Home at last

After 4,875 miles in the RV, plus another 500 or so in the jeep running around Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP we are finally home.  One side of us is glad to be home, the other still wishes we were walking along a woody path at the base of the Teton Mountains, or enjoying 70 degree days, and 40 degree nights!

Thanks for checking in on us through our blog, it was fun keeping you all updated on our travels.  We hope you enjoyed the news from the road as well.

Mark, Terri, Jeremy, Kelsey,
   and Tucker

The Long Road Home

We woke somewhat early Wednesday morning, most suffering from the effects of spending an evening with college age kids.  At A - A the workers can not hang out with the guests unless they are invited by a guest.  So after a delicious dinner, we invited a few of Justin's friends, via Justin, to hang with us in the Round Room.  We enjoyed an evening of good conversation, and drink.  I wish it had been cool enough for a fire, because dead center in this huge round building, is a very large round fireplace.

Jeremy, and Mark took advantage of the time we had before lunch, and went fly fishing on the river.  Kelsey, and Terri went along for the adventure, but with no extra fishing poles and a bit of chilly rain, we opted for playing games in the Round Room.  Lunch was served, good-byes were said after a quick photo op, and we were on our way.

Our evening was spent in a KOA near Grand Island, it was a nice campground nestled in the cornfields of Nebraska.  3:00am, YES AM we were rolling again!!!  We awoke to the sound of raindrops on the roof, and a bit of thunder, plus a lightening show that put the 4th of July Fireworks to shame.  This storm kept us entertained for the next several hours, well into daylight.  We felt somewhat like storm-chasers.  Being held this week was the big bike ride called Ragbrai http://ragbrai.com/tag/ragbrai-2011/ . Check out the website, it's a pretty popular event for Iowa.  Maybe one day we'll try it!  As we catch you up on yesterday; and today's events we are at this moment in Kickapoo, IL.  We hope to make it to Indianapolis this evening.  For an easy on, and off we have been using KOA Kampgrounds for our traveling rest stops.  The ones we've encountered thus far have been great, a bit of road noise since most sit right off the highway, but all in all great places to stay when traveling.

 

A Bar A



The first entrance



The second entrance



July 25 - A Bar A – Our drive to A Bar A took longer than anticipated, but then again that is the story of this trip.  We left Tucker in the capable hands of Happy Tails Boarding Kennel.  Thankfully the kennel was very clean, and only two other dogs were there.  Both were in pens on either side of Tucker.  Once Pam opened the outer door, and Tucker went outside, we became the forgotten parents.  After another hour drive, we left the asphalt, and encountered no less than 8 miles of dirt roads before reaching the ranch.  This included crossing a private airstrip, several sharp curves along the North Platte River, and more gophers then we could count.  When arriving to the Howdy House, 4 miles into the drive, the woman who greeted us looked like we had flown in on a 747.  She radioed up to the ranch warning them of our arrival.  Another 4 miles and we officially entered the ranch grounds. 

Our stop sign for the the airstrip



 Unknown to us who was who, our first encounter with a ranch hand happened to be one of Justin’s roommates.  Chris, who is an Alexandria native, and attends VaTech, wasted no time making us feel right at home.  Matt, another friend of Justin’s, showed up to officially welcome us, and led the way as we traversed the narrow ranch roads to our RVs resting spot.  He showed us our cabin, which was nestled under the trees, next to a small roaring creek that emptied into the North Platte River.  The rest of the afternoon, evening, and following morning was spent exploring the ranch, spending time with Justin, and realizing our vacation was drawing to an end.  Sadly there wasn’t time to take in much activities....like a horseback ride!  But Kelsey, Mark, and Jeremy were able to get in a skeet shooting lesson while Mom and Son caught up.  A - A is like nothing we've ever experienced.  For the short time we were there we got the sense that this little oasis in the mountains of Wyoming has more to it in the way of history, and visitors then meets the eye.  Justin alluded to this, when he mentioned that later this summer a group of high profile "conquerers of the sky" will be visiting A Bar A.   Justin also introduced us to a man who frequents A Bar A several times a summer, and this visit he was banding birds.  He has a non-profit company that teaches children all about nature, and is working on a program called No Child Left Inside.   All in all, it was a wonderful day, and as far as parents are concerned....seeing Justin was priceless, as was hearing all he's been doing while enjoying working at A Bar A.  

OMG We have internet

Below you will find the latest blogs of our last 6 days of travel.  Being incommunicado had it's challenges, and in all actuality we enjoyed the peace and quiet the wilderness afforded us.  But every so often we did hit a "hot-spot" to make quick phone calls home.

