Yellowstone Day #2

We were a bit more prepared our second day in.

On our first stop, we checked out a place Mom had wanted to see called "Biscuit Basin."





This place was really thermally active!
There were a ton of hot pools and mini-geysers bubbling all over the place.

And while the wind was a little cool...




...we didn't mind too much.

Vince really got a kick out of the boarded walkways. Talk about a spoiled hiker!





As for Mom, I think she was still getting over the shock of finally making it there. She was very excited.







Amy didn't complain either. Even with the wind and the cold, she was a perfect little peach. Lis' and I were tickled pink.












Out of all of the basin's thermal features, I was most impressed by the Sapphire Pool. Even though it's only eighteen feet wide, it's over thirty feet deep! (And over 200 degrees....Yikes.)






Before we left the basin, I took this picture of Mom by the Firehole River. While I'm not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, I am particularly proud of this shot.






After Biscuit Basin, the crew and I took another shot at the Old Faithful area. We stopped at the Old Faithful Lodge for some really good (yet overpriced) cold cut sandwiches.






Then came the wait.
After our meal, we had about a 30-40 minute wait before the next eruption. Hoping to keep Kimosabe busy, I let him play with his camera.









Yeah, he took some nice shots.
(Which he soon after erased because the camera's memory was already choked full of pictures of his feet, the walls, the carpet, his hands and other indiscernible blurs. Ah, Autism.)








But the wait finally paid off and we were treated to one of North America's most beautiful natural wonders.












Want to hear the funny part?
Vince got a bigger kick out of the ruckus we made when the geyser went off!

What a cutie.
I think this picture says it all.



Souvenir shopping abounded after Old Faithful's spurt.
But Vince and I just kicked back outside and tested the rocking chairs.

And at $500 a pop, you too can own one of these lovely pieces of furniture!







OK. After the spree, we toured the world-famous Old Faithful Inn.
Completed in 1904, this building is one of the oldest structures in the park!






Wow, 104 years old and still looking good.
The vaulted ceiling inside the lobby was humongous.
And they even have an observation deck at the very top.
(Sadly, it was closed that day.)








I took this picture for a couple of reasons.
First, I wanted to show off the gigantic fireplace and chimney inside the lobby.
But secondly, I wanted to prove to all the worried parties back in CA that we did get Mom a wheelchair. See?








As a final treat, Grandma Porch treated everyone to a cold beer and some rest at the Bear Pit Tavern. Vince and Amy passed on the brewski in exchange for some ice cream instead!






So we come to the "Honorable Mention" portion of this post.
Amy was extremely well behaved the whole day. Her outcries were minimal and her mood was bright and warm, unlike the weather.
I'm so proud of my little cherry blossom!

With day 2 come and gone, the lot of us returned to West Yellowstone with a happy heart and a head full of wonderful memories.







Day #2 Videos:



Day #3 coming soon!