Today we left Cody to head back to Dubois. We opted to drive through the park, fewer miles, slower speed, more beautiful.
I must say this decision did not disappoint! I think I saw some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen in my life on this drive!
On the way out of Cody, we saw this interesting house… Also known as the Smith Mansion.
Awesome view we could never catch on camera 
Really cool rock formations 
Lunch view 
Lunch by a waterfall 
Yellowstone Lake down below 
AMAZING Wildflowers
I just can’t get over how spectacular the wildflowers have been in this area this year! They make you Ooh! and AAH! at every turn!
Since we are somewhat slow-moving with our motorhome towing my van, we frequently catch pullouts to let other cars pass. We pulled out in one and just as John started to step on it and pull back onto the road, I yelled, “STOP! STOP! STOP!” Up on a rock, this little guy was staring right at us!
Growing up, we did a fair amount of backpacking and I have seen many, many marmots. I think they are adorable and I remember writing a song about one when I was about 9. It was after John and I were married and had moved to Colorado, we were driving down from Mount Evans and we pulled over to look at something and all of a sudden John pointed and asked, “What. the. hell. is. THAT?!?” He had never seen one before! I wanted to be sure to show the kids this little fellow to save them a similar fate!
We made it safely back to Dubois. Maw Maw was excited to tell the kids that they would have to (get to, let’s be honest) stay up a little past their bed time to go round up the neighbor’s chickens and put them back in the coop. They went up once and the chickens weren’t quite ready, so they waited a bit longer and went again. After they returned, I went into the house to say goodnight to the kids. This, THIS, is the victorious face of someone who locked both Maw Maw AND Trista in the chicken coop and started walking back to the house!
They called him back, he let them out and everyone had a good laugh about it!