Double "Parked'

Yep, we're up early for our trip over the pass to Yellowstone National Park, but we "have" to go thru Grand Teton park to get there. On the road just before 8:00 & west-bound for the construction area on the pass. It's pretty massive and we have to stop a few times & have some lead trucks too. (And pay attention to the signs that the pass will close at 10 pm till 1:00 am!-more on that later.) Over Togwotee Pass at 9658' & down to the Ranger Station in Moran. A quick stop for some cards & a book & on down to the entrance of Grand Teton Park--yea for Senior passes! The Haws are with us and we all get in for no charge. The Watts & McKnights are in Ed's van & they get in free too! Then we see lots of cars stopped at a lake, so we "have" to see whats' up. It's a beautiful spot at Oxbow Bend & the reflections from the lake of the Tetons are unbelievable! WOW! On thru the park to the John D Rockefeller, Jr Memorial Parkway & into the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park--senior pass again! It took us 2:40 to get to this point & another hour to the Old Faithful Area. Lots of scenic spots along the way:cascades, Falls, the Snake River Canyon, waterfalls & just before noon, we arrive at Old Faithful. Let's have a picnic & some Eskimo Joe's pics! A short walk to the geyser area, where there are thousands of people gathered for the next eruption, which is about every 90 minutes. There are even grandstands around the geyser area & as soon as it's over the crowd races for the gift shops & restaurants. Old Faithful is FAB! & lots of pics, and ooh's and ahh's. We shop for a while but decide to hike the boardwalk around the lower basin of geysers. Then off of the walk & then we take the low path across the river & up a 200' climb to the observation point & we witness another geyser erupt & also the Old Faithful again. We then proceed on to the Solitary Geyser, visiting with some Boy Scouts from Atlanta along the way & this geyser is well worth it...every 5 minutes it erupts with massive bubbles & really cool. Back down to the boardwalk for more geysers & pools. A Ranger tells us about the impending eruption of the Beehive Geyser in 15 minutes & we grab the Haws and go down to watch. This geyser only erupts once a day, if that & a big crowd gathers & it's spectacular! hundreds of people get soaked & run for cover. Back to the gift shop & some ice cream and to the car to drive a little north to some more geysers at the upper basin--a nice boardwalk here too. Now we head back south & stop at a few scenic spots..the Kepler Cascades, the Lewis River-where I cooled off my feet- & Falls, before getting to the entrance and out of Yellowstone. Back into the Tetons & a stop at Jackson Lake Lodge, where the Haws aunt & uncle often went. We see a large herd of elk feeding down in the meadows. Let's eat! Into the Pioneer Grill and it's a neat place..a continuous bar with lots of waitresses, cooks & extra help. The food & service is great..philly cheese steak, a knife & fork hot dog, and burgers. Back to the elk herd & at least 60 of them feeding & now real close to the road, in the Willow Flats area. It's getting real dark but it's quite a sight! We better get on the road & up to the pass where there is construction & the closure of the road. Well guess what? We are the last car over the pass at 10:05! And now, the rest of the story...the Watts & the McKnights don't quite make it & have to turn around to find a restroom & something to eat. They wait 'till 1:00 and and get thru, after sleeping some in the van. They survived & got in about 2am..what a story! no biking today..see ya...

Dubois Shoppin'

