Day 7 - Yellowstone - 7-19-17 - Oregon Trail & Mormon Country

We were not really impressed with The Virginia Lodge in Jackson, WY.  It was probably built in the 60's and wasn't quite as nice as most of the lodging on our Caravan tours.  It was adequate and probably all the tour company could afford in this location.  Jackson is home to the very wealthy.  The average person (teachers, police) who works in Jackson lives in Idaho since the cost of living is so high there.  We were told there are 1200 jobs available - hard to find people to work in the service industry.

Jim Kelly, tour guide and Keven Crooks, driver

 We entered Idaho this morning and traveled along the route of the "Oregon Trail".  We visited the National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and took a ride on a covered wagon!  This was a unique adventure where we experienced what pioneers would have experienced on the trail.  Well, sort of!

 Our next stop was for lunch in a small town on Bear Lake.  We enjoyed ice cream sundaes and fries at Zipz.  There were several small, fast food places to get lunch and they all claimed to have the best raspberry shake in town.  Raspberries were in season and available fresh at the convenience store/gas station.  It also had the best restrooms in town.

Great Salt Lake

Mormon Tabernacle

Temple Square in Salt Lake City

Our guide talked a lot about the Mormons, how they came to be in Utah, their strong faith and dedication to family, and their wealth.  We had a tour of Temple Square and our guides were young girls on mission there.  One was from Texas and one was from Los Angeles.  They were being monitored by older girls from Mexico and Brazil.  I was impressed by their strong commitment to what they believe.  They were well-versed in Mormonism and answered questions from our group.  Someone asked why there were no crosses.  They said they focus on Jesus' resurrection, not the crucifixion.

After a short rest, we enjoyed our farewell dinner at the Hilton - delicious chicken with brown rice and steamed broccoli and cheesecake for dessert.  Again, I threw up after a few bites.  When I came back to the table, my plate was gone and replaced with dessert.  Someone had wondered if they should check on me in the restroom - Ron said "She'll show up when dessert is served".  And I did!

Another uneventful flight home on July 20th and we're back to normal!  Well, almost.

Miscellaneous Yellowstone

George & Georgetta Swear 

Mule deer relieving himself on the Snake River

The Swears were on our tour and we got to know them since we both opted to stay in the back of the bus, rather than rotate.  This photo was taken by George.  They were on the raft ahead of us and the deer was gone by the time our raft caught up.  So, it's a mule deer I didn't actually see!

Float trip on the Snake River - our rower was a hunk!  Didn't see too much wildlife but the float trip was relaxing and a highlight of the tour.

Day 6 - Yellowstone - Grand Teton National Park - 7/18/2017

 We stopped for photos at Kepler Cascades and the Continental Divide.

Another photo op at Jenny Lake with the Tetons in the background.

Episcopal Chapel of the Transfiguration 

View of the Tetons from inside the church

Float trip on the Snake River

The weather changed while we were on our float trip.  We didn't get wet but there was definitely rain in the Tetons.  Our driver told us the meaning of Grand Tetons is grand tits.  Need to look that up - was he kidding us? 

Antler Arch in downtown Jackson Hole, WY

 This was a long day and, after checking into The Virginian Lodge, I was not really interested in anything except a nap and ice on my knees.  Ron scoped out the dinner options and, after resting, we walked to a chinese restaurant our guide had recommended.  It tasted delicious and I was enjoying it until I had a problem with reflux or possibly altitude sickness.  I was fine, after throwing up, and it happened again the next night.  No problems since we got home so I'm betting it was the altitude.

Day 5 - Yellowstone - July 17, 2017

A Yellowstone volunteer guide joined us today to explain the thermal features we would see as we drove around the perimeter of the park.  The park contains geysers, mud pots, 10,000 hot springs and fumaroles.  Ron took a lot of these photos while I napped.  The most colorful spots were too far for me to walk.  Should have rented a wheelchair for me!

Yellowstone Falls, twice the height of Niagara Falls

Bison

 

Yellowstone Lake

Waiting to view Old Faithful

Day 4 - Yellowstone - July 16, 2017 - Old Faithful

Our first stop today was in Livingston, Montana where we bought a picnic lunch for later.  Then on to Mammoth Hot Springs.  When hot water pours out of the spring it contains bacteria that live in hot water and the overflow looks colored.  After it cools, the bacteria die and the remains look white.

  We had our picnic at Mammoth Hot Springs and then headed out for Yellowstone, following the Yellowstone River through the grand canyon of Yellowstone.  

Pronghorn Elk

Our first view of Old Faithful as we arrived at Old Faithful Inn.  Our tour guide joked that our driver pushed his remote to start it just in time for our arrival.

After dinner at the General Store (Ron had a Bison burger), we went to the Ranger talk and then watched Old Faithful go off a second time.