The West Thumb Hot Springs field
Mert decided she wanted a "down day' on our second and last day at the Yellowstone wonderland.
She had always wanted just to sit and rocking on that marvelous front porch at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel.
It's true there's a lot of driving to the next attraction at Yellowstone. This place is just huge. There are natural wonders scattered all over the national park, but it's quite a ways to each one.
Zef and I weren't going to spend all our precious Yellowstone time rocking back and forth. We set out for what one tourist called "Tom Thumb." I figured out he meant the West Thumb. I encountered this gentleman as he was coming down the cascade of steps at the Mammoth Hot Springs and I was huffing and puffing up.
"Tom Thumb is a lot better, especially for all the trouble getting up there (top of Mammoth)," he advised.
I took the counsel, turned around and on that second day was at the West Thumb. Many others had apparently gotten the same advice and we circled and circled around the driveway. Finally, Zef told me, "I'll take over the driving, and you hit the trail." Him being a champion and adroit driver, I accepted the offer.
The West Thumb has a plethora of underground bubbly wonders - some growling and throwing up mud and steam so it's easy to understand that the Native Americans believed that the Devil was inside.
Some rounded steaming and hissing creations have water the color of the finest cobalt. All along the edge of Yellowstone Lake at this point were boiling eruptions, some extending out into the water. A nearby guide said in the colder weather that otters are attracted to this warmth.
Numerous of the interpretive signs told that Yellowstone had had a giant eruption in the past, and another is likely on the way. With all these hissing, boiling, smoking, steaming underground forces on every side, it was not hard to envision it happening before we got out of the parking lot.
Back at our luxiant home base, Min was ready to play cards, though it was not yet the evening hours. Lake Yellowstone Hotel is a more formal place, but just down the road is the rustic Lake Lodge, that is a delightful creation in itself. The lodge had been outfitted with wifi, though the more upscale hotel has not a glimmer of it.
There are two fireplaces (not a real fire but still calming) in the extensive lodge lobby. There were also plenty of large tables and chairs, ideal for card playing.
A couple of times a guest stopped by to ask which game we were playing that used all those cards - Hand And Foot.
In the evening, the ladies were finally ready to venture out so we headed for the Fishing Village. Still not much sign of wildlife, but we had an incredible overlook of the huge Yellowstone Lake from a lofty "turnout."
Then it was to bed for our final night at Yellowstone, where air conditioning is not on the menu. Min had opened our big window when she was visiting, but in the middle of the night I heard a disqueting howl of a pack of reintroduced wolves and closed out the sound by putting down the window. That made it hotter still, and Mert was not happy. Back up goes the window, and the wolves had fortunately found new territory.