Danger, wild animals

After a night on the hard ground (catastrophic mattress failure), the not-really-greatness of our campsite and the pressure of needing to make it to North Dakota by Saturday, we were not sure we would be able to enjoy Yosemite. We decided to take the full lap and just see what there was to see. There are oceans and oceans of forests, which Exploding poptart thinks are lovely and serene, but which Papercup Mixmaster and Wuggy Norple think are dull. And now there's a traffic jam. What for, you might ask? Bison on the highway. Whole families of bison. With babies even.

Apparently it happens. And Elk. And Deer. And the biggest traffic jam of all... a real bear. And finishing the animal safari part of our journey, we found the lake. If that sight doesn't bring peace, I don't know what would. We found a little pull out and watched Dog chase the bubbles on the waves, and Wuggy Norple and Papercup Mixmaster skipping stones. Wuggie Norple almost lost it when we suggested he get back in the car. We stopped at just a fraction of the amazing wonderful things to see, and as we traversed geyser country, thought perhaps it was time to leave Wyoming, and get back to our cross-country trip. We stopped for lunch at the Old Faithful village, and noticed people streaming towards a plume of smoke. It was due to go at 1:55 and here we were at 2:05. It was a hot impatient wait, but we got to see it- the archetypal plume. Now we could go.