Started out early this morning and drove 40 minutes south to kayak at Yellowstone Lake. This lake is huge as we only kayaked on the west thumb of the lake. We launched from the beach at Grant Village and paddled along the shoreline about 3 miles over to the Lower Geyser Basin and back. The water was fairly warm. We saw three lake trout swim under our boats and a small flock of black and white ducks took-out of the water and flew right over our heads (I ducked) get it? It was neat seeing some of the geysers and their run-off into the waters edge. This is a view most people don't get to see.

These are the only pictures I have of Yellowstone Lake right now. We didn't take any today in our boats as I was nervous about getting my camera/phone wet.

This morning LaRayne and I went with a group of four other co-workers to hike Mount Washburn, elevation 10,200 ft. It was a 1.5 hr. drive to the trailhead. The view was just awesome. It was probably the coolest and highest place I've ever eaten lunch. It was about a 2 hr. hike each direction. On the way down we got super close to some Big Horn sheep. The were walking along the rock cliffs and then walked ahead of us on the trail for awhile, and soon walked off trail to graze. They even stopped and ate some snow.

Half-wayup trail encountered snow 

We're hiking to that Fire Tower on top

View from top of Mount Washburn

Top/middle of above picture is Yellowstone Lake. Far right mountain range is the Grand Tetons, 40 miles away.

Very top

Big Horn Sheep

Big Horn Sheep On Trail

Today I started my new job as a bus washer at the bus garage. My co-worker Virgil and I are a two-man team in charge of prepping buses for each days tours. Today we washed a total of nine buses with Virgil washing the outsides and me washing inside windows, sweeping and mopping floors, sanitizing door handles and armrests, and on one bus emptying the waste tank from the restroom and refilling the water tank and sanitizer chemical. I was amazed to the find out the historical yellow buses (HYB's) are actually original 1937 tour buses that have been restored. The chassis and interior wood trim is original but they are equipped with new engines and transmissions. Today we cleaned three HYB's, three Ford/Chevy mid-size buses, and three Prevost buses. I even got to drive them around in the parking lot to get use to the feel of them. Fun!

Tunnel On the Way To Cody

We had fun in Cody on Friday & Saturday. Friday for dinner we ate at the Irma Restaurant. Buffalo Bill built this Hotel/Restaurant in downtown Cody in 1902 named after his first daughter. That night we went to a real rodeo. Attendance was light as mostly local riders competed. The person that won the spectators hearts was a 12 year old girl who won the barrel competition (racing). She competed against adults too, but had the fastest time. On the straight-away to the finish after going around the last barrel, she was flyin'.

Saturday we went to the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. It had a section on Native Americans, Western Art, Firearms, and Natural History of the area.

Monday or Thursday of this week I start my new job. I'll be working out of the Transportation Department - Bus Garage, washing & detailing buses. The buses going out each day will be required to be washed, interior floors moped, and windows washed inside & out. I will also drive buses to different locations throughout the park to pick up or drop off tour guides.

White (Brand) Replica Buses

On our way out of YNP's east entrance to Cody, WY we noticed this personal escort into the park. This buffalo was just taking his/her time and like saying "Just follow me.

We ate dinner in Cody at the Irma Hotel Restaurant. This was built on 1902 by Buffalo Bill Cody. This is the original bar in the main dining room.

Tonight we went to a rodeo. We got the $18 admission reduced to $5 by showing our YNP employee card. The two amazing things to me was the 12 year old girl who won the barrel racing, and the girl who recently graduated from high school and got a free-ride to a college in WY in Rodeo. 

Interesting.

The scenery driving out of YNP via east entrance was just awesome. In Cody, WY today and tomorrow. This afternoon walking downtown shops, and tonight from 8:00-10:00 doing Cody's Rodeo. Tomorrow the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum.

Riding our bikes to breakfast this morning included very light snow flurries. Checking calendar, June right?

This was in my work parking lot today after work at 6:00PM. Look beside bus.

I interviewed yesterday for a position in a different department and got it. My start date will be in about a week. More later!

Just got back from the Middle Geyser Basin. Took some cool pictures of the Excelsior Geyser and the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Excelsior Geyser

Grand Prismatic Spring

Boiling Hot Geyser Runoff  Flowing Into Firehole River

Took these pictures yesterday during our travels.

One of the many mowing crews at Yellowstone National Park:

Today was our first day to explore YNP together. First we drove north to the Middle Geyser Basin to see the Grand Prismatic Spring. Once we got there the hot temperature coming from the spring mixing with the cool morning air (temp. 23) made so much steam we couldn't see the multi-colored spring. So, maybe we'll return tomorrow and see it. It is only 20 minutes north of Ground Zero. Here is a picture I took within the Middle Geyser Basin.

We then drove further northeast to Canyon Village, home of Lower Falls. This was 42 miles from Old Faithful.

As you look at the above picture and see the brink of the falls, the next two pictures below show LaRayne and I standing on a large platform right at this brink. The falls drops 308 feet. Even though we were securely behind the railing we both found ourselves squeezing the pipe railing. I may have mentioned before but this is also the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with a gorge of between 700-1,400 in fall and is two miles long.

Then we drove south to the Mud Volcanoes. The one volcano had a pH of 1, battery acid is pH0, so you can imagine the damage it could do. Some geysers have nearly perfect pH as underground spring drinking water, while others reach temperatures of 170 degrees.

