There was a 10am start as our next destination was not far - Cody. Sadly we were leaving Yellowstone behind, but before we did, we stopped off for one last small hike towards a large lake. It was only a mile or so from the road, and when we got there, we were the only ones to appreciate the simple beauty of it. It appeared just so calm and tranquil. Just as soon as we exit Yellowstone, and after stopping for a group photo of the sign welcoming people to the Park, we stopped for lunch outside a general store stop. We had a look around inside, and I tried to find some inspiration for presents for Grace, but all I could find was a glass dream catchers, which I knew would not survive the rest ... read more

Having survived the wind through the night and getting some sleep, we loaded up and headed towards the North Entrance and into Yellowstone National Park. Almost straight away we on a road that runs alongside a stream, but not any old stream. At one point the stream flows into and passed a natural hot spring, turning the water from refreshing coolness to extreme hotness. After being dropped off at the top of a hill covered in sulphur pits to make our way (carefully) down to the bottom, we headed on to the natural spring, and took a dip. I was the first to walk the long path to it, and waited for the others to turn up before taking the first steps into it. It was pretty cool how the water changed between hot and cold ... read more

It was an early start as we headed into the heart of Glacier. Mark, Jess and some of the others were dropped off at the visitor centre for the start of the longest hike in the Park, whilst Scott, Kylie, Steve, Annabel and I were taken a few miles further for the Gillam Glacier hike. Todd dropped us off and we were quickly left on our own to take on the hike. So we set off straight away, crossing a small wooden bridge over a small creek almost straight away before reaching the edge of a lake. To the left on the far side of the lake from us was a pretty awesome looking hotel, which offers boat rides across to the other side of the lake to join the hike we were doing. We clear ... read more

I woke with a slight hangover, which I’m sure most of the others did as well, and we finally headed into BANFF for a fry up breakfast Melanie's Missteak restaurant on one of the back streets near the main street. After a brief wait, Joanna, Kristina, Sarah and I shared a table, with the girls having cereal, and Sarah and I having some big cooked breakfast to get our day started on the right foot. After breakfast, Todd took us through the town, across the bridge and up and around to the Banff Springs Hotel in the hills looking down on the town and the surrounding mountains and nature around. As I walked around the hotel it reminded me of the Celtic Manor in Newport near Cardiff and made me want to visit it again. It’s ... read more

After everyone got up, there was no real rush to breakfast then pack up and go. Breakfast was being served for us. And it was all-you-can-eat pancakes! We all made our way up the trail to the main office building, and took our seats on the first two picnic tables whilst our order was placed by Todd, and waited for it to come. To pass the time, we tried to point out the other KOA’s we had stayed at on the KOA site maps that were acting as tablecloths. Needless to say we weren’t that successful, but that disappointment was soon replaced when the first batch of pancakes turned up. Accompanied by some sweet maple syrup they were delicious – in my case at least! So much so that I had 5 pancakes in all. After ... read more