Come on down to Green River

A great sleep! We're both up about 7:20 as the sun rises above the mountains. No wind this am and about 55 right now...put on the coffee and listen to the local bird..a Sandhill Crane, sounding off. KK cooks the eggs we have and I make toast for a quick little breakie. Should we ride or pack up? Let's pack up and head on to Utah. I wash the car while KK packs & the Acura still has mud on it from the rainy day over the pass. Off we go by 10:00 & our Nav System apparently gives us some bum directions, as it takes forever to get to Green River. We do make a few stops..gas, Wally, and lunch in Heber City at a neat place..."Chick's Diner", where the steak sandwich special was really good. On thru Provo canyon and some beautiful lakes & recreation areas. Past BYU Stadium..Levall Edwards Stadium to be exact & south on I-15 to I-70 and thru some FAB landscapes around the Capitol Reefs National Park-some massive ups (to 7900') & downs (to 4600'), with 6 & 7 % grades-WHAT VIEWS! A rainy stop at one of the overlooks & some interesting facts about the Fremont People, from 10,000 years ago. We finally arrive at out KOA at 6:00pm and it's 94 here..ouch, even the door handle is hot! Set up and get that a/c on! It's very windy, but no rain as of now..8:18pm, and I'd like to go for a spin...and we do..a short 4-miler into town & I meet KK over at the John Wesley Powell Museum, just across the street..we'll have to go there and check it out. The restaurant down by the main street looks good to & we get a 10% discount ! Back into the camper to download pics, eat supper..KK makes some Quesadillas & then to the showers. A really nice moon this eve & the wind has finally died down. Some blogging, e-mailing & reading..goodnight gracie.

Badlands-bad luck

We're up to the sounds of the babbling stream, our warm springs "water feature" & our air conditioner-on low fan-and it was chilly. I wanted to get up and turn it off earlier, but it was too cold. I'm glad I got the sleeping bag to throw on top of us last night. I was up about 7:00 and put the coffee on & made the trek up to the facilities, after I found my sweats. Now, some hot coffee, cookie & pineapple and then some leftover Skillet & KK has toast and her Zero. KK also arranges the camper as we will be in it for over a week now, and we begin to take it down. We're headed southwest today, out of Dubois, thru Lander and to Lyman, WY. It's a round-about way, no matter which way you go, but since the construction is west toward Jackson Hole, we go east..but guess what? There's construction there too! Anyway, I suit up and head out on the bike, as KK gives me an hour's head start. It's a sunny, warm day (80), but the wind is at my back and I get 25 miles thru the Wyoming Badlands & the Wind River Indian Reservation before she catches me. She continues to drive on thru Lander and some desolate country & all of a sudden, as we approach another construction zone, a large truck throws a rock into our windshield & produces a crack, then a longer crack..damn'! We have to wait for the lead truck for a bit & then on past this to a pretty desolate intersection, but there is a gas station & store, before going on south over "open range" territory with a few cattle & pronghorn antelope-be aware (DANGER!) of antelope crossing the road at 55 mph! On to I-80, west toward our KOA. A stop at "Little America", a gas station, restaurant complex that is ok. We get a couple of burgers-NOT CHEESEBURGERS!- & some ice cream & proceed on to Lyman, while watching some pretty big thunderstorms on the horizon, with lots of rain & lightning. We make it just ahead of the storm & get set up in this nice but flat campground, with a few willow trees. The wind roars in and I have to hold the camper walls on the west side as KK e-mails. We survive & the temp has dropped from 93 to 70 pretty quick, but not much rain..yet. I drive up to the gas station/store/restaurant to get a 9-volt battery for our monoxide detector that seems to be going nuts, and some bread. They didn't have any at the store, but the lady went over to the restaurant and got some..thanks! We're finally connected & logging & e-mailing & KK gets out the comforter, as it's supposed to be 53 tonight. No railroads around here & the traffic is light, so it should be good sleepin'! And it's one of shortest walks to the showers. A few more RV's pull in about dark, so maybe a dozen or so in the camp. And..YEA!, KK cuts my hair! Man, was it long and wavy..shower & get some nachos at the KOA snack bar & complimentary popcorn for KK! Now that's a meal...Also made calls about our windshield & set up an appt to get a new one in Santa Fe...hope it all works out.... Thanks John for your help!..goodnight..oh, did I say the wind was blowing? Well, it still is.. (Only 3 pictures today, total!) By the way I found $10. Not quite enough to pay for the windshield.

