Yellowstone...or as I call it, "The Stone".

Being in Wyoming is one of my greatest treasures, and being here with Stachia and The Motel Squad only adds to that. If you've never been here, you owe it to yourself and others you love, to visit at least once. You'll be back.
The Motel Squad of course had to do something touristy and Gma suggested The Grizzly Bear Discovery Center. Good choice. It's a must too....besides there's a 100% chance of seeing Grizzlies.
Here's the Little Darlin's being boys...lol

Then a picnic besides the gently flowing river, a peaceful quiet time in the wilderness with no stress and all your worries aside.

And then,....just like that....the bison showed up and the picnic was over...

Ok, picnic over, how about a hike to Fairy Falls Gma? Glad she's up to it...my chance for quiet.

And yes...one of the Squad is peeing off the bridge and another one is preserving it forever on his camera.

Another fun filled day in "The Stone" complete with the Call of Nature being answered. Boys!? Oh, don't get me wrong, I used to be one. Still am sometimes on the inside. I can chuckle at their antics, love em and send em home to their mommas. :) 

Taking The Squad back to their namesake...The Motel for the night. I'm sure cheeseburger plain is on one of their menu selection. It's sad though that we have had to explain to more than one waitress on this trip, that plain means with cheese....thus the cheeseburger.

Tomorrow we leave this gem and start our trip home. Bittersweet....home is always good, I never like leaving Wyoming.

One more installment for this Epic Journey into the Wilderness and the Adventures of the Motel Squad to come...Mt Rushmore and beyond!!

Yellowstone or Bust.....It's About Time

What's the best thing about Nebraska? The Wyoming State line. I know....I know....I get it from Stachia all the time. I think my jokes are funny, and they are, but no one else does. I git it.

The Great Yellowstone Expedition of 2017 has defeated The Great Spring Blizzard of 2017 and arrived safely and triumphantly through the gates of Yellowstone. With much fanfare and horn blowing, The Motel Squad entered the most Historical Roosevelt Arch and to each man wanted their picture taken under the Arch. So each one posed and the moment captured for all to see, but then we had to wait and wait and wait to get our photo by the Yellowstone sign....it was worth it.

It felt like I was home. The clear blue skies, cool crisp air and the smell of pine welcomes me back each time. We followed the river up the hill to Mammoth Springs and the calcite springs were steaming in the cool air. There is nothing like them anywhere else. The mountain is comprised of minerals that have been forced to the surface with geysers and has built up over time to a very large calcite deposits that are still growing. A sight I dare say The Motel Squad was not expecting. It was great and of course they convinced grandma to go with them to the top. I however knew it was quite the climb, and even said so, but was dismissed to guard the car as off they went. I guess I should have told them how hard the climb was, or that we could drive to the top, but what fun would that be?

I watched them as they navigated the level boardwalk enroute to the strenuous climb I knew lay before them and settled in for the wait and return. An hour later they came back down the mountain much less animated than before. They looked a little tired but educated. We didn't make it to the top, they said. Wanna drive up there, I asked? I loved the looks I got....

Yellowstone is a magical place full of wonders around every turn. I guess that's why so many people come here year after year. The very popularity that draws the crowds will be the thing that kills it. We tried to instill in the kids the importance of Wild Places and the role they play in our lives. It is of most importance to balance the need for these places to be visited but also be preserved for generations to come. How sad and unacceptable would it be for these kids not to be able to visit here as adults and bring their kids. I'm not willing to accept that outcome, and there are many like me. People who come here don't often show the reverence or understand the importance of that which they see here. It's not just Yellowstone. Many of our natural wonders are threatened by overcrowding, over use and vandalism. Many places in this park are marred by thoughtless visitors that destroy or damage features irreplaceable by man. We witnessed thoughtless people posing too close to a bison, approaching Grizzlies or walking on geothermal features without regard for personal safety or the damage that they were doing. Visit the park but be respectful. courteous and mindful of the importance of what you see. What don't kill you will make you stronger. Except for bears. Bears will kill you....:)

After Mammoth we decided to head to West Yellowstone and check in to our motel. We passed streams and waterfalls, small geysers and wonders that they were seeing for the first time and I hope it was sparking a fire in each one to return someday and bring their families.

Gibbon Falls

Madison River

Sunrise on the Madison River

Mammoth Springs Explorers

4/5 of the crew

Fountain Paint Pots

I hope you enjoy the stories behind the photos. More to come on The Great Yellowstone Expedition of 2017 and the Motel Squad.

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Overnight in Billings (Montana, not Missouri)...Or The First Pool

The Spring Blizzard of 2017 was affecting the Great Yellowstone Expedition of 2017. It was raging in the Big Horn Mountains to our west and had both of the main routes closed over the summits. So, our options were limited and keeping track of a large, evolving weather system while traveling had its concerns. However, the weather where we were was perfect. Heading north from the Tower from Northeast Wyoming into Montana followed some fantastic terrain, ranchlands and mountain scenery. We came across herds of Bison, a few Elk and some deer. Every so often a member of The Motel Squad would lift his head from the Cyber World and look out. Traveling is tough when you are part of the "connected generation".

If you've never been on Montana 212, I suggest you put it in your west travel plans. It is a scenic alternative to the Interstate system and a good road to consider. We planned to make it to Billings (Montana, not Missouri) that afternoon and bunk up for the night with visions of Yellowstone on the morrow.

Late afternoon  we made it into Billings and in search of a motel. You guessed it. One with a pool. A pool? That again? Since it was about 50 degrees outside the only pool option was an indoor one. The Travel Angel was smiling down on us though and an affordable accommodation was found complete with the blessed indoor pool. Now The Motel Squad perked up and started to come alive and I began to see the value of risk and reward. With hope on the horizon, we checked in. The lady at the desk asked how many pool passes we'd need. Slightly confused at the query, I said how many do you have? She said, you'll need one for each person that uses the pool. I thought to myself....duh. Ok, I'll need five. 3 for the Motel Squad, 1 for the lifeguard...aka Grandma and 1 for me cuz I paid for it.

You would have thought they were giving away free iphones and cheeseburgers as fast as the kiddos got pool ready. Dragging Grandma down the hall, they headed to the oasis they had waited for all trip. Two neo teens and one pre teen made short work of getting in, complete with 3 perfectly commissioned cannonballs to disrupt the serene, stillness of the aforementioned pool. All was right with the universe and I happen to think that this particular set of Grandparents were the coolest things on Earth about now... until the two teenaged girls showed up. I had forgotten the power of estrogen. The line from Forrest Gump comes to mind...Stupid is as stupid does. You thought I was gonna say, Life is a box of chocolates? Come on!

After two hours filled with teenaged antics, showing off, from both male and female, and making good use of the pool, it was time to retire. We headed for the room to change and worry about what we could find to eat. Eating was popular for The Motel Squad so very little prompting was needed. Cheeseburger plain was heard more than once on this trip. How can one kid eat so many plain cheeseburgers? He even tried to order a cheeseburger, plain, at Subway once.
Besides, the girls had left the pool. All was well again. So far the trip had panned out with sights and fun and a little bit of education. Traveling with 3 boys was an education for me too. Grandma has nerves of steel and took it all in stride. Worth every mile and smile.

With journals caught up, bellies full and the blessed pool behind us, we bedded down for the night with promises of Yellowstone Grandeur on the horizon. It turned out to be more than a promise...

Thanks for reading my blog and learning the stories behind the photos. More to follow...

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