From Buffalo to Yellowstone

We finally got the brakes fixed and started west again.  The plan is to spend two days in Cody, then on into Yellowstone for a full two week stay. 


What do you do on a Friday night in Cody?  Go to a rodeo of course.  This was the start of the 2011-2012 Inter-collegiate competition.



The University of Montana had the largest team.  Sue loved their uniforms, a wrinkled vest and that’s it.


Eight seconds would seem like an eternity if I were on that bronc.  But then again, I would never be able to stay on for 8 seconds.


This was one fast cowgirl.  She had to ride her horse into the middle of the ring, jump off, and then tie up a goat.  Sue pitied that little goat.


Before we left Cody Sue decided to try some Rocky Mountain Oysters.  I didn’t see anything appetizing about them, and didn’t even try a bite when she offered some.  She said they had an odd texture, but anything tastes good when dipped in a little cocktail sauce.  No, they didn’t taste like chicken!!


Our Yellowstone adventure is about to start.


We didn’t wait long to see Old Faithful erupt, and this time it was recorded by a Chinese film crew.


On the advice from a ranger, we hiked two miles to Grizzly Lake to a “good fishing spot”.  Sue brought the camera along for all the great action shots of me landing the big one.  Oh well, it really was a picturesque lake and a nice hike.


There are buffalo everywhere.  These were near the road in Hayden Valley. 


A couple of pictures of the Fire Hole river plus Sue and me.


One of the many elk we’ve seen.


What do you do if you are a Buffalo and you want to get to the other side of the river?  You could walk down the bank, get wet crossing the river, and climb back up the other side, or you could walk across the bridge.  Smart buffalos use the bridge and expect the cars to wait, and they do.  The guy walking in front got a little nervous and picked up his pace.


After crossing the bridge he was polite and moved to the side of the road.


There are active hot spots everywhere.
The pictures below are from our hike up to the fire tower on Mount Washburn. It’s rated as a strenuous hike, but we’ve heard big horn sheep are sometimes seen along this trail.  Sue and I wanted to see big horn’s for years and just never have.  Maybe today.
Personally I’m beginning to think they are only mythical creatures and the Park Service is using the myth to increase park attendance. 



No stinking sheep – They must be mythical creatures.
After hiking back down we talked to a ranger who told us we need to hike around the top more.  It’s over 10,000 feet and cold and very windy up there, but we decided to try again in a few days when, hopefully, the weather will improve.  This time we got blasted by snow and sleet.