Yellowstone, Day 2, July 27th, Friday

So we have figured out how to control the kids.  We take days away – that means a day of no TV or computer.  Losing a day affects all of them as a group, so far working VERY well.  They are on 3 days so, this means when we get back to KC no TV or computer, but they can also earn the days back with good behavior – good luck at that!

Because there really is no computer or TV here.  We have no cell reception, no internet and I had to make a pay phone call today, there is a bank of them near the campground office with showers and laundry.  Took the kids with me to make the call and they were fascinated – so sad.  Also showered at the campgrounds – hmm not the cleanest thing ever.  We get 10 showers for all of us for the next 5 days.  I tried to shower in the RV but there was only six gallons of hot water and I felt like I was in a coffin.  We normally keep a cooler in the shower as it is just wasted space. 

Stopped by the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, there are various paths to top views and bottom views, the first path we tried had a bear on it!  We didn't see the bear but were told to get off the path it was coming towards the parking lot, then suddenly the rangers said the path was clear.  Really?  Where did that bear go?  We went to another viewpoint.  It was one of those - kids don't lean over too far and stay away from the edge sort of places, I can't stand the cliffs with no railings!

Got a late start but headed towards Old Faithful.  It is two stops away from us on the bottom half of the figure 8, doesn’t look far but 20 miles takes at least 40 minutes, the roads are too curvy and you have to watch out for buffalo.  Each chunk is about 20 miles so you get nowhere fast.  We stopped at the first ‘town’ West Thumb and did their sights, more hot pools and geysers.   

The Old Faithful area was fun the visitor center is huge the kids were more interested in it than the geyser, but then Blair had a melt down and we headed back.  We accomplished part of the park but we weren’t going any farther with her.  The nice thing is we can stay in a parking lot and make them some food or put on a movie.  We brought this Popeye dvd set that is from the 1930’s that came with a warning about some of the material is maybe not appropriate by today’s standards.  Lovely.  But the kids are enthralled by the cartoons. They even want to eat spinach – yes they are asking me to buy some at the store – if nothing else good comes of this trip I’ll never forget they asked for spinach!  But watching them play Uno or help each other learn to skip rocks I figure no matter what the trip was a success, even if they spend the majority of the time fighting. 

Saw more buffalo on the way home as we didn’t back track but continued on around to our campground about a two hour trip.  We’ve seen some deer but no elk or bears – we really want to see a bear!