Yellowstone
We have been travelling around Yellowstone park for three days now. Suffice to say, we are exhausted but the park is absolutely stunning. In fact, we are struggling to find appropriate adjectives to describe just how lovely it all is. So we will need to attach some pictures instead as a small illustration of some of the sights we have seen and experienced (shown later).

Our first task of course was to purchase our pass for the park. We collected this the first day of our arival from a very helpful park ranger in a booth at the west entrance. The cost a mere US$80 for an annual pass that covers us and the car to enter any of the parks in the USA at any time for a year. When you consider that all the so-called 'exhibits' and attractions in the parks are then free to view, this represents amazing value and we will be able to use it to enter the Glacier National Park when we stay in Kallispel later on in our epic journey.
 
The first day was somewhat cold and there had been a dusting of snow overnight which settled on the mountain pines and added a magical (almost Christmas Card) quality to the landscape. We headed initially directly east to Canyon Village which is a trip of some 40 miles. Sounds like it would only take about an hour (max speed limit is 45mph) but I think it took us about 3 hours. The trouble is, you tend to stop about every 2 minutes to take-in 'another' of the magnificent sights (and then do the same again on the way back!).
Here are some of our more scenic pics:

In addition to the beautiful scenery, there were plenty of hot springs to view along the way:

We didn't get back to our hotel until about 6.30pm having only eaten a banana and a chocolate muffin during the day.

For our second day, we headed north to a place called Tower Roosevelt via the Mammoth Hot Springs. A mere matter of 67 miles out and the same back again. The weather though had turned for the better and we were treated to views of the landscape under beautiful blue cloud free sky's.
Some pics:

 

Again, we were quite taken-up with the sights and did not get back to our hotel until about 7.30pm.

Our third day in the park started a little later as quite frankly we were a bit tired from the last two days and needed to get some washing done. But, as the weather was even sunnier and warmer than day 2, we decided to spend some time just sitting next to the Gibbon river taking in the atmosphere whilst watching a pair of Ospreys building a nest and catching fish.
Some Pics:

Cold pizza left over from an over-order the previous evening served to sate our appetite for lunch and, thus prepared, we set off south to find the Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. 

Jan said it was a very appropriate name for me but I said 'less of the old!'.

An earlier return to base for us (6pm) so we decided to have a couple of drinks and reflect. We substituted dinner for an early night (just as well I think!).