Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wy

I wanted to remember the motel we stayed in while visiting Yellowstone.  As mentioned in earlier post, it is in Cody, Wyoming.  We drove about 50 miles to get into Yellowstone at the East entrance and the ride is through tunnels and along the water, beautiful drive.  The motel is Green Gables Inn and it was so clean, had everything you needed and more.  Price was right for that area. Very convenient to everything.

Today we left Cody for the Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.  Everywhere you go, there is a beautiful lake.  Yellowstone Lake is huge, then we rode along Lewis Lake and stopped at a nice waterfall.  Then you arrive at the Tetons and there is no mistake you have arrived.  Really pretty mountain range.  No camera we own captured the beauty.  A bonus, today was a nice fall weather day so we had our top down, which made the view much nicer.

Here are some photos of today. We took a one way wildlife drive that was on our way to Jackson.  We saw a bear close to the road, in the thicket/brush.  So, video didn't turn out so well, but we got excited!  Tomorrow we will stay around Jackson Hole and see the town.

 You drive into Yellowstone to get to the Grand Tetons then Jackson, Wy.  So the above photos are the last of Yellowstone. Clyde wanted me to see this active hot spring geyser today, as yesterday was rainy when we stopped at West Thumb Geyser Basin.

The motel we are in tonight is in Jackson Hole.  The photos below are up at Teton Village.  It was about a 12 mile drive from Jackson. It is a big ski resort and more.  We ate at the Mangy Moose and rode the Gondola to the top of the resort, at 9,095'.

 More of the Grand Tetons (camera shots)

Yellowstone

This is Wednesday and our first full day in Cody, Wyoming.  We stayed there and drove to Yellowstone.  We left around 7:30 a.m. and got in to the motel late.  Our motel was priced right and is so nice.  We have been very impressed.  Green Gables Motel (Cody).  However, it is a drive to get there!  

My priorities today was to see Old Faithful (of course) and see animals!  Especially a herd of buffalo and BIG elk.  We walked up to the geyser just before it erupted, so that was nice....no wait. It was a cloudy day, and mostly we saw what looked like clouds.  Against a blue sky, it would have been remarkable.  After we ate lunch, we went back and stood at another "side" of the geyser.  MUCH better!  I could see "water" rising up with the steam this time.  Not just steam.  It rises so high!  

We saw many elk, pronghorn and bulls (they separate from the buffalo herd after mating:) but after traveling all over Yellowstone, NO herds!!  Both of us were surprised as all our friends shared pics of them being all over the roads.  As we were heading out of Yellowstone back to Cody, into Lemar Valley, we started seeing huge herds, far off in the fields.  As we kept driving, yay, there close by the road was a herd.  I felt my day was complete.  

 This was neat, Mammoth Hot Springs, this was where the elk (below) were, a great visitors center/museum, a church, grill...Mammoth, a good place to stop.

This is the famous Roosevelt Arch leaving Yellowstone at the north exit (or entrance, depending if you're going or coming).  On the other side it says "FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE".

I hopped out and got Clyde driving through.

And that's a wrap on Yellowstone!  Close up, but not too close!

On Chief Joseph Highway heading back to Cody, there was snow on the mountains.  Pretty, this drive was amazing.  Had it been sunny and warm, even late in the day, I would have enjoyed it more!  At this point, it was getting dark, so foggy at one point I was getting concerned, but it lifted (my prayers were being lifted as well!)

 Turns, twists and what a view!  Chief Joseph Highway.

Day of Travel

I have been thinking of why we didn't bring Jason & Becky out west growing up.  Several things may have been the issue.  For one, it is a two week trip.  That is time off and the expense of motels/food for four.  Also, we loved the beach.  Growing up, they like going to Florida.  Another thing, Jason played baseball and that was in the summer, we went on vacations typically during spring break....which was one week.  Me working at a school, I only took spring break off during the school year.  