Then we continued south to Lake Village for supper. We ate at their EDR (employee dining room) as our employee I.D. cards entitle us to eat at an EDR anywhere in Yellowstone. After eating we walked through the Yellowstone Hotel on Yellowstone Lake. It was very classy and elegant looking. It looked like you had to have lots of money to stay there. The Presidential Suite was only $650/night. 

Then we drove a short one mile to Fishing Bridge. LaRayne remembers driving over this as a youngster with her family and seeing tons of people fishing on both sides. Fishing from this bridge was closed in 1973 as Cutthroat Trout was nearly fished-out as this was their main spawning ground on the Yellowstone River. 

We finished our westward drive along the north shore of Yellowstone Lake before turning north and returning back to Old Faithful. We returned home around 8:00 P.M. and drove approximately a 100 mile loop.

Okay, I've got a little case of jealously going on here. LaRayne just got finished with her orientation/training, and assigned to her job assignment. She will be working in the Snack Shop which sells one item  ICE CREAM. Wah, Wah!

Up and at 'em early this morning. Egg & ham croissants for breakfast. LaRayne is at safety training at least until noon. I'm in my room, filled out application to renew my passport, and updating blog.

I forgot to mention something really neat in last night's post. Yesterday while running register at the cafeteria I waited on someone that made my brain freeze for a second, wondering if I was in Troy or Yellowstone. Dan, Katie Hamlin and their children came through my line to eat. Dan said "What are you doing here?" and I said the same. Dan & Katie have attended our church and their sons are members of our church's Boy Scout Troop. I just thought it was almost crazy to actually talk to someone from Troy. They are in the area for a 2-week vacation with their camper. Katie is the daughter of Chuck Karnehm.  This just made my day and made me "feel at home" even though I am 1700+ miles from Troy, OH.

Once LaRayne arrived in Bozeman a day late on Wednesday, thanks to United Airlines, the plan from Zantera HR was for her to wait and check-in on Thursday. They do regular employee check-ins on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Due to the flight cancellation by United this turned into another inconvenience, as we would have to drive down to Ground Zero over Wednesday night, then LaRayne would have to drive back up to Gardiner (north gate) for HR check-in. Since we stayed in Gardiner on Tuesday night we thought the next morning we would just stop in to HR, explain our situation, and see what they could do for us. We were so thrilled to hear they would let her check-in. Some of the necessary paperwork was back in my dorm room, but they let us take it to the HR office at Old Faithful to fax copies to them. So, by the end of Wednesday LaRayne was checked-in at HR, Old Faithful Housing Office, met her RA (resident advisor), and was assigned a roommate, ME!

Her first day of safety training in on Friday at 8:30 a.m., so today she had a free day to peruse the sights at Old Faithful. I was at work from 10:30 -6:00. She walked approximately 5 miles and saw Old Faithful Geyser, and Grand Geyser which erupted twice, higher and a longer time than Old Faithful. We ate dinner together at the employee dining room, and supper was really good. We were going to tour the Old Faithful Lodge where LaRayne will be working, but we were on our bikes, and rain clouds were fast approaching. So from 7:00 p.m. on we relaxed in our home-away-from-home. Tomorrow I'm off work, but LaRayne has to report for safety training meetings. We'll be up early (6:00) for breakfast as the EDR so LaRayne can eat before work. After her meetings this week we'll have the same days off for our weekend play days next Friday -Saturday.

Still having morning low temps in the mid-30's, something Ohioans aren't use too in June. Not sure when the mornings will get warmer and stay that way.

The trip to Bozeman/Yellowstone Airport was uneventful. LaRayne's flight was right on time. While in Bozeman we shopped at Wal-Mart, printed an app. to renew my passport, then made our way to Gardiner, MT (north entrance to YNP).

Tomorrow sight seeing inside the park, and giving LaRayne a personal tour of Ground Zero (Old Faithful employee housing, dining hall, etc).

FIRST BIG BUMP IN THE ROAD! LaRayne was to arrive today in Bozeman, MT. via United Airlines. She was to leave Green Bay, WI this morning at 6:15 A.M. Last night at 9:30 P.M. we received an email from United Airlines that her flight wasn't going to be delayed, but canceled, with no explanation why. They re-scheduled her flight to Tues., June 11 with the same departure and arrival times.

Now I will spend this day off work that was scheduled especially for the reason of traveling to Bozeman, changing a hotel reservation, notifying Zantera Resorts HR that LaRayne will arrive one day later than what's stated on her employee contract, and see if I can get my work schedule changed on Wed., as now I'll be with LaRayne on Tues. and Wed.

Today I decided to take a picnic lunch to Firehole River and Falls. This is about a 15-minute drive north of Ground Zero (Old Faithful). What a fun day and a mini-adventure along the way. Something was taking up part of the road and bike lane, but it wasn't a bicycle. Hope everyone can play the video:

Well sorry the video wouldn't upload, but anyway I drove about 25 ft. behind a buffalo until he finally decided to quit being a road-hog and get off in the pasture.

Okay, onto the river. Here are a couple picture shot with my iPhone. I took an awesome video of it as well, but with it even being longer I'm sure it won't upload either. The Wi-Fi here is S-L-O-W. This first one, below the falls, is where I set up my camp chair and ate lunch. I watched the fisherman for awhile and it looked like he was going to have to catch lunch some other day.

Picture Taken Above Main Falls