Two, Two, Two Trips In One....

Friday's trip was almost like two trips. We started by going back to Grand Teton Park to re-create Ansel Adams' iconic Snake River photo in the morning light. That way the sun would shine on the mountains, not from behind them. The Tetons were even more spectacular in the morning sun.

From the park we headed east through the mountains high enough to drive through snow. The road was dry, but the plowed piles still lined the road. The temperature dropped to 34 degrees. Twenty minutes later, we watched people walk around in short sleeves as our car's outside thermometer read 52 degrees. The road was wide as it rose and dipped trough the mountains. We followed Lava Creek then Wind River down the eastern side of the range. The landcape turned gradually drier with fewer tall pines and more smaller bushes.

We stopped for lunch at the Cowboy Cafe in Dubois (dew-boys) WY. Their specialty - Buffalo burgers! Dubois' population  is 971 according to the signs, with a busy three block downtown and a good sized "suburban" commercial zone that included two lumber yards. Obviously, Dubois depends on the surrounding ranches and resorts for a living.

Just east of town is several miles of "badlands" that rival the Painted Desert. From there the drying of the landscape increased. Soon we were in the second half of our trip. We drove arrow straight through at least 150 miles of high desert to Casper, WY. Cheryl was driving when we encountered our first curve in the road and I was jealous!

Since we were on a state road and not the interstate, we drove through several small towns including one with the published population of 10 (ten!). The one redeeming point of interest was "Devil's Half Acre". Actually 300+ acres of grotesquely eroded rock that looked so other worldly that it was used to film the sci-fi movie "Starship Troopers". It is said that Indians used the canyon as a trap for Buffalo, driving herds over the edge and collecting the carcasses at the bottom.

We arrived in Casper mid afternoon with plenty of time for laundry, (perhaps the last loads we'll need to do on the road) a work out and would have gone for a swim if the pool had not been closed for repairs. Dinner was at the "World Famous Wonder Bar", where at least until the mid 1940's you could ride your horse right up to the bar. Everybody seemed to be having a good time, some things are the same all over the USA. My guess, judging from their fluorescent sun burns, is that the "cowboys" spend their day wrangling TPS Reports, not heifers. 

We were heartily welcomed at the Casper Elks' Lodge. These guys were really having fun! And truly amazed to hear our tale of the road. "What brings you to Casper?" was followed by "You DROVE here?!" It was BOGO night at the bar. Josh bought us a round, when I ordered another, it was free. I had never tried Pendleton's Whiskey, so a "taste" was free, so was Cheryl's "Colorado Bulldog" (It may have been called something else, but to the best of our slightly fuzzy recollection of last night, we're going with Bulldog). We saw less of Casper than we did of some other towns, but what we saw we really enjoyed.

We drove 282 miles today and saw 3 Corvettes.