090318
Just left Jackson Hole. No interstates out here to avoid. Heading to Green River Wy on the way to Denver by way of Flaming Gorge and Steamboat Springs.
083018
We went to Jackson to visit SG’s son Spencer, her youngest. We stayed in her other son Tyler’s apartment in town. Our timing was perfect: Tyler and his roommate were out of town. Jackson is one of the sweetest spots you can imagine. The town is nestled among the towering peaks of the Grand Teton mountains and several lesser hills (hills…really? By Ct standards they are Mountains!!).
083118. Anyway, one wakes in the AM to 34 degrees and crisp humidity-free air. As soon as the sun begins to clear the horizon, it warns you with persistent dry heat. By 10:00, it is high 70’s and still dry. Se were blessed with 4 days like this.
Spencer and Jackie are at work and SG and I tour the town. It is a vibrant community full of extremely rich people and rich tourists wannabes. UberRich like Walmart heirs, Harrison Ford. Also lots of families having a great time. Wood sidewalks. A stagecoach ride. A Sheriff on horseback. Lots to do, laid back, slow tempo and polite people. Very pricey shopping.
Saturday 0901. Another month behind us in a year with wings. We had breakfast at Nora’s, actually famous through Diners, Dives etc TV show.
Then we hiked to Ski Lake. Thought my lungs would explode. Got a little used to it. Spencer moved out there 6 years ago and he didn’t break a sweat. He carried me…not really, but I wish he had. The views…the views. Spencer has a son = Leo. Four legged Leo. Great dog. Impetuous, free spirit; listens to Daddy.
Spencer took this one. He swore he caught a bald eagle in this shot. The degradations I have to endure…
Here is the gang, in order of importance: Leo, Jacqueline (very nice, intelligent, fun and funny), SG and me.
You may have to look very carefully, but we found Bullwinkle.
Not so careful. I blew him up. NO, this is NOT one of those steel cut-outs you see all over the place out here.
090218: Spencer, Jacqueline, SG and I go white water rafting on the Snake River. Class 2, so not so big but a great time. The Snake is over 1,000 miles long from its headwaters in Yellowstone Park. It joins the gulf of Mexico in Mexico.
The latest Tweet from the Tweetie Bird in Chief: “The Snake will no longer be allowed to leave the US with US water…..” Not Fake News. How about Woodward’s new book?
So they promised a nice view for our pizza dinner. Really shabby. The whole Teton range from the top of a meadow overlooking the National Elk Preserve. I repeat…OMG.
090318: Spencer and I go fly fishing on the lower Snake. Saw 4 bald eagles. They all gave me the high sign as a bald brother…I think that’s what the white stuff was on my shoulder. I think…. We caught a dozen fish, all small but pretty.
BUSTED!!! It had to happen. Susan read the blog. She denies her shenanigans at the Holiday Inn Express in Carlisle Pa. Honest folks, its true…
Green River Wy. Skip it if you can.
Two good things: The Hampton Inn and Suites nestled at the base of majestic mesas.
I forgot what the other one was. It wasn’t food (#1 restaurant on TripAdvisor is the Hitching Post) where Happy Hour STARTS at 7:00AM for two hours. No foolin) or the massive rail yards. It is famous for being the starting point for John Wesley Powell’s expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers.
So I noticed that despite my best efforts to keep the gas mileage high through reasonable driving, it is slowly decreasing. I can’t understand it..Every day and every stop it gets a little less. Could not figure it out…until I found Susan’s souvenir rocks. ROCKS..hidden all over the car. There Will Be Consequences.
090318: Green River to Steamboat Springs via Utah.
Back roads again. State 520 south. Don’t take 191. You will miss the Flaming Gorge in ASHLEY National Forest.
The scenery is unbelievable, especially when you read about what these layers of earth mean. 150 Million years or more of geology on display. Many of the creatures are fossilized and found here in the millennium they existed. It is a time clock on the world. And a sad one. a plaque told of the time periods over which much of these creatures went extinct. The final note is that the rate of extinction of animals is much greater now than it was back then. Hmmmm….
Utah labels every layer as you drive down (and lots of up) on 520. Jurassic period – types of stone and fossils described.
If you are out this way, Flaming Gorge is worth the extra time.
End of Utah: strip mines of very large areas for ??; Wyoming has strip mined coal.
We approach the Rockies from the west. Steamboat makes Killington look like a pebble. I can feel Rick S getting a little pissed off.
Colorado starts ugly. Here we are. (SG made me walk back to the sign because she blew by it).
The very first thing we saw…
It also starts rather flat and plain. Then it gets farmy, hilly and green.
One thing irks me about most of the states we have traveled through since Pa. They don’t recycle. Some towns do – Sioux Falls, Jackson – but not the states. Landfills prevail. Lots of land to fill, but really.
Colorado: Coal fired power plants and 100+ car freight trains loaded with coal.
Then Steamboat Springs. Wow. Trendy town. Sophisticated. BIG change from Casper, Green River. We shop tomorrow then hit the road for Denver, Bill D (U of Houston Law) and Brian Mc. Georgetown. Go Hoyas!!