Coming west in the summer there are so many more tourists in Yellowstone.  You have to time it right, not to come too early or too late!  Since coming, I keep thinking "would children like this trip?" It is a LOT of driving, unless you fly out and rent a car.  Which is super nice.  We like driving, since we have the convertible.  And, as mentioned, we make stops along the way.  Would kids like seeing Mount Rushmore, yes.  However, once they do, what next?  A lot of beautiful scenery.  Huge boulders, rock formations (but they can't climb most of them), and more driving.  It's not Disney where there are rides/attractions.  Or many putt putt courses along the way (there may be but not on every corner), or kiddie type of things.  So, plan well young families!  Do your homework to find things they will like.  

Today, we left Hill City, SD, and rode toward Cody, Wyoming.  First stop was Deadwood, SD, neat town.  Brick streets, where Wild Bill Hickok was shot from behind and killed while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota, by Jack McCall, an unsuccessful gambler.

We stopped at the Pump House, an old gas station turned into a deli/cafe with a glass blowing business inside.  Beautiful (pricey) pieces.  The Traynor's (again, thanks!) gave us the heads up on this place.  Pictures to follow.


Rode into Lead, SD, and took Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.  We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, and headed west to where we are tonight, Cody, Wyoming.  Tomorrow is Yellowstone and more.  Here are a few photos from today, which was mostly traveling the 6 1/2 hour drive from Rushmore to Cody.

 This was our first stop after eating a big breakfast, too early for lunch.  Everything looked good!

The original location where Wild Bill was shot.

This was an Indian Motorcycle Shop, and look who we saw there!  Mike & Frank, the pickers. (not)

 There was a five day Austin-Healey car show in Deadwood last week.  All weekend, they have been all over the roads in Rushmore.  A fella told us there were 280 registered for this show. They were made from 1953 to 1966 (I think he said, there about).

One issue with using the camera, I don't take as many photos as I do with my cell camera.  Therefore, tonight as late as it is getting, I don't take time to download both.  This is a terrible photo of Bridal Veil Falls, along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.  

Tomorrow is Yellowstone and Clyde just told me he had ten stops planned.  Early morning if we want to see animals.  So goodnight!

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway & Custer National Park

This has been the best weather day, sunny & warm, so top was down all day.  We stopped by Mount Rushmore yesterday (twice) and again today.  The military night program last night was a "bust".  The monument was lit up for the dark but the fog set in, so you couldn't see it.  I'll add photos.  

Crazy Horse was just a "drive by".  We were already running a bit late getting there, and didn't want to spend a lot of time there, so we just drove up to look at it.  Clyde has been out west four other times (that I can recall) and has walked through the museum.  

From there we drove on the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. It is a scenic drive of twists & turns with giant columns of granite rock that reached up to the sky.  So cool...looked like tall, skinny needles!  

We didn't see any buffalo herds but four bulls, they are separated from the herd now.  A band of friendly burros that our friend, Valerie, told us about.  She even told me where to buy the carrots to feed them.  That was a highlight today.

 Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln

I have better photos of Mt. Rushmore, but having trouble downloading.  So, this will do.  It was pretty neat, seeing those famous leader's faces...just carved in the rock!  The story of how the location was chosen.  Pretty spectacular!  

Crazy Horse is the world's largest mountain carving, in progress.  The first blast occurred June 3, 1948.  Once completed, this carving will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long.  The face of Crazy Horse stands 87.5 feet high.  

The heads carved at Mount Rushmore are 60 feet high.

Sylvan Lake was a nice beginning of our ride on our way to Needles Highway.

 Needles Eye Tunnel, you take your turn going through!

 I kept singing "Home, Home on the Range".....but not many buffalo were roaming on our drive today.

 I have video of our attempt to feed the burros carrots. Thanks Valerie for the tip!  It was fun!!  

 Clyde liked this wooden bridge and asked me to take pics of it.