Day 22-24 island Park - Lava Mountain

Rest days and rainy days in Yellowstone! So many people on the journey get obsessed with getting to the next point, however when the rain sets in it makes for tough and sometimes miserable times on a bike. A friend told me of waking up floating in his tent the morning due to the rain. When the thunderstorm and torrential rains set in, it was not pleasant. I managed to get to island park and I decided this was the time to take a rest day. I booking into a nice hotel, a bathroom, shower, toilet, fresh water and towels, then taking a hot tub felt like such a luxury. The rain was set to be in for the next few days. The “official” GDMBR route doesn’t go through any of Yellowstone national park, (3,472 square miles or 2,221,766 acres of it). So for me the rain seemed like an excellent opportunity to take a rest day and discover. A wonderful trail angel, Matt offered us all a free room in his hotel and to take us through Yellowstone park the next day. What an experience. I got to see “old Faithful” guizer, but not too much wildlife. Arriving in Colter Bay 2 other very wet riders joined our group and between us we rented a cabin in the woods. We ate exchanged stories and played games. The company on this trip has really made it a special experience. The next day we all headed off into the Grand Tetons national park. Wow! Seeing lava mountain after a 13 mile constant climb was amazing. The castle like striated rock formation, towering above me, just like the postcards I remembered seeing. It was here in front of me. Sometimes following stepping off the route that you think is planned for you can bring about unexpected and pleasant surprises. Don’t be afraid to venture into the unknown or push the boundaries of societal norms, you may be surprised by the outcome.Read more