Let me give you the back story here. Our friends, AJ and Rachel, stopped by for the night on their way up to Bozeman from Grand Tetons. We had a great dinner and enjoyed catching up some more, knowing (thinking) this would be our last time together for who knows how long. Rachel had to fly home September 1 to work for a few weeks before their wedding, thus ending their own year on the road. AJ would then be taking the trailer and Kenzie (their dog) and making a beeline back east for a bit of work at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. They camped with us in the RV park for the night but our plan was to head out before the crack of dawn to go spot wolves, based on some intel we had received from a naturalist a few days earlier, while AJ and Rachel were going for a quick dip at the Boiling River before driving to Bozeman.
Then I came down with the cold Kevin was recovering from. Em also got it and upped the ante by harfing at 6:30 a.m. Neither of us slept much all night so once we finally konked out we took advantage and slept until 9:30. We awakened to find AJ and Rachel still here, enjoying Kevin's wonderful whole wheat pancakes and bacon outdoors in the beautiful Montana summer weather. Over breakfast we hatched the plan to take it easy by all going to the Boiling River together for a nice soak.
Then I came down with the cold Kevin was recovering from. Em also got it and upped the ante by harfing at 6:30 a.m. Neither of us slept much all night so once we finally konked out we took advantage and slept until 9:30. We awakened to find AJ and Rachel still here, enjoying Kevin's wonderful whole wheat pancakes and bacon outdoors in the beautiful Montana summer weather. Over breakfast we hatched the plan to take it easy by all going to the Boiling River together for a nice soak.
If you have been to Yellowstone you probably know about this magnificent gem of a spot. It's the confluence (YES! I finally got to use my favorite word!!) of a hot spring and the Gardner River. The river is frigid and the hot spring is scalding hot and where the waters mix one can laze about enjoying nature's own hot tub. You can even move around until you find a spot that is just right. Of course, sometimes your own movement redirects the water current in such a way as to cause a sudden hot or cold spot for those downstream.
While we were soaking and commenting on how great this already was, a herd of about fifteen elk, cows with calves and one huge bull, started wading across the river. I regret I have no photos because expensive cameras and water of any kind generally do not play well together and being doped up on Sudafed prevented me from remembering to grab Kristin's waterproof/shockproof/nuclear-detonation-proof camera. But we have our "nuerochrome" shots: the ones in our heads. If I could send them to you via mind meld I would. The bull elk bugled and ran off another bull, the calves waded in the water for what seemed like an hour, the females sparred with each other up on their hind legs (they fight like girls). The sun was abundant and the water soothing. I totally expected a unicorn to show up.
After our relaxing dip we headed into Mammoth Hot Springs for lunch at the Terrace Grill. If you are coming to Yellowstone you should eat here. The food is great and very reasonably (read: NORMAL non-tourist taxed) priced. We followed up with ice cream, of course. Spending our final minutes together for a time, we all agree that this was a GREAT day - one of those days you wish would not end. We are glad two of us were sick enough to bail out on wolf watching.
-Jenni
While we were soaking and commenting on how great this already was, a herd of about fifteen elk, cows with calves and one huge bull, started wading across the river. I regret I have no photos because expensive cameras and water of any kind generally do not play well together and being doped up on Sudafed prevented me from remembering to grab Kristin's waterproof/shockproof/nuclear-detonation-proof camera. But we have our "nuerochrome" shots: the ones in our heads. If I could send them to you via mind meld I would. The bull elk bugled and ran off another bull, the calves waded in the water for what seemed like an hour, the females sparred with each other up on their hind legs (they fight like girls). The sun was abundant and the water soothing. I totally expected a unicorn to show up.
After our relaxing dip we headed into Mammoth Hot Springs for lunch at the Terrace Grill. If you are coming to Yellowstone you should eat here. The food is great and very reasonably (read: NORMAL non-tourist taxed) priced. We followed up with ice cream, of course. Spending our final minutes together for a time, we all agree that this was a GREAT day - one of those days you wish would not end. We are glad two of us were sick enough to bail out on wolf watching.
-Jenni