Yellowstone National Park
Our first impressions of Yellowstone National Park was that
they had some serious issues to address with lack of parking and camping
accommodation within the park. We
were there at the beginning of the tourist season, but still couldn't get
anywhere to camp and had to stay outside the park in various places for our 3
night visit.
Our first major sightseeing visit was to Old Faithful, and
we and half of the Yellowstone tourists drove around trying to find a parking
space. We eventually found a car
park and got to Old
Faithful just after she'd blown, and wasn't due to go off again for another 2
hours. Scientists know when she'll
go off almost to the minute, so you can pretty much plan your day around it.
Pity we didn't know about this before we got there.
We stopped off at other thermal springs and bubbling mud
pits which we thought were more impressive than Old Faithful.
We drove south out of Yellowstone into the adjoining Grand
Teton NP and thankfully found one of the few remaining camping spots there for
the night, keeping a lookout for bears just in case they wandered through. We
had a lovely bush camp and chatted with our friendly neighbours from Utah who also donated
a tablecloth for us to use on the wooden tables supplied at every campsite.
Camping in Grand Teton NP. Every campsite, whether it's for the tiniest tent or biggest RV had a food storage
locker so you can keep your pic-a-nic basket and food locked away from Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and all their friends
Grand Teton NP was spectacular, with souring mountains and
beautiful lakes. After the previous
day we weren't sure whether we could be bothered fighting with the crowds and
driving back into Yellowstone. From
what we'd seen the day before, the scenery wasn't anything that special and I
was ready to find a different route out.
Thankfully Alan's good sense prevailed and we went left our
camp at Grand Teton at the crack of dawn the next morning and had a brilliant
second day in Yellowstone.
We'd beaten the crowds in the morning and were pretty
excited when we stumbled across our first Bison.
He couldn't have got any closer to us without being in our RV.
Bison (makes good eating on a hamburger)
Elk
We returned to Old Faithful at 8:30 am with minutes to
spare to see her flip her lid which was very convenient as we had a busy day
planned.
.
The west side of Yellowstone has all the thermal springs
but quite closed in with tall fir trees, whereas the east side is more open with
spectacular canyons, the Yellowstone River and rolling hills.
Mammoth Hot Springs
We left the park late that day getting mixed up in a huge
traffic jam when a muma bear and her 2 cubs were sighted next to the road.
Wherever there's a traffic jam within the park (unless
you're trying to find a parking space) it's usually because somebody ahead has
spotted a creature nearby. Before
long a park ranger speeds up in a car and starts directing the traffic, always
making sure everyone has taken plenty of photos, then starts to clear the jam.
We left Yellowstone feeling satisfied that we'd had a
really good look around and stayed north outside the park in a lovely little
town in Montana, called Livingston.
Montana had one of the smallest populations of any U.S.
state, and definitely ticked all the boxes. It's the most beautiful place with
drop dead scenery and very friendly locals.
Considering we’re still in bear country, I thought I'd
throw this sign in which we saw back in Alaska at Exit Glacier.
We've spoken to so many people who would love to visit to Australia but are scared of all our deadly creatures, but don't seem to give a
second thought being eaten by a bear:
And a few more pics:
If you can't fit it in the car, just strap it on the back
Thanks to the advice of a well informed staff member at our 3rd KOA (Kampgrounds of America), we discovered that Big 4 Australia and KOA are now partners, and we've been getting 10% off the exorbitant nightly rates which are averaging around US$65 a night with discount. The “full hook-up drive through sites” are incredible to us, but the norm for travelling RVers and it seems like half of America owns a huge RV.
One of the new KOA Great Falls Montana 22' pull through sites, with a regular size 5th wheeler hooked up
Keeping your sewer line flowing with a series of caterpillar supports. KOA Montana supplied 2 sewer outlets for RVs with 2 toilets
.