OK, I blogged until 11:30 last night and got thru Sunday..The hide-a-bed sleeps pretty good, but the sun coming in the windows wakes us up pretty early. There are pull-down shades under the chamois window coverings, but there are still windows up high. Animal heads, skins, skulls & antlers everywhere. A light breakie & then everyone goes down the mountain to Dubois to shop & look around. Eddie & Tom have gone to Riverton to get Ed's brakes fixed, so we take the girls..Joyce & Ruth Ann with us. I take my bike and go for a short little 12 miler, and the wind is massive from the west. then a nice lunch at The Cowboy Cafe-good burgers & fries! A little more lookin' around. Back up to the cabin & just chillin' out-we can't take it! Let's do something...so I go on a short hike on the property. Most people are reading..it's like a library in here! I write some post cards & go to town to mail them, buy some beer & go by the campers to get the hummingbird feeder from Terry's popup, so we can put it up at the cabin. Yea, we have hummers! Supper here this eve, so the boys fire up the charcoal grill for the chicken breasts, and the girls make the salad, mashed potatoes (fake) & green beans. A great meal--thanks Eddie! Seems to be a cooler evening, no clouds, but the moon is just over half full & lookin' good, especially thru some high-powered Bi-nocs-there's the "Sea of Tranquility!". Ruth Ann & Ashely clean up & some picture taking starts, with me & Tom. A card game breaks out & also a fire outside is real fine.We're up early tomorrow for a trip to Yellowstone, Did I say that Bruce slept on on the deck last night--he's our mountain man! see ya

To the Top

A pretty good sleep, but I woke up too cold & got me a sleeping bag for warmth. There was some traffic during the night, but no trains. Our A/C drowned out most of the noise. The morning was clear blue skies & about 50 degrees around 7 am. The coffee is ready, so a couple of cookies & as the Haws go to shower, I go out for a short spin of 7 miles. Load up & head to breakie at the Platte River Restaurant-another spot recommended by the KOA folks & really good! Omelets, waffles, gravy & biscuits & we're stuffed! Back to camp to tear down & head off toward Dubois by 11 am. A beautiful drive westerly across Wyoming, with beautiful valleys, snow-capped peaks & the Riverton Indian Reservation. A scheduled stop at Wally World in Riverton to buy groceries for the group, and ....a stop at a DQ! KK got her dip cone! On to Dubois & the KOA, where we left our campers for the week. Unhook & unload for the trip up to the cabin. Deb calls & will come down to meet us and take us up there. It's a 5-mile drive up gravel & blacktop roads to a fabulous vista! Talk about a view! this one is unreal!The "cabin" is quite lovely, with 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, a media room..not bad. We unload and get all the food into the frig and the Watts & McNights call for assistance. I go down to get them and now all 14 of us are present. ( Mike , KK, Terry, Fonda, Deb, Bruce, Brian, Ashley, Mel, Bob, Eddie, Ruth Ann, Tom & Joyce.) Let's have a beer & some sandwiches! Some chatting about old times at Sandy's in Stillwater, some hiking, pictures & just kickin' back. Now a card game breaks out and they clean Eddie out. Oh, and star gazing,but the mosquito's are bad, so everyone gets ready for bed at 10"30! WHAT? how old are these people? A few showers and to bed at 11:30 for me..mountain time..and I do mean mountain. See ya tomorrow...

Casper and no ghost

A good sleep & up by 7:00 . Start the coffee & check out the "neighborhood"..our neighbors are Penn State alums & I trade stories and Pitt & the Nittanys with them. Up to the KOA dining area for a great breakfast, before taking down the popup for the day's trip northerly to Casper, WY. I get the pancakes (massive!) & KK gets the biscuits & gravy..way too much food for us. Tear down the camper & off to Loves for gas & ice before swinging back thru Manitou for some items- a flamingo tea pot! We make some purchases & back to I-25, looking for more dry ice..YEA! King So0per has it! Back to I-25 and a 340 mile drive to our next KOA. Lots of stops so far and it takes until 7:00 to finally get to the KOA..in Bar Nunn, WY. No real stops for lunch, but lots of snacking & pit stops. The landscape is massively rolling & no trees. Then a few trees & a very large overflowing lake on the North Platte River. After we get set up, with some trouble, we discover that the trailer hitch ball is almost undone & rattling around...KK thought the camper was bucking much more than usual ..guess those "stampings" of those white horses kept us safe! Good catch! Now , do we go for a swim or go eat? Ok, we go off to eat at a local steak place.."The Poor Boy Steakhouse". A really great meal & the best service you could ask for. No waiting either & the atmosphere was rustic & really fit the mood of the town. So we missed out on a swim or the spa..they close at 8:00...but that's ok, we may have time tomorrow before we head out for Dubois..only 240 miles to the cabin. No biking again, but some serious walking.

