While hanging out in Yellowstone, we explored all parts of the park.

And since Fred is the proud owner of a senior interagency pass, we can come and go into national parks as we please for no fee. Definitely one of the better things that come with aging…being able to acquire and utilize that interagency pass. It has saved us so much money on park fees and camping fees.

We decided to venture into Cody, Wyoming, where we spent the night, restocked up on supplies, and ate a wonderful lunch at this little organic cafe, where the server was not what we expected from Cody, Wyoming.  Surprises abound everywhere.

 

 

As  western themed as this town was, it really was a happening little place, and we enjoyed our couple of days there.

But the main reason for going to Cody, was so that we could re-enter the park through the northeast entrance and journey across the scenic drive over the Beartooth Mountains of the Absaroka  Range of the Absaroka Wilderness area in northwestern Wyoming.

And those mountains were another surprise we weren’t exactly prepared for either.

“Ooh-la-la”

That’s how our friend Paul from Seeley Lake described the drive. And that is exactly what we both said, going  up and down the switchback road. I didn’t count, but the road must have had at least a hundred switchbacks…most without guardrails.

 

 

I have a habit of leaning into the middle of the van, and getting as far over to the opposite side of the cliff as I can, when we maneuver these white knuckle cliff hanging roads.

But, boy oh boy, when we reached the top…

 

 

And were above tree line, that crazy road leveled off, and we drove for miles through a high plateau, complete with freezing temperatures, ferocious winds, and remaining August snow drifts.

 

 

We felt like we were truly soaring above the world up there, looking down and across at the magnificence of Mother Earth.

 

 

Until we slowly descended back down into a valley of calm.

 

 

Where the flowers and green meadows drank from the spattered lakes.

Not a bad day’s drive…thanks Paul for telling us we needed to take that trip over the mountain pass.

❧