Old faithful lodge

We have arrived. It has been a totally awesome day! By the time we got off the river from our float trip,  it was after 4 and we still had to get to the hotel.

On the trip north, still in GTNP, we came upon a group of people and knew there must be something worth looking at.  When Phillip stopped the car, Jayden jumped out and ran up to the FRONT of the group asking what they were seeing...  

It was a GRIZZLY bear with her 3 cubs feasting on an elk carcass.  They were about 125 yards from the road, but we made use of our binoculars to get a look.  There was also a coyote about 25 yards from the bears waiting for a piece of the action.  At one point Jayden saw the mom stand up and growl at the coyote so that he would leave them alone.  

Jayden had a conversation with the ranger while observing the bears.  Jayden is not afraid to get right up in the thick of things and people seem to enjoy helping him spot the animals.  That Jayden!  He is liked by Rangers and Strangers J  ...They always want to help himJ see the animals.  

Just down the road from the Bear, we saw another group of people pulling off the road.  We got out of the car and headed into a field towards a stream and saw a Bull Moose resting on the shore.  We were within 30 yards of the moose.  

It was a beautiful drive north to get to the Old Faithful Lodge (which is right next to the Old Faithful Inn).

We saw a Bull Elk with a huge rack just before getting to the Old Faithful area

We are staying at the Old faithful Lodge, which is a cool, log and rock structure and we had a small cabin in the rear.  These were only $66 per night.. Our cabin had a sink and a double bed and a single bed. Period.  No TV.  The restrooms were in another building and the showers in still another building.  It wasn’t like staying in a fancy hotel, but we enjoy it.  I was excited that we were able to get a room - most people make reservations years in advance.  We were hungry so we had a quick dinner at the cafeteria, then waited for Old Faithful’s eruption. 

After watching the eruption, we walked around the area to view the other thermal features.  Jayden spotted bear tracks in the thermal zone area…and a moose or elk (Phillip and Jadyen don’t agree and I didn’t see it) among the trees.  It was almost dark by the time we got to the cabin and took a shower.  It didn’t take Jayden 3 seconds to fall asleep.  We are all tuckered and ready for tomorrow's adventures! BTW....this was the best day of wildlife sightings EVER!