Day 46:
There has been little of interest to write about this day, which is good because I needed a day to catch up. I did however, spend the night in a dark parking lot just inside the Grand Teton National Park. After a few hours and nearly into a dream, I was awakened by an odd event.
Three vehicles sped into my parking lot. The one trailing the first two was a police SUV with its lights twirling, the one in the middle was another SUV but it was white with no visible distinguishing features, the one leading them all, or perhaps the one being pursued was a white sedan. I thought at first that I was going to receive a visit by this rambunctious crowd, but surprisingly, all three vehicles parked on the opposite end of my lot. One officer got out of the Police SUV and for all I could tell, merely walked around the white vehicle shining his light inside and only, if but terribly briefly, spoke with the person inside the sedan. This is all I could tell that he did. He got back in his SUV and drove off. The other white SUV followed, passing right behind my vehicle. The sedan stayed parked for several hours until I fell asleep. I kept waking up several times concerned about that vehicle and it eventually was gone. I woke up for good around 5am. From there we enter Day 47 along with Yellowstone National Park.
Day 47:
I drove into Yellowstone. What an incredible place. I had never been before. Upon seeing, for the first time, steam rising out of the ground at every turn, I was astonished. It just looked so cool, like I was on a different world at times.
I made my way to Old Faithful. Upon walking around the park for awhile I came upon two buffalo. I knelt down on the path and started taking pictures. One of them started grazing in my direction. I kept taking pictures. It got closer. I held my ground. It lazily meandered a little closer. I still didn't move. It's funny looking nose and mouth kept discovering little clumps of vegetation that were ever closer to where I was kneeling! I pulled out my phone and began recording.
I am aware that you're not suppose to get close to these animals, for your own safety and for theirs. And I am aware that I might be reprimanded for not moving away as it got closer to me. But I didn't move away, so I accept the rebuke and will continue to tell you my story, which is nearly over anyway.
It got close to me and I simply didn't move. It was a slow meander in my still direction and before I knew it, this buffalo was within arms length. I could have reach out and touched its forehead. I didn't. I just stayed still, kneeling, filming. And it just kept eating tufts of vegetation near to where I was. I have the footage on my phone but judiciously I decided to not post it online.
Eventually I stood up and walked away. It was a surreal experience, one I won't soon forget.
I then sat down on a bench and waited for Old Faithful. It didn't go. I waited some more. Still nothing. I took some selfies, one of which I thought was good enough to make my profile pic. I made it my profile pic and I still waited.
Finally I went inside the lodge. It was still early. I had gotten their around 7am. I got a BLT wrap and waited. Finally it went off. Instinctively I went for my camera but I hesitated. I let it be and just watched it spray into the sky, with out a worry of getting the picture. I just wanted to be there. It is really amazing how something like Old Faithful can form naturally. This world truly is a beautiful place.
I began the trek home. I am currently in American Fork, Utah. But my trip isn't over yet. I will be in Anchorage next week, and the week after that, Hawaii.
Goodnight.