Austin Lake views are good too!

Austin Lake sunrise 9/20/15.

Home again Home again......

We are here at the lake again and catching up with everything.  Fortunately we brought the nice weather along with us and we are enjoying the last warm days of September.

 I am staying at Kris's house with Ethan, overseeing homework and toting him to football practice, while they are with Mitchell at Mayo Clinic.  He is having his final surgery on Friday and then staying a week to recuperate and gain strength.  This will be a fusion of a section of his spine, correction of some curvature and I believe a rod.  No more brace, which he is very happy about.  The doc is the best at Mayo and head of the department so outlook is very optimistic, but still a worry for all of us.  He is in our thoughts and prayers all day these days.  Mitch himself is very upbeat an attitude I hope he retains.  When he returns after the surgery, I will be with him during the day for three weeks.

Assuming all goes well, Mitch will be back playing BB next spring with his team!!!!

For now, I am back to the laundry..mountains of it!!!!!!

Pronghorn out our window

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The elk resting outside our hotel window in mammoth hot springs hotel

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Hail hail the gangs all here

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Grand Teton National Park

What a beautiful piece of land this area is here in Wyoming.  Thank goodness Rockefeller had the foresight to preserve this for everyone and the persistence to convince the government to make it a park.  The air is clear and clean and the lakes crystal clear.  The majestic mountains are the backdrop for every look west.

 

We have enjoyed our two days here hiking and learning about the area from rangers and guides.  Yesterday we hiked a trail for a couple of hours then  boarded a rubber raft to float down the Snake River with a very knowledgeable guide.  Grant grew up just a short distance from the river and now guides during the summer then certifies ski instructors, all over the world,  during the winter.  What a life!  He handled the long oars with skill as he guided us and kept a running commentary about the river and  the wildlife.  The trip ended with a black bear sighting.  Dinner was at the Jackson Lodge where we met a bartender who had owned the Beached Whale and Doc Fords in Ft.Myers Beach…two of our favorite restaurants. Small world.

 

We also met the sister of our neighbor and sailing pal in the restroom of a visitors center!!

 

Today started with a bear sighting upon a far ridge.  We think a grizzly.  We ran into the visitor center and signed up for a ranger led hike to Hidden Falls, (it seems every park has one) then to find breakfast.  The first choice was jenny Lake Lodge but it proved to be very expensive.  Nights there start at $675. Or so and the dining room matches!!  The Chuck Wagon in Moose Junction was more our speed so we enjoyed a quick breakfast sitting in a tent…a little chilly but good.

 

Back at the visitor center we met up with the ranger for the boat ride across Jenny Lake then a hike up the mountain to see the falls.  It was very pretty and getting warmer and warmer.  We started the day with about four layers on and peeled as the sun warmed.  George and I took the hike and boat back while Menz’s hiked around the lake.  Timing wasn’t much different and we ended having our picnic lunch together while chatting with a young couple from Holland who were touring the west for 11 weeks.  Both Geologists.

 

Dennis and I said enough hiking!!!   So back to our cabin then out to the pizza place by the lakeshore where we enjoyed the pizza again and played trivia.  Lots of laughs and a great end to our stay here.

 

Tomorrow we move to Snow King Resort and our last night here in Wyoming.  We’ll do a few sights in Jackson Hole, the tram and lunch and some galleries too.  Then a quick two days on the road and home again with wonderful memories and photos.  We are lucky to have such good friends and traveling companions as Dennis and Dale.  We have “Dennis the planner”,  “Dale the Foodie”, Data Man George and me the occasional artist…..between us we do a great trip!!!

 

 

Tetons