Biking, Hiking and mosquitos

What a day! It's our last day at the Randolph's cabin & there's six of us to have a MXA breakfast special, before hitting the road. I'm up first-at 6:45- to start the coffee, and have a cookie before starting the "dish." Deb says to call it "Mike's Skillet"..OK! First the sausage, then dump that out and cook the hash browns..dump the sausage back in, and heat it back up. Add a few eggs, beaten, a little salsa and top with cheese..nice meal! Debbie does the toast-not Dallas- and we all feast on the skillet. Terry does the dishes, while everyone else packs & carries stuff out to their autos. We're all ready to go about 9:30 and also start a load of towels for Marsha. Now, down to the KOA & get the popups. The Haws first, as they are going down to Laramie, and then ours to set up here for the night. Hey, we're right on the Wind River, across from a warm spring flowing in to the river..NICE VIEW! A goodbye to Haws & Nances & we go down to set up. OK, now we suit up for some biking before it gets too hot (76), and we head to the Exxon for a Big Bopper-ice cream sandwich & then go our separate ways. While I'm heading east on the main hiway, I see an old guy walking, with a pretty big packpack, and suddenly remember a biker telling me about a guy walking across America,,It's him! Jim Braggs from Wisconsin, and he's doing it just because he can..he's almost 70 & is having a grand time. Three other bikers go by, headed for the coast & we all chat. Back to the KOA & have a sandwich before dressing to hike. Off we go for the Whiskey Basin Area & some serious hiking. It's a short drive but 9 miles of rough gravel road to the trailhead of the Fitzgerald Trail. Quite a few cars there & lots of horse trailers. We take off on the Whiskey Mountain trail, but follow the sound of raging water. We also encounter a few cowboys & cowgirls on horseback slowly heading down the trail. Finally , after a long climb to the ridge, we go down the glacier trail & find a massive cascade..maybe a half to 3/4's of mile long..what a site! After a few pics, it's back down to the trailhead & another trail to the river. It's also very brisk here, but the mosquitoes are really "troublesome"..as L&C would say. I mean thousands of them & they are attacking. We're outa here, but a good day..we stop at a couple of places on the way back & see the nest that Deb told us about..it's an Osprey nest & a couple is camped there , watching them. On back to the KOA, and a short , refreshing swim & some ice cream at the evening social. Up to dinner but everyone's closed except the Cowboys cafe & we're eaten there a few times already. Out to Chandler's Family diner and the food is good but once again, the service is really slow. We do get our food-chicken fried steaks, salad bar & black bean soup..I ordered the Buffalo meat loaf, but alas, they were out of it. back to the camper about 9:15, to pay bills, blog & shower. A good day! 21 miles for me & 12 for KK.

