Monday, 19 September 2011 West Yellowstone, Montana - Colter Bay Campground, Grand Teton NP, Wyoming

This morning was to be our last day in Yellowstone and we decided to have an easy morning. So after breakfast we stopped at the RV park cafeteria for coffee, internet and some planning. We left with a plan for seeing the hot springs and making it to Teton in good time.

The drive into the park was easy and the annual pass meant nothing to pay. The elk were still hanging around in the same places as the previous evening, so we did not stop too long for the viewing, no moose no stopping was our new sort of rule.

We did not stop at the visitor centre either on the way in and headed off on Firehole Canyon Drive a oneway loop that gave you views of river waterfalls, deer and scenery, quite a relaxing detour.

On rejoining the main road there was either a young moose or elk on the river edge. Unclear to us we drove on and found an eagle up in the trees looking for food. It stayed for quite a while before deciding to find a less crowded point. We then took a drive down Fountain Flat Drive to look for wildlife and saw bison.

Next we were in with the lower geysers, these like the ones from the day before provided amazing vistas and hopefully some good photos. Unfortunately Shoeleh was overcome by the fumes and was not feeling well at all.

So she stayed and rested in the Clancy while I went to see Old Faithful do its stuff. Now it was interesting and the crowds were amazing, but the seating arrangement and people sort of took away from the actual event. While waiting for Old Faithful another of the geysers in the area let go. This one was the Beehive far less regular than Old Faithful but in my opinion a lot more spectacular.

Before leaving we sent a postcard to Manny to remind him that we missed him and to lift his spirits as he too had been unwell. Doing all of this I forgot to stamp my National Park book, which I did not remember till after we had exited.

On the way out we crossed the Continental Divide again, so time for a Dinosaur photo and then we were on our way again.

We exited Yellowstone after three wonderful days, except for Shoeleh being overcome by fumes, in the park now we were onto Grand Teton.

We entered Teton NP in the dark so we decided to get to the first camp ground available. This was the Coulter Bay Campground on Jackson Lake. Arriving as we did at 8pm, closing time we were given a camp site. Then I was a little hungry and it was way too dark to try and cook so we went into Coulter Bay to see what was open.

Dinner at the Ranch House Restaurant at Colter Bay Village. Shoeleh still did not feel like food so I grabbed a snack and then we were back in the campground setting ourselves up for the night. http://www.jacksonholewy.net/park_campgrounds/colter_bay_campground.php

Animals Spotted: deer elk bison (perhaps a moose) ravens, squirrels and chipmunks

Day Sixty-five