Our Monday started early. We are headed to Jackson Wyoming and on through the Grand Tetons National Park. We got up, made our coffee, did all the chores and were underway at 7 am - which is earlier than normal for us. With a full tank of fuel we took the country roads back out to Highway 26, about 6 miles away. This is a beautiful drive through the Idaho countryside - I think Carol is ready to move here.
On the road to Jackson
We passed crops of all sorts but the canola fields were the prettiest. The road wound past countryside, mountainside and lakeside before we crossed over into Wyoming. This route is a beautiful drive and as we had no traffic - it seemed as though it was created just for us.
canola fields
We went up through the town of Alpine and on to Jackson proper. It was still early and we found parking right on the street near the town square with its fantastic antler arches on each corner. Many shops were just opening up and the galleries didn't open until 10. We found a great little coffee shop 'Cowboy Coffee' - and had breakfast veggie burritos and good coffee. Harper sat with us right at the table and 'helped'.
Jackson Tourists doing the tourist thing
We continued our exploration and soon the galleries were open and we got a real feel of the place. You can always get the vibe of a community bt the art in the galleries. We did not see any amateur art. It seems that the area draws in the quality artists. The galleries had photos, oils, wood sculpture and bronze works. It is all very humbling for a guy who likes to dabble.
Jackson is an intersting town
With a couple of bags filled with touristy stuff we headed back to the Doodle and drove north to the entrance of Grand Teton National Park, our senior pass worked again and we passed through the entrance into an enchanted world of the most amazing mountains.
The Grand Tetons, that is french for large teats
The geography is such that you are always on a flat road driving up the plains at the base of these towering rugged giants. We spent the day stopping and taking pictures. We walked where we could without abandoning Harper, although a couple of places she stayed in the Doodle for a few minutes. In the National parks dogs are only allowed within 50 feet of the road or parking area, not on any of the trails unless marked... none were marked as dog friendly.
Amazing mountains
At one stop near Moran Mountain (named after Thomas Moran, an early wilderness landscape painter) we mat a family of about twelve people who were taking every possible combination of photo of the group in front of the mountains. Carol, Harper and I were taking a selfie when the lady of the family who was obviously the photo gal asked if we would like our picture taken and conversation ensued. The whole family had gathered in Jackson to celebrate Nana and Pappa's 50 wedding anniversary. We congratulated them and had a good chat. People can be so very nice.
Taken by the ‘family photographer’
The Grand Tetons just kept giving as we hiked along the lake or as we stopped at a scenic overlook, it was just an amazing time.
A view across the lake
Our campsite for the evening was an RV park in Moran, when we arrived we realized it was the entirety of Moran, store, gas station and RV park all in one. It was a comfortable spot for the evening with the Tetons looming just behind us.
Below is a gallery of images from the day, click any image for a larger view
