With mixed emotions I left Kansas City and drove west.  I looked forward to wandering around a few more National Parks on my way back to San Francisco, but no longer could I prevent my thoughts from creeping forward to the Real World, a place where I would need an apartment and a job and would not be able to wake up in exotic destinations every day and do exactly what I want.

For two nights I camped at Yellowstone National Park.  I photographed Mammoth Springs at sunset and sunrise, hiked the Glen Creek Trail, visited the Morning Glory thermal pool, and watched Lower Yellowstone Falls from Artist’s Point.  I didn’t see a single bear until my last morning in the park.  As I drove south in the pre-dawn dark (on my way to photograph the Grand Tetons at sunrise), a black bear suddenly appeared in my headlights and almost ran me off the road.