Homeward Bound

Grand Tetons, Jackson, and Jackson Hole…

We climbed Teton Pass Wednesday afternoon… up the 10% grade, then having reached the summit, down the 10% grade… into Jackson Hole, the valley of the town of Jackson and the Grand Tetons.

The long detour around meant we arrived later than expected. The Buffalo round up slowed us. We had planned a 90 mile drive from Old Faithful… through Grand Teton National Park, instead we had a drive of twice that, and arrived in Jackson and now needed to drive north to the park.

We stopped at the visitor center on arrival… then north, along the Tetons, to Jenny Lake, still locked firmly in the frozen grasp of winter, north to Jackson Lake... At the dam we turned east and south, following the Snake River. We stopped at the oxbow, and found a moose. There are always moose at Oxbow. Continuing south we encountered herds of elk and bison… we stopped, we took photos…

Returning to Jackson (Jackson is the city, Jackson Hole is the valley) where we found our motel and checked in… we went a few blocks to the town square… we took photos at the elk horn arches… we walked about… the girls found tee-shirts, funny tee-shirts… Kelli’s (for her boyfriend Edwin) said “I like Big Tetons” Steph’s said “Feed the Bears, Walk up and pet the Moose, Let your kids ride the buffalo, Drive fast and pass on curves, We thank you for your support, Yellowstone Paramedics”
We dined at the Snake River Brewing Co. … I had been there before, several times… I like it… the girls liked it too. Afterward we returned downtown, and visited the “Million Dollar Cowboy Bar” for a round of drinks… (and you wonder why I didn’t blog that evening)

To the motel, to bed…

- A dark period, aka “night” occurs –

The next morning…

We got up early… out of the room by 6:30… down to a local bagel place… Pearl Street bagels… located on Pearl street, for coffee and ….. bagels… (who knew)

By 6:45 we were headed out of town… we stopped for gas… we climbed Teton Pass… we descended the other side… Down to Idaho Falls, on to Pocatello, on to Twin Falls… more gas… South into Nevada at Jackpot… now on Pacific time… on a two lane road, slowed by construction, flagmen and one way detours…

We ended up at the end of a long line of mixed cars and trucks, on a two lane road… I spent much time passing, a few cars at a time… patiently waiting, then downshifting and taking them two at a time.

At Wells we reached the Interstate, I-80… Now headed westward fast. We stopped for lunch in Elko… Mexican food… back on the interstate… Steph driving this leg… on to Winnemucca, our last stop for gas, and I take back the driver’s seat…

To Reno, up the Truckee River to the border, California again… to Truckee and Donner… over the pass, then downhill via Blue Canyon and Auburn… to Sacramento, to Vacaville… now the Bay Area in reach… across the Bay Bridge then pass the airport, and finally… home… about 8:30 pm… some 13 hours and nearly 1,000 miles later.