Big parks

Leaving Las Vegas is not as stress free as expected, it’s truly like the movie. The bike shop is closed as it’s Labour’s Day, those A-holes told me to come and pick it up on Monday, also the rental place is closed so I just have to drop the car and come back the day after to try and get the money of the fine back.

Anyway that’s all good as I spend a lovely couple of days in the company of really cool people at the hostel. Haydn in particular I hope to hook up with again, a South African biker that is going across America like me and that plans to go from Africa to China in the future. I’d like to join him on that.

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Haydn on the lefy and the other merry bunch of the Hostel Las Vegas.
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First leg to Salt Lake City

I’m obviously tired, the first day was just desert ride aided by some Red Bull, the second day was no better and I had to increase the Red Bull dosage to get to the campsite in the Gran Teton Park. At least i took some pictures.

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Beautiful first scenery in west Wyoming.
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And more Red Bull
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Another state, another sign
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And flag
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Another long day and the nights in the tent are getting colder.

Jackson Hole looks and feels a little bit like Aspen, I think there is a lot of money slashing around here. I get out of town very quickly and seek refuge in one of the National Park campsites, manage to rustle up a little wood and spend the night in quiet contemplation of the fire.

With the morning comes the next challenge, getting through, and visiting, to some extent, two magnificent National Parks: Gran Teton and Yellowstone.

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Gran Teton National Park
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With its glacier, a sign of cold to come.
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Detail
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Stopped for a coffee and a cake at the Jackson Lake Lodge, probably the best framed view in the world.
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Cannot get tired of the view.

I did not visit as much as I crossed Gran Teton. I guess a few days spent here hiking up and down the hills would not be badly spent. I also got to see the ski resort that, as I write, might already have snow.

After the coffee in the lodge I kept going, it’s still early in the morning but I wanted to spend some tie in Yellowstone and I did not know where I was going to spend the night.

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Approaching Yellowstone I go trough a managed fire area.
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They let fires burn here, it’s part of the natural course of things.
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The road to Yellowstone is already pretty spectacular, but all can be improved by putting my bike in it.
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The mighty Snake River
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It will go through a bunch of States but eventually end in the Pacific
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And, while it’s cold, it’s a lovely day.
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I cannot believe that tree is still standing.

As I get to main geyser area there are still 40 minutes before the eruption so I go to have some food. The cool thing about this geyser is not so much it’s size but its predictability, it erupts approximately every 90 minutes.

There is a crowd waiting and I get in a conversation with a chap fro the north of England who is hell bent on convincing me that the Brexit vote was a good thing. Why meeeee!!!

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Old Faithful at rest.
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Crowd gathered.
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Warming up.
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The mouth
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Here we go
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Nice enough, worth the wait

After the shown it’s time for a little walk to see the other pools around the main attraction.

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Chrystal clear water
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Sulfur sediments
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Hot hot hot

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Amazing natural architecture

After a brief ride on the bike I then stop at the Grand Prismatic Spring area.

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The border of the Grand Prismatic Spring
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Playing with water and light
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Incredible deposits
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More interesting patterns
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Opal Pool
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Clearest water in the Excelsior Geyser Crater
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Turquoise Pool

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Sulphur anybody?
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And all down to the river.

This was quite enough vulcanicity for one day, time to get going and try to get as close to Missoula as possible, tomorrow another adventure starts.

But before I leave the park there is still another surprise waiting for me, I see a bunch of cars stopped at the side of the road and I soon understand what’s going on, I stop and snap.

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Does he look in charge or what?
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Worry not I’m looking out for you ladies.

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Before I leave the park I get into my 11th state for this trip.
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And the scenery of Montana really does not pull its punches.