Moving day—heading from Yellowstone to Bozeman, MT.

Emily told us 7:45-8:00 AM would be the best time to catch her, when she transitions from the EDR (Employee Dining Room) to work. The three of us drove over from the campsite with a tent and paracord they’d requested to give our girls one last hug. Leah’s still feeling ill. She didn’t want to come down to the parking lot but asked Aaron to let us know she was there when he visited their room. She wanted us to come up to her. Still in pajamas and vulnerable. Sweet girls having a great summer.

After the tent handoff and hugs, we returned to camp and broke everything down. We packed a large box to mail—helmet, riding pants, blankets, and other things no longer needed.

This freed up space to fit everything on the motorcycle without sitting on a rainfly or jacket. I rode the bike while Aaron and Tina took the rental car. They had a head start since they could load the car faster than I could get the bike dialed in.

Eerie experience driving away from Canyon Campground, knowing our daughters were still there. Understanding their summer experiences but feeling disconnected leaving them behind.

Beautiful drive through Mammoth at the park’s north end toward Gardiner—a stretch I’d never ridden before. I’m overusing the word, but it’s simply a beautiful park. Lovely weather all week, and Saturday morning’s ride out was no exception.

The ride from Gardiner to Bozeman differed from Yellowstone—more arid with mountain views rather than driving through them. Highways sensibly built on flat sections, straddled by mountains with the Yellowstone River accompanying me most of the journey. Being Saturday, the river drew hundreds of people—boaters, rafts, and paddleboards everywhere.

I stopped in Livingston for lunch, excited to see “Mole Pollo” on the menu and ordered without hesitation. Had a front-row seat to one of Livingston’s main streets. The mole sauce was a major disappointment—like high fructose corn syrup and maple syrup infused with tomato, unlike any mole I’d ever tasted.

Meanwhile, texts flew back and forth with Aaron and Tina who’d found a Korean restaurant in Bozeman and planned to visit bookstores after eating. I rode the remaining 20 miles, found the VRBO, and squatted at a nearby church since we couldn’t check in yet. Took a quick nap on a table in the church courtyard while Aaron and Tina discovered three different bookstores downtown. Two rated highly enough for Aaron’s working list of best bookstores.

I got into the VRBO around 4:00 when Tina and Aaron arrived. We regrouped and rested, then explored downtown Bozeman in the rental car. Went to Red Tractor Pizza, recommended by a random encounter in Colorado. Ironically, Emily and a friend had enjoyed this same place while in Bozeman. Challenging to choose among their many unique pizza options. We walked around downtown—everyone loved Bozeman’s vibe—then circled back looking for ice cream before returning to the VRBO.

Stats

• Highlight :
• Miles :
• Hours :
• Cost :

Map