Post for August 12th
Monday dawned nice and sunny with blue skies. Walking to the lodge, I could see Grand
Geyser erupting up the hill. While standing in line for coffee I saw Old Faithful erupt once
again, this time without hundreds ofpeople seated around it. So far an outstanding start to
the day.
Monday dawned nice and sunny with blue skies. Walking to the lodge, I could see Grand
Geyser erupting up the hill. While standing in line for coffee I saw Old Faithful erupt once
again, this time without hundreds ofpeople seated around it. So far an outstanding start to
the day.
Kelly and I went back to the lodge to grab a quick breakfast at the bakery before heading
out for our last day in Yellowstone. If you've read Kelly's blog then you already know what
happened next :-) Returning to the cabin, all of the Aussie bikers were standing around.
One of them said they'd been looking for us and did we have any boosters? Apparently
they couldn't get their large support truck started (it was a Dodge, so no logo arguments
were being had). Kelly pulled them out as we tried to figure out how to give them a jump
out for our last day in Yellowstone. If you've read Kelly's blog then you already know what
happened next :-) Returning to the cabin, all of the Aussie bikers were standing around.
One of them said they'd been looking for us and did we have any boosters? Apparently
they couldn't get their large support truck started (it was a Dodge, so no logo arguments
were being had). Kelly pulled them out as we tried to figure out how to give them a jump
because the truck was pulled in with the front away from the road.
After assessing the situation, we thought that Jane could be threaded between 3 cabins to
the front of the truck. Several of the bikers manned key points to help Kelly avoid hitting
stumps and large rocks. She expertly maneuvered Jane through the maze and we got the
the front of the truck. Several of the bikers manned key points to help Kelly avoid hitting
stumps and large rocks. She expertly maneuvered Jane through the maze and we got the
cables hooked up. Well, that battery was really dead and it didn't look like Jane was going
to be able to start it. Kelly suggested we check the battery with ameter. Several of the
bikers said "you have a meter???" as we rummaged through the tool kit to retrieve it. One
of the women yelled (in slightly paraphrased Australian) "That's our girl, I knew we found
the right one!"
to be able to start it. Kelly suggested we check the battery with ameter. Several of the
bikers said "you have a meter???" as we rummaged through the tool kit to retrieve it. One
of the women yelled (in slightly paraphrased Australian) "That's our girl, I knew we found
the right one!"
7.8 volts - that's a dead battery. Although we didn't get the truck started, we at least
identified the issue. They were all very appreciative of the effort. One of them went
down to the service station and they arrived shortly to get the truck started with a heavy
duty charge pack. The truck drove off to the service station to get checked out and the
identified the issue. They were all very appreciative of the effort. One of them went
down to the service station and they arrived shortly to get the truck started with a heavy
duty charge pack. The truck drove off to the service station to get checked out and the
bikers rounded up and headed out to Jackson. Many of them stopped by to thank us again
as we waved goodbye.
as we waved goodbye.
Lots of bikers!
Jane giving a boost to the support truck
Rounding up to leave
Now that's what a roadtrip is all about! It's not so much the getting from point A to point B,
but the experiences along the way and the people you meet. l think this is what Kelly had in
mind when she dreamed up this trip. She'll be telling this story the rest of her life!
but the experiences along the way and the people you meet. l think this is what Kelly had in
mind when she dreamed up this trip. She'll be telling this story the rest of her life!
Time for us to pack up and get on with the rest of our day also. We elected to start with a
5 mile round trip hike to Lonestar geyser. It was a nice hike along the river with lots of
wildflowers and a few deer along the way. We think we missed the eruption by an hour or
so based on previous entries in the log book and the quiet state of the geyser. Still a nice
5 mile round trip hike to Lonestar geyser. It was a nice hike along the river with lots of
wildflowers and a few deer along the way. We think we missed the eruption by an hour or
so based on previous entries in the log book and the quiet state of the geyser. Still a nice
hike away from the boardwalk crowds and besides, how many times do you get to hike to a
geyser?
geyser?
Lonestar Geyser looking pretty quiet
We made lunch and ate overlooking Keppler Cascade at the trail head as we considered
what to do next. Fairy Falls, another 5 mile hike seemed like a good bet so we headed
north again.
what to do next. Fairy Falls, another 5 mile hike seemed like a good bet so we headed
north again.
Lunchtime view of the cascades
This turned out to be a great decision as the trail runs behind the Midway geyser basin and Grand Prismatic Spring. We could hear people up on the hill so we started to climb also.
The view was getting better, but when we followed some kids voices exclaiming they had
found the best spot it truly was outstanding. There was much less steam than when we
had seen it previously and the view from above showed off all the vibrant colors. It's hard
to believe all this coloring is caused by organisms living in such a hostile (to us, anyway)
environment.
The view was getting better, but when we followed some kids voices exclaiming they had
found the best spot it truly was outstanding. There was much less steam than when we
had seen it previously and the view from above showed off all the vibrant colors. It's hard
to believe all this coloring is caused by organisms living in such a hostile (to us, anyway)
environment.
She's really not taller than me - standing on a rock
Look at that color!
After coming down the hill we continued on to Fairy Falls. At 197 feet, it's the fourth
highest waterfall in the park. We snacked on wild raspberries as we took in the sight
and enjoyed the cool mist.
highest waterfall in the park. We snacked on wild raspberries as we took in the sight
and enjoyed the cool mist.
Fairy Falls
We still had time for one more short hike, this one 2 miles to Mystic Falls. Although it
wasn't described as such in any of the guides we read, this one proved unique because
it had lots of thermal vents flowing in at the base of the falls. Of course we struck up a
conversation with another biker couple coming from Sturgis along the way.
wasn't described as such in any of the guides we read, this one proved unique because
it had lots of thermal vents flowing in at the base of the falls. Of course we struck up a
conversation with another biker couple coming from Sturgis along the way.
The waterfall itself was quite beautiful, but it was really strange to walk by hot streams
of water and steam as we made our way toward the base. Definitely the most interesting
waterfall we had seen!
Our last night in Yellowstone was at the Lake Lodge on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. We drove back around to the other side of the park. If you're mapping this or at all familiar
with the park you'll see that we put a lot of miles on even though we hadn't left the park in
days. The wind really picked up and the temp dropped so we elected to eat in the cafeteria
instead of cooking out.
of water and steam as we made our way toward the base. Definitely the most interesting
waterfall we had seen!
Mystic Falls
Hope those were huckleberries!
with the park you'll see that we put a lot of miles on even though we hadn't left the park in
days. The wind really picked up and the temp dropped so we elected to eat in the cafeteria
instead of cooking out.
Kelly looking out over the lake
All in all, despite the summer crowds, a great visit to America's first national park!
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