The drive from Graybull was incredible. We left the motel without checking the gas gauge (big oops) and I was very worried for a bit about whether we were actually going to make it all the way to Cody, WY (the next town) because there's absolutely nothing between the two, just rolling hills and a view of the Teton moutain range. So, we coasted into Cody on fumes and got a bite to eat at the Subway.
We left Cody and started making our way to Cooke City. This road was the curviest, largest change in altitude, and most scenic road that we've come across so far!
There was an amazing overlook from the top (about 8700'). This climb was really the first time that my little truck had to be dropped into second gear... we probably did about 30 mph most of the way up. While the ride up was taxing on the little truck, I must say that it has done very well so far. I've been really impressed.
The views were spectacular. Notice the road winding down the mountain. I think we'll be riding this little road :)
There were some very interesting storyboards there... note the elevations.
About a mile from Cooke City we came across a broken down Subaru and stopped to help. They had somehow run out of oil, as there was no reading on the dipstick. So, we gave the driver a lift into town to get a few quarts of oil. Got a reading on the dipstick after pouring 3... car still wouldn't start. Drag... so he and his girlfriend climbed into the car for a ride into town. He wound up calling a friend who brought a truck and car trailer.
While I was doing all that running around Dave found us a nice little hotel with free Wifi.
The view from the hotel itself was pretty amazing... this shot looks over the hotel's office.
Here's another shot from just up the road.
Funny, the owner of the last hotel in Graybull told us that this place was like something straight out of Northern exposure and he was right!
Here's a view up the street.
.. and another.
Got the ladies unloaded, we're ready for a great day tomorrow! (well, we had a great day riding today... updates on that after a bit)
So, with the bikes unloaded, and given that it was only about 3pm, we decided to head into Yellowstone toward Mammoth Hot Springs. The park was pretty neat. Not long after we entered we saw herds of Buffalo along either side of the road. A bit farther up the road there were a few standing directly in the road. I could have reached out and touched them they were so close!
As we got further into the park we noticed a large gathering of folks, all with expensive photo equipment, parked off to either side of the road. There was a park ranger there who told us that there were wolves that might be crossing the roadway and to keep our bikes 'smooth' through the next bit so as not to scare them.
We didn't see the wolves, but we did see quite a few more buffalo, and a bear on the way to Mammoth. We stopped briefly in Mammoth, then headed back to Cooke City. On the way back to town I saw one of the wolves cross the road directly in front of me! We got back to town and met the owner and a friend of her's who invited us over for a glass of wine. Turns out that the owner's friend is from Texas and they both sponsor the wolf research program in Yellowstone and that their friend Rick, who happened to be one of the lead researchers, would be coming by with an update for them.
So, we invited everyone to join us for dinner and had a fantastic meal across the street at 'The Bistro', pretty much the only place open at that time, but it was an excellent meal!
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