When is sleeping in ever a
bad thing? (rhetorical!) That is
how we started off a new day at the Sleeping Bear RV Park. I guess I should clarify. Miki got up and walked the dogs and I
laid in bed hovering on the edge of trying to sleep in. It has now been over 24 hours without a
blowout of any kind and I’d say that is a step in the right direction and that
direction for us today is north and some west at the end. Teton National Park (Colter Bay to be
specific) here we come.
Before leaving Lander, we
took the morning to explore Sinks Canyon State Park, a few miles out of town,
where the Middle fork of the Popo Agie River (pronunciation clue…you’ll never
ever guess it! Google it) drains
this cute, granite bluff lined canyon.
Near the top of the canyon, before the road switch backed up and over
the mountain, we walked the dogs along the Popo (azhie). This was our first physical exertion at
altitude and we did good. The dogs
did even better, but they are dog-tired tonight (pun intended).
Heading up the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River to a falls to view... never got to the falls, the road was a callin'. |
A family photo. |
The water heading downstream into the mouth of the "sinks." |
The entrance to the "sinks." |
The troll that guards the entrance to the abyss. |
The "rise" (middle left) and indistinguishable monster trout in the shadow of the tourist on the viewing platform throwing fish food to gaping mouths below. |
This leg of the journey
became more pleasing to the eye for this kind of “High Plains Drifter”
scenery. The mountains appeared
and the sagebrush was replaced by pines.
Many of the mountain slopes varied in color as we went from mint greens
to soft brick reds in sloping layers, like a tilted layer cake. There are even a few patches of snow
left high on some of the mountain peaks. The following photos are a sequence of the topography to the Tetons.
"Are we in Kansas?" (No offense Shannon and Megan!) |
A third dimension is added to the scenery. |
Now some color. |
Some interest. |
To the trained eye, you can make out The Grand Teton itself in the distance. |
The last town of any size
before breaking the national park barrier was DuBois. It appeared to be a higher rent little town that probably
thrived on tourism. After filling
the tank we passed a giant jackalope that was begging for Miki to have a moment
with. I was thrilled to record it
for history, Miki was thrilled to mount the giant for a photo op, and the two
other middle aged ladies that were getting out of their car behind us were
thrilled to not be the only ones paying attention to a 9 foot fiberglass rabbit,
wearing antlers and a saddle!
Words cannot do this justice... |
The only thing left between
us and the Grand Tetons was a little time, some roadwork, and the scenery
improving the closer we got. At
one point we rounded a bend in the road only to find the Teton Mountains themselves
as only they look. Their
distinctive, majestic, iconic shapes in the haze of the midday sun almost took
my breath away even though the distance between us was almost mirage like. But having been here before, I knew
that the clear days, sunrises and sunsets to come would replace this first
distant image. The trip was now
real and we were almost in position for the next two weeks. The blowout now seems so long ago.
Not to brag, but as we
slowly meandered our way to our campsite, after checking in with the rangers,
the doghouse seemed pretty impressive.
Not that size matters, but we got a few longing looks from passers
by. Not the biggest, newest, or most
colorful here, its ours and works for us…and the dogs…but most
importantly…Miki.
After eating some Miki made
homemade soup we got our bearings and headed to our first ranger talk at the
local amphitheater. And thanks to
Ranger Amy, we now know as much about moose in the park as anyone may want to. I am hoping to have a moose photo to
share in the near future. She also
mentioned that a week ago a grizzly bear worked its way through our very
campground, but then this was minutes after she got the audience to practice
making a moose call using some hard to construct hand and finger positions that
turned out to be a practical joke on us to look like fools. Not sure I will ever trust a park
ranger again.
Okay, put your hands together, cross your middle fingers, lay down your pinkies, put your thumbs together and lick them, now you look foolish! HAHAHA...reluctant applause. |
Well, this new day has
almost passed and as I must use the wifi at the Laundromat to make this
posting, cause I don’t want to hear it from any of you that I am slacking. That is right, maybe a half a bar on
our cell phones, an occasional few seconds on our wifi, and TV…HA! Hell, we’re CAMPING!
My Zen from the Road: The disappearing river we explored
today at Sinks Canyon State Park reminded me of friends, places, and things in
my life that are there for awhile, then disappear, but then are back, with no
apparent reason, you are just glad they are…just like the giant trout thriving
in the “rise.”
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