DAY 12

Yellowstone National Park
Madison to Middle/Lower Geyser Basins Wyoming!

A day off, of sorts. We left the tent and the bags and rode for a day trip to the Middle and Lower Geyser Basins.

First stop: the Middle. If Yellowstone was Ada's top destination for the entire trip, then Grand Prismatic Spring was the destination within a destination. She's obsessed with it. We planned the whole day around seeing it and enjoying it and watching it from every angle and light. It didn't disappoint. We stayed for hours.

The other pools and geysers nearby were equally good.

Later at the Lower Basin, AKA Fountain Paint Pots, the springs were more muddy and bloopy...you get the picture. Every single one of these sights is just a joke. Every one evokes much amazement, provokes close inspection and awe. It's that good.

The ride home through Firestone Canyon witnessed more steaming geysers, a coyote, a bull elk and plenty of fly fishermen.