As we left Kemmerer we had to swing by a piece of American History.

The road to Yellowstone took us up the Idaho border through barren lands with only rabbits to be seen. Many of them had met their misfortune by trying to cross the road.

Highway 189 weaves it way up through an area rich in history. The territory south and around Jackson is home to the most productive and famous fur trade in history. Beaver was the pelt in demand and many of the waterways here are named after famous trappers as well as men from the Lewis and Clark expedition including Captain Meriwether Lewis.

We rolled into Jackson around five in the evening on a Friday. It was as busy as Newport on the Fouth of July. There was not a parking spot to be found, tour busses and RV’s of all shapes and sizes clogged the streets. While we wanted to stop we still had Seventy-five miles of slow roads ahead to get to Garnt Village campground in Yellowstone. As we left Jackson, we rolled through Teton National Park and experienced our first glimpse of the wild life native to this territory.

The Bison were abundant. Cars and people stopped along the two lane road to get a good look. Uh, er, don’t get outa your car folks.

People come from all over the world to visit this area as Yellowstone is the oldest National Park in the world. Coming up on celebrating 175 years of conservation, education and preservation. It takes a visit here to really appreciate the area and all it has to offer and also appreciate the people with the vision and fortitude who are responsible for what the park is today.

We stayed at Grant Village campground, one of twelve campgrounds in the Yellowstone area. Located on Yellowstone Lake about twenty-eight miles from Old Faithful. We could stay here an entire summer and not get enough of this amazing territory. The wild animal life is abundant and also keeps you on alert when anywhere outdoors. Kyra and I were working on her studies mid afternoon on the picnic table at our campsite when two massive deer walked by about thirty yards away.

We went fishing on Yellowstone lake one evening and came across a moose and an otter sharing the same estuary. It’s a bit freaky to think you could be fishing and a massive animal can walk out of the forest behind you at anytime.

What is a visit to Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful? It’s the subject of legends from the very first explorers to the area.

Thermal waters are amazingly clear and blue. Notice how thin the crust is around the edge.

Yellowstone Lake reminds me of Lake Tahoe pre development.

This trip does requires commitment. Kyra in her studyhall.

Classroom Studies; Fish catching 101.

A few days seems hardly enough time to explore this vast area.

Fire building is another course requirement.

On our way out of the park we experienced a couple close encounters with Bison. We pulled over to have this big bull walk right by the back of our coach.

Cody Wyoming will be our next stop to stock up on supplies as we were operating on bare minimums in Yellowstone. Cody offers a Walmart, (never a fan of the store until we started RVing it) and get some wifi.

Next stop Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore.