2500 miles -- day 5 -- just outside Yellowstone

Allowed ourselves a leisurely start with a free Beartooth Motel waffle breakfast.  Got a few groceries ahead for breakfasts and lunches on the road. And WATER!  Seems like we drink twice as much with heat and high altitudes. 

Spent many more hours at the Buffalo Bill museum than expected. It's really 5 in 1: a fascinating section about Bill, man and legend; an extensive Plains Indian history section; Western wildlife and geology; art and sculpture of the West; and firearms, grouped by wars, over 2700 varieties!  

The last 50 miles to Yellowstone through Shoshone Canyon are spectacular, with red rock formations along a deep blue river. Jarad played his pipes here, echoing through the canyon. We crossed a high pass where there was still snow, and the continental divide at 8391 ft, then descended down to the unexpectedly huge and beautiful Yellowstone lake.  There are swans and PELICANS here!

Still 50 more miles to Old Faithful -- the park is the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!  This tall, elegant geyser erupted as soon as we arrived, shining pure white against the azure sky.  We dined on Wyoming trout and beef at the historic Old Faithful hotel as we marveled at its massive construction from whole trees, the size of which no longer exist today.  And when we emerged, Old Faithful was erupting again!