Last night was COLD!!! The couple camping next to us were so cold that in the middle of the night they got up and drove around just so they could use the heater. With no car, we just cuddled and shivered.
Today we did the lower main loop of the park, the one with all the geysers. We stopped at Beryl Spring, a deep and crystal blue bubbling hot spring; Firehole Falls in the windy Firehole Canyon, and Lower Geyser Basin, where there is a geyser that erupts continuously and has for the last 40 years. Then we could stand it no more and rushed to see Old Faithful. We arrived at noon and the geyser was set to go between 12:02-12:22. Fortunately we found seats right up front with a completely unobstructed view, but of course in our excitement leaving the bike, we forgot the camera. Old Faithful was as impressive as we had both remembered shooting 100ft into the air filling the sky with steam. There must have been at least a thousand people sitting around to watch. Since we needed to wait for the next eruption so we could take a picture, we decided to have lunch in the caf� and get a drink to cool off. It turned out to be a very interesting people watching opportunity.
After lunch, we rode over to Geyser Basin at West Thumb. There were geysers and fumeroles and hot springs everywhere right on the shore of the lake. There was even one hot pot on the shore called Fish Pot where in the early 1900s they would catch a fish and then boil it in the hot pot without ever leaving their seat.
The forest-lined road continued around the lake with great views of the mountains. We stopped off at Pumice Point and soaked our feet in the cool water. On our way back, we stopped at Fishing Bridge, where you can't fish, and the mud volcanoes with Dragon Mouth Cave that hisses and spits smoke. At Canyon Village we had a fabulous root beer float and picked up groceries for dinner.
It was another roaring fire. I remembered the "log cabin" fire design Sharon and I used to do as a kid and it worked like a charm. Tonight the moon was completely full and luckily it was much warmer.
Tomorrow we must leave the campsite we fought so hard to find,
janet.
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