Yellowstone and a Beartooth Encore

Monday September 13. I woke up cold, but I seemed to remember somebody saying that my emergency room didn't have heat... Anyway, checked the time, (6:30) and decided to get up. When to the washroom (across the hall) and when I came back and turned on the room light, I discovered that one of my windows was open! I couldn't see it at first because it was behind one of the bunks. Got dressed and went outside.. it was very cold and there was frost on the ground! There was lots of fog and steam coming off all the thermal springs. Very eeiry site.

Decided to enjoy my stay at the inn and wait for the weather to warm up before riding anywhere. Had a yummy buffet breakfast in the restaurant, went on a two mile walk around the geo thermal springs, watched Old Faithful in the light and explored the hotel taking photos. Staying in the park, instead of outside it at west Yellowstone, allowed me to enjoy the park at night and dawn. A definite bonus.

Finally, warmed up enough to ride, about 10:00. I rode east along the road that leads to Lake Yellowstone, the upper and lower falls and the Yellowstone "Grand Canyon". I found out where all the tourists go! Plus I seem to be on the senior's tour schedule. Bus loads of seniors, few young people around and no kids! (yeah for school).

Continued the eastern drive, past the exit I was going to take, and rode to Mammouth Hot Springs. I hiked around there for an hour, checking out the amazing formations caused by hot water and chemicals. Then doubled back to the north east exit of Yellowstone to ride an encore ride of the All American Highway - Beartooth Pass! (I did this in early August if you remember!) This is a truly beautiful road and an engineering marvel. It climbs about two thousand feet out of Yellowstone (which is already seven or eight thousand feet above sea level), above the tree line and crests one mountain of the Beartooth Range, descends slightly and then climbs another mountain via lots of switchbacks. There are several beautiful lakes on the way up and near the summit, as well as some snow that hasn't melted from last winter and some new snow along the road that they got last week! The descent takes you into Red Lodge Montana, where I got a room at the Comfort Inn.

I picked this place because they have a computer for guest use. However, the connection is so slow, that it won't let me work with photos, and it dropped the line on Skype twice while I was talking to my parents. So, I'm sorry, but photos will come asap.