Finally on the road: Grand Teton National Park

After three months in Salt Lake City, we finally took off in our motor home on Monday.  Jim outlined the trip since he’s the “big picture guy."  Our first stop was going to be in Victor, Idaho, until the detail person (that's Bev) read that between Victor and Grand Teton National Park, (our next planned stop) was a mountain pass with a 10 percent grade. We probably could have done it. But instead of worrying, we planned a different route and spent last night at Rim Station, a small RV park just north of Pinedale, Wyoming, where I had the nicest RV park welcome I’ve ever had when the manager’s four-year-old grandson greeted me with a big hug.

Today we got up early and drove to the Tetons.  I’ve only been here once before a long, long time ago.  I don’t remember much about the trip except it was Fourth of July weekend and I was tent camping while wearing a down parka. Jim once drove through but has never camped here before.  It’s only a five-hour car drive from Salt Lake, so we must be crazy.

Today's weather was lovely.  We hiked near Jackson Lake, checked out the marina, drove around the other campsites at Coulter Bay Campground where we are staying, and then -- because this is bear country -- reread the directions of the bear spray we always carry with us. It expired in 2011.  Maybe we’ll buy a new can tomorrow.

Jaywalking geese in Jackson, Wyoming (as seen through a very dirty rig window.)

There was a lot of highway construction north of Jackson.  We actually served as the "pilot car" for this long line of vehicles and lead the group to the next stop.

Our first view of the Tetons. Early French explorers named the three largest peaks les trios tétons, or "the three breasts." (Crazy French guys.) The tallest peak rises 13,770 feet.

Shortly before we got to our campsite, we saw our first bison.

Our camping spot at Coulter Bay. We were surprised at how many campsites are empty.