Wyoming

August 14th
07:30-17:09

Bald Mountain, Wy to Madison Campground, Yellowstone Wy
137 Miles

A bit later I saw them coming up behind me. I slid over to the right and waved them through so they could rejoin their group and again hung back.
  At the east entrance I fell in behind them and then had to wait until they got their payments worked out. Most of them had Wisconson tags but the straggler had New York tags.  
  I paid my money and rolled on in. There was a fire on the side of the mountain, trees were on fire. There were rangers who kept everyone moving. At one point I saw a helicopter fly overhead with a big bucket heading for the small lake. At the next turn was a lake that was quite low. I'm guessing they were using that lake before to quench fires. From looking at the paper, they had just opened the east entrance of Yellowstone that morning.  
  So I hit the general store at the other end of the lake. I picked up some deet and some snacks and a soda. I headed up to the Canyon camping area but they were full. They made a reservation for me at the Madison campground and I headed over there. On an amusing point, a couple of guys seemed to be racing me to the campground.  
  Anyway, on the way over I saw several herds of Bison including one lone guy that was calmly eating on the side of the road. Imagine encountering that on a dark night.  
  I pulled into Madison (the sign said the site was full) and went up to the window. For $18 I was able to camp. It was hot but I was ready to take a couple of hour break. I went over to my site and set up my tent. I put my cover over my bike and cinched it down.  
  I sat on the park bench and started reading my book. Weirdly enough while I was sitting there my nose started bleeding. I lay back on the bench and let it stop.  
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