Roadside America

Monday, 21 September 2009

Road Trip Day 33

It was time to start heading north-east today, but not before seeing some of the major attractions in the western Great Plains. I have Mount Rushmore to see for a start, and there's a bunch of other great things to see up in that area too.

Curiosity

The first leg from Denver up toward South Dakota was looking a little empty, so I consulted website "Roadside America" (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/) which is a guide to the more obscure, strange and unsung attractions dotted around America's highways and byways.

So, with three sights inputted on my Sat-Nav I set off for the first in Sterling, Colorado.

Smalltown USA

Sterling is a lovely little town next to the railroad. It has a classic water-tower sign and some great architecture. A very attractive town to pass through as I hunted down this...

This is The Dream Redeemer, a statue created by Bradford Rhea. Here's the poem that he wrote and appears on a plaque in front of the statue.

"Ticks and tocks of magic clocks,

Hands whirling as they run;

Meshing gears rewind the years,

Erasing all that's done.

Night and day he churns away,

With passion he redeems;

Deflated lives his throne revives,

Machining all new dreams."

Bradford Rhea

Says it all really.

I took photos, went to the restroom and found a golf ball in the flower bed behind the statue then left.

Flat and Windy

Nebraska is the 23rd state I have been in since my arrival in the USA. It is notoriously flat and windy. As I got out of the car to take this photo I could see for miles across the plains... and I nearly got blown over. So far Nebraska was living up to it’s rep.

Not There

My next target was said to be at a rest stop on I-80 just outside Sidney, Nebraska. It was supposed to be a "TV Antenna Sculpture Thing".

It wasn't there.

I ate my lunch and left.

ICBM

A little disheartened from my previous failure (and the 16 mile detour it took to get there) I arrived in the town of Kimball. This one took no detour though so no loss if it wasn't there.

As it turns out, two thirds of the attraction was there.

This is the bottom part of an actual Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Apparently the top third fell off in a storm and is currently awaiting repair.

I took the photo and left.

Call My Bluff

My last attraction of the day was very real though. Scotts Bluff is one of several remnants of the older, higher plains level which existed before the gradual erosion by rivers. It's also important as it lies on the original Oregon Trail, as travelled by thousands of settles in the mid 1800's. The short lived Pony Express also passed this way, so the area is now rightly protected by the National Parks service.

As with so many of the National Parks and Monuments the site is accessible by car, so I drove the short distance up to the top. There are three road tunnels on the less than one mile of road. The view from the top is of seemingly unending plain, which actually ends (or starts, depending on your point of view) around 600 miles to the east. The interpretive sign boards spoke of the weary traveller who had to cross the desolate land. Thinking ahead to my trip, I thought how lucky I'll be to do it in just a couple of days and in an air conditioned car.

Saloon, Steakhouse and Grill

I'm staying in the town of Scottsbluff (no space) which has an industrial and farming base as well as being a tourist base for Scotts Bluff and other sights around here. The restaurant I chose was clearly a favourite with the locals which was a good sign.

As I was taken to my table, I thought there was actual saw-dust on the floor, but when I sat down I realised it wasn't. One of the restaurant's selling points was the small pale of shell-on peanuts on each table. The stuff on the floor was peanuts shells. I love shell-on peanuts so I tucked in and threw my shells on the floor. It's very liberating to throw rubbish on the floor and know you are not being naughty or having to clear it up yourself.

The food was good too. I had a Triple BBQ Plate of Overnight Brisket, St Louis Ribs and Pulled Pork. Essentially, I had meat, meat and meat with fries. Yummy.

Tomorrow, more oddities and South Dakota.

Goodnight.

View Driving Day 33 in a larger map

visited 23 states (46%)

Create your own visited map of The United States or website vertaling duits?

Stats - Day Fifty-Nine

Distance travelled - 0 miles - Stayed in Lakewood, Denver, CO

State entered - Nebraska

State count - 23 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208, 430, 216... It's happened at last. After 25 hotels, I've finally had the same room number twice.

