Utah to Wyoming

How to load a small dog
into a raft!!  :-)

Friday was our stay at home day, and time to start getting things ready for our trip to Wyoming. We had 5 loads of laundry, between doing sheets, rags and rugs and everything else we could think of. We got the extra propane tank disconnected, cleaned up some of the underneath storage bins, defrosted the refrigerator/freezer, changed the A/C filter , finished and posted the blog and both of us made a couple of phone calls. That took us all day and we were exhausted by the end of it. Of course Jim stopped over and we had a simple dinner of burgers and chips, but Brad and Jim talked until about 9:00. I headed in a little early, got the dishes done, coffee made and the crock pot ready for tomorrows meal. After that we headed to bed by 10:00.

Saturday was a work day so up and out of here by 6:30. It was a very slow start, but by 8:30 the crowds were rolling in. We had a little reprieve for about 11:30 for about an hour, but then the rush

Long Horn Sheep
in  our CG

started again and we ended up not getting out of there until 2:00. We are on the way home and Brad must have been in a hurry to get Rudy, so guess what happened….yep, Brad got pulled over for speeding. I laughed so hard that he actually had to fuss at me to stop…..but that just made me laugh more. The cop walked back to the car and ended up only give Brad a warning, and I giggled. We started back home, in silence for a while, then when the talking started the warning was not discussed. We get home and there are 5 sheep in the drive way, so Rudy got about a 5 min. break then back inside. We had a quick lunch, then Brad and Rudy headed in for their nap, while I transferred pictures and worked on the blog. After they got up they headed out for a little walk, while I pulled pork for sandwiches tonight.  Jim joined us for a drink and then dinner, which turned out pretty good.  We have to work Sunday and then Monday morning we are heading to Wyoming to the Grand Tetons, so Jim offered to make us dinner Sunday evening so we could pack and get ready for our trip, how nice.

 

Sunday ended up being a strange day, it started out slow, got busy, slow again and busy again.  Chris stopped down twice, once to see how things were going and tell us we can leave early if it stayed this slow, then the next time to take a picture.  Jake was with Chris, so Jake took over the booth and Chris

Sunday morning greeting
committee

and I headed down to the launch site area.  He picked out a place and took a picture of Brad and I.....not sure why and after some of his stories, I'm a little nervous about what his plans are, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  We actually ended up working until 1:00, then headed home and the packing started.  It is amazing what you get out and how things get rearranged when you are parked for 2 months.  I did one more load of laundry, so that our uniforms are clean when we get back, and we packed, packed, and packed some more.  We finally got finished about 5:30, just as Jim stopped over with a beer.  We chatted for a while, then he started dinner, steak and sweet corn, a very nice, delicious treat.  We sat and talked until about 8:30, then Jim headed home and we headed back inside to finish dishes, packing and headed to bed by 10:00. 

 

Monday morning, much to the surprise of both of us we were up and on the road by 8:00.  We stopped, hooked up the car, double checking everything (we forgot the routine) and we were still moving by 8:15.  We made a couple of stops on the way, each one lasting about 30 min, and we still got to Jackson, WY by 3:00.  What a difference from what we have been used to.  Our volunteer CG is on a side road with only 4 sites and wildlife all around, now we are in a CG with over 100 sites and it feels like you can touch your neighbors RV.  There is no place for Rudy to run so we have done and lot of walks, and Brad has even found a short hiking trail not that far from the camp ground.....oh well, we will survive.  We just had burgers for dinner with many short walks around the CG, remembering what it is like to people watch, interesting.  I called Dad and talked with him for a short time, then it's off for another walk.  We made a plan for Tuesday and are all in bed by 10:00, hoping to get up early and head out to hit the sites. 

Tuesday morning we were up early and I was showered and ready to head out by 7:30, so we head out to a bagel shop....it was ok, don't need to go back.  Back home, a shower for Brad, pack some snacks and water, load up Rudy and we are on our way.  Our first stop is the Elk Refuge Visitor Center, we spent about 30-45 min. there, then head up Route 89.  We turn off at the Gros Ventre

Foggy Grand Tetons
Beautiful!!

Junction to check out their CG, then continued onto Kelly where we stopped for a cup of coffee.  We continued on from there, getting a look at a large herd of buffalo, then back out to Route 89.  From there we went to the Jackson Lake Lodge, getting gas for the car and then lunch for Brad and I.  By now it's after 1:00 and the rain has started, about 65 degrees, a bit damp and chilly, at least compared to what we are used to.  We then headed down the 'inside loop' towards Jenny Lake, taking the Jenny Lake Loop from there (beautiful, but a bit foggy) then continued on to the 'Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center'.  We left there not going in and planning on going back another day, when Alice texted for us to meet them there.  I had texted her to see where they were on their whorl wind tour of the west, only to find out that they are about an hour north of us, heading our direction.  Nothing like traveling 2000 miles to meet your family from PA, it was a short visit, but nice to see them, and then they were off again!!  We looked around a bit more, then headed home.  We sat inside about 20 min. then did about 3 loops around the CG with Rudy, then headed inside for dinner.  After dinner Brad played a few computer games while I worked on the blog, then he did dishes and made coffee while I finished the blog.  Now he just needs to review and publish....hope you enjoy. 

Diane and Brad