Hanging Out

One more day in this little slice of heaven, but let’s be negative for a minute.  Sure I emphasize the cool stuff, but what are the negatives here?  Other than Jackson Lake, which is huge and deep (400 ft), a few hiking trails, and some possible wildlife sightings, this particular area is not close to anything.  In order to do the epic hikes, get gas 50 cents a gallon cheaper, or fish in a stream of any size, you have to drive.  Not a few miles, but 25-35 miles.  Now you are doing some calculating in your head, I can sense this.  At home, that is like driving to Kansas City, MO or Overland Park, KS.  We do it all the time.  The difference is the speed limit.  Sometimes I just want to take the truck out on the road and put the pedal to the metal.  I might as well run barefoot over sharp gravel…I would run faster than I can drive around here (okay i got that off my chest, thanks).  The good news is that every time we have headed out, the drive was worth it, but it is time to move on.

We hung out with the dogs today and stayed around the campground (so we wouldn’t have to drive anywhere!).  The dogs are usually in one of two different modes...sleeping or out for a walk (hunting chipmunks as they would call their walks).  

"Please, I am concentrating here."

They see chipmunks everywhere like I see bears in every bush.

I thought you might like to see a little of this place.  First off, each campground has a visitor’s center/gift shop.  We are at Colter Bay.  There are 4 or 5 I think, but that is because Grand Teton National Park is not that big of a park, compared with Yellowstone and there are many that are much smaller.  This is where we stayed with Dad and Pat for his 90^th birthday trip.  They have small cabins along with the campground.  The campground by the way is huge.  The RV side is relatively small and has “hookups” (not that kind of hookup… clean it up), but the part that does not have “hookups” is huge.  There are restrooms for all scattered about and you can have campfires too, but no fires on the RV side.  There is an amphitheater for ranger programs and because of the gigantic lake, there is a marina where you can rent boats or bring your own.  There is a cafeteria, general store for the basics, and the “launderette”, where all the action is, due to it’s free wifi.  That is where I send out the blog each day.

Colter Bay Visitor's Center

The center of all things tech...or at least wifi!

General store and touristy gift store.  They actually have a health food section.
It is the end of an isle.  Gotta start somewhere.

What is a lake without a marina?  A lake.  But they have a marina!

We rode our bikes around the whole place today including the no hookups campground, just checking it out.  We found the employee housing, the employee RV park, and the rangers living quarters.  In all we road about 7 miles.

We road all the campground roads.

After dinner we walked down to the lake to watch the sun set behind the mountains and then walked the dogs one more time.  We will probably have some popcorn and then walk up to the launderette to post this entry before bed.

Dinner at Miki's Teton Bistro.

Jackson Lake Beach, waiting for sunset,
not a Cialis advertisement!

And waiting.
How do you fill time waiting for the Earth to rotate?
Nope, still not a Cialis ad.

One more planetary revolution completed. 

We left our mark on the beach.

Tomorrow we will do a little more exploring around Flagg Ranch and find a few fishing spots or at least attempt to.  Our hope is to get the doghouse ready, so all we have to do Sunday morning is unhook the hookups (electricity, sewer, and water) and put a few things away, get the dogs in the truck and head out.  That is the plan anyway.

It is nice to hear from you and we are glad you are enjoying some of what we are doing away from home.  Peace out…it is the weekend!

My Zen from the Road:  Everyday the RV’s check out and more check in.  The turnover is incredible.  We will have been here two weeks by the time we leave and we are the exception (maybe because it takes so long to get anywhere…it really isn’t that bad…maybe).  It is kind of fun to watch all the new campers drift in and set up their rigs, however big or small.  And by nightfall there is a sense of collective consciousness sharing this great place.  Whether from a tent next to a campfire or sitting in camp chairs next to the likes of a rock star’s tour bus, we are all under the same stars.  It is comforting to be a part of something, sharing similar interests or lifestyles.  I can’t imagine being in a campground all alone (maybe once in a while), but being included in a group satisfies something in us.