Heading out for Yellowstone in the morning

[Brant]

good to hear you are home! Hello to Terri. Relax, cool off, then I'll be waiting to see your pics !

[Sagebrush]

Well, its been awhile but we've had to sort through close to 1,000 pictures taken during the ride. I promise I won't post all 1,000 but I've got quite a few.

So let's see, where were we? Oh yes! Kansas!

Thank God, we finally got to the Colorado border but wait, turns out there wasn't much to see here either!



Where's the cool air and where are the mountains? Well you had to get all the way to Denver just to get a glimpse of the mountains and even though the temperature wasn't as hot as Kansas it was still pretty warm.

We arrived in Denver in the middle of the afternoon and did laundry and cleaned the bikes. Interesting property the 2 lb grasshoppers have on the plains. When they strike your vehicle and their insides are exposed to open air they immediately begin to foam and end up covering about a quarter of your bike and they become annealed to any surface. Practically had to chisel them off the bikes.

The grand daughters arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule the next day and we soon were geared up and headed up I-25 to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. There has to be cooler temperatures up there.

Here's Hannah, soon to be twelve at one of the early scenic pull offs.



I managed to get a good two shot panoramic that turned out way better than I expected when I took the shot.



We climbed higher and began to mingle with the snow fields.





That evening we stayed in a Mom & Pop motel in Hot Sulpher Springs, Co. Not too much to say about it except that it was conveniently located and clean. Hot Sulpher Springs is on the Colorado River and I swear they import mosquitoes because there is no way a town that small can grow that many by themselves.

We got up very early the next morning because the main destination was Dinosaur National Monument. They closed the main visitors center at DNM because of foundation problems and in its stead they shuttle visitors to the Dinosaur trail where you can actually touch the fossils still embedded in the rock. Because your not in a nice air conditioned building viewing fossils through a glass wall they stop the bus trips at 1:30pm every day because of the heat. So in order to get to the temporary visitors center in time to make the last shuttle we had to start out very early.

Zoe managed to get a nice shot of the sun just starting to show some color over the mountains while we were on the road.



A little later we hit a spritz of rain in a 9,000ft pass that we were riding through and she managed to capture a rainbow that Hannah initially spotted.



And later still on the outskirts of Steam Boat Springs we noticed a hot air balloon gassing up. As we were pulling in to McDonalds for a delayed breakfast we noticed the balloon drifting overhead.



We made it to the DNM in plenty of time to take the shuttle bus to the Dinosaur trail. Here's Zoe and Hannah at the beginning of the trail.



There were park rangers stationed along the trail to explain what it is that you're looking at and how to spot a fossil. Can you make out the fossil in this picture?



Here's a hint, its a back bone consisting of several vertebrae of a large brontosaurus type dinosaur.

Here's an easier one, no fair using the painted white arrow to find the fossil.



This one is a femur from the same type of animal.

DNM is a very large park of which the Dinosaur trail is only a small part. There is a long paved road with guide stops that wends its way through the park. Unfortunately we only had time for the first stop which was a little grotto that contained paleo-indian petroglyphs. These are images that were made by chipping into the rock surface.

The sweat lodge grotto which contains the petroglyphs.



And a good example of the petroglyphs inside.



After our sojourn at DNM we stayed at the Best Western Antlers in Vernal, Utah. The main reason I mention it is because it was a very nice motel one of the best during the whole trip. This marked a return to civilization for the girls as we were without cell service through most of our trip with them so far. Zoe immediately headed for the swimming pool where she texted her friends for the next two hours. Hannah found a wall outlet where she could play her Gameboy while simultaneously charging her dead batteries.

Hannah playing her Gameboy.



The next morning we headed for Yellowstone. This day marked the longest single day with the girls on the trip. From Vernal we headed to Flaming Gorge which happened to be directly on the way.



We managed to get a group shot by using the delay timer on the camera. However there wasn't a single level surface to place the camera on so its a little tilted.



Zoe managed to get these shots while on the bike.





Leaving Utah into Wyoming the landscape flattens out into sagebrush country. Soon after passing the Oregon Trail (more on that later) we began to pick up the Wind River Range in the distance on our right.



The further north we went the closer they came.



We finally met them head on at the confluence of the Snake and Hoback rivers. Once we passed through the Wind River mountains it was on to Jackson where we paused in the center of town to take this iconic photograph. Thanks to Hannah for this one.



From Jackson we rode through Jackson Hole along the east front of the Tetons still headed north towards Yellowstone.



From the Tetons it was a short run into Yellowstone where the first photo opportunity is Lewis Falls on the Lewis River.



Lewis River with the Tetons in the background.



After burning most of the available daylight we finally reached our destination of Yellowstone Lake Hotel located right on the shore of Yellowstone lake.

More to follow..................

[Rat]

Great stuff, keep it coming.

Gord (Sagebrush country?) Jones

[Brant]

Wow, very nice. Zoe was a good shot with that camera.

[Sagebrush]

After the 395 mile day we put in yesterday there wasn’t much interest in riding the bikes. Anticipating this we reserved space on the Ring of Fire bus tour which would take us to all the premier sites on the southern loop in Yellowstone. But first we had to get the girls out of bed, not an easy task as you can see.



