Linda the Lifesavor

After breakfast at the motel with my buddy from Kentucky, I headed out to Yellowstone national park. I really had no idea what to expect. I knew that it was over a Volcano, that there were geysers in the park, and that was about it. Honestly I was not impressed with the park. The idea was cool that it was over a Volcano and preserving the land because it has more geysers and hot springs then other places in the world combined. Seeing the geysers, hot springs, and mud holes were interesting, but for some reason it just didn’t live up to the hype. Also the hour drive to anything in the park was brutal. They were doing road work so you had to back track quite a bit to get around. I had never seen a geyser before so old faithful was a treat. It goes off about every hour and a half and gets between 75-100 feet depending on the burst. It lasted about 4 minutes total but to think that a magma chamber below it was causing it to happen was pretty cool.

One thing that I did find really interesting was the Old Faithfull Inn. An Inn created to help visitors extend their trips to Yellowstone. It was built in the winter, which got so cold at times that they had to heat nails so that when workers tried to hammer them in the nails wouldn’t shatter into pieces. These guys built this huge building in a year. The Inn is built from logs found throughout the park and to me looked like something from Harry Potter. They just recently, in a lightning rod that split, found a letter with six names of original workers the only six last names they are certain worked on the Inn.

There was some beautiful scenery around the park and I was even able to see a few animals Buffalo and Elk which I had never seen in person, in the wild. But to me I think the most interesting parts were finding out about the people who were there before me. It really helps me to appreciate things in life. That’s one thing that I think my generation and those after me are missing at times. Appreciation. I find myself at times getting lost in it. Not really appreciating someone’s time, effort, or just them as a person. We have things so readily available to us and because of the efforts of those, before we were even here, life is a little easier. Thanks. I might have to take some more history courses after this trip, if you know any good history books please let me know.

Because of someone flaking out on me I had no place to stay. So I’m in Yellowstone for the night, every hotel in the surrounding area is booked; I know I called every single one. So you’re probably wondering Joe, why are you trying to find a hotel? Well the weather dropped to 28 and I’m a strong guy but hypothermia wouldn’t look to good on me (yes even me). I’m searching thinking of all kinds of ideas and I won’t even try the police station.

Side note: Yellowstone was declared a national park (the first in the world by the way) before there were states on the west coast. So Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming its bordering states have no jurisdiction there at all. It has its on police force (rangers) and a federal court on the premises.

Near where I was frantically looking for a place I noticed a registration area. For one of the many hotels that were booked, this one just happened to be on site. I walked over and started talking with Linda, the overnight receptionist, and noticed a lovely looking couch in the lobby. I explained to her my problems with not finding a place and asked if I could sit for a few hours on the couch. She immediately said it would be fine if I crashed for the night. I would just have to be up around six when rangers and her bosses usually come in. Linda Thank You. No guests came in all night so I had no problem sleeping and in the morning she brought me coffee and things to help me get ready for the day. She was such a sweetheart. I will have to send her a Thank You letter. I think it’s awesome how generous people can be. Linda just did a nice thing, she wasn’t getting anything out of it, but the joy of knowing she was helping someone out. Thanks to you Linda I slept like a baby.

One Mile at a Time.