Manitou Moon

Here we go on a three-week adventure! Up at 4am Friday, July 16th & load up all the ice chests with food & stuff from Eddie..Thanks ED! We're outa here at 5am and west bound for Woodward & breakie with the Haws. We will eventually meet up with 5 other couples for a week in a "cabin" in Dubois, WY. The Haws are running late due to a wrong turn,go figure...they've only been this way 20 times. We have breakie at Mac D's & go to find some dry ice for our frozen food. Back on the road for Colorado & an overnight in the Colorado Springs KOA. A long day is broken up by a picnic in Springfield, CO, in a local park, with sandwiches made by KK! A nice break on a hot day. Finally we make I-25 in Pueblo & northbound for , well, actually, Fountain, CO. The KOA is OK but too rigid and packed. Setup by 5:00 & off we go for Manitou Springs & some shoppin' & eatin'. A great place is found! The Keg..."best food in town" it says..and slow too. The wait is worth it & buffalo burgers for everyone! Oh, and crab legs, chicken cold brews & margrets. Back to more shopping & views of Pikes Peak & the lovely crescent moon hanging over the city.Back to camp, shower & hit the racks for some needed sleep. A very long day but a good one..no biking, but a lot of walking.

Wyoming & beyond

Friday, July 16th, we leave on a 3-week adventure that will take us to Colorado, to a "cabin" in Dubois, WY, down to Utah, Colorado, New Mexico & home...some biking, hiking, exploring Yellowstone & other National Parks..see ya out there!

Day four..on to Clayton (June 13th)

My god, everyone but me is awake and dressed by 6:30-why? (We don't know) I slept on the fouton, Jerome on his mattress & 4 others in the two bedrooms. A pretty good sleep & up to the grill for breakie..really good burritos! Ten bucks for breakfast & the sandwich for lunch. The cook, owner has her mom helping her..yesterday it was her sis, visiting..hey, help is hard to find out here in the boonies. Back down to the cabin and load up the bikes and stuff & wait a few minutes for the "help" to arrive. Off we go & finally, a paved road in Pickens..a real place with houses, churches & a store! Onto Nashoba & a newly paved road with some really tough climbs to 1700' & then a massive 4-mile downhill, to 900' & 41 mph to our lunch spot, just outside of Honobia, (Home of Bigfoot!) A nice picnic at Christ's Church Campground--backyard of the rev , actually) Back on the road toward Clayton, with the Albion Loop thrown in at no extra charge. Some water breaks with the sag & we roll into Clayton Lake with Jerome having another flat, so we wait for Larry and the sag to take us to The Clayton Country Inn to shower. Did I say we have to pay $5 for this shower?!!!!?? They should have paid us to use the dead fish infested, very primitive showers..and this is an RV park! Gross me out...What is wrong with these people? Anyway, Mitch, Texye & Parker have a ride waiting for them & off they go for MWC. We manage to get everyone & everything in the MDX & trailer & off we go. Where's supper? Jerome makes the decision for Pete's place in Krebs. Great choice! The Italian Dinner & chicken are FAB! (and a cold Choc!) Man are we full, but a nice way to end the trip. back on the road toward the shoppe in Shawnee & we arrive about 9:30, unload and head home. A quick stop at Sonic for a Rt 44 Cherry Limeade & home by 10:20. 60 miles today & probly 4000' of climb-at least.
(Was it a good trip? Sorta, but too many portages & dirt roads & scenic overnites. This probly wasn't necessary but next time, I'll ask-if there is a next time. And Texye asks me, "When's your next ride?" Tomorrow..and yes, the auto did clean up ok.)