Day 7 - July 25, 2014 - West Yellowstone, Mt. to Winnemucca, Nv.
* pictures to come at a later date, check back*
Early this morning, at about 2:15am, I woke myself up shivering violently. Oh and I had to pee, lovely. Dag gone does Yellowstone get cold! So I fought a war between my brain and my bladder as I lay there. Finally the bladder won and I reluctantly crawled out from under my blankets and got out of the tent to go to the facilities. Shivering, I walked the 1,000 or so yards and just kind of glanced up. I was absolutely stopped in my tracks. The stars were the brightest I have ever seen in my life. I felt like I was looking through the Hubble telescope just standing there right in the middle of the KOA campground. It looked like something you should see on NASA's website. After standing there, freezing, I decided to go about my business and get back in bed. Oh, but first I busted out the sleeping bag that I had brought for La Sara and crawled in to that and then wrapped my original blankets around me. I was snug as a bug in a rug for the rest of the night.
Yet again in the morning, woken up by my lovely campground neighbors who do not understand the concept of quiet time. Missionary preaching, yes, they have that covered. But quiet time, not so much. Oh well, Scott and this time Zayka (not Katya) to the rescue. Pancakes, eggs and bacon with a side of hot chocolate. Yes please. Oh, Zayka is from Mongolia and is studying to be a doctor. Pretty cool huh?
So I decided that today was just going to be a travel day. I'm not stopping at attractions, I just want to get to the campground and take a nap. So drive by tourism it was for the day. The Grand Tetons, yep, there they are in the distance. Idaho, saw it. Nevada desert, check. You know what I also saw? Another 80mph speed limit sign in Idaho. Oh yeah boys, I'm not falling for that shit again, I learned my lesson. The sap in the picture, not so much.
Ok, so once I realized I gained an hour by crossing into Pacific time I decided it was ok for Tycoon and I to stop and take one selfie.
After crossing a stretch of the Nevada wild lands, complete with wild life bridges (so cool).
I stopped in Wells, Nv. I ordered some takeout at Bella's Cafe which had the most kick ass hand cut fries I think I have ever had. They made In and Out fries look sad. And then proceeded to fill up at the shell station. $4.99 a gallon!!!! WHAT?? I'm not even in California yet!! Oh well, on to Winnemucca.
So I arrive at Winnemucca for my last stop before San Fransisco and the start of MINI Takes the States. Pop the tent and settle in to try and take a nap. Now, I have gone from one extreme to the next. Frozen tent in the morning at Yellowstone and now I'm baking like a potato in the desert of Nevada. You have to love this country, seriously. Where else can you go from snow covered mountains and a frozen tent in the morning, to 7 hours later in the barren dessert and over 100 degrees. Needless to say, the nap didn't work so well. But, I did meet a great couple who pulled into the RV park right in front of me. Sue and Tom are retired living out of their 40 ft RV towing a 4 door sedan and a Harley behind it. They found me and said that they were actually meeting their friend in Reno who is doing MINI Takes the States as well! Their friend has a Countryman named Sapphire and they are from the Seattle MINI club. Oh boy, we are getting close now! I'm running into people who know what MINI Takes the States is! So they hosted me for a vitamin water and we chatted for awhile before I decided it was time to try and get this blog updated. Oh and order pizza delivery directly to my tent. I love a world with technology and delivery.
Goodnight!
* pictures to come at a later date, check back*
Early this morning, at about 2:15am, I woke myself up shivering violently. Oh and I had to pee, lovely. Dag gone does Yellowstone get cold! So I fought a war between my brain and my bladder as I lay there. Finally the bladder won and I reluctantly crawled out from under my blankets and got out of the tent to go to the facilities. Shivering, I walked the 1,000 or so yards and just kind of glanced up. I was absolutely stopped in my tracks. The stars were the brightest I have ever seen in my life. I felt like I was looking through the Hubble telescope just standing there right in the middle of the KOA campground. It looked like something you should see on NASA's website. After standing there, freezing, I decided to go about my business and get back in bed. Oh, but first I busted out the sleeping bag that I had brought for La Sara and crawled in to that and then wrapped my original blankets around me. I was snug as a bug in a rug for the rest of the night.
Yet again in the morning, woken up by my lovely campground neighbors who do not understand the concept of quiet time. Missionary preaching, yes, they have that covered. But quiet time, not so much. Oh well, Scott and this time Zayka (not Katya) to the rescue. Pancakes, eggs and bacon with a side of hot chocolate. Yes please. Oh, Zayka is from Mongolia and is studying to be a doctor. Pretty cool huh?
So I decided that today was just going to be a travel day. I'm not stopping at attractions, I just want to get to the campground and take a nap. So drive by tourism it was for the day. The Grand Tetons, yep, there they are in the distance. Idaho, saw it. Nevada desert, check. You know what I also saw? Another 80mph speed limit sign in Idaho. Oh yeah boys, I'm not falling for that shit again, I learned my lesson. The sap in the picture, not so much.
Ok, so once I realized I gained an hour by crossing into Pacific time I decided it was ok for Tycoon and I to stop and take one selfie.
After crossing a stretch of the Nevada wild lands, complete with wild life bridges (so cool).
I stopped in Wells, Nv. I ordered some takeout at Bella's Cafe which had the most kick ass hand cut fries I think I have ever had. They made In and Out fries look sad. And then proceeded to fill up at the shell station. $4.99 a gallon!!!! WHAT?? I'm not even in California yet!! Oh well, on to Winnemucca.
So I arrive at Winnemucca for my last stop before San Fransisco and the start of MINI Takes the States. Pop the tent and settle in to try and take a nap. Now, I have gone from one extreme to the next. Frozen tent in the morning at Yellowstone and now I'm baking like a potato in the desert of Nevada. You have to love this country, seriously. Where else can you go from snow covered mountains and a frozen tent in the morning, to 7 hours later in the barren dessert and over 100 degrees. Needless to say, the nap didn't work so well. But, I did meet a great couple who pulled into the RV park right in front of me. Sue and Tom are retired living out of their 40 ft RV towing a 4 door sedan and a Harley behind it. They found me and said that they were actually meeting their friend in Reno who is doing MINI Takes the States as well! Their friend has a Countryman named Sapphire and they are from the Seattle MINI club. Oh boy, we are getting close now! I'm running into people who know what MINI Takes the States is! So they hosted me for a vitamin water and we chatted for awhile before I decided it was time to try and get this blog updated. Oh and order pizza delivery directly to my tent. I love a world with technology and delivery.
Goodnight!
See you in Memphis!
ReplyDelete