Day 9 started liesurely, I know crazy, right?! I told you PSM was catching up with us and we were going to meet today in West Yellowstone at the hotel, he spent the night in Billings, MT, which was only about 2 hours from where we were at the Comfort Inn Bozeman, he said if he had realized that, he would have joined us last night, go figure!
So…he got up early to head out to meet us, so that would be why we decided to start a little liesurely and we got a text at 945a from PSM “I am here.” You know what I did, right?! If you guessed that I jumped up, ran out the door, down the stairs, and out the front door of the hotel in my jammies and barefoot…you would be correct! One thing you may not know about me, I am a barefoot baby! If I can go barefoot, I will. Needlesss to say…that’s how PSM found me when I literally ran into him! Finally!
Back to the rooms to regroup, get dressed, pack up, take everything downstairs, load the bikes, load the riders, and take off! We headed to Tru North Cafe, it was charming inside and we got there just in time, I snagged a table before we ordered, good thing too! right after we ordered, the line was out the door! PSM and VGT had already eaten, so it was coffee for them and breakfast for DJH and I. Y U M!
We came out and there was a family admiring our bikes, they had 2 small kids and we offered for them to sit on the bikes, gotta love when they get on and get that look on their faces! We are definitely the type of bikers who will allow others to sit on our bikes, some aren’t like that! Never, and I mean never touch someone’s bike or sit on it without asking, that’s just rude! But if someone offers, if you’re game, go for it! Just like the woman we met in Hayes, KS, I’m happy to encourage anyone to get the biker bug!
Back on the bikes, petrol first, then vroom vroom, weeeee! We rode about an hour and we were at one entrance of Yellowstone National Park. PSM, DJH, and I had been there on our 3 week trip in 2023, but VGT had never been, score! And…DJH promised on this trip, we’re going to stop more and take pictures, so far, he’s held true to his word!
The first stop, Fumaroles, an opening in the Earth’s surface that releases hot steam and volcanic gases, oooh! an you see the steam? Thank goodness we weren’t close enough to smell the sulfur! And no…we did not coordinate our shirts, we all just wore something from the red family! 1.5 minute video, 5 minute video
Next, we stopped at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Old Faithful si noe of nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone and one of six that the park rangers currently predict! Isn’t that wild! And the reason it’s called Old Faithful? Becuase it errupts with high regularity and predictability! It is so predictable that there is a clock that tells you approximately when the next erruption will be! It errupts every 60 to 90 minutes, and let me tell you, the clock was spot on!
There were so many people gathered, ready for this natural phenomenon, it was set to go off about 10 minutes past 2p and wouldn’t you know it…they truly don’t call it Old Faithful for nutin’! It did not disappoint! There was something so magical about watching it errupt and the effect it had on everyone watching! Isn’t this spectacular?!
After watching Old Faithful with everyone else, we got patches, stickers, and I got my magnet, we headed back to the bikes to head to the hotel, the Kelly Inn, located in West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone is just outside the West Entrance to the park. We stayed at the Kelly Inn 3 years ago on our 3 week trip, we knew we wanted to stay there again.
I will tell you, this is not an inexpensive hotel, but definitely worth it, hence why we stayed here again this trip! This is also the only time we spend two nights in one location! I have to tell you, it’s nice not to have to pack up our stuff and load the bikes the next day! The hotel is charming, they have bear statues all over the property, including climing up the side of the buildings!
We unpacked, then took advantage of the hot tub and pool, regrouping to head out to dinner at a place everyone really loved the last time, Bullwinkle’s Montana Italian Steakhouse & Saloon. The service and the food did not disappoint the second time! We walked around a bit after dinner, the guys were in search of ice cream to cleanse the palate. Then we headed back to the hotel to relax and enjoy the firepits before turning in for the evening. Tomorrow, we’re just riding…
Day 9: 146 Miles, 6 Hours, Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park! The views! Tomorrow…Grand Teton!
Peaches Prattlings 