Cody, Wyoming - Xtreme Bull-riding!!

After leaving Yellowstone, we were exciting to be making our way to Cody for the Stampede and to set up for a couple of days without driving. It was only an hour from the park gates, but it truly felt like coyboy, "buffalo bill" country, with many ranches and rolling plains.

 

After checking into a nice RV park, we checked out town and headed to the local recreation indoor pool centre for a dip - it was hot again! Then we had to get back and ready for the Rodeo shuttle out to the Xtreme Bull Riding event that we had pre-booked tickets for - we were pumped!

Before things got started Thomas posed on top of "Hollywood" the bull for a photo - not scared one bit (we wondered if he realised Hollywood was real!).

The bull riding was very cool to watch and kept the kids entertained - waiting for the 8 sec buzzer and clapping, cheering along to the dance music. For the bull riders themselves, it's just another day in the office, risking life and limb for the rockstar status. Very impressive though - these were apparently 40 of the best in the world (all American though). The third video below is of the current world champ Shane Proctor, who seemed to be in league of his own.

The half time entertainment was also great - Livvy particularly like the "Rapunzel" horse.

It was a great way to spend an evening and soak up the atmosphere of the American West.

Yellowstone - our night in the park

We were lucky enough (again!) to secure the last campsite for one night in the national park at the Fishing Bridge RV park - a great spot (except for a million mozzies).

We went to the local Lake Lodge for a lovely dinner - and then into bed! It was lovely waking up in the wilderness and our little (harry high-pants) munchkins had a good dig around.

On the way out Trent found the Yellowstone lake just too appealing and jumped in for a brief, chilly dip!

Yellowstone - Landscape and Wildlife

We agreed the landscape in Yellowstone is very different to the other National Parks we've been to, it varied so much just due to the sheer size (3472 square mils). As 40% of the forest was wiped out in the 1988 fires, there are many kilometres of "matchsticks" where many of the dead trees have not fallen, but tower over the new forest growth. There is a real positivity about wildfires, and the new ecosystems it kicks off. 

So in Yellowstone, its about digger deeper. The Mammoth Springs are very interesting, with terraced falls of piping hot water.

And then there is the animal sightings! This is the really exciting part about driving along as you don't know what going to be just around the corner. Here's me "spotting"!

We saw plenty of bison. Some very close, some suckling their young, and one that thought he was a car - watch this classic clip.

The bear sightings we're very cool - first a little black bear, and then three grizzlies cruising around in the distant. Our little basic camera didn't pick up  much, but our binoculars were great for watching them up close.

Then we saw a grey wolf on the other side of the stream, and a coyote off in the distance.

We saw loads of elk too, but no moose.

The falls in Yellowstone were also very beautiful - there is so much life here, it feels like another planet!