Yes, we did get back early but are still treating this as vacation for three more days. No work so no photos. I never got the camera out of the car! Jim took a few photos at my suggestion from his iPhone and emailed them to me but I’ve yet to import them and look at them on the big screen. Hey, I’m on vacation.
I was amazed that the roads were as calm as they were. Yes, we did climb to 8.392 feet above sea level and crossed the Continental Divide three times, but I was expecting switchbacks and steep climbs and drops and that didn’t happen at all. Jim says these roads were made for nearly 100 year-old cars that couldn’t climb or brake. I drove 98% of the time so Jim could relax and see the scenery and he enjoyed it.
As for wildlife, he saw moose en route to Jackson, WY. In Yellowstone I saw a yellow-bellied marmot, we saw three bison and several herds of elk. As to natural formations we parked at the Old Faithful Inn for lunch and it blew less than five minutes after we arrived. We saw it lessening and headed for the dining room and had lunch while a hundred folks waited in line to get in. Then we decided to walk a loop around after lunch and it erupted again!
We missed one trail I’d been looking for, but took a nice walk along the Grand Prismatic Spring and then turned off to see some bubbling mud at the Ojo Caliente Hot Spring but it was bubbling water, not mud.
At the south entrance to Grant Teton NP is a very expensive visitor center, and there’s another version by different partnerships next to Old Faithful. They’re expensive, slick and tactile and we both thought they “dumbed-down” science. Today (we’re not officially home even though the fish is back, but not the dog ’til tomorrow) we wanted to see local sights but dismissed one museum because Jim feared it was more dumbed-down science. He’s a physicist so I listen to that.
Instead we had lunch at an Asian restaurant (to get away from all the cowboy-themed places) and saw a movie, the new Clooney pic, The American. Very spare and definitely crafted by a photographer turned director. He even made Italy look stark. It’s not a movie for everyone but I liked it. I could see the care they took with details and how the lead character choreographed every movement.
There’s a festival in the neighborhood, and a State Fair, plus another Festival to choose from this weekend. Jim is relaxing and enjoying a few days off. We haven’t taken a trip for a few days by ourselves in years, and I planned this to let his batteries re-charge and get a change of routine, change of scenery. Next week he’ll embrace his new duties with a spring in his step and a fresh slate.
Oh, I didn’t mention dog Zoe. Cruise Director on the SS Crystal Voyager has been taking good care of our swabbie. We arrived home a bit early but wouldn’t dare interfere with Zoe’s undeserved vacation! I have been watching food on the counter, and when I got extra ice cubes today I went to put them into her water and it wasn’t there! We’ll look forward to bringing her home tomorrow but know that she hasn’t missed us one bit. We’re still on vacation so I won’t be as regular a poster as normal. Maybe I’ll get pix next time. Cheers! Dee
Cooking with Dee 