Colorful Colorado

Sunday, 20 September 2009

Road Trip Day 32

For the first day since the TrekAmerica tour ended, I was on someone else's schedule today. Melissa was taking me along to see a car show where her Dad was showing his classic car. I was up and ready to leave around 10 o'clock. A text arrived to let me know we'd actually be meeting at 11 instead, so I took my time over breakfast (a feat which the restaurant here helped me achieve by being short staffed) and waited for Melissa, Milt (her fella), Maisy and Cricket (her dogs) to arrive.

Here they are at the car show... and yes, Maisy the dog is pink, but it's only temporary.

American Cars

I've always loved American cars, especially the big "muscle cars" and classic 50's models with all the chrome and fins. The car show today was not huge, but the cars were great. Here's a few examples, the last of which was restored by Melissa's Dad. I know at least one reader who will appreciate these.

Red Rocks

Melissa and I hugged goodbye after we'd looked around the cars and I was on my own agenda again, armed with great recommendations on how to spend the rest of my day in and around Denver.

The first suggestion which I got was to go to nearby "Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre". This country park features some spectacular scenery as deep red sandstone rocks jut out of the ground at a geological unconformity. An unconformity is a point where younger rocks are deposited on much older ones with a long temporal gap in between caused by erosion of the intervening rocks before the younger ones were deposited.

One area of the park formed a natural amphitheatre, which was enhanced in the late 1940's to what is now an internationally famous concert venue seating 9,000 people. The visitor centre lists all the artists who have played there including Talking Heads, The Police, Kiss, The Grateful Dead and Tori Amos to name a few. U2 even filmed their "Under a Blood Red Sky" concert movie here.

Into Denver

I drove the short distance back into Denver and headed to the City Park area where the Science and Nature Museum and other attractions are. I wandered the grounds and took a time-out to watch a local Baseball game.

Denver City centre was my next destination where I had to do the classic tourist thing and have my photo taken on the 13th step of the Capitol Building which is at exactly 1 mile elevation.

I strolled further around the Denver Historical District to the Art Museum which is a bizarre collection of buildings including one which looks like a modern recreation of a medieval castle complete with battlements. I'm still not sure if it's ugly or not.

I have saved this last photo, taken outside Denver Public Library, with the filename "Denver Horse Chair".

Sleepy

By mid afternoon I was beginning to feel the effects of the altitude again and took the advise I'd read at Red Rocks visitor centre earlier and went back to the hotel for a nap.

I've not done much since then apart from pop out to Red Lobster for dinner, plan my next three days of travel, listen to a couple of Collings and Herrin podcasts on iTunes and write this blog.

Tomorrow, Nebraska.

Goodnight.

Stats - Day Fifty-Eight

Distance travelled - 0 miles - Stayed in Lakewood, Denver, CO

State count - 22 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208, 430

Breathless

Saturday, 19 September 2009

Road Trip Day 31

I am now in a position to declare myself an authority on "Complimentary Continental Breakfast". I'm in my 24th lodgings since I hit the road on my own and you get good and bad. Today's was meagre at best so I made do with a polystyrene bowl of Frosted Flakes which I ate with a teaspoon. This delight was accompanied by polystyrene cups of coffee and concentrated juice. Not really the start to the day I was hoping for but better than a jab in the eye with a sharp stick.

Getting High

So, last night I stayed in Estes Park, the eastern gateway town for Rocky Mountain National Park and is at an elevation of 7,522 feet which is around 1.4 miles above sea level. By the time I had reached the highest point in the park I was at over 12,200 feet, some 2.3 miles up.

I've never been that high before so I hadn't realised just how thin the air feels and how short of breath it leaves you. At first I just put it down to being out of shape, but at least I have an excuse now.

Fall in Colorado

One feature of Colorado I am seeing already is that they have defined seasons. Today is the last weekend of summer. The forecast says it is due to snow on Monday. There's none of this weeks and months of wishy washy greyness that we call both Autumn and Spring in England.

The mix of trees close to the tree line here meant the most gorgeous display of colours as the leaves turn.

Tundra

The road through Rocky Mountain National Park is actually higher than Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park and reaches altitudes where the conditions are so harsh that the terrain turns to Tundra. The tundra isn't barren though, but the plants and lichens there are very low growing and scrubby. The rocks are craggy and broken from constant freezing and thawing. It was actually rather striking in the bright sunshine but I'm not sure I'd want to be up there in the height of winter.

