OFF LINE ENTRY

Fishing Bridge RV Campground
Yellowstone National Park
August 6, 2008, 9:10 pm Mountain Time

Cloudy and cooling quickly, though the day was mostly sunny in the 70's.
Temperature: 64F

We had an interesting 2-hour drive up from Cody into Yellowstone Park this morning. We followed the canyon of the Shoshone River as it flows out of the park. Beautiful rock formations, steep canyon walls, a fast flowing trout stream, and a few farms and ranches where the land flattens a bit. A smoky haze hung over the countryside from fires burning in the park. We stopped at the Buffalo Bill Dam Reservoir (picture, note the smoke). It holds the water supply for the town of Cody and the surrounding irrigated farm and ranch lands.

We reached the campground by lunch and after a bit of shopping for essentials (postcards, etc.), we spent a lazy afternoon napping and reading, and then an evening of eating, wine sipping, and talking.

The smoke that was evident on the drive up here dissipated as we neared the campground. The wind seemed to have carried it away from us and the sky was clear and blue. On occasion we could hear the aircraft that would come to nearby Yellowstone Lake to dip lake water for dropping on the fires northeast of our campground. The fires seem to be contained and we've heard that in some areas they are being allowed to burn themselves out naturally. Only when they threaten the lodges and campgrounds, or private property outside the park, are they being fought in earnest.

Entry written August 6th; Posted to Blog August 9th.