Wyoming: Part 6

This was whitewater rafting day!

We didn't take our cameras because they would have gotten soaked and ruined. We bought one photo from the professional photographers, but even that was $30 and it was printed, not digital. So each of these photos has the watermark on them because we didn't want to spend a fortune on them.

We rafted on the Snake River. This river turns and curves for over a thousand miles! Our guides know their portion of the river extremely well. Each rapid has a name and they know the best way to maneuver the raft through each one. This particular rapid where we were photographed was called "Lunch Counter" because "it is where you get served!"


At the beginning of the journey, they go over what to do if you fall out of the raft or if the raft tips over. I remember thinking to myself, "was it a good idea to bring our children on this?"

The very first wave we hit scared me a little bit. It was bigger than I expected and felt so much like our raft might tip over. My instinct was to let go of my oar and grab on to the kids and the raft to make sure that we didn't fall out. In doing so, my oar banged me in the face and I ended up with a gouge inside my lip. I learned after that that I have to keep paddling during a wave and to not let go of the oar!

The kids all started toward the back of the raft, but Bella and Curtis wanted more of a thrill. Bella ended up in the very front, with Curtis right behind. Graydon is next to Andy. He's difficult to see in most of these pics.






Though we all ended up pretty soaked, Bella definitely took the brunt of the waves!


We didn't know that the photos were being taken until after the fact, so any smiles you see are totally genuine! We all had a lot of fun and, just as we were getting used to it, it seemed to be over. Super fast hour!


You can see Graydon a little in this one.




After rafting, we grabbed some lunch and went back to the hotel to rest. We were still a little wiped out from Yellowstone the day before. We spent the rest of that evening in downtown Jackson.

A stuffed buffalo, just like one that Tom purchased as a kid.








Every evening at 6pm in downtown Jackson, there is a shootout on the northeast end of the square. (Except for Sundays cause "there's no shoot'in on Sundays!") The shootout is put on by a local theater company and it's been going on for decades! Welcome to the wild, wild west!






We got some photos with the actors afterwards.






More shopping after. Curtis developed an interest in rock climbing during the trip. He bought a little bit of gear.


Random blow-up buffalo in an art gallery.

Wyoming: Part 5

Wednesday was Yellowstone day! Before visiting this part, I had no idea how big it was. Just to drive around the lower loop of the park was 96 miles!

We entered the park through the south entrance. As we drove north, I looked out the window and to my right was a several hundred foot drop. Andy was driving and he wanted to peek over. I said "no way!" One false move and we'd be goners!

Potty stop at a visitor's center.






Our first attraction of the day was Old Faithful. We arrived with minutes to spare before it erupted!




I wanted to see it again and get a closer look, so we stayed in the area from another 90 minutes. While waiting, we visited a gift shop. Two heads and three kids? No problem. "We can share a head." - Curtis


We had a great view the next time Old Faithful erupted. Here is what it looks like when resting. There's always some steam rising.


Warming up with a few small eruptions. Our way of knowing that it's getting close!


There it is!


After it was over.




We cooled off in the Old Faithful Inn. The inside of this place was so cool.


Pretty neat drinking foundation. We actually walked by it and initially didn't realize what it was.


Bella bought a new t-shirt.


Moving on to another attraction.


Bella was our main photographer on this trip!




Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser.


We took many, many photos here. It was amazing.


Hot, sulfuric water.




Stay on the path!


Even if your hat blows off, do not get off the path! Dangerous!


So beautiful! Look at those pretty colors!








This was Bella's favorite place on the whole trip.








During our time at this spot, the weather cooled off, bringing with it a cool breeze. That feeling was juxtaposed by the hot steam coming off the spring. Such an interesting feeling.








Fountain Paint Pots and other attractions


Another hot spring.




These were the actual paint pots. The ground was like hot clay that kept bubbling and bursting.


I forget what this was called.




Even in this area. . . stay on the path!












Graydon is easy to carry - he hangs on really tight!






Wild buffalo!


Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone


Don't look down if you're afraid of heights!














Tom brought some binoculars that often came in handy.






















More buffalo!




We ended up in a traffic jam. There was either a hard of buffalo in the road a few hundred feet in front of us, or cars were just stopped taking photos of buffalo alongside the road. Either way, we sat in traffic for at least 45 minutes.


By the time we got to that point, the buffalo had dispersed.


It took us about another hour of driving just to get out of the park. . . and then another hour to get back to our hotel once we did. We didn't make it back until about midnight. Needless to say, everyone was exhausted!