Day 3: MT, WY

October 7, 2011

Here is the wrap on the trooper story. When he asked me for my license, registration & insurance, I gave him all that and my 48-state road trip story. He was so impressed that he let me off with a warning. That was a good break – and a warning well ahead in the trip to practice safe driving.

True to the John Steinbeck quote, the trip showed that it had a mind of its own today. I drove 300+ miles to enter Yellowstone Park from the west entrance with the intent of leaving from the east side and reaching Cody, Wy for the night. The ranger told me that the Hwy I was planning on taking to reach Cody was closed, leading me to make the first tweaks to my well laid plans. I got to see the geyser basin, including the Old Faithful and the breathtaking beauty Yellowstone has to offer, even if you see only a fraction of it. We also saw a herd of bison from very close quarters as well as an elk. Unfortunately, I was not dressed for how cold today was there – the temperature ranged between 32 degrees and 36 degrees. Apollo enjoyed frolicking in the snow, although I wasn't too comfortable letting him be especially when I saw him shivering a bit. When he saw the bison (he was sitting in the car) while I had stepped out to take a photograph, he started growling. And the bison turned towards us giving us a nonchalant but threatening look. I quickly got back into the car and drove off.

Our time today inside the park was measured – in addition to the low temperatures, there was a 70% chance of snow, and I clearly didn't want to get caught there. Snow tires were required today. I thought to myself that my all-season tires will have to do (winter being inclusive in all seasons). But I clearly didn't want to push my luck and left by 2:30 pm. As I was driving out, I got some snow flurries, but nothing the all-season tires couldn't deal with.

So, instead of driving to Cody, Wy, I had to come back to Montana and I'm staying the night in Livingston. This would leave me with an additional 80 miles or so of driving tomorrow.

I must say I am thrilled at the opportunity to drive in Montana for three days in a row. Keith – I do have few AC/DC albums and will try them tomorrow. But you can't take away the fun from Runnin' Down a Dream.