Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons

Entering Yellowstone National Park

The Grand Tetons - what a stunning backdrop!

Janice & John Allsop, & Elaine & Dave Protheroe, en-route to Yellowstone

Thursday, 6th August.

John had started Colin's bike this morning & it seemed to be running a lot better, but he decided to take it to Eaglerider anyway, so they could check it over. Kev & Janet stayed in Jackson Hole with Colin & Sandra; there's plenty to see & do there, especially for a cowboy buff like Colin, so they were quite happy. Then we left for the 50 mile ride to Yellowstone, taking us through the Grand Teton National Park, which is so beautiful with it's jagged, snow-covered peaks. Buffalo, elk & moose roam freely here, but apart from some deer, we didn't see any other wildlife to speak of. Shame.

No visit to Yellowstone is complete without seeing Old Faithful, the huge geyser which predictably erupts every 90 minutes or so. Of course there are many smaller & less predictable geysers in the park, all emitting the evil smell of sulphur as they bubble & hiss away through the thin muddy crust.

There were reports from other tourists of buffalo blocking the road further on, causing 2 hour delays, but sadly there were none to be seen when we rode that way. Never mind, we didn't want long delays anyway, as we were looking forward to a Cowboy Cookout that evening. On our way back to Jackson, again through Grand Teton NP, we were finally lucky enough to see a herd of bison grazing on the plains.

We arrived at the corral for our cowboy cookout just in time to hear a brief history of the beginnings of Jackson Hole (Hole is another term for 'valley'), & the Bar J Ranch hosting the event. Our transport to the camp awaited us in the form of covered wagons, each seating 24 people & easily pulled by two large horses. As we ambled up the two mile trail, our driver Wes pointed out a fox, a beaver lodge in the creek, & told us more about our horse team, Ben & Joe. We also met a crazy mountain man, & were attacked by Shoshone indians, but I think they might not have been chance encounters, if you know what I mean! The evening was fun, & 'interactive', we were well fed & enjoyed the music, & afterwards we sang & joked all the way back down the trail in the wagons. A beer or two in the bar, & the evening was complete.