Here We Go Again

Even though yesterday was a good day in many ways, I wanted to do a few things differently, so as to not experience what Bill Murray’s character did in the movie “Groundhog Day.”  One thing we did differently was to go a different direction in the park when we went for a hike.  We met, we'll call him Jack, doing his job.  We were happy to add him to our new friends list, including all the wonderful people that frequent the laundromat at 11:00 at night, when I normally post this blog (that's right, but you are worth it).

This is Jack.  We didn't know Jack before our chance meeting and we still
really don't know Jack, but we are Jacked up now!

Another thing that was different, was that our bodies finally caught up with the pounding they took on the big hike of a few days ago.  The soreness from those episodes usually kicks in for us two days after the punishment.  True to form, we both struggled to navigate away from the bed this morning, looking very much like a zombie with staggering and limping, with a few good steps thrown in for a false sense of security.  To combat this, we needed to get back on that horse again.  Late morning (after a cinnamon roll!) we headed out for a hiking/fishing expedition.  Close to the north entrance to the park was an EASY rated hike next to the Snake River.  Killing two birds (fishing and hiking) with one stone seemed like a good idea.  Upon arrival we got our gear together and headed out.  The trailhead was also a fishing access area, how perfect.  With the idea in mind that we could hike a while and fish a while, then…well you get the picture.  Instead, the trail went up as the river went down in elevation.  Our bodies said it was okay to go back to the trailhead and just fish.  Good job bodies! 

Overlooking the river below on our hike, choosing not
to cast my line from this perch, we headed back to the
trailhead to fish.

This is just downstream from where I was skating on marbles as I crossed the river.

Miki found a soft spot on the bank to read, draw, and commune with the wilderness while I headed out to cross the river and see who was going to play with me today.  The first objective was to cross the river and walk down to where it made a bend into a canyon with high rock walls.  Walking across round rocks that are slick to start with, while knee deep in moving water, was a bit of a circus act.  I am sure the fish were rooting for the rocks.  After a bit of a struggle getting started, I found my way across while entertaining Miki to no end and eventually I found my honey hole.  My little cutthroat friends came out to play and the game was on.  Once they started biting, my choice of fly didn’t seem to make a difference and once again time stood still for a while.

Here fishy, fishy, fishy.

We got back to the doghouse a little after lunchtime and kept busy until we headed back to Jackson to pick up Betty and Andrew from the airport.  With a few minutes to spare, we visited the airport restrooms to find hand dryers that were awesome.  Never thought I would use the two words, hand dryers and awesome (okay 3 words) in the same sentence.  Dyson…the vacuum cleaner folks…have come up with a hand dryer that is not that different from how the blow dryers at a carwash work.  You stick your hands in and this tornadic wind blows the water down and off your hands into a drain.  All very high tech.  I had to do it twice, then tell Miki (yes, she did not wash her hands and discover them for herself…yuck!). This discovery almost makes the blowout worth it (and brings a new meaning to the word blowout).

Want one!

Betty’s plane was on time and they arrived at the Jackson airport with the Teton Mountains as their backdrop, what an entrance.  It sits a few miles north of town and looks to be able to handle a few planes at a time, not unlike her home town airport in San Luis Obispo, Ca.

Betty is at the top of the stairs.  From sea level to 9,000+ feet i a day. 

This is what I thought would have happened yesterday.

After collecting them we headed for Chinese food, but participated in a quick moose jam first (traffic jam caused by, in this case, moose along the road causing many cars to stop, cameras to click, and human bodies crisscrossing the road without much warning).  What better way to be introduced to the Tetons.  We arrived home, walked the dogs one more time and made our sofa (air)bed for the first time.  Betty and Andrew are our first doghouse guests to overnight with us.  I was only hoping that the airbed held air.  It has…so far (one hour and counting)!

A game before bedtime and the bed is still holding air!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  It has been 30 years since Betty was last here and Andrew has never been here, so the door is wide open.  Come back tomorrow to see where the door will lead.

My Zen from the Road:  As I was wading across the river this morning with what seemed like layers of oiled up steel ball bearings, the size of grapefruits under my feet, it occurred to me so much could go wrong here.  Slipping and hurting something, losing my fishing stuff, getting stuff wet that doesn’t want to get wet, all the way up to inadvertently meeting up with a wild animal I had not invited to play with me while I’m knee deep in the river.  But then if I did worry about all those things, I may never have made it to the river, or this park, or out of the house for that matter (sheds a new light on helping our friend Marie, learn to drive…have to give that some more thought maybe).  So I must break it down into baby steps.  First, I make it to the river.  Then, I get down the steep bank to the river.  Finally, I across the river…catch fish…then reverse the order.  When something seems overwhelming, break it down into baby steps.  But enjoy the fishing while you are there.

Bonus Picture...

Email me what you think the focus of this photograph was supposed to be
and win a prize.  It was really hard to not take a good picture as I have been
classically trained to do, but blurring an image while driving passed it, while
not hitting other vehicles or pedestrians is a skill...part of that classical training.