Travels of The Mercury: Yellowstone National Park, Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, 2013

Thermopolis. Thermopois is a little, off the beaten path, Wyoming town with nice hot springs. There are several resorts but also a state visitor center where you can enjoy a hot springs soak for free for 30 min, which we did. This travertine formation was created as the mineral water dripped over a tee-pee shaped metal structure built in 1909 to vent steam from the hot mineral water that was piped through the park.

Wyoming Dinosaur Museum. Thermopolis also has an outstanding dinosaur museum with an excellent fossil collection and exhibits that will please the dinosaur lover in everyone. Very enjoyable.

The Yellowstone Welcoming Committee.

Yellowstone National Park. What can anyone say about Yellowstone? It’s like a famous person. You don’t need to say the full name. We stopped at every attraction and hiked through every geyser basin along our route. We spent 3 days here and also did 2 long bike rides one of which was along beautiful Yellowstone Lake. The Park is very accommodating to bicyclists and most of the roads have good shoulders. We stayed in 3 campgrounds as we traveled around the park. The sites were nice and set among the Lodge Pole Pines.

Dragon Mouth. Lots of roaring, roiling action.

Norris Geyser Basin. Wonderfully steamy.

Here are some of our favorite geysers and hot springs. The most entertaining of the geysers are the noisy ones; roiling, churning cauldrons; roaring steam vents; and bubbling mud pots. The earth breathes and speaks. Then there are the lovely, quiet ones with clear, turquoise blue water that allows you to look into their depths, sharing their inner secrets. These landscapes never fail to surprise and delight.

Our next destination is Billings, MT and the Custer Battlefield.

Thanks for joining us. See you later.
Jackie