Day 77 Jackson to Salt Lake City

Left Jackson Hole this morning after taking on fuel at another zoo. I guess that is what you get at the cheapest gas station in town. Everybody else in town was there. On the way out of town we noticed this hot air balloon descending, downwind from the Tetons.

We started out in rolling hills.

Soon got to mountains.

Looking like Fall in the mountains.

We followed the Snake River for about 100 mi. out of Wyoming and in to Idaho.

We stopped for a bladder break along the river.

After miles and miles of hay fields ,being bailed, and miles of potatoes(as you would expect in Idaho) We got to Utah.

North of Salt Lake we saw what looked like a huge fire.

30-45min later when we got to it, it looked to be a pasture control burn.

We landed at the Salt Lake City KOA.

Tomorrow----Day off. 

Day 76 West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole, WY

                                 Early start today, 7:30. Trying to beat the Elk Jam in the park.

We didn't.

But it was short this early.

Down the south loop toward the south entrance.

We crossed the divide 3 times.

About 10 miles after leaving the south entrance of Yellowstone.

Wyoming = horses

And there are the Tetons.

Rocky Mountain scenery offers dramatic vistas but few more impressive than the Teton skyline. As the Teton Range rose through sporadic earthquakes producing jolts, the valley called Jackson Hole subsided. Because of the way the mountains formed, no foothills hide jagged peaks and broad canyons. At the base of the range, large lakes mirror the mountains on calm summer days, doubling their prominence.

And we landed in Jackson, WY

Wyoming law enforcement.

Town square. These elk antler arches are on all 4 corners. A must picture for all tourists.

Let the shopping begin!

Jerry and Gail shared a laugh.

Then Lon found a place to shop.

"Millionaire Cowboy Bar"

Jackson is much like Santa Fe with bronze sculptures everywhere.

The prices are similar too!

Gail hit on St. Frances.

 Then Einstein

Tomorrow Salt Lake City.  Maybe.

Day 75 - Yellowstone South Loop - September 12, 2011

Jerry and Gail decided to stay at camp.  They said Heidi was bored, she needed a stationary day and she'd seen it all before.  Lon and Pam took off for Yellowstone to do the southern loop which is dominated by geo-thermo activity.  But first you have to get to the loop.  There was an elk jam.  People see one little elk and go nuts.  It took 40 minutes to travel 2 miles.  I wished I had my old ticket book.  If they'd have kept driving they could have seen dozens of big elk in a tenth of the time.  Oh well, we got moving and then had to stop for this big guy crossing the road in front of us.  He had the right of way.

                                                   There were some streams and waterfalls.

                                                       There were a lot of Fly fishermen.

We stopped in an area DESIGNATED for stopping to see some "Paint and Mud Pots".  We had to get a picture of this, camping old style.  Can you guess the make and year?

                                                                              Paint Pots.

                                                                            Mud pots.

                                                                            Pool.

                                                    Is this how Devils Tower started?

                                     Later there was this boiling hot water flowing to a stream.

                                                                  Lots of thermo pools

                                                                       with lots of color.

                                                       Cliff Geyser put on a show.

                                                     We checked out Emerald Pool,

                                                                     and Rainbow Pool.

                                           We moved on to the center piece of Yellowstone

                                                                        and waited

                                                                             she started

                                                                    and then she blew.

                                             After the show we headed to Yellowstone Lake.

                                                        We found this sign interesting.

                                           Heading back to camp we saw yet more buffalo

                                                                  they've got it good.

After going back through the *&%#@ elk jam AGAIN (I think the stress of retirement is getting to me) we stopped in West Yellowstone for pizza.

                                                          Drove into a beautiful sunset

                                and watched a beautiful full moon rise over our nations Crown Jewel.

                             Oh, by the way, it's a 1934 Ford with a F/I 302 all the way from Tyler, MN