Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Grand Tetons (Part Two)

Ron and Jane have been thinking about getting kayaks for next summer. On August 30, after much coercing, Jane finally convinced Sandy  to give it a try. Sandy is deathly afraid of deep water and it took awhile to convince her it was a safe thing to do. Ron and Jane had been in single kayaks before and thought they should try a tandem to see if their marriage could survive both being in the same kayak.
     
We rented the kayaks at the marina in Colter Bay on the west side of Jackson Lake in the Tetons.

     
Here is the happy couple on their way to try the “divorce maker”, another name for a tandem kayak
.     



IMG_5418

Here we are at the marina all equipped and getting ready to take off.

IMG_5423

Here Ron and Jane are being pushed off for the start of their “trial” run.

IMG_5425

And here we are just leaving the launch site. These were 13 ½ foot kayaks that we used and they were quite stable and comfortable.

IMG_1844

Off we go for a couple hours of fun and GREAT scenery. That is Mount Moran above our heads.      

IMG_1846

Look at that perfect precision paddling technique that Sandy and I have.


Now we've got it.

Oops. Maybe it’s not quite as easy to stay in sync as we thought.     


...but not for long.

It’s too bad that the pictures don’t do the scenery justice. It was fabulous gliding over the smooth water.
 
IMG_1859

Ron and Jane started out steering with some difficulty. Then we noticed that Ron’s paddle was not aligned right.
 
IMG_5435

So after fixing his paddle things worked much better.

IMG_5453

I guess I spoke too soon. We ended up calling this the “dragonfly stroke” because it reminded us of dragonfly wings.
 
IMG_5485

Aaah, much better.     


IMG_5493

No! the map says we need to go this way.

IMG_5497

The end of the trip and we all decide to stay married. Although Ron and Jane have decided not to push their luck and will be getting single kayaks.

Now if you want to read a more entertaining version of the kayak foray, read Jane and Ron's RV Adventure under "My Blog List".


IMG_1867

On the way back to the campground we spotted this black bear along the road.

IMG_5499
IMG_5511
IMG_5508
IMG_5514

On the morning of Sept 1st, Sandy and I joined our new friends Noel and Phyllis, whom we met through Ron and Jane, for a morning hike through the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. This preserve is maintained with an endowment he set up for its continued operation.


IMG_5568

If you ever get here be sure to go into the visitor’s center and visit the quiet room to the far right end as you walk in the entrance. It has a small sitting area and you can listen to the sounds of the Preserve.


Laurance S Rockefeller visitor center.

These are our new friends Phyllis and Noel with whom we took the 3 mile round trip hike up to Phelps Lake. The trail winds though beautiful forest and streams.

IMG_5544

This little guy ended up close enough to sniff my shoe, I still wonder why he took off running after that.


Oooh cute- this chipmonk really liked Dave

That is Phelps Lake behind Sandy.


IMG_5553
Lawrence Rockefeller Preserve 018
Outlet of Phelps Lake into Lake Creek

This Speyeria coronis decided to take a rest and hitched a ride with Phyllis. Notice that it landed right on her “OFF” repellent gadget.     


A Speyeria coronis hitch hiking a ride.
IMG_5563
Lawrence Rockefeller Preserve 069

On the way back to the campground we saw this moose in a small stream. Thanks to Phyllis and her camera here are a couple of pictures.
     
Lawrence Rockefeller Preserve 079
Lawrence Rockefeller Preserve 083

Ron and Jane have taken up the habit of having a fire in the morning rather than in the evening as you get warmth from both the sun and the fire. At an evening fire you get burnt in the face and freeze your butt.
Here we are enjoying morning coffee by the fire. Phyllis, me, Jane, Noel and Ron.


IMG_5585

Here are Ron , Jane and Phyllis who is dressed for winter on this chilly morning.     


IMG_5617

After morning coffee Sandy and I went out to the Grand Teton entrance from Jackson where we had better internet connection so we could post our last blog edition, Grand Tetons (Part one).     


IMG_5626

The next day, 9-2-11, Noel and Phyllis were kind enough to let us again ride with them on a sightseeing trip. This one was to see the Gros Ventre Slide which is supposedly the second largest landslide in the USA. In 1925 the landslide dammed up the Gros Ventre River and created a large lake. In 1927 the natural dam gave way and flooded the small town of Kelly killing six people.


IMG_5635
IMG_5636

Here is another case where pictures do not do justice to the scene. Also a lot of new trees are now growing on the slide.     

IMG_5641
IMG_5660

On Saturday the 3rd we left our friends in Gros Ventre and headed to Wapiti, WY to spend that day with friends Brad and Connie. They were neighbors of ours before moving to the Cody, WY area a couple years ago. As we were leaving the campgrounds we spotted this Bull Moose just lying in the grass.

IMG_5665      

We saw a few buffalo in the Tetons as we were leaving. This was only the second time we saw Buffalo in the eight days we were here.

IMG_5672

We drove through Yellowstone on our way to Wapiti.

IMG_5674

Connie and Brad at their beautiful new house.


IMG_5751

The view from their house looking west.     


IMG_5753

The view from their house looking SE.     


IMG_5762

Looking south showing the campground where we stayed that night.
     
IMG_5766

This is looking SE with Buffalo Bill Reservoir in the back ground.
 
IMG_5769

A picture of their house. They sure have a expansive view of the country side.     


IMG_5772

On Sunday the 3rd we drove out of Cody on US 14A to US 14 to cross the Big Horn Mountains. This route, 14A, has the toughest grades to climb but we did pretty well on them in the Lazy Daze. After the Big Horns it was on to Aberdeen, SD for a couple of days, then back home.

IMG_5787

Yes, we are going uphill. It was a 10% grade for 10 miles.

IMG_5793

This Syncline Thrust Fault was exposed when the road was cut. The fault occurred when pressure caused the layers to push up creating the non-conforming layers and the downward fold (syncline).

IMG_5846
IMG_5849

A couple pictures from Sandy’s Dads flower garden.

IMG_5872
IMG_5874

We are back home now so---    

Until next time,
Dave and Sandy