The boys and I took Marie-Anne on a quick trip to Yellowstone. It seemed wrong for her to be this close and not see it. We booked the only room we could find in West Yellowstone-at a 'only room available' price, ouch- and drove up early Tuesday morning. We ate lunch at a darling '50's style diner before heading into the park.

I could look at this blue color in the water forever.

Niall and Leith quickly had their fill of the sulphur smell.

The setting for my up-coming suspense thriller.

The boys climbing on the 'Sheepeater Cliffs'- one of my favorite features in the park when I was a teen.

We had a picnic in the town of Mammoth at the north end of the park. In spite of the signs, there was really no avoiding the resident herd of elk,or the ranger whose full time job seems to be babysitting them. He placed these cones after we had been sitting there for a while. The elk are definitely in charge-stopping traffic, eating landscaping, etc. There were several very young ones with spots.

The lower falls

The GRIZZLY BEAR that we watched for about 30 minutes on the mountainside. Really, it was more like communing with it from a safe distance. I have wanted to see a bear in the wild since I was a child. This was a dream come true-and I am not exaggerating.
We also saw a coyote, a bald eagle on its nest, bison, many, many elk, chipmunks, and so many beautiful landscapes and interesting geothermal features. The 'people watching' was even more varied. The first day I was really bugged by the crowds, but by the time we left I was impressed by the variety of cultures and languages represented. And, I am grateful for and impressed by the organization and work involved in making the park available to the world while still preserving and protecting it.

That being said, I would love to go again when we could reasonably expect a bit more solitude.