R O A D   T R I P   T O   Y E L L O W S T O N E

Wednesday, August 4, 2004

I rise at 8am with plans to leave Bozeman. I'm now free to head-out and accumulate more trip adventures, having completed all updates to the website through August 3rd. Before I leave for Yellowstone, my next destination, I have to write a few postcards, find a post office for stamps, then replenish my potable water reserves exhausted from 3 days of steady water use.

Finding a water source proves the most challenging. Not knowing the lay-of-the-land when it comes to gas station amenities in Bozeman, I find myself driving hither and yon, looking for a station that has water service. I finally found an Exxon but have to fill from a 100-foot hose that is used to irrigate the grounds. Had I been forced to look much longer, my alternative plan was to knock on someone's door and ask to use their hose. I suspect before this cross-country trip comes to a conclusion, I'll have knocked on a few doors in search of nature's cool refreshment.

Finally all tasks are completed and I head out to Yellowstone. My route takes me due east on I-90 then due south on Rt-98 all the way to Mammoth Hot Springs, my first destination within the park. Since it's around noon when I depart, I find myself feeling somewhat apprehensive about finding a campsite when I arrive. July and August are peak season in the park, even on weekdays.

Passing through downtown Bozeman on my way out.

Jumping onto I-90 I am immediately surprised by the passing scenery, it wasn't half bad. Driving the Interstate is usually a boring experience but the drive proves acceptable in the all important scenery eye-candy category.