Self Portrait Fail

I don't take many pictures of myself, but I do like one or two when I am at places of particular note. There is usually a willing volunteer around who notices my attempts at self portraiture and steps in. When I do take them myself with the timer I either find a convenient ledge or use a mini tripod.

This is what I was attempting today but was accidentally ambushed by oncoming fellow tourists. Here's the result...

So, seeing as how that one didn't work out, here's an alternative with something far more attractive in the foreground.

There and Back

I couldn't spend very long in Rocky Mountain today, so once I had driven the 50 miles along the Trail Ridge Road I started back to Denver. Now, rather foolishly, I hadn't accounted for the fact that as I had driven up and over the Rockies in the morning and Denver is back on the other side I'd have to drive back over them to get back. That meant another mountain pass and, happily, more amazing views.

There's no photos to share of this though as it is a major highway and not designed to have a whole lot of over looks and view points. Amazing drive though and very enjoyable.

Internet People are Real

I rounded my day off in fine style with a long awaited and highly anticipated meeting with my friend Melissa. We met through the now closed Prince fan site, Housequake. We've kept in touch since though and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally meet. We spent the evening talking Prince, life, America and generally shooting the breeze. Tomorrow she is taking me to a car show where her Dad is showing his classic car.

Friends Reunited

Remember Portland? Remember me leaving my travelling companion behind? Well, the lovely people at the Marriott sorted everything out and look who's back.

Goodnight... from both of us.

View Driving Day 31 in a larger map

Stats - Day Fifty-Seven

Distance travelled - 148 miles - Estes Park to Lakewood, Denver, CO

State count - 22 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208, 430

Proceed 207 Miles

Friday, 18 September 2009

Road Trip Day 30

Well, I have generally been able to avoid long drives with little or no stops of note, but today I had a lot of ground to cover so that meant it had to be done. I'd only just turned out of the motel car park when my sat nav told me to Proceed Ninety Nine Miles. I took a deep breath and it went by painlessly. I made the next turn and the next thing it said was Proceed Two Hundred And Seven Miles. I let out a little sigh.

No Place To Stay

I decided not to book ahead but to wing it again regarding where I would stay tonight, but planned my route to go through towns with plenty of accommodation. That way, if the driving got to be too much I could stop and stay on the way.

As it turned out, by taking it easy, using Highways and Interstates rather than more direct, but slower, twistier roads I felt OK all the way to Estes Park, right here on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The downside of this of course is that there wasn't a great deal to see on the way. Not that Wyoming isn't pretty, but a lot of my journey was through some relatively featureless plains.

One Stop

I did have one recommended destination to see though. My guidebook said that Wyoming Highway 210, named "Happy Jack Road" was a good route to take from Laramie to Cheyenne due to the odd shaped boulders that are scattered over the landscape.

Now, I'm no Geologist, but... hold on, yes I am. As a Geologist, I would say these are Erratics, left from a period of glaciation. These boulders were plucked from mountain sides and valley floors by the glacier and then dumped on the surface when the ice melted.

Turbine Power

I'd seen a huge wind farm from the Interstate but there wasn't a convenient place to stop and look. Luckily, there was another, smaller farm towards the end of Happy Jack Road so here's a close up view of one of these big ole' windmills.

State Number 22

The other noteworthy event was arriving in Colorado, the 22nd state of my trip. I had passed the convenient turn-out which would have allowed me to stop and take a photo of the Colorado sign. A bit annoying really as they have gone to the effort of building a slip-road so you can take a photo, but not put a sign up to tell you it's there. So, here's my best attempt through the windshield at 65 mph (Yes, I was being careful!). Sorry about the insect splats. There was a whole days worth of kills on the windshield.

New Thing

Here's a new thing which I should have known was out there on the web and could have been doing all along. A clever little application that you can use to make a map of the states you have visited.

22 states (44%)

Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Visited Countries

I've no idea how my 22 states compares to the average American citizen, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is above that average.

