We have fond memories of past times in the Tetons. Today was planned to be an "out and about day," with several options. Mother Nature surprised us with this, just as I got into the driver's seat to start up the van...
It rained enough to make sure the van would be grubbed up. One of the things on my agenda today: a photo of the RoadTrek with the Tetons in the background... maybe something to use for my home page on Facebook.
Before the rain, the day started chilly. It was our first "far away dry camping" overnight. We had to run some air conditioning when we first got back to the campsite yesterday. Then, as it cooled off, we made do with the roof vent fan. We didn't run any heat overnight, but turned it on as soon as we got up. The Truma furnace did a fine job of getting us comfortable. Our morning routine stuff, including coffee for Joan, hot chocolate for me, running the Keurig with the inverter. Clean up, put stuff away, and get ready to roll. And then the rain. (above)
We didn't let the rain stop our plans, and as we got close to the first place I had in mind for photos, it had stopped...
Close, but I knew we could find a better angle. We moved on, generally heading north towards Colter Bay. The sun came out, and...
Something from that location will be good. Our plan was loose: we both wanted to look around at the Colter Bay Marina where we used to work. Arriving at that area, things were hopping - we drove by all the activity around the Gift Shop, Activities, and Restaurants and parked just beyond the "easy" marina parking. Same place we used to park when we worked here, where we could take a paved path right to the marina store.
Once inside the store, Joan looked around and said, "They sure don't have much merchandise here." She was the manager of that store and the marina activities, and she kept it well-stocked. We were the only non-employees in there. From there, it was out to the actual marina...
I used to say, "I have the best 'office view' in this company," since this is what I saw every morning as I would head out to the cruise boats. There was a chain across the dock for the cruise boats that said, "Boat Owners Only." Yeah, I remember that sign - it was there to keep "lookie-loos" off the boats that were at the docks (surprising how some people would think it is OK to get on someone's boat just because it is there in a National Park). I mentioned that as I shot some video on that dock, and a boat owner came up to us, "I heard you say you used to work here - what did you do?"
I said, "I was one of the captains for those crew boats, and my wife was the marina manager." He has had a slip here for 21 years, including the time we were here. We had a nice conversation with him... he did say that, "Things were better back then - the company (Grand Teton Lodge Company) needs to do a better job of maintaining things. That Bayliner is my boat and if you want to go out on the docks and look around, you are my guest."
So, we did. I shot some video out there (coming later, of course), and Joan took this photo of me by one of the cruise boats...
I was surprised that both boats were at the dock at 11:00 am. And surprised at how few people were in this part of the Colter Bay area (which includes two large campgrounds, a lodge, cabins, stables, different retail, two restaurants, a coffee shop, and a laundromat that also offers showers). At the marina, besides the cruise boat excursions, there are kayak, canoe, and motorboat rentals - there wasn't a single employee or guest at any of those.
We stopped to get a selfie on the dock...
Then got one more photo in the marina area before moving on...
One thing we are looking to buy: a jacket or heavy sweatshirt. The weather forecast before we left to come here was for one day of cool temperatures while we're here; now it is two days and a couple nights below freezing. We both could use one more layer for warmth. It is in the upper 70s today, but tomorrow will be in the low 60s for a high and the 40s on Sunday. We'll be fine in the van, but we will be getting out and about. Probably.
We walked up to the gift shop and didn't see anything we were hoping for. For the marina retail store, Joan used to make sure there were sweatshirts and nice jackets available; nothing like that in either location. I suggested that we head south to Signal Mountain, enjoy a lunch of their famous nachos, check the retail there, and if we didn't see anything we liked, take the scenic loop by Jenny Lake and go back into Jackson (where we had both seen items we liked).
The drive between Colter Bay and Signal Mountain is beautiful...
We found a good parking place (the lot was not packed) and went into the restaurant at Signal Mountain. I was surprised that there was a wait for a table, since there didn't seem to be that many cars in the lot. The young lady taking names and seating people said it should be "5 to 10 minutes for a table." We went into their retail area, and didn't see what we were looking for. There is some seating for those waiting to get a table at either restaurants... 30 minutes later, the pager lit up and we went to get seated. The table was right by the window, with a gorgeous view. When a waited showed up, he said, "I have a big party that I need to get their food out, so it is going to be a while before I can come back and take your order. Oh, and we don't have nachos today."