The Day of the COWBOY

Yep, it's the "First Annual Day of the Cowboy" in Dubois, Wyoming! Hey, a tribute to the Oklahoma State Cowboys! We love it! And we're all wearing OSU "stuff" & I even ride along with the parade. Well, the parade isn't that big..about 100 horses, two covered wagons, some politicians & a biker throwing candy. Anyway, we were awakened by the group of 8 who were leaving for home today...the Watts & Mcneights for Santa Fe , Brian & Ashley for Hays, Ks & Bob & Mel for Denver. That was at 6:00 am, and we had to get up to say goodbye. So the remaining six fixed a really good breakie of eggs,ham, veggies & potatoes! I washed dishes, with Terry & then we all pack up for a trip to town & the celebration. Me & KK take our bikes & ride a few miles before the parade starts. I get a good 23 miles in & KK 10, with the temps in the mid-60's & NO WIND! I see a loaded biker in town & chat with him about the ride over the pass & then to Missoula. The parade. as mentioned was ok & over pretty quick. there will be lots of food in town, music, a shootout & a whiskey tasting & BBQ..what a day! We shop a little and then meet up at the Sundance cafe for a late lunch, Great food but lousy service..at least they apologized for that. I had the chorizo tacos, KK the chicken burrito-massive-and the others split a chorizo burrito. Oh, and a few brews, margrets and a wonderful view of the Horse Creek from the deck. So who's in a hurry anyway?( Terry, Bruce, settle down) A stroll around the boardwalk, some Cowboy music-Happy Trails to You-ice cream & up to the cabin for reading, napping & packing. But hey, we all get to have private bedrooms for the last night here! Bruce washes his car..Terry & Fonda do some packing & everyone washes clothes. Now we're out on the deck, hoping to see some varmits-rabbits won't do. This is Bighorn Sheep area, and we haven't seen one all week..except for the statue at the museum. About this time, Marsha, who looks over the place, came up and told us a few things about the Randolphs & the surrounding countryside. She said that there would be 100's of elk right by the house in the winter..right. A good visit & she seems to be a real good person. Some of the group are watching a movie so I make a batch of nachos & we have a few drinks to top off the day. We're out of here tomorrow, after a MXA special breakfast.

A scream in the night

A scream, but nothing bad..no critters in the house..but a nightmare by KK and woke us all up at about 4:00 am..sounded like a wildcat on the loose. (and how did she scream thru that mask?) Then it was difficult to go back to sleep, but we're finally up about 7:00. KK is up first & turns on the coffee..thanks! Most of the crowd is going fishing today, back at the Whiskey Basin. What will we do? More later..ok, it's later, and after some light breakies, almost everyone goes fishing at various spots, and it turned out to be a great day for fishing & looking for glyphs, and Deb saw an eagle's nest, over in Whiskey Basin! Not too many fish caught, but a grand time.... Except for Bruce, who lost 3 lures & broke his rod.Me & KK went back over the pass to Yellowstone. We stop at the Jackson Lake Lodge and have lunch..I had the Knife & Fork Hot Dog & KK had the Salmon BLT..they were FAB! Back on the road to Yellowstone & a right turn just past where the boys camped, toward Cody, but then a left (north) toward the Canyon Village & the massive waterfall into Yellowstone Lake. There's a few elk on the way, some bison, mud volcanoes, more bison..one on the boardwalk!..and more bison and then out in the open, a "Buffalo Jam" appears. At least a half mile of cars and after 30 minutes, we've moved about 200 feet, so I decide that we better turn around or we won't make it back today. No waterfalls this trip! So back south, with a few stops & finally back into the Tetons & some great views of the mountains. We look for, and find Antelope Flats Road, where we see at least 50 more bison & a few elk & deer. Back to the main road, toward Dubois..73 miles..and yes, the construction. Not too bad this time and it's 51 degrees at the top of the pass, Home by 9:45 & everyone is in bed except Deb & Bruce, as some are leaving tomorrow morning. Oh, and the Haws have gone to the local rodeo & get home about 10:30. That's about it.

