Missoula MT to Jackson Hole Wyoming

 On Day 14 we explored Yellowstone National Park. We started by driving through a stone archway entrance at the Northern part of the park.

The first section that we stopped at was Mammoth Springs - a series of bubbling geysers that smelled of sulfer and other nasty things. They were really cool to look at though.

 We also saw the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone", which was formed of beautiful colored rock and a gorgeous green river. Yellowstone is also one of the places that we saw the most animals. Bears, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, Bison, all were there causing traffic jams just by going about their business.

I enjoyed Yellowstone, but I didn't connect to it as much as I did to Yosemite. I was a bit uncomfortable being on top of a volcano, which didn't help, and though the views were beautiful - I loved the Grand Tetons in the distance more than the mountains I was on.

 It was a good day though, a hot day. Walking around outside and driving through the beautiful park was fun and we even waited around for Old Faithful to go off.

Driving through Grand Teton National Park to get to Jackson Hole, I couldn't stop staring at the gorgeous mountains across the lake. The sun was setting behind them and they were glowing in the light.

In Jackson Hole, our fun stalled for a bit. We had trouble getting a hotel room as most hotels were full, food also became an issue. We decided to walk and arrived everywhere just as they were closing. We eventually drove to the two fast food joints just outside the cute tourist area. If you are planning a trip to Jackson Hole, WY and it is Summer - CALL AHEAD! This is the lesson we learned.

The town itself is super adorable and a bit upscale. Shops and restaurants are all Old West Cowboy style and their park entrances are marked with arches made of Elk antlers. Elk shed their antlers every year and the local boy scouts go retrieve them from the woods so that these arches can be made every year. Pretty cool.

Madera to Manteca California, Yosemite National Park

 Before leaving the Holiday Inn we had a bit of a madcap adventure movie type scenario. I asked Matt if he had the keys (meaning the car keys) and was like "Um no, I thought you did". We spent about 20 minutes searching the room for keys and then realized that he was looking for the room keys which were in my pocket and I was looking for car keys which were in his pocket.

::head desk::

We started the day with a trip to Michaels to return the sharpies that were smudging on our DIY toys. Luckily they had the new Sharpie Painter Pens, water based, which are supposed to work a lot better so we picked up a few of those and some spray paint. We haven't yet used them yet. Then we went to a Best Buy and a Camera store in search of a charger for Matt's camera (the most finicky piece of technology on this trip!). Finally, we headed out to Yosemite National Park.

I really felt a connection to Yosemite. I would like to go back someday and spend a week there being inspired and communing with nature. There were a lodge, campgrounds, a grocery store, an Ansel Adams gallery store and a small museum. You can rent bicycles, which I really wish we had been there long enough to do.

Yosemite is also one of the most beautiful places I think I've been. We went to Glacier Point first and the view was just incredible. Afterwards we went down to the valley below where most of the activity was and the scenery was just as incredible. I can't really describe it, but I absolutely loved being there.