Yellowstone

Up at 5:45am again, for yet another drive across the prairies, this time we saw oil pumps and more grass. A stop at Buffalo for a chat with Jim at the Information Centre then up over a scenic pass with rock/mud formations, waterfalls and trees - a bit of greenery.
As it was another long day on the road we just drove through Yellowstone Park with a short road block due the bison. Crossing the Continental Divide twice. A big as the car it pays to give them the right of way. Saw bald eagles tending to its squawking young high in the tree tops.
Checked into Thee Bears Lodge and a stroll through West Yellowstone town for tea.

After a sleep in till 7:20am we were off. Back into the park. A look around the Old Faithfull Geyser area and saw Riverside Geyser erupt lasting about 20 minutes - it only goes off ever 6hrs. A look at the numerous geysers and hot springs including Morning Glory a colourful hot spring.
Continued the dive through the pine forests and past Yellowstone Lake, the way we came the previous night. After many heads of Bison we were on the look out for more wildlife. At the Yellowstone Grand Canyon we saw the Lower Falls - twice the height of Niagara Falls. And Osprey (Eagle) flying its nest.
After mud pools that were less impressive as those in Rotorua we headed up the North west corner for Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces. Huge hill with with terraces down it formed by the minerals from the hot water flowing from the springs.
Across the top of the park were more open fields with water falls and odd lava formations exposed in the canyon. A stop to look for Yogi and Boo Boo grizzly bears, or any bears came to nothing. Due to road closures we had to pass back pass the Yellowstone lake, pine forest and Continental Divide for the third time.
A wait to see Old Faithfull erupt was impressive even though it lased only 2 minutes. As the sun set we left the park and got dinner and some much needed sleep.