Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower, Wyoming

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Cody To Gillette

Cody to Gillette Wyoming

Monday, August 10, 2015



 

We woke up at the Cody Super 8 Motel. There were lots of Asian travelers and hence had to go to the breakfast table many times to finish the breakfast.  Then we showered and packed the bags and left around 9 AM.  From Cody we went to the Buffalo Bill Dam on the Shoshone river toward YSNP and spent sometime there. We then drove back to Cody and went to downtown and shopped and took some pictures. Then we ate an Italian restaurant and the food was very good.

We the drove to Cody Post office located at Stampede Avenue and sent some post cards to friends and family. We went to Cody public library and took some pictures. Then we drove via 14/16 to Gillette via Emblem, Greybull and finally took I-10 at Sheridan, Wyoming.

On the way between Greybull and Sheridan we stopped at many places and took photos. We stopped at a Shell falls in Bighorn national forest. Before the falls we stopped by the shell falls creek and Madison Limestone took some photos touched the water. We drove via Wyoming picturesque road.

We arrived in Gillette via I-90 and had to figure out our hotel because the GPS didn’t indicate it. By putting the Gps in map mode and looking for route 14-16 we drove to that road and went up and down. We were originally in 14 West and even though numbers decreased they never got to the 1020. Then when we crossed downtown Gillette the numbers went correctly and we found Hotel 9 West and stayed there. The room was good with 3 pillows and two big beds.

We went to Taco john for dinner and came home and went to bed. The next morning we woke up at 6;30 Am and went for breakfast after shower

 



Visit Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone, Wyoming

Sunday, August 09, 2015

We woke early and since there were no place to eat breakfast at Wapiti, WY, we had coffee and pancakes from the Green Park RV Park's owner's food truck. It was windy and cold in the morning and earlier in the night it has snowed in Yellowstone.

We then vacated the place and drove to Yellowstone National Park about an hour away west. The climate started to get better and we took some pictures at the entrance. There were many bikers traveling to the park too.

Then at the East entrance we bough a Yearly National Park Pass and drove inside. It took about a half hour before we arrived at the Steamboat Point and at one of the hot springs spewing sulfur vapor and steam that was on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

We then went to see the West Thumb

At the center we went to the bathroom and drove first to the west thumb (we took the south loop). The variety of springs and geysers were great and the weather was getting better with lots of sun but some wind.

Then we drove toward the old faithful arriving around 11:30 AM. We parked the car and ran toward the main office and found out the next eruption was 30 min later at 12:15 so we went and sat on the left side of the geyser in front row. There were some small eruptions in the other areas. Then at around 12;15 we witnessed the old faithful. It was nice and beautiful and it lasted for about 4 minutes. We took some photos and videos

 

Then we went inside the old building to eat. There was lot of crowd . So we ate at the deli and got some ice cream. The weather was becoming better. We sat outside and inside the building. V and B bought some gifts.  Then it was time for the second eruption. We were able to see the 1:50 eruption from further away and then we drove.

 

We then stopped at the poly chromatic spring place and took lot of photos and saw all the boiling pools and river. Then we went to village and drove back. There were two road congestions. The first was due to a vehicle problem. The second was due to bison. Then we stopped and took lot photos and video of he bison and came to the visitor center bought some gifts and left toward Cody, WY.

The night before we were unable to get the name of the hotel or reservation since neither my notes nor Google docs had the information due to late reservation. Finally after arriving in Cody around 8 pm we went to McDonalds and used its free Wifi to log into my Gmail and found out it was Super 8 motel and we had aleardy passed it onece. Anyway we went and checked in . The room was big with 3 pillows and we had shower and went to bed around 10 PM . we were very tired after a long day.

To Billings Montana

Travel to Billings MT
Saturday, August 08, 2015
Delta

We traveled to Billings, Montana from our home town by taking Delta Airlines and stopping at Atlanta, Minneapolis-Saint Paul,  The total flight and waiting time was about seven and half hours. Our Atlanta flight was early in the morning and we arrived okay at Atlanta.

Our next flight to Minneapolis-Saint Paul was very quick and lucky it was in the same terminal since we had only about 30 minutes after we got out of the flight.

We were lucky and there were no delays or cancellations. When we arrived in Billings, MT, however, we noticed constant drizzle.

Billings, MT airport is small and similar to our Tallahassee airport. The first thing I noticed was neither of our T-Mobile prepaid or Virgin Mobile prepaid had any signal. That meant we won't be able to call anyone nor we could use the GPS of the neither of the phones. We were happy that our luggage made it to Billings, MT.

We then rented a car with Avis and soon rented a GPS device from them since our phones were not going to be helpful especially the rain started to pick-up the sky was cloudy (even though it was only around 1;30 PM MDT).

Then we drove toward Wapiti, WY in the rental car first via I-90 and then local routes. At Laurel, MT we stopped and grabbed some lunch at the McDonald's.  We were able check our e-mail using our Smartphone using McDonald's Wi-Fi.

We stopped to take pictures in Montana-Wyoming border and other unique places. We then arrived at Cody, WY. We stopped at the Buffalo Bill of the West museum and spent sometime looking at various attractions.

We then drove via the Buffalo Bill Dam and reached Wapiti, WY and checked into the hotel. There was only one gas station/general store nearby. The only way to get more food was 20 miles west at Cody, WY.

Then we found a dinner place about a mile east and had dinner before going to bed around 8 PM MDT (10 PM EDT).