West Yellowstone Trip

After a bit of a rough situation with our van rental on Wednesday night, we were off to spend the night in Hurdsfield to begin our caravan to West Yellowstone at 5:00 AM sharp Thursday.

Of course we packed all the western gear we owned.

Trying to stave off car sickness with a potato pal.

That's a nope for Reagan getting her hands on bear spray after a small indicent during our Glacier trip.

We made it to our airbnb late afternoon. It was a great set-up.

Once we got settled, we went back into town for pizza and calzones.

The massage chairs got quite a bit of use.

Tessa arranged a van with a guide to take us through all the highlights of Yellowstone National Park. He picked us up right at the airbnb.

We had placed our lunch order with the guide company prior to the trip and stopped and had our picnic lunch.

This was a really cool lodge where we stopped to see Old Faithful. It had a nice gift shop inside. Mom and Dad decided to watch Old Faithtful from its rooftop while the rest of our group walked around until it was time to take our places to watch Old Faithful.

The whole impetus behind the trip! Last year Clara commented that she really wanted to go see Old Faithful and other geysers. So, we relayed that to auntie Tessa and she planned a whole wonderful vacation for us! Thanks, auntie!

There it goes!

That evening most of us went for dinner at The Buffalo, a bar in West Yellowstone.

Reagan's boyfriend Andrew (also affectionately known by many as Bubba and by Dana as 'Drewbers) was also able to join us on the trip.

Chad had brought their four-seater ATV and Dana rented some additional for the rest of us and we were getting our stern talkin'-to here before we set out on the trails on Saturday morning.

Chad had a great time as the passenger with the teenage girls, after they made a coffee run to start off the ride. ;-)

We didn't realize we'd be crossing over into Idado on the trails, so we had to snap a pic and officially check that state off our list!

We stopped for a bathroom break and what we thought was going to be a self-guided tour through some cabin but we realized before we get to the house that we didn't have enough time so we had to turn back and return to the trail.

Stopping for ice cream on the way back to the house.

Pickleball tournament:

We drove into Island Park (in Idaho) for some more ice cream and a potato photo op.

Brynn and I were on a mission to complete our western looks before the rodeo that night, so Dad and Mom drove us into town and we hit the jackpot at one of the shops where we found bandanas, buckles and another hat for me.

Out on a morning walk on a trail near the house.

Andrew braiding Reagan's hair before white water rafting.

Reagan, Ben, Chad and Andrew went on the more adventurous route while Tessa, Dana, Brynn, Oliver, Elise and I went more low key. It was a really fun experience.