We drove 280 miles yesterday. We did our laundry yesterday while we were at the hotel.
Woke up and had breakfast and travelers gave us a heads up about the route we wanted to take to get to Yellowstone. They informed us that if we went the route we had planned – going to the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone – we would encounter snow due to the high elevation through the mountains.
It was a little drizzly while we were going around battlefield. We went to Little Bighorn Battlefield and Dave will expound on that experience. It was neat to be driving the same area that Custer had ridden his horse and fought.
Dave here. A soldier views that ground like no one else. When I am on a battlefield, I feel a bit of the terror and thirst and fatigue which I have felt before. Here there is no cover for the defender, no rocks, trees or even low spots. The prarie is hard and impossible to dig without spades so no foxholes. They were cut off from water. Once the enemy had you pinned down, all advantages were his. Custer had split his force into three battalions. Reno led the first charge into the Indian encampment and was driven back across the river to the high ground where he was joined by the second battalion which was supposed to reinforce Custer and the third battalion but Benteen ignored Custer's messages for reinforcement. Even if he had reinforced I doubt the battle would have had a different outcome. They were outnumbered 10 to one. Benteen and Reno survived the battle which sealed the fate of the Indians. This was the equivalent of our 9/11 . The country demanded revenge and got it.
So after talking with travelers we changed our route and it was a beautiful ride. We could see mountains instead of driving in them. They were snow capped and elevation was between 8,000 and 12,000 feet. We went to the north entrance instead – but which direction? We got to the signs and the Roosevelt Tower but ended up going to the right and it took us down by the high school. I don't think this is the correct way, Dave. We drive over 1,000 miles and take a wrong turn – oops. So he turned around and we went under the Tower.
We bought a Senior National Parks pass when we visited Saratoga Battlefield for $10 and it has come in very handy. We have used it frequently and have saved lots of money. From the Little Bighorn Battlefield, we went west on I-90 to Billings – to Livingston and then south on route 89 to Yellowstone. Maybe we will get to see Yogi and Booboo Bear! (oh wait – that's Jellystone).
We arrive at Visitor's center and ask about camping opportunities. Dave getting a little anxious as it will be dark and we don't want to have to set up the tent in the dark. We ask about campgrounds with shower facilities – one in Madison, but it would be a longer drive tonight. We decide on Indian Creek – no showers. What? No showers? The guy at the visitors center said we could take showers at the hotel across the road for $3.50. Is is worth it? I think so. It will be a nine mile drive to get there – again, is it worth it? It think so. Get to Indian Creek and along the way, as you can expect, beautiful scenery. Ranger says no bears and no snakes – hooray! Set up camp at number 29. Very nice. Close to vault toilet – little nicer then a port-a-potty. It is really roughing it because there are no sinks to wash hands. Oh well – we are still having fun. Got camp set up by 5 pm and ate dinner of chicken, corn, 3 cheese pasta and tea. Yummy. Found a bear proof bin to keep our food in. While we were setting up – it started to hail. Once we were set we got ready for bed – winter hat, under armour shirt, sweatpants, wool socks, t-shirt and fleece. We will be under/in sleeping bags so we should be warm. Put on my mittens for a little while to warm up. It is so cold we can see our breath – supposed to be in the high 40's. What? No cell phone service? Right – so I am writing this on word processing program and then will cut and paste and add photos once we get service.
Ready for bed by 8 as it gets dark and cold. As night draws on – the sky gets clearer and you know what that means – colder temps. BBBRRR.
Plan for tomorrow is to go to Old Faithful and see if it really is faithful and sightsee.
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