Cowboy Dinner, Mudpots and Cabin on the Lake

After our swim we headed to Roosevelt to the Cowboy Dinner.  Along with a number of other folks, we rode in a covered wagon out into the heart of Yellowstone "backcountry" and had a cookout.  It was cold and rainy and not all that great weather.  The bonfire at the cookout was even sputtering it was so gross out.  There were usually around 100 people who went on horseback to the ride but all horseback rides were cancelled due to weather.  We managed to have a good time anyway and the food was good.  One of the wranglers was slated for entertainment and played his guitar and sang.  Over the course of the 3 hour adventure we got our first dose of live education, learning much about the park, its history and some of the folks who initially visited the Park.  We also saw yellow bellied marmots in their natural habitat and watched a pair of loud birds swoop through across the plain (I don't remember what kind of birds they were but they were very, very loud).  We saw a red-tailed hawk resting in a tree.  Deer too. 

Not to be outdone, Mom had dinner at the Roosevelt Lodge and enjoyed basically the same food we did, minus the rain and cold.  She got regaled with stories from the waitress about their summer lodging in the park (small cabins for two, communal showers).  

We passed mudpots on our way to our cabin, which was exactly as advertised...one bed and a bathroom.  It was TINY.  Mom got the bed, the kids and I camped on the floor.  It was freezing in there and for some reason when Daniel suggested we turn on the heat I said no....I regretted that basically all night long.  But, we survived and enjoyed a nice breakfast at the cafeteria at the Lake Lodge the next morning before setting off on our next adventure.

Swimming at Boiling Springs

Swimming at the Boiling Springs

Swimming at the Boiling Springs

Day 2: Billings to the Park, swimming in Boiling Springs (incredible), Cowboy Dinner at Roosevelt, Cabin at the Lake

So bright and early (or not so early...) on Friday we left our delightful Kelly Inn in Billings, MT and headed for the Park the shoe store since we could not find Josh's sneakers anywhere.  Ten minutes and $14 later Josh was the proud owner of another new pair of shoes and we were off.   A short trip later (all things being relative, 2 1/2 hours seemed like nothing) we hit a Taco John's for lunch. A communal thumbs down was given, though Josh did enjoy his taco/burrito/fried something or other.   The older kids ordered wings and they were so hot we were all laughing and crying at the same time...they were super hot!!  Then off to the Park. We went in the North entrance under the pillar and it was awesome.  Here are some pictures from just outside the park and from the entrance in...the adventure was really beginning now.

After entering the park we looked diligently for our first stop, Boiling Springs, but missed it.  We went on to Mammoth, stopped at the ranger station where they pulled a super secret little tab of paper out of a drawer somewhere with directions on it and back we went the 2 1/2 miles to our stop.

The kids and I got out while Mom waited with the car.  It was cold and rainy but trusting their old mama (not really, they were pretty sure I was leading them astray) we set off in our suits down the trail towards the hot springs.  This was something I have always wanted to do and here was our chance...I was not missing this for a little rain!  I will fully admit it was chilly and I was somewhat concerned about the trip back to the car once we were all wet from our dip, but I did not worry overmuch...that was later.

It was everything I had expected it to be and so much more.  First, it was not very crowded and once one couple departed we had the pool all to ourselves.  Second, the water from the hot springs was indeed boiling.  If you got too close, you would be scalded.  The water in the river itself was cold...frigid even.  Even in summer you could be hypothermia in the rivers in Yellowstone.  Where we swam the hot springs pour down into the river and there is a natural "hot tub" effect.  I loved it.  Macey was annoyed to the point of tears by the smell and the contrast.  Josh as always was chipper and up for anything.  Daniel enjoyed it.  One of my favorite moments of the trip were those when the four of us were lounging in the water, sitting on rocks, watching the river rush by, enjoying the steamy hot water pouring off a small waterfall onto us.  Delightful.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

So, the original itinerary had us spending one night here and exploring.  I think I will try and hit this park again someday but for now, it was best that we just did the drive-by.  Daniel and I tossed the football around, we got our first "scenic" pictures of the trip and our first stamps in our national park passports and we then went movin' on down the road. 

Yellowstone National Park Trip...August 2014

In Thursday, August 21 we set out from Lakeville, MN on a grand adventure to Yellowstone National Park.  Me, my Mom and the three kids...11, 9 and 5.  Our general itinerary included driving from Lakeville to Billings to the Park...stay in and around the Park...then to Cody, to Mitchel and home again.  10 days, 3,000+ miles on the car...good times. 

Day 1:  Lakeville to Billings with a short detour to Pompey's Pillar (the National Park equivalent of a tourist trap...not too far out of your way, not too much to see) and another stop at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (cool to look at...kind of glad we did not spend the originally planned night there). Also spent many, many, MANY hours on I94 where we saw in addition to lots of over things this Bird on a Wire thing.  Interesting.

One of the stars of the trip was the Honda Pilot...turned over to 200,000 miles while we were on our travels.  We missed the turnover by 29 miles...Macey says "Mom, is the mileage turning over soon?" and I look down and its 200,029...#$#$#.