July 4, Happy Independence Day! On the road at 8:40--a record for us. Our intention was to get up early (inspired by the super human Boerners---you know who you are) but we are joining a train of humans touring Yellowstone. Though we strive to be different we blame our kids for mediocrity as we join the international human train. Thank goodness the kids are excited by steam pots, sparing disappointment so far. We saw another Vanagon! Our existence was affirmed! We whooped in delight and conferred on how we wanted to stop and share and be part of the Vanagon family. After walking Norris Geyser Basin the kids were more than reluctant to visit the springs at Mammoth. Crying, balking, all methods were employed to not go. Not to be ones to pull out bribery until forced to, we offered up ice cream after dragging through the first half of the walk. Needless to say, it worked.

Reese: I got to see the largest geyser in the world. It is called Steamboat Geyser. It was erupting, but not as high as it can. It can go 380 feet high. The last time it went that high was July 31, 2013. I got to go on a boardwalk at see lots of geysers. The coolest one used to erupt but it doesn't now because people threw garbage in it. Ruby: We got to see the geysers. We stopped to see a bear but it was gone after we stopped. Mom and Dad think it was a grizzly bear.

And then we did see a grizzly bear! On our long drive around the park, hitting the highlights we put our new binoculars to good use. It was amazing, and so was the traffic jam the grizzly unknowingly created. It wasn't long before a park employee was out directing traffic. Bridge Bay was where we laid our heads, along with 400 other campers. The mosquitoes were ferocious. Not that kids didn't already look like they had the pox. We broke our home made, permithrin soaked garments and that helped keep them at bay. As did our new door screen. Two victories!