6.15.14 Cody, WY & Buffalo Bill State Park Thru Sept 7, 2014

We arrived at Buffalo Bill State Park where we are  Camp Hosting at the North Fork Campground until about September 7th. The park is quiet and on the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Our camp is 17 miles to Cody, WY and 39 miles to the East entrance to Yellowstone.  The Host site is secluded and well away from the visiting campers.  Our First day here, we watched a 30 minute safe driving movie so we could operate the Camp vehicles, then a second day meeting for another hour of orientation with the 6 park employees and the camp hosts at the North Shore Campground, about 5 miles away from our North Fork Campground. Our duties include cleaning the bathrooms, fire pits and campsites, and watering & mowing around the host site. We're on duty 4 days/week, 5 hours per day, then we're off three days/week.  Even on "work" days the tasks actually only take about two to three hours, but we also spend time as hosts meeting other campers and helping them with directions, information and other needs as may arise.  So far, temperatures here have been mild, with night-time lows around 50, and daytime highs about 74.  We're enjoying this, our third summer as Camp Hosts. Each location has been better than the last.  We'll post more pics throughout the summer.

We have a great Host Site with awesome views

North Fork Campground - view from Stagecoach Road across Buffalo Bill  Reservoir

Local Park Resident



Our back yard view

 

Downtown Cody just before start of 9:30 A.M. July 4th Parade



 

Our parade chairs - In the shade, curbside, best seats ever! Best parade Ever!

 

At the parade - Enjoying the day!

6.9.14 – 6.15.14 - Yellowstone National Park

Henry’s Lake State Park is where we stayed 3 nights, then 3 more nights at Fishing Bridge RV Park on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.  Henry’s Lake is 15 miles from the town of West Yellowstone and the West entrance to the park.  Signs at the park entrance alert travelers that all campgrounds are full, so I’m glad we always make reservations well in advance.   We drove into the park from Henry’s lake our first 2 days and gotta say, Yellowstone, the world’s first and oldest National Park (established March 1^st, 1872) is the absolute greatest place we have ever visited.  Our first trip here was in the late 60’s, then again in early 70’s and again when our sons, Daniel & Kane, were about 8 & 5 years old.  We were here a couple other times and each time can’t get enough of the scenery, animals, and varying landscapes throughout the park. Our first few times here were always in May or September when crowds are thin and weather is sometimes much cooler.  This time, the days have been very nice (around 70 degrees and 38 at night), but being mid June, it’s more crowded than we’ve experienced in the past.   However, it is tourist season, so overall it’s great to be here again.   If you haven't been here, do it! Life is too short to miss out. And, take your time; plan on several days; there is sooo much to see. 

Thousands of Bison roam around freely throughout Yellowstone

Old Faithful geyser spout every 60 - 90 minutes

These hot spots and mud pots are plentiful and smelly (sulphur)

Still some snow around

View over Yellowstone Lake