Bye-bye. The nachos were the only reason we were there. We went back to our good parking place, and Joan made us deli sandwiches. Tasty! And, no wait. We then headed south towards Jackson. I shot video of the drive on the Jenny Lake loop. We had considered taking a short hike there, but cars were line up on both sides of the road for over a mile; people parked to go do the most popular hikes in this park. I didn't feel like hiking to get to where you'd start hiking, and then having so many people on the trail that it would feel like waiting in a line at Disneyland. Joan said, "You'd think today was Friday the 13th, not a week ago." Nothing to do but laugh about it and move on.
Getting close to Jackson, Joan said, "Hand me the camera, I want to take some photos of the 'elephants, buffalo, and elk at the National Wildlife Art Gallery and Museum,"...
Photos above courtesy of Joan. And, this sign coming into town...
And Snow King Ski Are right in Jackson...
Along the way, Murphy found a new place to hang out: in the driver's side step well...
No problem, as long as I know he is there and don't open the door. The boy finds interesting places to be. We parked our van in the Public City Parking Lot (the one with the great "restricted vehicles" spaces - for those of us who need extra length or width) and walked right to the place that had the sweatshirt (for me) and jacket (for Joan) that we liked... but wanted to see if there was anything better in the park. There wasn't. Parking and the famous "antler arches"...
It was cool enough that we didn't have to run a/c for Murph while we were out.
We also stopped to top off our gas tank, since the prices are better in Jackson compared to in the park. Coming back into the park, there was a line for people wanting to get a photo in front of the entrance sign...
The crowds are smaller than yesterday, but some places in the park are packed, while others seem eerily quiet. Tomorrow, we head to Colter Bay RV Park (the only RV sites with full hook-ups in the park). That will be nice, since the weather is supposed to be colder - we'll be able to run electric heat instead of our propane furnace. And not have to be concerned about holding tanks or fresh water... which we are doing fine with, by the way.
The camping site we are in tonight is bigger than the one from last night, but runs markedly uphill (maybe why it was available). Joan suggested we not pull all the way into the site - that worked fine for us, and only a small block on the back tires to get us level. I like it when a plan comes together. (We had driven by this site yesterday, so we knew getting level would take some maneuvering - it was less than expected.)
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A bonus: a couple photos of the furry boy in the van, back at our campsite...
He likes to look out the windows.
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After everybody got some chill-time (we all feel the elevation, so it is important to pace ourselves), I invited Murph to join me outside...
I think Murph was concerned after the nice lady that check us into the campground said, "There have been bears reported in the area, so do not leave anything with a scent outside."
Murphy said, "I will protect us from bears, Dad. But just in case, I will stay close by the door so they can eat you while I hide"...
That brown box you see in these photos...
That is a "bear box." No, you do not put bears in that box - it is where you should put any food items or anything with a scent (soap, shampoo, etc), if you are in a tent or you have an open bed pickup. Bears can't get into the box... and they will move on. This is why you should not bring a snack into your tent for the night; not even the empty wrapper. Bears have a great sense of smell, and you would be inviting a problem.
This site is a bit further into the campground, and I found that it is one of the few sites that has a view of the Tetons from our site...
Between the overcast and the sun behind the mountains, you have to work to see it (I did "enhance" the contrast a bit for this image). That is Grande Teton to the left, Mount Moran to the right.
This is a look at the site from the furthest in, by the parking stop...
It is hard to tell in this photo, but there is quite a slope uphill. If we had pulled in any further, it would have been hard to get level. Yes, we are off the road, and only a small leveling block on the rear tires to get us "right in the middle of the bubble." (For those of you who believe the lies about me being "a half bubble off.")
Another night with no hook-ups. At 8:00, our battery percentage is higher than last night. Even with it being a colder night, we should be good. This "off the grid" lithium battery set-up is working like it should.
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