Rocky Mountain Way

Sorry for not blogging last night, we found ourselves tucked away in a hotel parking lot with no where else to park, so we didn't want to have the computer light shining through the curtains making it obvious there were stowaways in the lot...Also, it was midnight, and blogging takes a lot of time and effort, uploading and resizing pictures, then writing our masterpiece...give us a break.

Yesterday started off in Casper, Wyoming in the all too familiar Walmart parking lot. We woke up, gathered ourselves, and hit the road towards Yellowstone. On the way we decided to take a 2 hour detour and head up to a town called Thermopolis, home of the worlds largest mineral hot spring. We found ourselves once again carving through huge cliffs on either side of us, this time 2500 feet tall, some dating back 500-600 million years. The snakelike road led us along the wind river and through indian reservations until we finally reached Thermopolis.

Thermopolis State Park, located on the outskirts of town is like a hot spring theme park. There are dozens of pools anywhere from 105 to 135 degrees chalked full of "healing" minerals. We didn't partake in the soaking, but still cool to see...We know where the secluded, tourist free ones are hidden later on in the trip. Before we left town, we splurged once again, (last time till at least San Francisco we promised), and stopped at A&W Lanes, a old fashioned diner with a bowling alley and arcade.

We entered the diner behind another group of people and shared in the confusion when there was no one there to seat you and also no window to order at... We shared a confused look and then picked a table. At the table there was a bright orange phone that says pick up and press button to order; we made our selections and did just that. Minutes passed, and our food arrived and the waitress told us how much it was, we paid her and that was it. After we ate our food...and ordered a strawberry malt for Sierra and cherry malt for myself... we got up and just left...no check, no closure, nothin...kinda cool.

From Thermopolis, we cut our way back through Wind River Canyon and kept on truckin for the Yellowstone area. On the way we researched 4th of July celebrations in Wyoming, and decided on Jackson Hole, about and hour south of Yellowstone.

Sorry for the quality, pretty dark when taken.

We drove west slowly getting closer and closer to the majestic snow covered rockies in the distance. Before we knew it the sun was setting behind the Rockies and turning the rolling green hills next to us a golden color. But, the Rockies had more surprises in store for us. As we climbed high into Togwotee Pass, we found ourselves at 9600 feet above sea level...with peaks to our left and right 2000 feet above that. It was getting dark when a car stopped in the middle of the road in front of us. As we slowly passed Sierra spotted our first grizzly! About a mile down the road we spotted more, a Momma Grizzly and two cubs. At this point, our mind was pretty much made up that for now on we would hike with bear mace....

As we corkscrewed out of the pass and towards Jackson, we had snow on either side of us. We also saw well over 30 elk on the side of the road.    

In Jackson we searched and searched for a place to park, no such luck. It was interesting to find that Jackson has a pretty hoppin night life. Neon lights and people at cowboy bars everywhere. As I said earlier we finally settled in at the Hotel parking lot.

Stay tuned for tonights blog detailing our 4th festivities. We will try to blog early tonight but we are two hours behind most of you.

Dinosaurs in Wyoming!

-Adam