Yellowstone National Park

So we left the San Francisco area around 3 or 4 and headed east on i-80. And began our 18 hour journey through Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City and then north on i-15 to Yellowstone National Park. Kelli started the first leg of the trip, until around 11:30 or 12:00 if I can remember correctly. Then I took over and drove until about 7:00 or 8:00, with Kelli taking over again until around 10:00 or so when we made it in to Yellowstone. That was the first time I had driven all night and it was something... There would be just miles that would go by before seeing a car. At one point a tumbleweed as big as my car crossed the highway, fortunately I only hit the tail end of it so was able to keep on going...

I'm sure that Reno has its better points but from what we saw of it, it was the worst place ever. Granted we stopped at some gas station in what must have been the seediest place in town but first impressions are the most important impression. It was nice being able to see Salt Lake City even if it was at 5:00 in the morning. I knew I was getting close when I could smell a 'sulfur/salty' smell. My guess is that it was from the lake. I saw the Mormon Tabernacle from a distance...

Then, that morning as Kelli was driving, I woke up in time to see one of the most beautiful Sun rises I had ever seen. Unfortunately the picture doesn't quite do it justice:

When we finally got to Yellowstone, it was FREEZING! I couldn't believe how cold it was. Here is us after driving all night and getting out to take the obligatory National Park sign picture:

I enjoyed Yellowstone but I believe my visit was marred by it being so cold. We set up tent but it just wasn't enjoyable. Hardly any sun to help out. That night was surely the coldest it had ever been the whole trip. I believe it got down in to the 30's. It was our last night camping for the trip, the rest of the nights would be spent in the car or in the hostel we stayed at, in Chicago.

It was neat seeing all the crazy things at Yellowstone but I think that I found I would much rather be in the woods, where trees loom over your head, with waterfalls and lakes and all that. So after Yellowstone we were officially on our way back home.