My Yellowstone Odyessy

Chapter 14

13 Smarter than Your Average Bear

While we were eating, I called mom on my cell, "Mom, it's your wayward daughter here," "Hello dear, how are you?" "We're just fine mom, how's dad?" "He's just fine, are you in Yellowstone?" "Yes, we just finished a trail ride, and we're eating a late breakfast here in canyon Village." "How's the weather?" "Nice, except it get's pretty cold at night, we're camping at Grant Village down near the West Thumb area, we met some real nice bike people from Colorado who are camping near us, invited us over to their camp, probably go over there again tonight." "Well that's wonderful dear, well I'm pretty busy at the moment, call me later this evening at home, you can talk to your father as well," "OK mom, later." Mom didn't like me calling her at the bank, but I had forgotten to call last evening and wanted to let her know things were fine.

After breakfast, we headed west through the Hayden Valley, then north to Mammoth Hot Springs, we stopped at the visitor center, watched a film on the hot springs looked at exhibits on the army's presence in the park and wildlife exhibits. We spent about an hour and a half walking around the upper and lower terrace areas taking several photos. We then rode a little further north to the park's north entrance at Gardiner and the stone arch. Terry got a picture of me standing in front of the arch having to dodge traffic for a bit to get it, and I got one of him sitting on his bike near it as well. We then rode south to Mammoth, and headed east to Tower Junction spotting a couple coyote's along the way, as we neared the junction, we hit another bear jam, this time it was a mother grizzly and two cubs, working their way along the road partially into the adjoining woods.

People were going nuts running around trying to get pictures, the rangers were trying to keep them back 100 yards being the distance you're supposed to stay from a bear or wolf, no one was paying any attention to that. We slowly putted through the traffic a little nervous about being exposed like we were to a grizzly, at one point; we were less than 40 feet from them. I think I saw someone actually get a ticket from a ranger for getting too close, we had no choice, terry revved his motor a couple times to scare the bears. Once we were moving again, we turned south, passing majestic Mt. Washburn, and passing over Dunraven pass at 8860 feet. We continued through Canyon Village south along the Yellowstone River, where Terry wants to go fishing tomorrow. We stopped at Fishing Bridge for gas the Lake Lodge for supper and arrived back at camp about 7pm. Once we got cleaned up a little bit we walked back over to visit with our friends again.

Welcomed as before, we chatted with everybody, learning that they were leaving tomorrow in the morning. I slipped Larry $20.00 to cover beer as our treat (especially since we couldn't legally buy it) He and Ken roared off for a "Beer Run" while us girls chatted and Terry, Tom and Jeff talked sports. I learned from Diane that she also loves to dance, even gets into that ballroom stuff, I told her that I had been missing opportunities to dance because you had to be 21 because alcohol was served in dance halls.

Diane laughed and said, "Not in this one sweetie, after we get warmed up with a beer or two you and I will show 'em how it's done, I've got a cassette of dance music, we'll play it on our bike's cassette player. When Larry and Ken returned with the beer everybody helped themselves and the party began.

After a couple beers, I was feeling pretty good, I told Diane I was ready anytime she was, so she put on the music and started dancing, I joined in followed by Jeff, and Terry, Marla also joined in proving herself quite good. Mostly we did slow dances with a little disco thrown in, dancing on dirt isn't the same as a hard floor, but we had fun. I told Diane about the dancing Tiphanie and I did, and even that "infamous" party dance, (why I don't know, too drunk to know better I guess) She and Marla looked at me with surprise with just a, "You did THAT!" both seemed totally amazed. Once again we sat around the fire listening to Larry on his guitar, each couple cuddled close to each other ending another perfect evening.