Grand Tour Oh-Ten

Here it is, folks, the what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation summary (Part I).  

6am and I couldn't wait to get up!

Day 1:
A classy beginning: sleeping 4 hours in our car.  
In Mesquite, Nevada.  
Wal*Mart parking lot.


It was 95 degrees at midnight when we drove through Las Vegas.  Dan wanted so badly to stop and put all our money on 17-Red, but I was firm and said, "Maybe on our way home, honey."





Day 2:
Drove through Utah to Wyoming.  

Utahhhhhhh

Wyoming with my Travel Buddy.

Jackson Hole surprised us, saw a moose and bison outside of town, camped at Gros Ventre across the creek from an Elk Preserve, ate dinner in the car with a hundred bugs during an awesome thunder storm. Hooray for a cozy tent!


Day 3:
wow.  Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. gorgeous scenery, fun photography day.

Tetons and lupine

Jenny Lake - please don't judge me by my shoes

We didn't know what to expect from ol' Yellow.  

Confirmation: amazing vistas, Old Faithful spits water, black bear/grizzly sightings, there is a Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with a cool waterfall, and it's difficult to snag a campsite.  We were mostly driving tourists this time, complete with mastering the art of, "Quick, roll down your window and take a picture!"  Turns out Dan's pretty good at the gopher maneuver through the sunroof.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls

Camped at Mallard's Rest fishing access site along highway 89 in Montana, slept to the sound of cattle lowing across the river. Have to admit that at first we thought the sound was a cell phone on vibrate... a sad mindset!  There is nothing quite like a dip in a creek to start your day. 

With utmost appreciation and respect, I believe Montana can be summed up in 3 words:  

Fishing, 

Homestead, 

and Trucks.

More to come!!