On Thursday after leaving Lake Yellowstone we set out for Midway Geyser Basin. Again we decided to drive on by our hotel for the night and see the sights first.
I have to be honest during this part of the trip I had been bitten by a grumpy bug. I was seriously a grouch, but while walking around and see the cool things that God designed I did cheer up a bit.
Yellowstone River
Cute, curly haired girl crusin' in style.
Daddy was curious if the water that was flowing under the boardwalk was hot so he touched it...it was actually cold. Of course the boys saw Daddy do it so they had to feel it too. After this picture was taken an boy that was a little older than Owen walked by and said, "Don't touch the water...it's like 200 degrees!"
Excelsior Geyser Crater
Grand Prismatic Spring
The Grand Prismatic Spring was the reason I wanted to go to the Midway Geyser Basin. Unfortunately the pictures they show you in the brochure are from above so you can really see how beautiful it is. When you are on the boardwalk it's hard to get that same effect. Michael did get this gorgeous panoramic shot though.
For a long time geologists thought that nothing could grow in the extremely hot conditions, but in recent years they have found that there is tons of bacteria that grows in the hot springs. The different colors are a result of that bacteria.
After we left Midway Geyser Basin we were going to go have lunch up at Mammoth Hot Springs, but realized it was too far away. We thought there would be some place to eat at the next place on the map, but there wasn't. So we turned around and started heading to Old Faithful. We did decided to make one detour down a road that leads you to Firehole Falls. This road was a one way road and I closed my eyes a bunch because it was like a sheer cliff in some places.
Michael got out and took pictures of the kids. I was freaked out! There were a few big rocks, but no guard rail or anything to really keep them from falling over. I stayed in the van in Zeke...away from the edge and took pictures of Michael taking pictures!
Our second night in the park we stayed at Old Faithful Inn. We've stayed there before, but it was 10 years ago. They've changed a few things in regards to the road...it's like a freeway now!
Once we got in the room Ella, Zeke and I laid down for a nap. This is when the trip was starting to take it's toil on us. Michael knew that no one was going to sleep if he and the boys stayed in the room so he took the boys out.
He took the boys over to see Old Faithful, but they had just missed it. Owen was very insistent that they stay so they wouldn't miss it again. Ella, Zeke and I never did get to see Old Faithful go off...I've seen it before though. The next morning when we were driving away Ella was pointing at it steaming and saying, "it scary me!" so I think it was a good thing that we were napping while the boys went and watched it.
Old Faithful being...faithful!
One of the funniest things that any of the kids said on this trip was when Jack, Owen and I were out looking at Old Faithful steaming from the balcony of the inn. Jack and Owen were just crawling all over the benches that are out there when Jack all the sudden says, "Mama when you were young they called it New Faithful!" I love that kid!
When Michael came back with the boys it was his turn to take a nap.
The kids got to play with the Play-Doh that Aunt Stephie bought them.
This little guy certainly is Mommy's Major Hunk!
That night we said goodbye to Ga-Ga, Pa, Uncle Ry and Aunt Stephie since they had a tour to go on early the next morning and we would be leaving for Billings to fly home. I wish we had had at least another day in the park to see more, but I guess that just gives us an excuse to go back!
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