Wednesday, October 10, 2012

     Sometimes, you just have to take a step back, and look at all you have. It might be a tank of gas, or a nice view on your drive to work. Or a smile from a friend. Your health. Your vision. The use of your legs. No pain. Your memory. Are these the little things in life? Or are they the big ones? I guess it depends on what you have, and what you wish you had. There are times when less is more. Like, what you have in your closet, or down cellar, or stashed away in a tote somewhere. Less means you don't have to paw through it, and step over it, and be responsible for it. More means it's enough. You are satisfied. So, I have more health, more pain-free-ness, more memory, more smiles. I have more in my life, so I need less. And for that, I say, "Thanks!"

Monday, October 8, 2012

I have no pictures to post today. No itinerary of where we are going or where we have been. I have no description of my view today. Today was back to work. I set the alarm- it went off. I didn't want to get out of bed. I liked my 17 days of no alarms, of spending time with my guy, of seeing new things. Wondering what the trip would open for me. Nope, today, it was back to the grind. Short day at work, and what I call "half a holiday" as some businesses are open, some are not, so not all that busy for a Monday. I had a great time remembering the trip, the sights, the sounds, and telling of our great adventure. It made the back to work part of my day a bit easier. I really don't mind work, I love what I do, but I really just wanted the adventure to continue. I think I will look up Montana.....

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

We are headed from Casper to Jackson Hole, WY for our final day of our amazing trip. Not expecting too much in the way of sight seeing, but then, every turn in the road, brings an unexpected but beautiful and memorable sight.

As we leave Casper, our ever so reliable Garmin tells us to "Turn right onto West Center Street, drive 106 miles, then turn right." I tell you, you can drive for miles and miles and miles, no turns, no lights, almost no other cars on the road. If anyone wants the best time of year to tour the west, late September and early October are the times to go. So many times, we have been the only ones around. No traffic, no crowds, no congestion. The weather has been nothing but perfect, and today just punctuates the end of a perfect vacation in this beautiful USA.
As we leave Casper, we are reminded that it is an oil processing city in the west. I guess that is why gas is $3.49/gal out here. 

 It's a long, straight 106 miles......

...some oil tanks, we think at the sight of where the pump used to be.

 Once in a while, you can see out croppings like this. In the vast miles of grassy fields, you run upon something like this. We drove for miles, watching the nearly full moon ahead of us drop onto the horizon.

 This is the end of the Big Horn Range of mountains, to our right. (the Rattlesnake range was to our left.)

Occasionally, you would come upon an irrigated field. It stood out like a sore thumb. Very green.

 Hay and straw are a wanted commodity, and sell for big bucks. We saw many farms and ranches with rows and rows, stacks and stacks, of the round and square bales. 

 ....more bales.......

 Looking at the mountains in the distance with some snow. It actually was the Dinwoody Glaciers, part of the Bridger-Teton Range of mountains.- near Crowheart.

 Very distinct purple stripes in the hills......

 ...and my favorite, the red rock, standing by itself, but very red.

Anywhere there is a river, or creek, or stream, there are trees. You can pick out the area just by the trees alone. This is part of the Wind River.

 ....more outcroppings.......

 ...next turn, you see jagged, striated hills.....so interesting.

We had lunch in Dubois, great food, slow service. Much of the west is that way. Very laid back. Again, a 6 lane main street. 

 The map said a scenic byway. Now that I have had some traveling in the west, Scenic Byways mean winding roads, great scenery, horrible drop offs on the sides of the road. In my mind= "Oh no!" 
This is near Lava Mountain, and Lava Creek. 

 Traveling along, and here, by the side of the road, is a decorated tree. I guess someone thinks it's Christmas, all year round, our here. Remarkable.

 These beautiful striped hills are near Togwotee Pass. Getting very high up into the mountains.  This is part of the Shoshone National Forest, too.

 Another high! We also saw a road sign that said "Expect delays and great scenery." Although we had no delays, the scenery was remarkable.....