Whiskey Basin Blues

A bright sunny morning & the air is clean & washed. Some sittin' around in the early morning, with coffee & cookies & then down to Dubois for a breakfast at The Sundance Cafe..oops, they're closed, as it must be their turn to close & go fishin'. So it's over to the Cowboy Cafe again and a great breakie. I got the Spicy Elk sausage omelet, as did Terry, KK got the veggie omelet with biscuits, Fonda had the B&G Supreme..outstanding! We see the "Maytag" repairman again-he had come up to the cabin yesterday to fix the dishwasher-and I ask him about the local spots he told us about. He raves on , but suggests the Whiskey Basin area, just east of town, with three lakes and lots of hiking areas. So we're off to that location & the Nance's are with us, but the Haws chose to shop. A right turn about two miles out of town & another six miles to the first lake, which is private. A few ranches out here, dude and otherwise. We stop at the first area where you can camp and chat with some locals-actually from Casper. Nice facilities too, but no hookups. These lakes are glacial, from these mountains in the last ice age, with the Torrey River flowing from the mountains, where you can see the glacier! the folks tell us about the area & the petroglyphs down the canyon-watch for the poles beside the road. Off we go to check out the glyphs. Almost all the way to the trailhead, where you can hike 3 miles to Lake Louise & even on up to the glacier. We are not prepared to hike, so we head back to town to shop a little & have a cold Alaskan Ale at the Whiskey Creek Saloon. By now it's time to go back to the cabin& take a nap..oh, and wash our car. It's almost illegal to drive it, as the mud is covering the lights, so I wash it , but it's still dirty, but much improved. some naps, hikes, books, blogging, facebooking & starting dinner. Eddie, once again, has come through, with steaks for everyone..at least. Baked potatoes, blackeyed peas, salad & wine-a great meal! clean-up by Bruce, Tom & Brian..cooking by Terry. After dinner, Terry smokes his pipe on the deck, KK & Deb go for a walk, Bob makes a call & I add to my journal. And here we go, another poker game breaks out-six of them playin' all kinds of games-nickels mostly. everyone else reads or on their PC's. OH, I smell brownies cookin'! Looks like a late night (it's 9:20) . Well, the game broke up about 10:30 & woosh, everyone heads to bed. Mel is the BIG winner! We stay up for a while & post a few pics & read. The wind is still howling..probly 25-30 mph up here. A pretty good day..no biking (I was going to go down to tow and ride but the wind is horrible.)

Raindrops & rainbows

Wow, we're awakened by Deb's alarm at 6:00am, as they're headed to Yellowstone for the day & 3 of them, Mel, Bob & Brian are going to camp Wednesday eve in the park. We plan to go to Jackson, but no hurry and then a storm moves in pretty early & rain, lightning & thunder hits us. So a leisurely breakfast to wait it out and some good stories from Eddie from last night..yep, he's up already. The park crowd get away at 7:30 and we blog, read & eat. Every time someone new gets up, we hear the "road closed" story over again. The rain quits..twice..& we have lunch here & head off to Jackson Hole. The construction zone is horrible, but we finally get to Moran & into Teton Park, before taking the "dam" road to Jackson. It's a beautiful drive, with lakes, visitor centers & fab views of the clouds over Grand Tetons. Fonda is fretting about getting to Jackson & having enough time to shop..relax girl, we'll get there. A little traffic jam going into town-road crew cleaning the highway, but the ski area looks nasty & a couple of airplanes take off while we wait. Into town, population 9600, elevation 6500'..that's a first. The visitor's center is really nice and we could spend two hours here, but we head up to the square & all of the shops & restaurants. I go back & move the car to a public parking area & we shop for a while & then have supper at the "Million Dollar Cowboy Bar"...cold beer but so-so food..buffalo burgers, elk burgers. A little more shopping and down to the car by 7:00 and a short cruise down to the DQ! On the road toward Dubois and a 73 mile drive over the pass, and this time in the muddy area, we get hosed by a truck and the car looks like it's painted camo. We do see a few deer on the way back, but nothing special. I try to clean off the car when we get back, but it's pretty bad. A good day today, but too much rain, but it did cause a really special double rainbow on the way back, and one so bright, COOL! Back to the cabin and more thunder & rain, chatting, blogging and looking at pics. Tomorrow? who knows...