Day Thirteen- WY/ID

As if being woken up by noisy children wasn't bad enough, we were also freezing because we had forgotten to turn on the heat. (Oops!) But getting up early worked in our favor. We were able to pack up the car and drive into downtown Cody for some breakfast and coffee to-go. While waiting for our breakfast wrap and fresh coffee, the funeral procession for U.S. Senator Craig Thomas drove right by us. There were a lot of people along the route from the airport to the cemetery in Cody, where he grew up, holding up American flags. Then, we drove through Cody and passed by the location of the famous Cody rodeo.

Stampede Park in Cody, Wyoming.

The road to Yellowstone from Cody is about 50 miles and the landscape is beautiful. We made one stop along the way at the Buffalo Bill Dam. It was interesting to learn about the history of the area and its development. Initial deadlines of the dam's completions weren't met. There were many obstacles along the way including extreme weather -- freezing temperatures, snow, and floods -- coupled with financial and managerial problems. At the time of the dam's completion, it was the tallest in the world.

Buffalo Bill Dam.

Jessica demonstrating what not to do on the dam.

The next stop was Yellowstone. Since it was already noon by the time we got the East Entrance we chose to do the Lower Loop. The park's speed limit was 45 mph, which made for slow going around the loop.

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park sign.


A breathtaking view of Yellowstone Lake.


A sign warning us of the dangers ahead.


A buffalo standing beside the road.


An elk resting by a creek.

Yellowstone is the site of the most active geysers in the United States. Around the park, there are numerous basins that emit steam and smell like sulfur.

The North Geyser Basin.

Our last stop in the park was to see Old Faithful erupt. Eruption times vary anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, and we lucked out when we showed up 30 minutes before the next expected eruption. It gave us just enough time to grab a sandwich and soda in the lodge and get a front seat. There were tons of people there most of whom were sitting or standing along the semi-circular platform they have set up around the geyser. (If you would like to see the video of the eruption, let us know.)

Old Faithful erupting.

We passed over the Continental Divide three times along our trek through Yellowstone.

Passing the Continental Divide.

The Grand Teton National Park is located just south of Yellowstone. We figured we would drive through it since it was still daylight outside.

The Grand Tetons

Jessica and Orit in front of the Grand Tetons.

Leaving the Grand Teton National Park we entered into the Jackson Hole area -- a popular ski resort. In order to get from this area to Idaho we had to drive through Teton Pass. At first it was a long, steep, winding road up and then it was the same thing but down. It scared us both!

Welcome to Idaho sign.