Day 21

Monday - August 6

Up early to see Old Faithful. Off reliably at 9:00 as predicted by the rangers. Drove north towards Madison Junction and were detoured onto Firehole Lake Drive. Passed hot springs, geysers and the smell of sulphur everywhere. Norris Geyser Basin was beautiful.

Back on the road we passed a mother and baby elk in the river by the road, Lunch at The Terrace Grill in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Took Blacktail Plateau Drive to Tower-Roosevelt to see a petrified tree. Boring.

Next south to Canyon Village where we saw the many views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, another geological marvel. Annie took Uncle Tom's Trail down to the base of the falls. I took the advice on a sign and stayed back. Annie climbed down and back the 328 steps. Tired but exhilarated she reported people lying on the steps on their way up.

Driving south from Canyon Village on the way back to the campsite we saw dozens of cars parked and people running to the side of the road. A lady said there was a female albino wolf in the field. Pee

ring out I saw a white speck moving through the grass. Someone said she was the alpha wolf of the pack, well known to frequent visitors, and currently the mother of five cubs. Pretty cool.

Off again only to go through bison territory where we saw quite a few including one who had traffic stopped as he ambled up one of the two lanes of the road right past our car. We were so taken back that we failed to get the camera ready on time. (last time that happened.)

Back to the campsite and quickly over to Fishing Bridge where we paid $3.25 for showers. Cleansed, we enjoyed a decent dinner at The Old Faithful Inn then back to the tents for a very chilly night's sleep.