June 20, 2011: Museum of the Rockies and Yellowstone National Park

We were so excited to continue our journey and finally get to Yellowstone.  Along the way this day, we stopped at the Missouri Headwaters State Park and got to see the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin Rivers.  Although we couldn't really see much because the water was so high...

  Missouri Headwaters State Park, flooded...

Then we went to the Museum of the Rockies.  We HAD to stop here to see the dinosaur exhibits, and we were not disappointed.

Feeding chickens... before the chicken bite!  

Poor Selena got "bit" by a chicken while she was trying to feed it...

 Rest stop between Livingston, Montana and Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Finally!!!

 Gardiner, Montana entrance to Yellowstone.

 As we entered the park we started seeing lots of animals...

Journal

7:00 am, Monday June 20

Good Morning!  It was not easy sleeping on the ground in the tipi!  The darn mouse kept me up half the night.  Everyone else is still sleeping, and I thought I'd enjoy a quick journal entry.  

We are thinking of changing the driving directions and going through West Yellowstone instead of Livingston.  I left he maps in the car, so after breakfast we'll have to check it out.  It's time to wake up the troops!

9:30 am

After some quick playing the the little park, we stopped at the Park Visitor Center.  They had some great maps and information.  Now we are on our way to Three Forks and Missouri Headwaters State Park. 

10:10 am

We are stuck at some road construction, so we are having a snack and picked a weed to sketch. 

11:00 am

We stopped to visit the headwaters of the Missouri River, but the area was totally flooded!

We had to stop for shoes for Abby, got lunch at McDonalds, then went to the Museum of the Rockies.  It was so cool, we got to see real dinosaur bones!  There was also a frog exhibit.  The funny moment of the day was Selena getting her finger bit by a chicken.  She didn't like it too much, but it was funny.

4:00 pm

Dinner at Paradise Valley Pop Stand.  After an eventful dinner of fit throwing and a "water fountain" we got on our way south.  This is part of the mountain range to the east (referring to a sketch).

5:30 pm

Absaroka - Beartooth Wilderness rest area.  The river is very full.  We took lots of pictures.

6:00 pm

Welcome to Yellowstone!

10:30 pm

As we entered the park, we got our first glimpse of wildlife.  The girls were sleeping but we got some pictures of the mountain goats on the rocks.  As we drove through the park we saw LOTS of bison.  We had planned to camp in the park, but we ended up outside of West Yellowstone at a KOA.  It's more per night than we wanted to spend, but it has a playground, showers, pool, hot tub, laundry... lots of cool things. We also have neighbors with little kids, and the girls like playing with them.  It's late so I'm going to bed.  It will be nice with NO mouse for company.  ~p.s. I was so upset about not finding a campsite, I didn't enjoy the awesome sights on the way through the park.  We saw hot springs and bubbling rivers, and so much more.  I can't wait till tomorrow.