Yellowstone

“Grandpa let’s hike to the waterfall!” Victoria was on a vacation with her Grandfather visiting Yellowstone National Park.

“Are you sure you want to hike two miles to see the falls?” her Grandfather answered.

“Oh yes I want to go” Victoria was very excited about seeing the waterfalls.

Victoria’s Grandfather has a tradition of taking his Grandchildren on his motorcycle for a tour of Yellowstone National Park when they turn ten years old. He started the tradition with most of his children when they turned ten and now the tradition carries on with his Grandchildren.

Victoria and her Grandfather were having a great time ridding, watching the animals and visiting panoramic sights of the nations very first national park. Victoria really like seeing the animals, in fact she almost had a very close encounter with a very large buffalo while stopped at one of the many sightseeing parking lots. The only thing between she, her Grandfather and the buffalo was the motorcycle. Luckily the buffalo changed directions and walk off through the parking lot with very little regard of people and their automobiles. (Joke: where does a three thousand pound buffalo walk? Answer: anywhere he wants to.)

Victoria’s Grandmother was on the trip also but decided to stay in West Yellowstone at the motel while Victoria and her Grandfather toured the park on the motorcycle. West Yellowstone was one of Victoria’s favorite places on the trip. She and her Grandmother had great fun looking through the novelty shops and eating in interesting café’s.

“Victoria, that is a two mile hike. That means four miles round trip, are you sure?” one thing Victoria was not aware, was the shape her Grandfathers knees were in. He had been hiking around for two days and they were very sore.

“We can make it Grandpa, it will be fun.”

“Ok Victoria let me find a walking stick.” And off they went in great anticipation of the beautiful waterfalls.

Victoria’s Grandfather wasn’t sure the quarter mile markers were that much help because they were a blaring reminder of the distance left to hike and when they would reach each marker he would ask Victoria if she still wanted to go on. Victoria was always certain and very excited to hike down the trail. Her Grandfather could feel her excitement and didn’t want to disappoint, so he would try his hardest to make the trip.

Finally at the one-mile mark a beautiful river appeared and the anticipation intensified for Victoria to see the waterfalls, but Victoria’s Grandfather knew his knees were not going to be able to make it, every step was painful.

“Victoria, my knees are really sore and I don’t think I can go to the falls. I think that my knees are in bad enough shape that I will have to have them replaced this winter. So if it is ok with you I think we should turn back.”

Victoria thought about her Grandfathers statement and replied. “My teacher had her knee replaced and she said that it was very painful. Well at least we got to see the river. We can go back” Victoria’s Grandfather was grateful for Victoria’s thoughtfulness and told her thanks for understanding.

They turned around and headed back hobbling to the parking lot. Victoria’s hand slipped into her Grandfathers as they walked down the forest trail.