8/24/2018 – Yellowstone

When I got up today, I was definitely feeling the effects of yesterdays long day fishing and hiking. But I took some tylenol and drove Nancy to couple of places she wanted to see before leaving this part of the park. We drove around the Blacktail Plateau Drive and then went to Tower Falls. I waited with Frisco while she made the short hike to see the waterfall and follow the trail to the river. Then we went back to an overlook where I could look once again at where I had hiked the day before….it made me cringe since I actually knew what it was like to hike down and back up! Not sure if I will ever do it again but if I do,  I definitely wouldn’t do it alone.

When we got back to town, we stopped in the Wonderland Cafe to grab a bite to eat. It was highly recommended to us but  we both agreed our choices to share – a BLTA (A for avocado)and 10 smoked chicken wings – were below average.

When we got back a front passed through that produced trailer shaking winds but no rain. But by 6:30, it was sunny and calmer. We went to the hot springs but decided not to actually go in. We might go tomorrow morning before we re-locate to West Yellowstone. We took our chairs and made a very short hike to a quiet spot on the edge of the Gardiner River and sipped a Margarita before heading home just as it was getting dark.

Now that I know how to fish these rivers, and know which flies to use, the fishing is pretty darn good if you just know where to go. I have a map that is well marked by my guide for the best fishing spots near where we will be in West Yellowstone. I hope to do some more fishing before we head south to Jackson to meet up with some friends from Naples for 4-5 days.

Nancy wanted to get closer to a buffalo. I’d say this qualifies….the buffalo could not have cared less that Frisco was barking like crazy!

Tower Falls and the bottom of the trail at the Yellowstone River

The hot springs at Boiling River

The source of the hot water – the water temp varies from 114 to 140 degrees in the river so you have to find a place that is comfortable.

We decided not to wear our bathing suits tonight…but Nancy had to at least test the water…she said there were places where the water was extremely hot.

Nancy hiked across a bridge to get this picture of our chairs along side the river tonight. If you look hard, you can see my white hat just above the river at on the left