Jean and I had dreams of bears, hearing them at every turn during the night. I wouldn't even walk to the bathhouse alone last night, at 2:30 a.m. and made Dave go with me. No worries, we did not cross any bears path.

We have now headed into Mammoth Hot Springs area, and are going to see said wonders tomorrow. I am sure there will be further discussion regarding the strong sulfer smell that accompanies them. I hope that you are all well, and I look forward to sharing the next adventure with you!