Not Exactly as Planned

The theme for the day yesterday (our last day in Yellowstone) was finding places to ride our bicycles. There aren't many bike trails in the park, but there are a few - mostly on old roads back to geysers or pools. The kids were looking for something different to do, and we haven't had the chance to ride much on the trip. So...off we went with a plan to ride out to Lone Star Geyser, which only erupts every 3 hours or so. We parked, got the bikes out of the truck, and...it started to rain. After finishing our hike in the cold rain yesterday, none of us were eager to be out in the weather again. So...back in the truck we went. We tried it a second time at Fairy Falls. This time we actually rode about a mile to the trailhead before it started to rain. It lightened up a bit quickly, but we decided to head back anyway. This time, we migrated to Plan B - more time wandering in the truck with only short hikes out and back.

It was getting colder and continued sprinkling on and off for the rest of the day, but we ran across some unexpected wonders and good fortune in different ways. When the air is cool (it hovered around the 50 degree mark all day), the heat coming off of the geysers and hot springs creates immense amounts of steam...and when it's also windy (as it was), that steam gets blown across the geyser fields to create a monstrous-sized steam bath or sauna. Wandering around trying to catch glimpses of the colored pools became a challenge - as we laughed about being hot (from the steam) and cold at the same time.

We also lucked into another Junior Ranger program and the kids managed to finish up their booklets and get them turned in at the "Junior Ranger Station" at the Madison Information Center. The ranger leading the program there was from Georgia - his first career was as a pediatric orthpaedic surgeon at Scottish Rite, but at 57 he became a full-time park ranger. He was amazing with the kids - such a joy to see someone who clearly loves his job so much. It was a bright spot in our dreary day. Matt also managed to run into a Professor from UC Boulder he has worked with before at the same Junior Ranger Station while we were there. How does he always manage to run into someone he knows in the strangest places??

The final highlight came as the rain was picking up yet again and we were almost back to our campground near Fishing Bridge. When there are masses of cars pulled over on the roadside in Yellowstone, you can usually bet that there is wildlife nearby. Driving through Hayden Valley...there it was - the mass of cars pulled over in every direction. But there was also a park ranger roaming the crowds as well... Hmmm... must be something really unusual. And it was - a grizzly bear. We'd been on the hunt for one for three days without success, and here it was - out likely because the weather was dark and damp. We all took turns with the binoculars and got a great view as the bear strolled along the river. It was awesome!

We discovered that even on dreary days when things don't go as planned, beauty and surprises can be found right before you if you just open your eyes. Now, if we can just remember that when we return home...

 Tracy