It's time for Bad Jokes with the Keiter Family, the part of the blog where all the Keiters put their heads together with our fellow traveling friend, Jeff, and come up with a whole lot of bad jokes for you while attempting to offer you the final post on our time in Yellowstone National Park. If you erupt with laughter (that was mine), you can mostly thank Jeff. He's a real writer.
We had to take it easy mostly for the last few days as there was always at least one of us feeling under the weather. But hey, nothing to get all steamed up about (woot), as there is plenty to enjoy just driving around checking out thermal features. For example, the Great Fountain Geyser. It erupts roughly every eleven hours, give or take about two hours, which explains why we sat for a solid hour and completely missed it.
The Great Fountain may have been a disappointment but Old Faithful was a blast (thanks, Jeff). On the first go-round it was not so great as we recalled from our last visit many years ago. Perhaps the rangers had to turn down the water pressure. You know, just one more effect of sequestration. But we ate lunch then ended up being right on time for the next eruption so we stuck around and this time it was more spectacular.
I told them to look excited even if they weren't feeling it because I started writing for this family travel website and I need good photos to go with my articles. Cha-ching!
In addition to the big geysers, we went to see the Artists Paint Pots. It's a big collection of fumaroles and mud pots and hot springs (oh my!) and the colors are fun. Also, how often do you get to hear nature burp and belch and sneeze and spit bloopy-looking muddy stuff that is also hot and acidic enough to kill you? Never, right? I mean, in my house that only happens when it's time to clean the toilets or pool filter or something.
Oh my goodness, I do NOT miss the pool filter.
Oh my goodness, I do NOT miss the pool filter.
Deer me! There is nearly always some good wildlife to be found in Yellowstone. Kevin caught this elk shot when we went tent camping for a couple of nights in Madison. Elk always have a pretty excellent expression on their faces.
On our last day we took advantage of feeling healthier and sleeping well and we got up early to go do some sunrise shooting at Mammoth Hot Springs. The springs were okay, but on the way back we saw some pronghorns and it's about the best close shots we've been able to capture of these guys. They are the fastest land mammals in the western hemisphere so that means as soon as you get near enough for a good shot they usually hit the throttle and leave you wondering if your eyes have deceived you.
Maybe with these pics I can bison time to think up a few more groaners.
Park Rangers say they haven't seen so many buffalo jams since the bisontennial. (Jeff is good, no?)
Okay, so we're all out of awesome here, but we do have more photos. We also have plenty to share from the Grand Tetons, which is where we are now, so check these out while we go work on that post.
-Jenni