After a breakfast of cherry turnovers and a batch of bacon, we mounted our trusty bicycles and headed down to the Fishing Bridge Visitor’s Center. We talked with the ranger about bicycle paths in the area and chose to ride the one by Bay Bridge which goes out to Natural Bridge. It’s only a three-mile round trip and it is right next to the marina where we were to take our cruise on the lake.There were several people walking and riding bicycles to Natural Bridge. When we got there we decided the steep path to stand on top of the bridge wasn’t worth it. The ride back was mostly downhill so we had nearly an hour to kill before our cruise. After a short hop over to the marina we bought a sandwich and some cheese and crackers for lunch at a covered picnic table overlooking all the big boats moored there. We both agreed it would be cool to be able to say that one, “keeps a boat moored at Yellowstone.”
Our hour ride around the lake was on a 40 passenger boat captained by a young woman ranger, who handled the craft like a pro. We were impressed with her energetic, friendly manner and frankly, she was cute and petite and one of those irresistible people. We talked with her after the ride and got a picture of her posing by the boat. We told her about the mini-submarine tour we took in Hawaii that was also piloted by a woman. She said to tell our granddaughters, “Just don’t settle. I never have.” It’s great to see someone doing something she loves so much, especially when that means taking on a role normally thought of as male. She told us she has only been doing this for three months, and hopes to drive a tourist snow cat this winter.
The afternoon was still young so we decided to return to camp and do some “down time laundry.” The camp Laundromat is huge with 12 washers and 12 dryers. We figured that early afternoon was the time AFTER most folks leaving the park have left, and most folks coming into the park are busy setting up, so the Laundromat would probably not be busy. Turned out to be true. Only saw one other couple in there. T’was wonderful.
It is fascinating to watch camper rigs come and go through this camp/park. A rig will pull out at 11 AM and another will pull right into the same slot at 3PM. It’s sorta like running a hot-sheet motel. Tonight will be our third night here and we’ll be pulling out at 11AM tomorrow to go to Ennis, Montana. I think I’ll leave a mint on the power box.
It’s 5:30 now. We’re going to unlimber the bicycles again and ride down to the “No Fishing, Fishing Bridge.” We found out why it is now a no-fishing-fishing-bridge. It seems that it once was a very popular fishing spot but the Park Service realized it was also a popular spawning spot for the local trout. Working on the theory that if you want to keep a healthy fish population you shouldn’t catch and eat the spawners, they declared it off limits to anglers.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 – The Geezers Watch the Geyser
(Cheryl) Yes, I know it’s only 4:00 a.m., but we were so tired last night we were in bed by 8:00 p.m. and seriously looking forward to sleep by 9:00 p.m. I’ve been reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to Frank while he drives, but with no TV or other diversions last night, we read for a couple of hours before going to sleep. I’ve already read this book, and it’s just as enjoyable the second time around. If you haven’t read it, pick up a copy or download it to your Kindle. The altitude is well over 7,000 feet here at Fishing Bridge Campground, and yes, there is a bridge named “Fishing Bridge.” It has a nice, big sign on it that says, “No Fishing.”
The altitude has really slowed both of us down a bit. We left Peanut in the trailer long about 10:00 a.m., and took off for Old Faithful geyser yesterday. On the way we walked around some pools of boiling water and took some pictures. About three-quarters of the way on up to Old Faithful traffic halted. We figured there were bears on the road, but unfortunately we discovered a pickup truck had gone over the side of the road and down an embankment about 100 feet. They had already airlifted the two passengers to the hospital and arrested the driver by the time we joined the line of cars on the road.
According to the “Rangerette” at the head of the line of cars, the driver ran off the edge of the road on the right, then over-corrected to the left, losing control of the car and plunging over the edge of the road next to an overlook, missing the guard rail by a foot or so. He must have been going much faster than the posted park limit of 45 mph. We pulled over to the side of the road out of the line of cars and walked up to the accident scene to watch the truck being pulled up the hill. It was quite an operation, and I’ll let Frank recount the process and post a picture.
(Frank) I figure he was clipping along at speed plus too much when he passed the overlook, decided he wanted to stop, slammed on the brakes, tried to turn in, decided he wouldn’t make it, tried to straighten out, couldn’t do it, and ran straight off the road past the end of the guardrail. I don’t know why the recover troops decided to pull the truck up and over the guardrail, but that’s what they did. I’ll post a few photos.
(Cheryl) After the road-stopping event, we didn’t have far to go to reach our destination and eat a forgettable lunch at a fast food place in the Village near THE geyser. Feeling every bit our ages of 64 and 66, we huffed our way over to the front of the pack waiting to see Old Faithful. I suggested we sit under a tree in the background, but Frank urged us onward to a spot on the boardwalk in front of the crowd sitting on the benches. I can remember clearly when I could just plop on a ledge, dangle my feet and think nothing about it. Now, I have to get down on all fours in an unladylike pose to sit myself down. Sigh! Those WERE the days, we just didn’t know it!
Three young boys (probably 8-12 years old) sat easily down beside us, and Frank immediately struck up a conversation with them, telling them how the geyser plays with us by sending up little short bursts of steam and water several times before letting go with the “full banana.” He also talked about pipes and the guy who turns the valve that lets the geyser spout. They knew he was joking but loved his banter and kept up a steady stream of comments. They were really well-behaved kids, and we enjoyed talking with them.
(Frank) “Old Facefull” is impressive. Everyone should see it once. I carefully shot video as it erupted. Unfortunately I shot it with the camera rotated to vertical so I could get its full height. This puts the whole video laying on its side. Now I gotta figure a way to rotate the video. Dumb.
(Cheryl) On the way back to our campsite, Frank stopped at the marina on Yellowstone Lake to make reservations for today at 1:00 p.m. We’re going to go for an hour cruise on this mammoth mountain lake! I’m thrilled beyond belief. I’m a water bunny, and getting out on a lake is high up on my emotional fun scale. Yellowstone Lake really surprised us with its enormous size and the fact that it is 8,000 feet on top of a mountain! We both were ignorant of its existence and fascinated when it came into view on our way to Fishing Bridge when we arrived.
I hope we see some animals along the shore today. Yesterday we did see two elk leisurely munching grass near the lake as we drove over to see the geyser. Other than that, we have seen no bears, lions, tigers or zebras. Not even a puma. We keep telling each other, “It’s not a puma!” Some of you may remember a Schwarzenegger line from Kindergarden Kop, “It’s not a tumor!” Oh well, I guess you had to be there.
Our plan is to leave here Wednesday in route to see our friends, Richard and Pam Lessner (I met Pam and Richard at the Republic and Gazette Newspapers where we all worked in the 80s and 90s). They “retired” from a stint with the government during the Bush admin in D.C. to the wide open spaces of Montana. Their cabin has a wrap around porch and sits in the middle of a valley surrounded by enormous mountains. They watch large herds of elk wander past their windows and fish for trout in a nearby river. Pam now drives for a fishing outfit (12 hours a day during this high season) while Rick manages some sort of foundation in the little town of Ennis near Bozeman, MT. The trip up there should only take us a day, and we’re looking forward to visiting their place and catching up after not seeing them for at least 10 years.
Love from three intrepid high altitude explorers,
Frank, Cheryl and Little Toot
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