Last Day at Yellowstone

My last day at Yellowstone. Actually my last morning, and as I watched the clouds rolling in, I quickly prepared my RV exit, and hit the last stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin. And just in time as the rain was pouring down. It's a good thing I have a generous sized umbrella, so I did the boardwalk around the basin, which overlooks Yellowstone Lake, and it was lovely seeing this in overcast skies, with the blue pools looking even bluer. Though the springs looked drier, as did Mammoth Springs, compared to my other past visits. I wonder if Yellowstone is in a drought?

Very few people were here, but I ran into a young man who said he was only in the park for an hour and a half. I was a bit confused since the south entry to the West exit is at least a two-hour drive, give or take. He was on his way to Glacier National Park. I gave him highlights of Yellowstone and Glacier, as if I am now a tour guide expert on these parks. I read that Yellowstone is a park of a lifetime. Whereas there is so much to see, so many trails to explore, and backcountry, that it will literally take you a lifetime to see it all. It is a huge park and it's quite diverse with canyons, waterfalls, geysers, springs, along with forest, and prairie lands filled with Bison, and other wildlife. This should be a must do on everyone's bucket list, in my personal opinion! He said he had no idea of the vast size of this park. Really? Certainly its not a drive through! It continues to amaze me with how little people know about this country.

I got very lucky to secure four nights within the park, at a time when its peak season, and several of the campsites are closed. Hoping for the same luck, I entered Grand Teton National Park. Of course all the campground signs say they were "full." And I have to wonder if people just passed by, onto plan B. But I will tell you to ignore the sign, and go to the check-in area, as they always have last minute cancellations, or at least they usually do. I stood in line with three cars ahead of me, and when my turn came, I was told "sorry we are filled." I pulled around these other cars thinking that I just missed the last spot, and as soon as I turned back around, the man flagged me over, and said wait a minute, we can fit you in. So basically, I made a big circle and got back at the end of the line. Whew! Glad that the Gypsy is that nimble. The woman in front of me, Laurel, is actually sharing a group site with me. Apparently the individual sites are taken, but the group sites for larger group such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts are available. I just have to wonder if we're going to be filled with a lot of little kids in group sites? Time will tell. She was lovely, with a couple of kids, traveling alone, and told me that her husband died of a heart attack, in May, at the age of 52. He was an athlete, in great shape, but I guess he had an enlarged heart issue. Yes, women traveling alone are certainly not uncommon, at least this is what I'm discovering!

I strolled around the village, marina, and encountered yet another silver Travato, and found a rock beach overlooking the magnificent Tetons! So I parked it there, and went swimming, as it seems to be a daily pleasure. Again, the water was crystal clear, and it actually was not too cold!