Wind in the Bear

Sunday, August-26

Not a bad stopover at West Yellowstone; but this morning - Sun-Aug-26 - I need to get going and return to and get across Yellowstone NP (Wyoming) and back into Montana in order to meet-up with my soon-to-be new STer friends in the township of Billings, which is located around 212 miles [341 km] away towards the northeast.

Almost immediately upon entering the Park I spot an elk grazing along the roadside bank.

Around halfway across the Park I stumble upon the Falls of the Gibbon River between Norris Junction and Madison Junction – aka: 'The Gibbon Falls' (not unreasonably named, I reckon! .. ;o)

As I make my way to the Park's northeast exit/entrance I am confronted by a full-grown bison [/ buffalo] that's just ambling by, apparently without a care about my presence at all. I must admit to feeling a little threatened at the time. Sitting on a motorcycle, out in the open, does not offer any sort of protection from a disgruntled beast that can weigh anything up to 2,000 lbs/pounds (900 Kg)

This one really was a big bugger, and passed me within no more than 10 feet (3 m) - glad to think though, that he's a dedicated herbivore! ... An absolutely incredible encounter

More fine scenery ...

.. as I continue along my way

.. and odd rock formations

This cliff overhang here has been, of course, partly blasted to make way for the Grand Loop Road upon which I am now travelling

A herd of bison to my LH side ...

.. and another to my RH side about a further ten miles [16 km] along towards the exit/entrance



As I leave Yellowstone Park ...

.. almost immediately I'm also leaving Wyoming and re-entering the state of Montana

And fairly soon afterwards I'm climbing up ‘Beartooth Pass’

The approximate elevation rise is from 5,200 to 8,000 feet in 12 miles [1,600 to 2,400 metres in 20 km]

The summit is 10,974 feet [3,345 m] high .. and it's bloody cold up here ...

.. and bloody windy as hell!

But comes with some super scenery ...



.. and a typical winding road as I make my descent down to the lowlands .. and onto Billings.

I arrive at my destination by around 4:00pm. It's been a memorable day for more than one reason.