Day 37 (Friday 7/27/12)- Yellowstone, WY

After enjoying yesterday thoroughly enough to be exhausted, we needed a down day. We therefore spent the day at the campground, luxuriating in the sun on our skin, the freedom from the van, and the lack of demands on our feet. We read and we relaxed. We further exploited the sun to heat soup on the dash, which turned out to be quite a treat, as we added to it various vegetable and an assortment of spices.
In the afternoon the thunder started (from Teton canyon, WY to Bozeman, MT there was maybe one lightning/thunder free day). A light thunder at first, which soon grew bolder. We saught shelter in the van and tried to guess when the rain would descend-Isaiah was closest. It didn't last long and we were soon back outside. (We've enjoyed the sky shows but it's kind of a hassle to know at somepoint in the 90 degree day, you're going to get rained on. It makes packing for a hike a bit more cumbersome).

During the storm two mysterious guys pulled up on motorcycles. Both camping sites were already occupied so we found it odd that that were hanging around, unlike all the other people who had come and gone finding the campsites full. We also found it a little unnerving that they were brave enough to be biking around in a thunder storm, mistaking their bravery for unsavoriness. As the evening went on Isaiah got a chance to talk to them and all our initial impressions were shamed. We were to get further schooled on the unreliability of fear.

Not only were these two guys incredibly nice but extremely generous as well. They invited us over for marshmellows on tea biscuits (no chocoloate between either tent) and we gladly excepted. We learned that Miles was taking his brother Frankie on a 12 day trip (delayed due to a broken bike part and cut short due to a scheduled visit to Jersey) to celebrate his graduation from high school. In talking with them over the next few hours we learned that Miles has been leading a very adventurous life as a traveler, most recently spending 6 months in Guatamala. His passion about traveling and his generosity in sharing every bit of their motorcycle space restricted two day food supply (Seriously a 3 course meal-spagetti that thoroughly crushed my soup, dessert, and refreshments)(An offering of smores is all the more kind when a bag of marshmallows sets you back 6 bucks. Damn you Jackson Albertsons) was very inspiring.

We had a great time hanging out around the campfire. We watched the video they had recorded following the storm as a resulting double rainbow emerged and their emotional commentary on its cosmic significance. We shared stories, opinions and spirit. As Miles said there is a commonality in travelers and we formed a bond quickly. Traveling has given Miles much wisdom. He talked about fear being a form of bondage and, generally, a bad forecaster for reality. He shared about enjoying what you have as others have less but a better appreciation and perspective and (with a few exceptions) there being no excuses for not being where you want to be. Miles and Frankie were our double rainbow.

Miles, Isaiah and Frankie

(Sorry for the shirt internet creepers. 

I didn't want to cause Frankie any body image issues. 

Plus my abs were sore from grating cheese for our soup)