Thursday, August 21 Oh Wow

Just when I thought things couldn't get any more awesome they did. I spent the morning in the Old Faithful parking lot catching up on all the things I had promised, but couldn't do without Internet and then saw the absolutely spectacular movies they offered on Yellowstone . One on the amazing symbiotic relationship between the bird ( Clark's Nutcracker) and the white bark pine trees. The pine cones from this particular tree, which makes up a great percentage of the forest in Yellowstone, is a major food source for almost every animal species. The pine beetle is greatly threatening the forest and thus the Nutcracker is looked too as the potential savior of this ecosystem. The research and technology is fascinating.

So one last view of old faithful and off we headed for the Grand Teton National Park just south of Yellowstone. I have been counting trees on my journey and are now up to 999 Tara gazillion(with a G) ! We could build a nice little cabin for every human being on the planet if we put our minds to it.

But then, Oh My, all of a sudden there was this beautiful lake (Jackson Lake) right along the road, and when you pulled off onto a viewing spot there they were. The beautiful jagged Tetons in all their splendor just at sunset. We dawdled a bit, but then continued onto the Coulter visitor center with amenities like gas ( $4.27/gal.) These people were really serious about no camping or overnight parking as there was a sign every 10 feet around this extensive parking lot. Of course, all the RV campsites were packed like sardines, and even though I found some empty spots, they had reserve signs on them. So I didn't want to be kicked out in the middle of the night if people showed up later on. I did however find a little access road that seemed to be unoccupied so I decided to give it a whirl.

The local paper said there was a Ranger talk in the amphitheater at 8 o'clock so we had just time enough to grab a makeshift dinner and take off walking through the woods on a beaten path to a nice big amphitheater nestled in the woods. The park Ranger turned out to be a French lady with a thick accent, and although the title of the talk was to be on why the Tetons are so special, she decided to talk about the plants in the environment. I politely sat through it, but was underwhelmed and disappointed. The best part was the bats and one Osprey that flew over.

Hopefully no one will notice us in the woods and by morning we can move into the public parking lot. So another marvelous adventure with Abba comes to a close.

There she blows yet again

here's how the plumbing works

A rare sighting of a great blue Heron ,never did attack the Muskrat coming toward him on the Firehole river , the only potable source of water in the area making it possible for a tourist industry