Jeremy and Kelsey enjoying Dubois





Our first sighting



July 20 - Leaving Lander, WY heading to our final destination we passed through a small town called Dubois.  Recognizing it as a quiet little town with lots of character, we felt we had no choice but to stop and pay a visit, we were not disappointed.  Our first order of business was to scope out the local coffee shop for Mark; our second was to find Mark a black Stetson cowboy hat.  Both endeavors were successful.  There were a few small shops to buy some handcrafted jewelry, and artists displaying their art.  One artist carved intricate western themes into moose antlers, this same artist played an old timey salon piano located on the sidewalk outside his shop.  We shopped the local butcher, and bought some yummy steaks, smoked ham, and bison jerky.  There was also a nice wine shop to restock our cellar.  Continuing on, we gained our first glimpse of the Teton Mountains at 2:43pm.  We’ve been captivated by its beauty ever since.

Excited travelers

July 21 - Yellowstone, WY – Rising early, as Tucker tends to demand, we planned our trip to Yellowstone.  The drive up was beautiful, and our first stop was the Continental Divide at 7988 feet.  Our second stop was a photo op – a big bull Elk in full velvet grazed not 100 ft from the road, not paying a bit of attention to the crowd around him.  Dotting the landscape were dead Lodge Pole Pine trees with re-growth thick below.   As devastating as a forest fire can be, the re-growth is as vibrant as a spring morning.  A lunch break at Grand Village, a bit of shopping, and much needed contact to the outer world, our tour resumed to Old Faithful.  We got lucky!  Old Faithful erupted within a short time of arriving, and the unfaithful Beehive graced us with its height, and beauty.  The rest of the afternoon was spent touring Mothers Nature Art Gallery to include geysers, mud-pots, various thermal lakes, ponds, and wildlife.  All back dropped by ever present beauty of the mountains.  Of note, Mark still is wondering where in the heck is the Moose, Bears, and Starbucks.  We did not finish the full loop, and promised ourselves to finish tomorrow. . .

July 22 - Jackson Hole, WY  - Today we spent an unexpected day in Jackson.  Our original plan was to rise early, and return to Yellowstone to finish the loop we had started yesterday…Tucker had other plans for us.  As fate would have it we had to pay a visit to the vet.  Thankfully it was not anything major, and fortunately a vet was willing to see him while we visited the town of Jackson.  We dropped him off, and left him in their capable hands.  Within the hour we had the diagnosis…conjunctivitis.  After picking him up, we ate a nice lunch at an outside restaurant, and drove back to the campground to spend the evening relaxing and readying ourselves for 2 more days of adventure.  The sights along the drive to Jackson were stunning to say the least.  The Teton Mountain range is a spectacular sight to see, nothing compares to its jagged, snow-capped peaks.  Along the drive home we enjoyed America’s symbol of the West, 5 large beasts were grazing in a field, and as we stopped to get the requisite tourist picture, they wondered within 50 feet of our car.  When we returned to the campground, Mark, Jeremy, Kelsey, Terri, and Tucker took a stroll to the Snake River to fish.  Jeremy upon realizing he left his tackle box out for the bears had Terri, Kelsey, 

and Tucker going back to the campground to retrieve the errant tackle box.  Upon returning we realized that we were locked out of the camper.  Kelsey, picture noted, crawled through the window and unlocked the camper.  After a dinner, Kelsey, Jeremy, and Terri went for a “Wild Moose Chase,”  we were told how to find a warm springs to swim in, but all we could find was a grassy lake, and a moose enjoying a sunset meal. 

July 23 - Jenny Lake & Fishing – This morning, Mark rose early to take advantage of his 48 hr - $28.00 fishing license, and walked down to the Snake River to try his luck.  As luck, or talent, would have it Mark caught a Rainbow Trout, and almost (fish story inserted here) caught a very large brown trout.  After exercising Tucker, we left for Jenny Lake.  Pulling into the parking lot of South Jenny Lake, our initial impression was we were back in Northern Virginia…cars, and people everywhere and no where to park.  But thankfully, as we entered the trailhead, we were quickly back into the Wyoming wilderness.  Mark, and Jeremy fished the shoreline when possible.  It’s needless to say that hiking the rim of a gorgeous lake at the base of the Tetons is nothing short of breathtaking.  Add to that, a (divide and conquer) strategy, where Mark and Terri forked off to Hidden Falls for a great visual of a 200 ft+ raging waterfall while the younguns continued climbing to Inspiration Point where they had a Birdseye view of Jenny Lake.  After rendezvousing in the parking lot we made the trek back to Flagg Ranch to be greeted by a very happy puppy.  To reward Tucker for being such a good boy while we were gone, we took him down to the river for a good swim. 

July 24 – Finish Yellowstone – The Early Bird Gets the Worm, or so they say.  A chilly morning greeted us as we rose, and readied ourselves for a last day in the mountains of Wyoming.  The plan was to finish Yellowstone, see the Upper and Lower Falls, then head home for some afternoon kayaking in the Tetons.   One thing you shortly realize after arriving in the expansive country, the drive to your destinations are not short, but the rewards are worth it….The sweeping landscape of Hayden Valley, Buffalo grazing along the shoreline, or lounging in the dirt, and the cutest little coyote pup hammed it up for all who stopped to visit.  We arrived at Grand Village to view the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.  To view the Lower Falls, a mere 308 foot waterfall, we took a trail called Uncle Tom’s Trail.  The walk down and up were not for the faint of heart, or for one who is afraid of heights, as one hiker was overheard, we descended, give or take, 380 steps. For a visual of this extraordinary feat, click on this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_eiayDm4gw (not our video, we were too overwhelmed to take a picture.)  When we returned to Flagg Ranch, Mark opted to stay put and relax.  Jeremy, Kelsey, and Terri took off for Lake Jackson, and kayaked before dinner.