Food Note

By the way, and I know you were wondering, I have decided to drop the Pizza and Burger counts that I had running. Basically I have forgotten a few meals and the count would be wrong... though I will admit that I had a MacDonald's Third Pounder for lunch and a pepperoni and meatball pizza for dinner today so add one to each of whatever the totals would have been.

Goodnight.

View Driving Day 30 in a larger map

Stats - Day Fifty-Six

Distance travelled - 439 miles - Pinedale, WY to Estes Park, CO

State entered - Colorado

State count - 22 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208

Extra Jagged, Please

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Unposted Business

So, a couple of administrative things first.

You may remember that when I got to Glacier National Park, I mentioned that I took video of my "delicious" little motel cabin but did not have WiFi to post the clip? Well, I have done now so here's a link back to 11 September's entry.

Similarly, the following day I got footage of a Columbian Ground Squirrel. Here's where you can see that clip.

Road Trip Day 29

So, today I arrived, formally, at my 8th National Park, Grand Teton. I say "formally" as yesterday I drove along the edge of it in order to get from Yellowstone to my digs in Jackson.

Jackson, by the way, is just the tiniest bit tacky. A bit too much "Ye Olde Saloon and Art Gallery" and such like. It's the perfect base for visiting Grand Teton, but I wouldn't call the town a destination in itself.

Anyway, I drove through town and back into Grand Teton, this time taking the turn off for the visitor centre and main entrance. Here I presented my receipt from Yellowstone which is also valid for Grand Teton, a bargain. As ever at the National Parks I was issued with a map and newspaper. I have quite a good collection now.

Faulty

The Teton Mountain Range, of which the highest peak is Grand Teton, is around 50 miles long and was created by a fault in the earth's crust which means the mountain side of the fault is moving up while the valley floor sinks. The fault is still active today and ruptures in a massive earthquake every few thousand years. This activity means that the mountains are still growing and is preventing them from forming "foothills". The end result is that the mountains appear to be sticking straight out of the ground, rather than gradually ascending like most ranges.

On top of this current activity, the range has been subjected to repeated glaciations making the peaks extremely jagged and well, mountainy. Like this...

And this...

And they even look beautiful with something obscuring your view...

Moving On

As beautiful a park a Grand Teton is, especially with the day I was blessed with today, by the time I had driven alongside the range and paused a while at the lake it was time to move on.

I turned back through Jackson and southwards through Wyoming to Pinedale, my stay-over for the night.

As has so often been the case over my trip here, the journey became destination as the highway swept through more mountains, open plains and craggy outcrops.

Wyoming? Here's Why.

Pool and Hot Tub

I spent just a little more on the hotel tonight and have a lovely room in a smart hotel with a little indoor pool and hot tub, both of which I've made use of this evening.

Tomorrow, I hit the road and drive as far as I feel comfortable doing aiming to get as close to Rocky Mountain National Park, my destination for Saturday before staying in Denver for the weekend. But that is the future. For now...

Goodnight.

View Driving Day 29 in a larger map

Stats - Day Fifty-Five

Distance travelled - 75 miles - Jackson to Pinedale WY, with a day in Grand Teton.

State count - 21 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216.

Road Work Ahead. Be Prepared To Stop.

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Road Trip Day 28

OK, I didn't have great internet in West Yellowstone. I had to sit in the garden between my trailer style room and the owner's motor-home. I did get the blogs posted though and booked a room here in Jackson, Wyoming.

I chose Jackson, because I am going south to Denver so I needed to be headed that way. The closest option is Jackson as there is nothing between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park which adjoins it to the south.

None of this is a problem really, but it has made for a tiring day. Here's why...

Road Closed

The roads in Yellowstone are shaped much like a figure of eight with a loop north and south. I was staying to the west of the lower loop and saw most of the areas on that loop yesterday. Today, to make the most of this wonderful park I wanted to visit places on the east side, all the way up to the northern loop where I wanted to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Unfortunately the part of the south loop which would have allowed relatively easy crossing to that side was closed for the season for construction work. So, I had to retrace my steps from yesterday and make around a 100 mile detour on slow moving tourist roads to get there. I took it on the chin and tried not to get annoyed, but at times I just wanted to get going.

