Five Countries Four Marlboroughs: September 2015

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Yellowstone National Park - the most unbelievable place on earth!

Today was one of the most unbelievable days of my whole life. I simply don’t know how I could possibly describe what we saw today. It was like we were on another planet - prehistoric times. Out of everywhere I have ever been, Yellowstone National Park is so unique, incredible and unbelievable. I was so amazed at the natural wonders I have seen – Yellowstone takes the cake. I am lost for words and this is rare.

We had a bit of a sleep in and headed out around 11am. Now, don’t think this is late, we believe this is actually the best time as we are then out until sunset and we see more wildlife.

I am going to have to let the pictures do the talking. All I want to add is this – if you ever have the opportunity to travel – go to Yellowstone National Park. It is out of this world and a place you will never forget!

Stocking up for our big day trip around Yellowstone

Lost for words

Will continues his growth spurt and is now starting to tower over me!

Slightly on edge - James please, please, please be careful

The marker behind Will is there so the rangers know where the paths are - lots of snow in Winter

Terry's favourite - the Abyss pool at West Thumb Geyer Basin

Also, Blue Bell pool

We could not believe what we were seeing - sensory overload

Be careful Will!

James took a great pic - we love creatures great and small!

Climbing the stairs from the rapids

The mud volcano - the most stinky thing I have ever smelt - oh except the pit toilet I had to use - that smell burnt the hairs in my nose.

Will and James just couldn't stand it and bolted

This is the most crazy thing I have seen in my life. The earth was breathing, hissing, spitting and bubbling. Dragon's Mouth Spring is like nothing you could possibly imagine.

Ok, so this smell wins. Sulphur Caldron - the only thing more acidic is battery acid.

Unbelievable Artist Point

Driving by someone caught my eye...

Steamboat Geyser - the world's tallest active geyser

On the road for seven hours now - been a big day.

But so much more to explore!

James and I walk the loop at Porcelain Basin Hot Springs - i could have been on another planet

Ok kids, no more stinky geysers - lets go wildlife spotting!

Can you believe these bison walked in front of OUR car!

The calf didn't mind being in the middle of the road!

But....the mother wasn't real keen

The big bull bison - he was bellowing!!

Leaving Montana, the big decision & Yellowstone National Park

Update from yesterday!

We were going to visit the first and most incredible National Park in the US and that morning we made a big decision – at the risk of offending people - for various reasons, we decided we were going to try to hire a car and leave the tour. (Mum, I can picture your face right now).

We spent the morning at the ranch. We had the choice of fly fishing (although it filled up quickly and there were no spots left) or horse riding. I like betting on horses, not riding on them. The kids were really not keen to ride either – I would have done it for them but now I was off the hook. I tracked down our guide Mike and told him what I was thinking. He was really good about it and said the only chance I really had to pick up a car was when we passed through West Yellowstone, Wyoming around 2pm. I had no time to waste! I went to the reception at the ranch and started calling car hire companies. I tried three companies and all of them required the car be taken back to that location. I needed to leave the car in Denver in 6 days time. Finally, I struck gold – Avis would do it, and just like that we had our new found freedom. The great thing is, Terry and I can still use the tour accommodation, breakfasts, dinners and we will still see the people of the tour at the hotels. We can just do it our way, at our pace. As we joked Bel will once again get the dollar out of the day!

At 2pm we arrived at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Centre. I’d arranged for someone from Avis to meet Terry there and he would have to go to the airport (only a mile away) and pick up the car. The kids and I went through the centre and Terry picked up our brand new Madza CX9. And just like that we were off! The plan was for the tour was to drive straight to the lodge in Yellowstone National Park and spend the afternoon relaxing. We are staying at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge which is right at one of the parks big attractions, Old Faithful. Old Faithful is a cone geyser that erupts every 90 minutes. Well, no relaxing for the Marlboroughs, we downloaded Yellostone Gypsy Guide and started out own tour.

We entered the National Park and shortly after saw another elk and moose! We then saw more elk and the huge, watchful stag (or the Bachelor as James says) Gypsy told us to take a short detour and we were rewarded with OUR first bison. James is a great wildlife spotter and he saw the bison in the distance. Will said we should be patient and sit and watch him approach. The bison wandered across the open field, through the river and eventually across the road in front of our car!! What a sight! We then saw a squirrel sitting on a log. Seeing these animals, in such a short time, validated our decision to go solo. This is what we had come for.

We visited many geysers and sights that afternoon and with the steam rising from the earth, it felt like we were in a prehistoric land. We arrived at the lodge at 7:15pm – just in time to see Old Faithful erupt at 7:30pm! We again did the fast walk – well the kids ran - and didn’t realise they had run 5m next to a huge bison! Perfect timing, Old Faithful began to erupt. We ran into the people on the tour and they were really happy to see us. We hadn’t had time to tell a lot of the tour that we leaving and the few we had told said they would be really sad to see us go. Now we had the best of both worlds.

We had a late dinner at he lodge and then ate the best brownie sundae we have ever had. Thank goodness I knew I could jump in and out of the car the next day – I will need to do so to work off the sundae! Terry and I cannot stop eating.