Colorado to Wyoming

We arrived at Vicki and Larry's rental house excited about a seeing them, and the Colorado Springs area.  The view from their rental house is beautiful, as is the neighborhood. 

Tucker, Bailey, and Koda got along playing tug-o-war, and romping around.  Jeremy, Kelsey, and I rode over to the barn where Maggie rides and met her mount, Boston.  He needed to be exercised so we got to watch her ride.  Terri actually attempted to give it a go, but years of being out of the saddle proved to be a bit more challenging then she thought.  A nice walk around the ring was the opted pace.  Mark, and Larry readied the jeep for our trip, and the ride home to Virginia.  Having a jeep in the parks will be awesome.  We had a nice dinner, and my friend Amy from high school, and her husband came down for a visit.   We left shortly before noon, and made a stop in Denver to visit Kate, Aaron, and Josie in their rental home.  It was wonderful seeing them, and now gives us two reasons to visit Colorado again.

On the road by 1:30, the ride to Lander, WY was a long one.  Highlights were visiting Buford, WY which has a population of 1, meeting the sole resident, Don.  Unknown to us, the Today Show had done a story on Don airing the same day we stopped by, he also showed us a story in the National Inquirer.
http://thefw.com/sole-resident-buford-wyoming-population-one/

After miles of driving, hardly seeing a sole or homestead we came across a red stop light.  Two cars were stopped ahead of us, but then proceeded through the light.  Curiously wondering why we had to sit there, a distant flashing light followed by a few cars came into view.  The "follow me" car had arrived.  This desolate stretch of road was getting repaired,and  the guy gave us our instructions, proceeding to the following cars...only there wasn't anyone in the jeep behind us to instruct.  He got a good laugh at himself!

We continued out trip to Lander, WY and stopped at a small RV Resort where we parked, slept, and were up at 5am thanks to Tucker.  Our journey north will end in the Grand Teton National Park, with limited internet service.  This may be good-bye for now, but please check back we may find a "hotspot" to keep you posted.

Kansas into Colorado

And we thought 81 was a boring, and monotonous.  Hwy 70 through Kansas and into Colorado has been a ribbon of asphalt winding it's way through the sweeping plains of the mid west.  Flat fields, and low rolling hills are all there is to see.  No neighborhoods dot the landscape, no farmsteads are within sight, only their cows can be seen grazing the land.  It amazes me to see this much land, and not much use of it, at least that I could see.  Cows were few, windmills were many.  More then once did we see giant white windmills dotting the horizon.

Missouri




Sunset in

Illinois

 



The first night spent at a Walmart proved to be an easy pull in and sleep affair.  We found a grassy spot to park next to for Tucker's comfort, and after finally falling asleep to the sounds of vibrating diesel engines, we awoke somewhat refreshed, and restarted our journey shortly before dawn.  A beautiful sunrise made the early start all worth while, and as we crossed the mighty Mississippi, we wished we had the time to tour The Gateway Arch as we made our modernized pioneer trek westward.





We entered Joplin, MO a block or so from the path of the F5 Tornado that tore this town apart.  It's hard to put our thoughts in words as we passed through, seeing blocks of businesses, and homes destroyed, yet some homes in the middle of the path still stood.  Trees were twisted, stripped bare of their branches, and leaves.   As we sat at a light, looking out our front window we saw a vibrant and prosperous town, business as usual.  But one only had to look behind to see the cutting path, and total destruction of Mother Nature at her worst.



We spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with Mark's brother Rick, and his wife Linda.  Mark's Uncle Tony, and Aunt Pam came over to join us for dinner.  Tucker had the pleasure of company as well. A small abandoned puppy who's owners had moved, joined our festivities and entertained Tucker.  No worries though, little Peaches, as we later learned was her name, is being taken care of by the new owners of the home.



After a drive through the worst hit areas of Joplin, and a visit to the local casino where Linda works we left around noon, heading into Kansas.  Here's an fun tidbit, the casino, Downstream Casino Resort, sits in Oklahoma, but you park in Kansas, and the entrance is in Missouri....try leaving that place after a few martinis and find your way home.  The casino is built where all three states intersect. http://www.downstreamcasino.com/

We drove midway through Kansas, and stopped at a KOA for the night in Salina, KA.  Temps are to exceed 100 degrees, http://www.weather.gov/ here this week, poor Kansas.  Luckily our forecast for Wyoming, once we arrive is sunny 70 degree days, and 40 degree nights!!!

Tomorrow we head for Colorado.....