Anyway, enough moaning and route talk (again).

I now present Misty's Hydrothermal Awards, 2009.

Award for the Most Interesting Geyser

One thing I have definitely learned is that not all geysers are the same. They each have very different characteristics in terms of duration, frequency, size and shape of eruption.

Old Faithful is very regular and predictable, plus it shoots up in a spectacular fountain making it a perfect tourist hot spot (sorry). In many ways though, by comparison to others I have seen these last couple of days, it is quite plain.

There are short ones, loud ones, cone shaped ones, cute ones and a lot of completely unpredictable ones.

Of all the geysers I have seen though, I do have a clear favourite. Cliff Geyser at Black Sand Basin has a very different look to most as it is right next to a river, but has created it's own enclosure, sort of like a shower tray. The spout sits in the middle of the tray and at the start of it's eruption cycle the "shower tray" is empty. The geyser then burbles along and the tray slowly fills up. As it fills, the gas and steam of the geyser has more and more water in the way meaning that the eruption gets progressively larger and more impressive.

I've no idea if my description makes any sense, but trust me, Cliff Geyser is very clever and worthy of my Most Interesting Geyser award.

Biggest Hot Spring

Difficult one to contend this really, but I agree with the statistics and give Biggest Hot Spring to Prismatic Spring. It is 63 metres across, deep blue water and is surrounded by brightly coloured bacteria mats. The steam made close up photos difficult, but this long shot with folks in front gives an idea of scale.

Most Sinister Spring

Dragon's Mouth Spring in the Mud Volcano Area is almost disturbingly strange. The spring itself rises inside a cave in a hillside. This enclosure makes the water and steam literally belch out. The sound is genuinely scary and each deep bellow is accompanied by sulphurous gas and steam and an angry wave of water pushes out into the pool. Definitely the most unsettling of the many features I saw.

Most Stomach Churning Smell

I almost gave this to Sulphur Caldron which is the most Acidic Hot Spring but it's location down a slope some way from the view point means that you don't get the full effect. It's a sight to behold really, a huge pit full of yellowish, stinking, boiling acid.

However, that is only the runner up. The award goes to Black Dragon Cauldron which is simply revolting. The smell is utterly obnoxious. Also, it's very muddy as well as full of water so it looks even more primeval. Really, very unpleasant indeed. Sadly I only have video footage of the award winner and I am behind with video uploads so the winner will have to go unseen in this blog.

Second Grandest Canyon

The last award is a special category and is in special recognition of the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone". The Yellowstone River has cut down through the lurid yellow rock which makes up much of the Yellowstone Caldera. It is extremely beautiful and very much like a small version of the famed Grand Canyon. As I overheard one ranger say, "our Grand Canyon is in many ways better as you can see the other side and the river at the bottom". I think he's stretching a point, but it certainly is very beautiful and uniquely striking.

There are two huge sets of falls in the canyon as well as pinnacles formed by fumaroles (like the ones I saw at Crater Lake) and some hot springs pouring down the sides in places. I'm glad now that I drove all the way around the loop to see it.

Paved Road Ends 28 Miles

After all I had seen in Yellowstone there is still a vast amount I haven't seen. You could easily spend a week here and have bits you've not seen. Time was up though and I had to turn south and on with my journey.

I returned the way I had come until I got to the south entrance road which leads down to Jackson, Wyoming and through Grand Teton National Park. I hadn't even heard of this park until a week or so ago, but when I read about the mountains there it became a destination rather than just something to drive through.

The minor downside of this decision though turns out to be that there are major road works on the connecting road. They forewarned us of the end of the paved road which is no problem for The Beast, but the delay was around 20 minutes in a stationary queue of traffic as we waited for the "Pilot Car" to arrive and guide us through around 6 to 8 miles of construction work.

142 Miles Per Day

When I got in my rental car in Los Angeles 28 days ago I rest the trip counter. Here's what it read as I drove through Grand Teton National Park to Jackson.

There's a bit of glare on the dial and the decimal point isn't showing up, but trust me when I tell you I've driven my 2008 Dodge Charger over 4,000 miles in those 28 days.

