Part 9

Artists Paint Pots

July 10, still. This was the last place we stopped and it was one of our favorite areas: more mud pots!! These mud pots were PERFECT. The kids in particular loved them. Check out their faces:

These mud pots were up on the hill, and this is what the bottom of the hill looked like:

Unreal.

I took about 20 pictures until I figured out how to get the timing just right to capture these photos of the bubble popping:

After that Budge and Jana said goodbye and took off for Mesa Verda and the rest of their trip while we went back to Canyon and Grandpa paid for ice cream for everyone! It was a nice treat, and a good way to officially "end" the trip.

Day 9 - Leaving Yellowstone

July 11. Our intention was to get out around 10. But as we were taking off, Dea started complaining about not being able to breathe. Which isn't good. Allergic reactions ruled the week. Miciah had hives from Wednesday until Sunday, and we still have no idea what she was reacting to. I already mentioned Kristina's reaction to the noseeums. And then Dea took the cake with her reaction.

Not wanting to chance it, we took her to the EMTs at Canyon and they took her in an ambulance down to Lake. It actually worked out really well, in my opinion. Of all the times I've been to Yellowstone in my life (and I think the count is 7 times), we've never really stopped and spent time at Yellowstone Lake. Why? Cause it's just a lake. But I've always wanted to spend at least a little time there, and I was able to do that. We chilled out for about 2 hours until they determined that Dea was going to be okay and released her.

Then we ate lunch and were on our way. We went out the South Entrance and got to see the Grand Tetons. I love the Tetons. They're beautiful and exotic and breathtaking.

We got into Orem, UT around 9pm. Something like that. We did get to see this sunset on our way into Utah:

The best part of the trip was being able to look over the valleys in Wyoming. They're gorgeous. Gorgeous right up until Evanston, which is where Rob grew up. Wow, it's ugly. But go an hour north and it's beautiful. ... We stopped to eat dinner at a Subway in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming. I asked the lady if she lived in the valley (dumb question, I know). She said she did and I told her that it was beautiful. I asked her what the winters were like. She said a typical day is -3 degrees F, and some days it gets into the -30 range. ... So I should build a summer home there.