Yellowstone by the numbers

49 - number of fishermen we saw fly fishing in the Gallatin River between Bozeman and West Yellowstone
1 - pronghorn antelope we saw while leaving Missoula (our first "wild" animal spotting); supposedly mom & dad spotted more
15 - minutes we were early to Rocky Mt. Elk Foundation HQ and Visitor Center; we walked around the trail on the outside while Grady pretended to "hunt" the giant statues
17 - minutes it took Colby to find Papa Cole in the RMEF museum (under a computerized display of RMEF projects by state; Papa's was under an Asotin County project and he was in the picture)
3:02 pm - the time we entered Yellowstone
9:16 pm - the time we left Yellowstone
6 - number of cow elk we saw
1 - number of bull elk we saw
4 - number of wine glasses we brought back after a scrumptious dinner at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room (complete with kitchy mr & mrs bears on the front)
4 - number of bison we saw, including 1 walking down the road towards us
countless - the number of idiots standing outside their vehicles within yards of a wild bison taking photos on their cell phone
37 - number of geysers, hot springs and mud pots we awed at today
5 1/2 - hours spent in the truck from Missoula this morning
124 and 125 - our lot numbers at the Grizzly RV Park where we are staying
1 - number of stops during which Grady screamed bloody murder that the springs and geysers were "burning" him; after throwing a wingding of a fit, we finally got him calmed down enough to enjoy the rest of the springs. By the next stop he was on board.
11 - Minutes we had to wait before we witnessed Old Faithful erupt in all it's glory
3 - number of bystanders around us who cracked up when Colby commented how impressive it was that despite the fact he was "old," Faithful could still put on an impressive show
2.8 - miles we walked to peruse the geysers and pools near Old Faithful
2 - number of times Steve rolled his eyes while I read this to him