 ...as you can see here......Tetons in the distance....

 ....and more of the Tetons....

 Once again, we are the only ones around. This is at the Togwotee Pullout. Unbelievable views, with a great description of the peaks.

 The Tetons, from Moran Junction, and on a clear day ( we had lots of smoke last week when we were here.)

Once again, we are entering the Grand Teton National Park. It now is one of my favorite places in this great country.

 The Grand Teton, a bit closer, and no smoke. Absolutely amazing.

 We had a little upset with our first visit to Jackson Hole Rustic Inn, but they made it all better with our second visit. Great vacation, amazing tour of that part of our great USA. 

It has to be one of our best vacations yet (hard to call it a vacation for retired Ken, but for me, yes!) A bit different from the usual "crash on the beach for a week" vacation, but just the best. We saw so much, heard amazing things, captured a life time of list checks, and spent many, many hours together. I am  so fortunate to spend them with my soul mate, the love of my life, Kenny. I wish every one could take trips like this, to enjoy the beauties that this country has. One needs to experience the beauty around every turn, the thrill of a male elk trumpeting, the awe of Mt Rushmore, the impressiveness of the Tetons. If I die tomorrow, I die happy and fulfilled. I still have a few more things on my "not" bucket list, and if I don't see them, it's OK. It is a beautiful part of my country, it's lore, and lure, are breathtaking. So very, very thankful I got to see them for myself. Now, to start planning the next trip....

Monday, October 1, 2012

Left Keystone, SD, to clear skies, and a long road ahead. We really had no plans for the day, other than to be in Casper WY for the night.

 Some last views of the Black Hills.....

 Ponderosa Pines, many have become infected with a pine beetle that kills the tree.

 To prevent the spread of the disease, they cut down and remove the affected trees, so the healthy ones may survive. It looks kind of desolate, but it should allow healthier and more trees to grow.

 Very soon, we were into grasslands again. Amazing how quickly the view changes.

 Here we are entering into the valley that houses Edgecomb, SD. Way off in the distance are the Laramie Mountains of WY. 

 

Looking across the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, aptly named.

 This looked like a mini version of Devils Tower. It actually was near Fort Hat, I think being named for the scenery, like so many Indian names.

 Gillette, and also in Casper, there is a lot of coal mining. The train goes from Gillette, south to Lost Springs, then heads east. We traveled along with this train heading west, with empty coal cars.

 Then we met a train filled with coal, headed east. Long, long trains, with engines both at the front and back.

 It's hard to see, but way out there, you can just make out one of the higher peaks of the Laramie Mountains.

 Coming into Douglas, a very green town in the middle of grasslands, miles and miles. We also noticed many hunters, mostly on the edge of fenced pastures, looking out across. We saw many mule deer, and prong horned deer, but I think they were wolf hunting. Today was the first day for the hunting season.

 Douglas is also the home of the original Jackalope, and we were fortunate to catch a glimpse of it as we headed out of town.

 The northern edge of the Laramie Mountains, plateau like, very distinct end to the mountain range.

 I think this is a small ranch. It really is a series of aluminum buildings, grouped together, lots of fenced areas, and a small house. Many of these through out the trip.

 We came upon this string of wind mills, hundreds of them off in the distance. They were huge, 3 bladed mills, turning and turning. 

 You can just make them out on the crest of the hill.

 A bit down the road, the Dave Johnson Power Plant. It must have been tied to the wind mills. Very impressive, just before Glenrock, WY.

 I guess Glenrock is the home of the triceratops....didn't see the sign, but saw this on the top of the hill....hmmmmm

 All the way from Pringle, SD to Casper WY we saw oil rigs like this. Casper is known for oil and coal processing. 

A day of traveling west to get back to our original destination, Jackson Hole WY. We (Ken) drove 232 miles and tomorrow we have 278 miles to go. The skies are clear, and the prediction is for more of the same. A good day with the man I love. Hate to have this journey end, but really miss the kids, and grandchildren, and "home."