Sorry for the delay in posting. The combination of my disappointment from a couple days ago (when my prior post auto-magically disappeared) and shoddy internet connectivity took me off the grid for the past 48-or-so hours. Time to make up for my absence!

When I last left off, we’d traveled North from the Grand Tetons, entering Yellowstone and crossing the Continental Divide. More specifically, we crossed the Continental Divide three times. I’m now no longer certain which way the rivers are running – but they’re lookin’ damn fine doing it, regardless of heading towards Pacific or Atlantic. But, I digress…

The kids were getting hangry and cocktail hour approached. Fortunately, Old Faithful was true to its name and we were soon upon it and the Old Faithful Inn Cafeteria (the latter word being on an entirely separate line in signage). If you happen this way in the future, a few pointers:

• Don’t be thinking the Old Faithful Inn (Cafeteria) is the Old Faithful Inn and, separately, Cafeteria. It’s one place – and it ain’t the Old Faithful Inn (though that’s relatively close and worth the additional walk).

• Don’t be fooled by the parking. We grabbed a spot (seemingly) miles from the venue, and there were several available right in front of the building. The long walk in the extreme heat could have been skipped.

• In the Cafeteria, separate lines lead to a single seating area. So one parent can wait in line for ice cream with the kids (my job) while the other hits the queue for adult beverages (Carolyn’s task). The ice cream line will take way longer.

And, then there’s Old Faithful itself. I would have been disappointed to have not stopped, in the sense that I would’ve always wondered what I had missed. But honestly, now having seen it, I could’ve passed. In fact, here’s my shot of Old Faithful:

Yeah…that’s Old Faithful Ale. Being blown by the fan, cooling me from behind. As I look out the window, watching hordes of people (~300) sitting on metal benches, in a semi-circle. In the blazing sun, for up to 45 minutes. Waiting for this geyser to (supposedly) blow.

And if that doesn’t seem cynical enough…

I say “supposedly” above because, quite honestly, it wouldn’t take much to fake this (geyser) thing. Like clockwork, the steam (fog machine?) starts blowing. Rumbles (sound effects?) start rumbling. Then, the water (water cannon?) starts shooting. Slowly at first, raising ever-higher to its apex. Up, then down. Up again, then down.

Like a 4th of July-var’s Seattle fireworks show, the whole thing wraps in about 10 minutes. A lot of waiting for something that, as a naturally-occurring event, shouldn’t be that predictable or precise.

The ice cream and beer were glorious. As was the actual Old Faithful Inn.