13th November 2013

My last post left off just as Neil, Joel and I were leaving Nelson, British Columbia to head for a road trip to Yellowstone park in Wyoming. Leaving Friday afternoon we figured we'd be able to make it down as far as Yellowstone by around midnight. That was to prove a little ambitious, particularly given the inaccurate directions Google maps was to provide. The first event of note happened as we reached the sleepy border check-point around an hours drive south of Nelson.


The lone border officer was a friendly lady who somehow knew who Joel was but I suppose that's not too surprising when you consider he's the doctor in a pretty rural community. As it turns out her knowing Joel is probably the only reason we weren't detained... We were asked a number of pretty standard questions including whether we had any guns or knives. I chipped in that I had a small pen-knife which she was happy to confirm was perfectly acceptable, Neil however reported to having possession of a much larger hunting knife that he's bought in the US. On announcing this fact Neil rather naively produced the knife form his door pocket and unsheathed it no more than six inches from the officer's face! This definitely put a slightly more frosty complexion on things and as stated previously its my strong belief that our avoidance of detention was thanks to the good doctor's presence.


Our progress form there was relatively uneventful as we drove through first Washington, to Idaho and finally entering Montana. Driving in a large pick-up meant regular stops for gas punctuated our journey and the extent of my time in Idaho was a stop at a rundown garage where the locals had that classic boondocks appearance you'd expect (pot-bellies, flannel shirts, beards and caps). Just before entering Idaho we joined the I-90 (Interstate) that was to be the thoroughfare I'd follow pretty much all the way to Chicago over the next ten days.


Not long after passing the city of Butte Google advised us to make a turn towards the Mammoth, a small town at the north end of Yellowstone park. By now it was past midnight and Neil had been valiantly driving for almost eight hours. The road we followed become ever narrower and more remote and while ordinarily this may have rung alarm bells we were all tired and figured that Yellowstone was going to be pretty remote and rural but it was not to be, after 80kms we arrived in Mammoth but it turned out it was a private estate at the very end of the road we'd followed. The only thing for it was to turn back and retrace our steps. Eventually we got back on the I-90 but consulting a good old fashioned paper map we realised we'd only reach Yellowstone if we continued pretty much right through the night. Consensus was reached with little difficultly that we should take up a new plan and find lodgings in a motel as close to our current location as possible. That led to the village of Three Forks where we managed to wake the owner and secure a room complete with three double beds, leaving our final push to Yellowstone for the morning.


A goodnight's sleep, albeit short saw us all refreshed and raring to go, daylight also revealed a fresh fall of snow and the wide open expanses of Montana. Its called Big Sky Country and its for very good reason the drive down to Yellowstone took us down a wide open plain flanked by imposing snowy mountains to our left and right with azure skies and barely a soul to see. It was kind of like Scotland on very strong steroids. By early afternoon we reached the park and commenced a series of quick tours around various geyser basins, climaxing in most famous of them all old faithful. Though watching it blow was definitely a sight to see I think I was more struck by the alien landscape of [check map] that would be revealed as the wind would blow the steam to and fro.


As daylight shrank we got back in the pickup to make for the north-side of the park via Yellowstone lake that forms the centre of the park and roughly marks the caldera of the super volcano that created the otherworldly place. Ringed with mountains and filled with the bluest of blue water all enhanced by the setting sun. After the lake we made a quick pitstop at Yosemite Falls but by twilight had turned to very last vestige of dusk and we could make out no more that a silhouette of the falls. Leaving the park's north exit via the Rosevelt gate we arrived in the town of Gardiner where we found lodging in a very cosy little yellow wooden lodge. A few whiskies and a round or two of the Who Wants to be A Millionaire board game was about as much sa we could muster after a very unsatisfying deep fried meal in the only place in town that served food after 9pm.


The next day we returned to Yellowstone and went for a hike in the snow towards Electric peak a craggy mountain that marks the north-west corner of the park. Joel destroyed his feet with ill fitting shoes which curtailed out progress a little but kudos to him for soldiering through, his heals were literally right down to the flesh. On leaving the park we headed back towards the I-90 and Butte where a good nights rest would punctuate our parting.



I'm so pleased the guys joined me for the initial part of my larger trip road trip. Serving as a great way to get back into the rhythm of life on the road. Of course its also a great way to cement a new friendship and further cement an existing one and the trip fulfilled this role as well anyone could ever want.