"... After my prayers I thought to myself, there is no other building on earth I'd rather be, than outside"
-The Rabbi
We got to Yellowstone around 330-ish-PM, and to Madison Campgrounds around 5PM which was a serious record so far for us to arrive anywhere in the last week... On the inside we were all skipping around throwing confetti in the air and spraying champagne because there was still daylight out for us.
It cost $25 to get into the park, and $23.somethingsomething plus or minus give or take / per night - no reservations.
Took some pit-stops along the way like Hayden Valley and the mud volcanoes among other greenery... No matter how many times we saw bison, it just never got old. There was a pretty close group of them later on, and one snuck up right behind me as I was loading some polaroid film. It was pretty fucking mystical and I stopped breathing for a second... Bart on the other hand (I named him Bart) did not give a shit and just looked at me, and went back to eating next to my feet.
Hayden Valley
BART SPIRIT BISON
Once we got the fire going and started "dinner" aka leftover lunches, whiskey, soup, and PBR, Tyson and Lucas took a walk around the campgrounds where they ran into our neighbor The Rabbi Kalman drinkin schnapps on his lawn chair finishing his prayers. Referred to from here on as The Rabbi...
The Rabbi & Kellen
Lucas and Tys spent about an hour talking to him about what he was doing, when finally he joined us along with Shane, the Canadian next door, and it turned out to be more than your average campfire. The Rabbi came by himself from Little Rock and proved not to be as judgmental or conservative as one may think... he was super open and enthusiastic about the privilege we all have, to go on such adventures and whatever belief we may lean on... It was really refreshing to meet a stranger who was so encouraging yet doesn't know A thing about you. Earlier Kell and I were talking about certain conversations back home that go in a cycle ... generic and nearly robotic, with no attention to the little things like noticing the differences in the sky or what "feeling at home" really could feel like... The Rabbi was so personable, it was like he just picked at our insides, bringing to the surface the things that we have thought so far on the trip but haven't quite said out loud. Also, he called me out for my swearing problem... That was long overdue so I can't really say anything against that. Later on Shane and Kellen played the guitar and harmonica while all fuzzy warm bromance feelings progressed.
Cleanin out a whole bottle of whiskey made sure I was done and ready for bed by midnight... soon joined by Kell... we don't last too long in the cold ...
Woke up to rain, and then to a dirt-covered Lucas, Schnapps in the fire, a broken tent, and my wine bottle... empty... the mysteries then solved once Tyson woke up and walked backwards through it.
After I had given my last shot to the Rabbi (I find out later he was so far drunk off his Schnapps he gave it to Kellen instead, whatta cheater!) the boys had dove into my wine, as The Rabbi danced around throwing cookies into the fire while passing around the rest of his Schnapps (Yes, if I say that word one more time I will slap myself in the face). Once done, Lucas threw that into the fire as well... and proceeded to do what we now call The Lucas Shuffle, falling backwards into the bushes and making dirt-angels. Loses his wallet along with his phone. Tyson is chasing him around the campsite to put him to bed, and drags him under one arm, and with the other picks up a dollar, then a twenty, and another dollar all strewn across the dirt and then his wallet. Phone was found later in the morning, half in the mud... wasn't the brightest moment, but it was hilarious as hell... until then Lucas recalled falling onto the tent and breaking the poles... so that was a minor bummer. Phone barely survived after we got some rice, and actually his head cold went away too... turns out whiskey, PBR, chardonnay, Benadryl, and schnapps will whip just about anything into shape but your mental stability.
Anyway, onto Old Faithful...
Total miles driven: 100
Total bison seen: 24
Bromance bonds made: 2
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