Yellowstone - Day 6

 Our Geyser & Hot Springs day!  We woke up early to rain and got straight into the car to head to Old Faithful, I drove and Caleb saw a bear in a clearing but it was gone but the time I reversed. We got there around 8:15 and got a wonderful parking place. We got dressed~matching shirt day~and enjoyed the warm water in the VC bathroom before heading out back by Old Faithful and a Ranger led walk.

Another chilly day.

We walked over the Firehole river to the back side of Old Faithful and saw some other fun geysers and hot springs.

I'll have to have Lydia check my memory as she can rattle off all the names of the ones we saw this morning, including Anemone...

Beehive, which we were lucky to see erupt later in the morning. It only does it once daily and is taller than Old Faithful.

Old Faithful erupted! First of three times while we were there.

We walked on to see Lion erupting as well.  Our sweet ranger, who almost had a heart attack as she had to get onto some international visitors who got off the board walk and almost stuck their hand in a hot spring!!  (A book like the Ugly American from 1950s needs to be written for other groups now because while we are loud and demanding, their problem is knowing that yes the rules apply to you as well).

A well meaning family insisted we stay until 4 to see Grand Geyser erupt-you just must. Actually this is our only day in this area so we must move on, I thought while smiling and nodding.

It thundered so she shortened our walk and we headed closer to Old Faithful to learn more about the hot springs,

and see some baby ducks before thanking her and going in out of the rain.

Old Faithful Inn, the world's largest log cabin and a cozy place to hang out and enjoy shelter from the rain.

Following a TripAdvisor Expert's advice we got ice cream (from a sweet Taiwanese lady) in the snack area and ate it upstairs, enjoying the view and people watching.

But we also got hot chocolate to wash down the cold on this rainy chilly day.

Out on the porch, geyser girl aka Gloria with hot chocolate arm bands and crazy hair and we watched Old Faithful for a second time.

After shopping and did I mentioned HOT water in the bathroom sinks, we left and got to see Beehive erupt!

Mandatory photo before enjoying the children's area in the VC and again shelter from the rain.

Cafeteria lunch, hot and handed to us!

We got to see Old Faithful erupt for the third time and finished the needed pages in the Jr Ranger book.

The girls got sworn in as Jr Rangers by a fellow Texan Ranger. I was impressed with, in spite of the crowded VC, he went through their books and asked a few questions before handing them their patches.

Back to our car, we headed up the road to Biscuit basin, which we renamed Jewel basin because the biscuit shapes are gone and lots of things are named after jewels.

Interesting formations and texture in the hot springs

One of my favorite photos, in front of beautiful Sapphire pool.  We also saw Jewel geyser erupt and a Hasidic Jewish couple on bikes.

Next stop, Midway basin with long potty line.

This afternoon we needed some personal space so the girls stayed with their shirt buddy and on the boardwalks.

Grand Prismatic Springs. It is very beautiful from above and looks like a blue green pool with sun rays.  Glad the ADS PTO made adult and kid shirts so we could be matching!

Examining the texture in the ray, but protecting their noses from the sulphur smell!

Where the hot water hits the Firehole river.

Next stop-Mud pots at Lower Geyser basin, Fountain Paint Pot area. The girls had enjoyed seeing these in videos before the trip so we stood around and listened to the gurgles and pops and saw them from every angle for a while.

Gloria liked to stand in the steam to warm up.

We did a nice little drive by other features and finally the Firehole Canyon drive. After the rain out of Boiling River, we hadn't mentioned the possibility of swimming but the day was warming and we had time and a  final test-a parking place along the road, so we said the girls could swim if they wanted.  Both got their suits on and Caleb and I just water shoes.

Gloria also got her feet wet but decided it was too cold.

Lydia went all the way in, except her head because I read about microbials, though there were families swimming for exercise and young guys jumping off rocks. It was good enough for her.

Gloria, instead, enjoyed chasing chipmunks and golden mantled ground squirrels (the bigger ones without a stripe in the middle of their backs). We had stayed away from wildlife the required distance but let her try to get close to these, but they were too fast for her.

It started sprinkling so we headed out and it began to pour on us.

We had thought about going to Norris but it was too rainy, but since we were going past we decided to make a run for the VC, unfortunately it was down a long path and we were so wet when we got there but many others, including bikers, were buying time as well.  Also it was a very small center with not much to see. After a while we ran back to the car and kept driving.

Traffic was HORRIBLE in Hayden valley. We pulled over and enjoyed our pepperoni/cheese snack dinner with this view...

The rain cleared up so we got back into the line of cars, made a potty pit stop at Mud Volcano and got back to our campsite.

The girls warmed up with dry clothes and lots of layers and hot chocolate.

Caleb and Lydia went looking to buy dry firewood but it was all sold out.

Gloria and I enjoyed the lake scenery before seeing our campsite friends drive up. We chased them and and together we went to the Wildlife Ranger talk at the wet amphitheater before saying a sad goodbye.