8000 Feet

We hooked the Fit onto CC.  Jackie didn’t think she was shifting right & wasn’t sure she wanted to go out on her own.  I drove it & disagreed.  But whatever.

As we got into the next town, (Pinedale, WY) we stopped in the visitor’s center.  I wanted to confirm the route & see what they had to offer.  After 10 minutes inside, we were unhooking the Fit & they were off for more recon.

Rita & I drove on, wanting to get over the mountain pass in the Tetons near Jackson, WY.  Jackie & the boys horsed around in Pinedale then went on an excursion.

Pretty nice drive, we drove under some antelope migration bridges.  They are huge over passes built on migration routes & the antelope cross over on their way to summer pastures.  It’s a big deal because the herds are huge.  These antelope overpasses are huge.  only thing missing is roads.  It's all pasture.....

As we got into Jackson, WY the route had a noticeable incline.  Gone is the cruising at 60.  This was a mountain pass.  CC never faltered but this was some steep climbing.  She powered up one side, cleared 8,200 feet & the charge down hill was on

. 

We thought we had everything secured for driving, but that is flat-lander talking.  A we were on this ridiculous downward angle, plus switch backs  & Jake brakes fully engaged  everything not anchored down joined us in front.  Including the apples, who decided a safe place to hide were behind the gas & brake pedals.  But we got it all straightened out & nothing was damaged.

The base of the pass was Victor ID, so we took a much-needed break at the Brakeman.  Advertised as the best burgers around.  The advertising was CORRECT.  I had the special & Rita had an elk burger.  Both with a huge serving of Idaho potato French fries, go figure.

Found our campsite, Henry’s Lake State Park with no problem.  Nice paved park with a great view if the lake.

The view after we were all set up!

Sunset!!

First light with clouds in the valley

Heading into Yellowstone tomorrow....

Internet is getting harder to find.

OK the advertised internet is elusive.

And cell phone signal is questionable.

Looks like my posts will be made after we get home...

The Road to Yellowstone

Laramie worked out well.  Good night sleep & hit the road first thing in the morning.  Slowly climbing the mountains.  CC is doing great even with the incline the cruise isn’t wavering….

Got to Rock Springs, WY in western Wyoming & left the interstate & headed north on the two lane highways.  We disconnected the Honda from the back & the kids are on recon mode.

Pulled in to a nice RV park in Boulder, WY.  Population 750.  Nice RV Park.  Big level spots.  Set up a breeze on an almost perfectly level site.  Plus they let me wash CC.  It was raining off and on the whole trip & she was the dirtiest she has ever been.  Both boys helped me & she is shiny…

It's easy to work with this view.

I grilled some chicken & the boys started a campfire.  After dinner we invited the neighbor over.  Don was from Alberta Canada.  He & his wife RV about 6 months out of the year.  They are working their way back to Canada from Texas & are meeting friends in Yellowstone.

Then we invited the other neighbors, Steve & Joanne Hall.  He is a retired Police captain from Rhode Island & she retired from teaching.  They are full-timer & travel with their 3 kids.  She home schools them & they try to host @ campsites.

While we were sitting there another camper came by asking where we got our firewood.  We pointed out the office but invited her to our fire.  Leika & Marcel joined in.  They are from the Netherlands and flew to the US, rented an RV & are touring the Rockies.  What an eclectic group we have.

The kids are all off playing some sort of game in the dark.  We are drinking pitchers of Rita’s margaRita’s, all is good.  We stayed up past midnight talking about RV’ing, the places we all came from, and how to solve the world’s problems.  I’m not sure I really remember.  But we had a blast.

Woke up in pretty good shape and headed for Yellowstone in the morning. 

"Go west young man"

If that is what Horice Greeley wants me to do then that is what I am going to do. Plus Rita said our very first big trip had to be to Yellowstone, but as you may know Williamsburg, Washington DC, and Gettysburg won out last year. 

So this year one tick off of Rita's bucket list. Yellowstone here we come! 

Worked all day Friday and pulled out with me, Rita, Jackie, Hunter, and AJ at 5pm and took a chunk out of the mileage. Drove till midnight about 420 miles, and covered 4 states ( Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska). We boondocked in a Walmart parking lot in Nebraska City, Nebraska. 

Woke up early to a beautiful red and orange sunrise over Walmart. The boys air mattress had a leak so fortunately there was a Walmart nearby. New air mattress and travel coffee mugs now on board.

Decided to crock pot dinner (Pot Roast and French Onion Soup-- thanks Window) to have a pleasant smell while driving to our next stop. We do this by getting everything prepped and cooking and then put the crock pot in the sink while we drive so it doesn't slide around. 

Pulled out of the parking lot 8 am heading for I-80.  2 hours under our belt, how come I don't smell anything. Crock pot dead, damn it no Walmart around. Fortunately smaller back up crock pot up and running. 

Beautiful Nebraska day driving down I-80

On a side note a quick your welcome to the citizens of Nebraska in 4 hours of driving we have successfully eliminated 1.2 gazillion bugs. 

We made a pit stop at a a rest area so I could stretch our legs. Jackie popped open her geocaching app (she might just be addicted) and found 2 caches that they made quick work of. Then back into CC to get some more miles in. Me and Rita relaxing in front while the Laminack's all laid around the back reading books and Nooks. Mostly because Jackie makes them read for an hour everyday.

Got a little shoulder rub during one of our stops. I knew being married to a massage therapist would have benefits.

Spending the night in Laramie, WY. 

The altitude here is interesting.Started out at home at 425 feet above sea level (FASL).  Spent the night at 1000 FASL.  Lunch on the way at 2000 FASL.  Shoulder massage at 5000 FASL.  Spent the night at 7127 FASL.......

 More tomorrow as we head HIGHER.....