Mike & Andra's 2006 RV Trip!

Day 13
July 26 - at Island Park ID (near Yellowstone National Park)


Note: this page was created retrospectively on 7/31/2006

Unhooking the toad, we spent the day in the southern half of Yellowstone. Our first stop was the walking trail at Fountain Flats, which led to a bubbling hot spring, steaming mist in the cool morning air and smelling of sulfur. Dawson was mesmerized. Matt's reaction was "That mist stinks!"

After this we visited the Old Faithful area, in particular the Old Faithful Inn, for lunch and some gift shopping. Having stayed at the Inn three times in the last 10 years, Andra and I agree that the Inn is a beautiful and special place. (It was here, in 2000, that we first learned that Andra was pregnant with Dawson.) After a quick lunch, Andra, Madison, and my mom went for a walk around the adjoining geyser basin while I took Dawson and Matt to the gift shop. Later we drove to the east-central side of the park, where Dawson wanted to see the "Dragon's Mouth" and "Mud Volcano" thermal features while Matt napped in the car.

During our drive around the park, we saw buffalo and elk, but not as many as we had expected based on our past visits. Nevertheless the kids were amazed to see a buffalo walking down the road blocking traffic in both direction.

By the time we return to the campsite, we're all exhausted.

Photos:

Matt's "stinky" hot spring

Hot spring runoff into a nearby creek

Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful erupting

One of Yellowstone's many beautiful "mountain parks", or prairie-like areas.
The small dark spot near the center of the picture is a distant buffalo.


Dawson takes in the view

One of Yellowstone's many waterfalls

Buffalo beside the road!


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Last updated: 10:23 PM 7/31/2006