We started our day again about 5:30am. Walking outside our KOA cabin, we saw rabbits everywhere…well it seemed that way. Monday evening just outside our cabin we had fed 2 small rabbits, one black and one gray. They seemed fairly tame and we wondered if someone had bought them domesticated and then dumped them when they grew tired of caring for them. This morning we saw a huge white one and a huge gray one, maybe the parents? Then we began to see more and more. They seemed to be living underneath the KOA cabins. All were very cute and one small white one let me scratch its nose.
Heading out on the road, we were soon across the Wyoming border. The landscape again began to change. The forests and winding roads gave way to hills, buttes, canyons and plains, stretching as far as the eye could see. We stopped in the small town of Lusk to mail out some post cards. Later we passed a city limit sign with a population of only 1. We thought that was pretty neat and turned around to stop and take a picture of it.
For most of the day we traveled on one road, highway 26. Towns were few and far between and it would be easy to become mesmerized by the hum of the tires on the pavement as we rolled on towards or destination. To pass the time, we listen to our satellite radio, talk, take naps, watch for wildlife and try to work on our school content for the fall. Jeryl got real good at spotting deer, both "regular" and prong-horned. She also saw a golden eagle and some prairie dogs. We both saw bison, burroes, many horses and cattle.
The landscape slowly changed again as we headed into the Grand Tetons. The rolling hills, treeless for the most part, gave way to mountains with tall fir trees stretching as far up the mountain side as we could see. The change from no-trees to trees was quick. We were surprised at that. In the distance we kept seeing the majestic Rocky Mountains, topped with snow. The Wild River kept us company as we crossed and re-crossed it countless times during the day. It was a very fast moving, deep looking river, perfect for a day of tubing for those living nearby.
We got higher and higher into the Tetons and soon the snow was right there with us. We stopped at a small picnic area and discovered a half frozen lake, covered mostly with snow. Jeryl was in sandals as we trudged through the snow to get some pictures of the lake and she tried not to step too hard and fall through the snow. It wasn't too cold there, maybe 62, so I was surprised at the amount of snow left unmelted.
Back to the jeep and onward to our final destination of Jackson Hole. Maybe you've seen this town in a movie or in a vacation magazine. I always remembered seeing the main street, with the mountain almost going straight up into the sky at the end of it. At the park in the center of town, each corner entrance has an arch made from countless number of antlers, all starched white by the sun.
Our KOA camp is about 10 miles outside town. If you don't know much about KOA's, they have sites for RVs and tents, and also camping cabins. We decided to do the cabins this summer instead of the tents to save on set up time when we arrive. The cabin typically has a double bed and a set of bunk beds. Most have heat, some have AC. All have a small covered porch with a swing. To our delight, our cabin faces the Wild River and I can hear the water tumbling past our door, just a few feet away, as I type. There is a stairway leading down to the water and it is deep and wide here. I hope to be lulled to sleep by the sound tonight.
Tomorrow we head to Yellowstone National Park for 2 nights. We will be seeing Old Faithful among many other sites at the park. Jeryl says the park is over 300 miles in various directions and one driving loop alone is 166 miles. Maybe I will see Yogi Bear and take my picture with him. :0) OK, that's it for tonight troops. Thanks to all who are keeping up with us on our adventure. I appreciate the nice emails and the compliments on my writing. I hope you feel as if you are here with us in some small way. Until tomorrow....happy trails....R & J
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