Tea Tao's: West Yellowstone, Montana

          Thursday, October 2, 2014

We strolled through West Yellowknife, then we relaxed at Tea Tao's Tea Room. I am enjoying a Chrysanthemum tea. J's tea is Kaihua Green tea. Our host explained we could refill our pot three times because it was loose tea. My tea was mildly sweet with a silky finish, the feel of butter but not the taste.  Jonathan's had a sharp, herby taste. During our hour visit, we were the only customers.

We spoke with the young owner of Tea Tao’s. His tea room opened a month ago.  When Tea Tao’s is closed for the season, from the end of October to April, he returns to Los Angeles. He plans to train as a sushi chef in L.A. and open a sushi bar in his restaurant. He will continue to serve tea, also. 

Our ride?! A truck we admired. It could tell us some tales of Wild Yellowstone.

We returned to YNK for one more hike before our departure tomorrow. After some deliberation, we chose Monument Geyser Basin Trail:not too far a drive from town,  not too long a distance, and the guide description promised scenic.

These are two views Jonathan took at different levels of our climb. It was an intense,  steady 1/2 hour incline. 

 It seemed fitting to conclude our YNP visit with  one more steaming from Mother Nature's vents. The forest we walked through became sparser as both the elevation and the steam increased. I could smell faint traces of sulphur about ten minutes away. I noticed it less when we arrived at the top.

                                                                  Wyoming Driftwood

These are views from the top. We passed a family of four near the trailhead. Then, we were the only people on the trail. 

 Each afternoon, during our drive "home", I savoured the scenery one more time: the variety of animals, the shape of the trees, the colour of the grass, the fishermen (& women) fly fishing in the river...  This afternoon's drive was much more poignant. So far in our Road Rave journey, Jonathan and I have visited nine national parks, and several national monuments. I am in awe of the beauty we have experienced and the responsibility of stewardship. The lasting immersion I have of Yellowstone National Park is the enormous responsibility we have to protect the animals that call this park home.