Floating in Yellowstone National Park

Destination Yellowstone begins by pulling into the only campground within 50 miles of Yellowstone that could accomodate us on a last minute reservation.  It wasn't much on accomodations but what it lacked there was made up by the connections we made with the people who manage and run the site.  The Livingston Campground had no sites open when we first called but they told us to come anyway and dry camp for a night or two until the weekend spots became available...we took it!  The hard part of having no plans continues to be a battle...mostly mentally.  We have boondocked quite a few times now and while it is easier it still has the uncomfortable feeling as close to homelessness that we will hopefully ever get.  This certainly allows one to feel for those who have no home.  The kids also get a bit anxious as they constantly ask us on travel days "are we boondocking?" or "do we know where we are staying tonight?".  We probably need to do more to reassure them of a plan regardless of the fact that we don't. If one thing comes of this experience, I hope they become comfortable with overall change especially change in their environment. 

The first night we arrived and toured the quaint historic town set along the river in southern Montana. Erica set out to find the town pool and stumbled on the weekly Livingston Farmers Market. It had a cool vibe with music and food trucks. The hippie culture is alive in this small town and we felt really good to join in.  Blythe bought slime from a little girl's booth and I bought a rock pendant. Erica bought some leafy vegetables and we all had a little bit to eat to. The river was where we watched the local kids jump from the auto bridge thirty feet above the water as geese and a beaver visited us by the dock. Boyd loves the water and exploring any ways to get as close as possible.  We have already washed muddy shoes so we try to always have sandals on when near water.  Right before heading back to camp we got a call that a full service sight was available for two nights...we were so happy!  

The next morning we headed into yellowstone.  We stayed in the northern loop and saw bison and a gray wolf cross in front of our car.  We also pulled off to see two black bears and a small brown gizzly bear.  Despite Erica's long time fear of bears, mostly the grizzly, she was the first to jump out of the car and get up to take a candid shot.  We are still on the hunt for our first moose! We stopped to do a picnic lunch at Theodore Roosevelt lodge after completing our hike to Trout Lake.  Our focus on picnicing is doing so much better to help with our budget.  You just can't get enough PB&J! We circled back around the south side of the northern loop on our way out and took the short hike to view the rock colors and waterfalls at Artist Point...one of our favorites so far!

After arriving home late we stayed put all day the next day with a visit to the local public pool.  It was a town pool like I remember growing up going to in the small midwestern towns I lived in.  It had a low diving board that Boyd was tied to most of the time as he worked on his courage to do a front flip.  He did it and went back for more again and again.  A little boy named Isaiah noticed my huge can opener splashes off the diving board too and kept asking me "Are you going to do that again now?" I gave my little fan a few more bombs off the diving board before retiring for the afternoon. 

That afternoon we had Mike, the manager of the campground, stop by the RV to talk plans of moving sites the next day.  He had his nine year old son Garrison with him and so I introduced Boyd to him. That was a perfect match.  They played all that afternoon along with Garrison's twin brother Hayden while Blythe made occasional appearances in their antics.  The boys really were wanting Blythe to play, but she was a bit intimidated by the three to one ratio of boys to girls.  She finally joined them as they spent all day in the barn where they built a fort from all the old wood and tractor and snow mobile parts they could find.  I remember so well the fun of an old barn and all the creations one child's imagination could come up with when given a barn like this one.

The next day was Saturday and was made tough to get going after hanging out until two a.m. Friday night with Mike and his wife Abby and their co-worker Ryan who we also got to know very well. The temperature was perfect to cozy around a campfire with a cocktail or two or three. It was nice to get to know the local Montana natives and trade life stories with people our age and stage of life.  We needed that!  The kids hung out until two also so they had a tough time getting up.  We finally shoved off and headed for Yellowstone around noon toward the Old Faithful geyser site via the West entrance of the park.  We drove with our eyes peeled open for the elusive moose.  Finally on our last full day in Montana we got our moose.  It was right on the side of the road as we intially flew past.  We circled around, pulled off the road as far as possible and I chased Erica and the kids down the narrow stretch of road to within 40 feet of the moose. Their faces as was mine showed pure joy.  She was drinking in the drainage pond next to the road, often peering back up at us to make sure we stayed back.  After about five minutes she pulled out of the water and dissappeared into the thick eight foot tall brush only to look back once as if to say goodbye.  That was our window and it was more than worth the wait.  It figured that about ten minutes later we would spot about five more moose.  Our day had just begun and we felt as though it was complete.

After visiting Old Faithful, its facinating that to me that she sprung up at 5:08 pm exactly as the board in the visitors center predicted, we left the geyser area to head toward the river we followed into the park.  I was determined to float in the river.  Touching water has always been something I have enjoyed.  I see a lot of me in Boyd in that way.  I find that cold soothing feeling, especially on a hot day, to be so relaxing.  After an unnecessary forty five minute drive which included turning around and going back toward the geysers we found our spot.  The kids, mostly Blythe despite her love of water, were scared to get in due to the potential creatures lurking out of sight.  Boyd and I tried it first and the water was cold but warm enough from the geyser heat that ran off into the river that it was perfect temperature. We couldn't have felt more free.  After some coaxing, Blythe finally joined Erica, Boyd and I in the river.  She loved it so much that she was the last to keep asking to float it just one more time.  We were lucky to keep our swimsuits in the car everywhere we go along with our hiking boots should something naturally incredible pop up to explore.  This was a memory all of us will never forget! 

That last night we spent the evening sharing dinner together that was grilled for all of us by Ryan. Ryan prepared stuffed burgers for us all to eat and despite Erica and I having removed meat from our diet we had to try these great burgers of his.  They were incredible tasting and of course the kids loved their cheeseburgers too! We really have missed the friendships that we have in San Diego and this four day stretch felt warm and friendly because of these kind and welcoming Montanans! It definitely helps fill the void a little.

Peace and Love