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....