Chronicles of Emma: Camping with the Koontz at Fishing Bridge!

On September 9th, we went camping in the park with the Koontz's! We drove our RV's to Fishing Bridge and got sites right next to each other: 54 and 55. There were teepees in the trees right across from us which was perfect for the kids. We put out our awnings, set up a table and the Koontz's even had AstroTurf they layed out in front of their RV. We were set! We went to Bozeman the day before and Aunt Jill bought all the food for camping!! We stopped at a picnic area near Artist Point for lunch. The picnic tables were in a tree forest and we had chicken salad with pretzel bread and all sorts of other things for lunch! YUM!! I climbed up a tree and had my lunch with pinecones and birds. :) I had people bring me more food....it was pretty nice up there!

Getting gas in Gardiner before departing...

After we drove through the North Entrance into Yellowstone Park, we waited in a turnout for the Koontz's to catch up to us...slow pokes! ;)

Here they come!

Our picnic area in Yellowstone.

Taking a picture from the tree.

Some macro cowboy hat shots.

Walking to Artist Point (by the way, that isn't our bus!).

I retouched this photo to bring out more colors:

Mud Volcano:

Dragon's Mouth!

Steam and Sun:

Even though it was only 37 miles from Mammoth to Fishing Bridge, it took us a couple of hours. The speed limit is only 45mph in the park, plus tourists who stop at every moving creature they see and because we stopped for sightseeing and a picnic. After we checked in, we parked and then started setting up. Once the kids set eyes on the teepee, we didn't see them much after that. Aunt Jill and Uncle Jeff's RV is 35 feet so it was tricky trying to manuveur into a spot. They carried bikes on the back, so the bikes got stuck in a tree. The guys had to fish them out of the tree!

Putting out the awning!

Sites #54 and #55.

Chillaxing under the awning.

Playing in the teepees.

Dad, Uncle Jeff and I rode bikes to the General Store to get some beer for the grown-ups....

Tilly loves bikes!

Preston and Dakota playing in the teepee.

I used a cool setting on this picture!

Dumping the tank...haha, we know all about that!

Storms' a comin'!

Eating breakfast: Jimmy Dean Egg McMuffins and Costco blueberry and poppyseed muffins!! (The white slugbug in the background is a '64. Some RVers were towing it)

The next morning we headed off to Lake Yellowstone! It was so pretty! I guess I never really think of Lake, because it is so different from all the other features in Yellowstone. It is like you are on a real beach! We were the only ones there except for another family and we got to see grizzly bear paw prints...fresh!! It always felt like the bear was right behind you...:/

Tilly loves the water.

I also retouched this photo. My Mom loves it!

Dad and Tilly walking on the beach together. :)

I know these two pictures are the same, but I liked them both!

On one side of Lake, it was very dark and on the other side...

....bright blue skies!

Grizzly bear paw prints!

Dakota Caroline.

Another macro picture.

Aunt Jill and Uncle Jeff asked us if we would drive to Cody, WY with them and we accepted the offer! 77 miles from Fishing Bridge to Cody...an hour and a half. We drove over the Sylvan Pass and it was beautiful! Just glad we had good brakes on the RV. :)

Beautiful day for driving...

Lots of cool picture opportunities on the way!

We stopped at the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitors Center to read a bit. The reservoir was really cool and it was a perfect day for sightseeing. The view from the top of the dam was a bit scary as it is 325 feet!!! In 1910, it was the tallest dam in the world!