Sneak Preview

As I've said, I drove through Grand Teton to get to my hotel. This brief sneak preview has whetted my appetite for tomorrow.

Goodnight.

View Driving Day 28 in a larger map

Stats - Day Fifty-Four

Distance travelled - 201 miles - West Yellowstone, MT to Jackson, WY via Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park

State count - 21 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262

A Bunch of Old Geysers

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Road Trip Day 27

After my first of two nights in what is, essentially, a trailer I woke slowly. It's not a bad room. It's quite sweet really, but I think the long drive left me a tiny bit on edge so it took me a while to get to sleep. I'll have to remember that for future long drives and plan to sleep longer that night.

Anyhoo, once I was up I went to a very popular spot for breakfast for a traditional egg, hash-browns, bacon, toast and an extra order of sausage patty.

National Park Number 7

When I was at Carlsbad Caverns, the first National Park I visited, I saw a "Park Passport". In it you could get a stamp for each National Park you visit. I didn't buy it. I'm stoopid. Had I bought it, I could have got my 7th stamp today as I arrived at Yellowstone National Park. Like I said; I'm stoopid.

Wyoming? Why not?

Yellowstone, the Summer Blockbuster of the National Parks, is almost entirely in Wyoming, but the border goes over into both Montana and Idaho. Within about 2 miles of entering the park there's a unremarkable little sign saying "Entering Wyoming". I didn't manage to get a photo today but I'm driving past it again tomorrow, so I'll try again then.

Starting Gently

Yellowstone is huge, measuring about 50 by 60 miles. With that in mind I knew I would not see everything, but also, I wasn't about to pass up sights I passed in favour of driving on hoping for something bigger and better. So, when the first turn-out I passed featured a walk through some forest recently ravaged by fire, I decided to follow the boardwalk trail.

On such a crisp, sunny morning and having woken not entirely refreshed, this little stroll amongst the trees was ideal.

Do Not Approach the Bison

I'd not driven much further when the yellow diamond sign with a Bison on it came true. I rounded a bend and there in the middle of the road is a huge, almost Mythical looking beast. I slowed then stopped to let it through then laughed it off thinking at least I have seen one as I assumed they were rare and shy. Shortly after that encounter, that assumption was proven wrong.

Hot Springs, Geysers, Mud Pots and Fumaroles

As with previous parks, a lot of what I was seeing was stuff I knew the theory of from my studies of Geology through my school and college years. Also, as before, the theory doesn't properly prepare you for the reality of boiling water, steam, gas and mud spewing out of the ground. Frankly, it's bloody brilliant. I love it. It's so primordial and really appeals to the deeper instincts.

I've taken dozens of photos today of all these different Geothermal features, so here's a few to give the flavour.

Do Not Approach the Human

These magnificent natural Geological features are set in the most beautiful lands, populated by huge creatures. My encounter with the lone bison on the road was soon surpassed as I walked through a field of hot springs I noticed one or two bison away on one side of the path. As I walked further I realised this was a herd of bison and I was passing through the middle of them.

Now I'm unsettled by domesticated cattle, so this anxiety was increased considerably by the knowledge that these animals are wild and the warning signs showing a cartoon man being gored to death by one. Happily, I survived, with video and photos.

Old Faithful

Of course, the one thing I couldn't in all good consciousness miss out was Old Faithful; undoubtedly the most famous of the many hundreds of Geysers in Yellowstone (and the world for that matter). An arena of benches has been built around the star performer and I took my seat in good time for the predicted 4:18pm eruption.

Naturally the Old Geyser did not disappoint and put on the show just a few minutes ahead of schedule. Here's the old fella in action.

More Time

So, today I covered some great sights and the star attraction, but really I've only scratched the surface. Tomorrow I have another day in Yellowstone and then venture south into the neighbouring Grand Teton National Park... Oh, and in case I forget tomorrow, Grand Teton means Big Breast in French. *Giggles*.

Goodnight.

Stats - Day Fifty-Three

Distance travelled - 0 miles - Stayed at West Yellowstone, MT

State entered - Wyoming

State count - 21 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18