While waiting for the girls to rouse and ready themselves for the day I walked to the main hotel from our cabin to get a cup of coffee. I rounded the corner near the Yellowstone Hotel Annex and standing there in the grass strip between the annex and the parking lot were two bull bison. Well I had to turn around and retrieve my camera and here are my two early morning greeters.



After a bit the girls were ready and we set out for the tour bus.





The first part of the tour was the West Thumb Geyser basin where hot springs, mud pots, fumerals and geysers abound.









We stopped at the Old Faithful Inn for lunch and as luck would have it we were just finishing up lunch when Old Faithful erupted about 10 minutes ahead of schedule. We were caught a little off guard but were able to see the eruption but weren’t in a position to get pictures.

After lunch we headed around the northern loop of the southern ring and took in more geysers, painted mud pots, hot springs and fumerals.





On our way we passed this guy enjoying his afternoon all by himself.



After saying goodbye to Mr. Bull Elk we headed for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The afternoon light really brought out the colors in the canyon walls.





Here is a good view of the Lower Falls and the canyon.



From the lower falls we moved to the upper falls.



At the crest of the falls on the right side in this picture you can make out a bunch of folks at an overlook. We’ll visit this spot tomorrow morning.

When the tour bus returned to the Yellowstone Lake Hotel our two bison buddies were there patiently waiting on our return. Here’s one of them.



After dinner that evening Hannah crashed and Terries stayed with her in the cabin. Zoe and I headed for the lounge area in the Hotel where floor to ceiling glass windows overlook the lake and a four string quartet played for our enjoyment. There was a bar where adult and non-adult beverages could be obtained for a nominal fee. No pictures but it was a great place to unwind and relax at the end of the day. If your ever in Yellowstone…….

The next day dawned bright and sunny and cool. We had nothing more to do than make sure we made it to the Chuck Wagon dinner gathering at the Roosevelt Corral by 4:30pm. So after a good nights rest at our luxurious accommodations …



we set out for Mammoth Hot Springs located in the Northwest part of the park exactly opposite of where we stayed. But first we’ll visit the overlook just at the crest of the upper falls.

On the walkway down to the overlook:



From the overlook itself looking upriver:



This picture just might be my favorite of the whole trip.



Crossing from the east side of the park to the west side we then headed toward Mammoth Hot Springs. The road was surprisingly mountainous, much more so than the southern half.



We pulled right into the parking lot separating the upper and lower terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs and immediately started out on the walkways.

Lower Terrace:







Upper Terrace:



Of course this is just a small sample of the pictures and formations found at Mammoth Hot Springs.

After taking in the terraces we headed for the village of Mammoth Hot Springs to spend a little quality time in the gift shops and general store. Found some really good ice cream at the general store .

From Mammoth Hot Springs we headed due east to the Roosevelt Corral in order be there in plenty of time for the Chuck wagon dinner. We arrived early enough to watch two trail rides assemble and then head out.



After the second trail ride left they began to hitch the draft horses to the wagons that we were to ride on.



After instructing the crowd on proper etiquette around large draft animals we loaded up and headed out.



After arriving at the cookout location the trail riders began to arrive.



Once wagon riders and both trail rides arrived and dismounted and put there horses in the paddock Cowboy Bob commenced to singing.





While Cowboy Bob was entertaining the crowd we waited patiently for the grub to be served.



Finally they rang the dinner bell and everybody got all they wanted. Good grub too.



After everyone got their fill and had a little time to relax the trail riders assembled and then headed back to the corral.



And after the trail riders left we headed out as well. We got back to the corral around 8:30pm and had about 50 miles to go to get back to the hotel. The first half of the ride was over Mt. Washburn and some of the twistiest roads inside Yellowstone NP. Accordingly we lit out trying to take full advantage of the little daylight left to us. We made across Dunraven Pass to Canyon Village and by this time there was very little light remaining and the girls were thoroughly chilled so we stopped and had them put on our heated jacket liners. Once back on the bike and warmed by the liners they both fell asleep during the remaining 15 miles to the hotel.

Upcoming, our last ride in the park and Beartooth Pass.

If you enjoyed the travelog here are links to other trip reports.

2018 Return to the Dakotas

2016 Fall Colors

2013 New Mexico & Colorado

2012 Balloon Festival and Fall Color

2011 Yellowstone with the Grand Daughters

Multi Trip Mashup

[Brant]

Thanks again Dean. I'd love to see that area again, last time I was just a little fella, out there with my mom, dad and sister. Might have celebrated my 4th birthday when we were there, actually.

[Whiskerfish]

Fantastic report and pictures Dean!!!! I bet the girls will remember this for the rest of their lives!! Imagine them telling their Grand children the story of how hard times were "back then" riding on motorcycles and touring the mountains

[Dangeruss]

Beautiful pictures. I need to go back there also and take some time to explore, seems I always on my way somewhere else when I'm it that area.

[Ruffrider]

Nice looking family you've got Dean. I bet you guys made lots of great memories on that epic voyage. Very nice.

[Placerville]

Wow! What a trip.....and great shots. Thanks for sharing. Don't know how you handled that heat. My daughters getting married day after tomorrow and it's going to be 103 ....... and it's outside. I don't know what she was thinking, but I'll be there.