Three in One Day . . .
This morning, our last full day here in Jackson, started at Bubba’s BBQ for breakfast. When Jan saw Blueberry Pancakes on the menu last night, it was a given that we’d be here again.
Then we headed about 25 miles north to Moose Junction. First we wanted to get our National Park Passports stamped at the Park Visitors Center and we also asked a Ranger about the best places to find more moose.
He told us that there had been one by the bridge we just crossed up the road, and also along Moose-Wilson Rd. So it looks like our idea of driving the Teton Park Road and the Moose-Wilson Road might work out.
We first turned north on the Teton Park Rd. that runs for 20 miles before it connects back with US-89 right before Moran Junction. We had some great views along the way, including these shots along Jenny Lake,
and this photo at our closest point to Grand Teton.
Along here we also did the 4 mile Jenny Lake Rd. loop, another good spot for wildlife, as evidenced by this sign. Since we’ve seen all three, I guess we’ve really been lucky.
Reaching the main highway we decided to drive the 4 miles back to Pilgrim Creek where we saw the moose yesterday. And we hit the jackpot again.
What were probably the same two moose were back, and much more visible than yesterday.
One of them was down in the water along the bank, munching on all the green goodies. Moose like willows and aspens, and both were in abundance here.
Because he wasn’t in the trees like yesterday we got some great shots.
Here you can see the 2nd moose further up in the trees.
After a few minutes, the moose moved on to where we couldn’t really see them anymore. Jan had noticed some people only about 30 feet from the moose and said “Those people are much too close.” And then she said “I bet they’re getting some great pictures. I want to go over there.”
But luckily, the Ranger showed up a few minutes later and started yelling at people to get away.
We did move further along the creek where we could see the moose again. And in another episode of “Where’s Bullwinkle?”, this is what my camera showed at 1X.
And this is at 72X. Quite a difference.
After the moose finally disappeared into the brush, we headed back down US-89 and turned into Moose Junction again to this time take the Moose-Wilson Rd south back down to Jackson.
And as we came to the bridge the Ranger had mentioned before, we encountered a moose-jam.
He was back!
And this time only about 50 yards away, so we got some great photos.
Finally dragging Jan away from the moose, we drove back into Jackson and out the other side to Snow King Mountain Resort so we could take the Scenic Chairlift.
In the winter it’s a ski-lift to the top of Snow King Mountain so you can take one of the several runs down the mountain, but in the summer it’s just a great sight-seeing trip.
It’s a 1500 foot climb to the 7800 foot top, and so steep you would be hard-pressed to walk straight up. However there are an number of zigzag trails leading to the top for hikers and horseback rides from the nearby stables.
And the route up is lined with snow-making machines just waiting for the temperature to fall.
Looking down at the ground under our feet, we saw a lot of shoes. Apparently losing them is almost a given.
For most of the trip we were about 50 to 70 feet off the ground. What’s kind of funny is that Jan has a fear of heights. It is very difficult for her to stand at a railing and look down. She had problems at both Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.
But she has absolutely no problem dangling from a ski-lift chair. Go figure!
Getting to the top we had great views of the mountains and out across the Park.
Well worth the trip up.
And the trip down was even better, with great views of Jackson and the Elk Refuge beyond. I was hoping to see one of the elk herds from up here, but no luck.
And we even have a memento of our trip to the top. Someone needs to show them something about color correction on their photos. Mine look better.
Leaving Snow King, we drove back into town to get gas for the trip home. One thing I’ve noticed here in Wyoming that I haven’t seen anywhere else is that the gas grades are different.
The price for unleaded was only $3.48, but instead of 87, 89, and 91 octane like everywhere else, the gas here in Wyoming all seems to be 85, 87, and 89 octane.
Anyone know why? My truck really doesn’t like 85 octane, especially at these high altitudes.
Next Jan wanted to shop one of the gift shops on the main street.
And which one did she pick? Well, the Moose on the Loose, of course.
Jan found a moose tee-shirt she really liked, but when she went to pay for it, something strange happen. Both our Wells Fargo and Chase VISA debit cards were declined. So I paid with cash.
I knew both accounts had plenty of money, and I had just used the Chase card to get gas a few minutes before, so after we left the store, I called Chase.
I got a nice young lady from India, not named Peggy luckily, who was very helpful. She said they log every transaction, even if they’re declined, and she showed the last one was the gas I had purchased. She didn’t show anything even coming thru, much less declined after that.
She said the store was probably having trouble with their merchant account, which would explain why both cards were declined.
Leaving the Loose Moose, we drove back to Bubba’s for supper.
Yeah, we ate there last night, and this morning, so let’s make it three in a row.
And here’s a little secret. We’ll probably eat breakfast there tomorrow on our way out of town. So there.
This is the sign of a good BBQ place, cords of oak wood stacked up next to the separate building housing their smoker.
And when I peeked in the door, they were unloading the beef briskets and taking them into the restaurant.
And you wonder why we keep eating here.
After dinner we stopped off at a nearby Maverik for Nick Russell Memorial Cappuccinos before heading back to the room for the night.
Tomorrow we’ll probably leave here about 9 am for the 177 mile trip back to Cody.
And if Jan has her way, we’ll probably be making a quick stop at Pilgrim Creek for another moose sighting.
Hopefully this will get it out of her system for a while.
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Thought for the Day:
Everyone spreads a little joy. Some when they come, others when they go away.
kjhkjh
