2018.09.27 - Yellowstone to Greybull, WY

09.27.2018 - Yellowstone to Greybull, WY - We have about a 190-mile trip today to Greybull, WY via the East Yellowstone Entrance. Our route will take us past Old Faithful (our 3rd time passing by), along the west shore of Yellowstone Lake, right turn across Fishing Bridge, then out of the park via Hwy 20.

First order of business was to call for the rental car pick-up, then head into town to find a "not-so-challenging" gas station to fill up the motorhome. We got on the road about 8:30 am and didn't really hit any challenges heading back towards Madison Junction. Our old friends in the bison herd, were still slowing traffic, but this morning, it was just for folks pulling over to take photos while they were in the meadow next to Madison River. 5-minute delay, mabe, then we were on our way again.

On our way out of the park, we decided to stop at the Midway Geyser Basin since there was parking available for the RV this morning (we are somewhat ahead of the morning rush). We wanted, specifically, to see the Grand Prismatic Spring, known for it's rainbow of colors. Lot's and lots of bus tourists on the boardwalk, and the steam from the hot springs was blowing down the hill, right on top of us. The morning wind was cold, so in those spots, it took the chill off the walk uphill.

Boardwalks up to Grand Prismatic Springs

Midway Geyser Basin

By the time we got to the top of the hill where the Grand Prismatic Spring was located, the steam was blowing off the spring straight into our faces. As a result, looking at the spring was like looking into a fog bank. You got an occasional glimpse of the color, but it was very brief. 

Red ripples at the Grand Prismatic Spring

Rainbow colors lost in the steam

Kuna Pit neighbor

Once we got past the turn-off to Old Faithful, road traffic was down to a minimum. It was still fairly early in the morning and we were one of the few actually leaving the park. We stopped at Kepler Cascades and took a couple of photos by the falls, then took the left turn at West Thumb and headed towards Fishing Bridge to leave the loop road and head east out of the park. The road from Fishing Bridge to Steamboat Point at the north end of Yellowstone Lake was under some serious construction. The road was basically washboard dirt for about 10-miles with a speed limit of 10mph (so that equates to an hour if my math is right). We stopped for lunch along the lake and headed up Sylvan Pass towards the East Entrance Gate. 

Rene' at Kepler Cascades

John (who else) at Kepler Cascades

Lunch along Yellowstone Lake - too cold to eat outside today

Sylvan Pass tops out at 8,530 ft, then heads down hill to the East Entrance at 6,951 ft. From the east gate, you continue on Hwy 20 thru red-rock valleys along the north fork of the Shoshone River, past Buffalo Bill Reservoir, then into Cody, WY where the canyon terrain opens up to a wider, high sage landscape.  

Headed up the pass towards the East Entrance to Yellowstone

East Entrance - Goodbye, Yellowstone

Shoshone River Canyon West of Cody, WY

Another photo of Shoshone River Canyon

Rene' waiting while John takes yet another photo of Shoshone River Canyon

From Cody (home of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West), Hwy 20 to Greybull, WY is high desert with lots of farms and open range. We are staying tonight at the Greybull KOA along the Bighorn River right in town. Greybull is named after a legendary grey bison, that, supposedly was the walking target for many the great white hunter wanting to claim fame for taking his hide. It's said that he never fell to a hunter's bullet and died of old age, instead. Good for him!

Our KOA reservation said our pull-thru space had a propane grill, so, looking ahead, we picked up a nice rib-eye steak before we left West Yellowstone. As it turned out, there was only a charcoal grill in the space we were assigned, and we had no charcoal. As a concession, the Owner kindly offered us Space No. 1 with a fenced enclosure, its own gas grill, a fire pit and a hot tub (which was empty, unfortunately) - SCORE (even though the hot tub was out of commission). It was a bit tight backing into, but the Owner was super-helpful and the park was nearly empty so we had lots of room to maneuver (and John needs that extra space, you know). 

    Space No. 1 at the Greybull KOA

"The Side Yard" at Greybull KOA - Space No. 1

Once we got settled in, we bought some firewood, started a fire, lit the grill and had a nice rib-eye dinner. We then sat by the fire enjoying the wine and stayed outside until it began to sprinkle, turning eventually to steadier rain. Rumors of snow to the north are in the air, so we'll need to check that out before we leave tomorrow, especially given that we're supposed to cross the Bighorn Mountains via Granite Pass - elev 9,033 ft on our way to Garryowen, MT.