Road Trip Day 23.

23. Wow.
And Yellowstone. Wow.
Yellowstone was the first national park. And for good reason. I spoke too soon when I didn't think that anything could beat Glacier's Road To The Sun. Well, technically, it didn't get beat in my book. It got rivaled, though. In a different league...the mystical, magical, the unexpected.
I knew Yellowstone had the mudpots. I knew it had free roaming animals. I didn't know that it had 300+ foot waterfall, 100+ foot waterfall, and a spectacular, 1000+ deep canyon that is a hell of a treasure on its own. Forget about the active seismic zone that covers half the park, that has the ground steaming. Forget about the spectacular Yellowstone River, the Yellowstone Lake, and Old Faithful.
Did I say that?
What I meant was, each of these things were spectacular. Not to mention the beautiful vistas, endless forest, and striking meadows with elk and bison running free across the road. Amazing. And each of these things could have stood alone as their own little national park. But they are all rolled into one. I'm sorry that only one day of this place is all I had this time around. Actually, I'm still in Yellowstone tonite, at Lewis Lake; third night in a row in a tent; nice and quiet, and no connection to the world by phone. I actually poorly chose a spot right by the road, but the traffic is below about 50 feet, and can't hear them much when they are there.
I guess I did have enough time here. I saw everything I had expected plus. Out of the car, walk half mile, quarter mile, around the platform above the boiling pools of mineral rich crystal clear liquid damn close to steam. Down to the view of the lower falls. Around the west thumb of the lake to the clear pots. It took me all day, but I did everything on my list and more. I didn't drive every piece of road, but I drove more than I has planned. And on another beautiful clear day mid 80s. Still, day 23, and only a single rain day. I am blessed. I can only hope that the heat breaks in Houston upon my return.
Thursday is the Tetons. I'm not laying expectations down. I remember my parents talking about them when I was in college. I bet they are a class of their own too.
Enjoy today's pics. And drive on.