Travel Blog

Last week we decided to visit our old friend, the faithful geyser at Yellowstone National Park. Plus, the new visitor center had just opened a couple of days previously, and we wanted to check out the new digs.

Outside:

Inside:

That guy doesn't look too happy to have his picture taken, does he? Oh well, he was going too slowly on those crutches for me not to have him in the shot. We thought the new place looked great, even though if we ever work there again, we will miss the close quarters of the temporary VC. We used to be able to look right across to the Rangers and make faces and stuff. In the new place, the bookstore is a bit contained, and the Ranger's desk is out of sight.

It was so great to be back in Yellowstone. Phil and I both love it there, and it was fun to get a tour from our old co-worker, Cherie, who is now a District Manager for the Yellowstone Association. She also said if we ever want to come back, we'd be welcomed, and Phil and I are seriously considering it for next summer.

While we were checking out the new center, Old Faithful was due to go off, and Phil and I went outside to see it.

And then Phil and I walked around the Upper Geyser Basin for awhile, recalling fond memories of four years ago (but, don't worry, we stayed away from any bogs this time around.)

Me getting in the way of Phil's picture:

We spent a few more hours driving around the park and looking for animals, but all we saw was a human-induced bear jam in Hayden Valley. We didn't add to the mayhem, but we did see three tiny specks in the far distance that we guessed were the cause for all the madness. We did get to see bison having a beach party, though. I mean, it was Labor Day weekend, afterall.

We did a loop back to Old Faithful, said hi and bye to Cherie's husband, Cliff, at the Vistor's Center, and went to dinner at the Snow Lodge, just like old times. However, the menu had changed in four years (can you imagine?), and the dinner was just not as good as we had remembered. I guess you can never go back again, right?

So then, with full bellies, we head back to the Tetons. It was nearing sunset when we got back to our park, and we were able to stop at Oxbow Bend and see some beavers and take some nice shots of the sun going down.

And that would be a great ending for this blog, but I just have a couple more random pictures to share, and that will be all for this week. Keep your fingers crossed for gainful Payne winter employment, and I'll talk to you soon.