2014XC: Day 12, June 23 – Yellowstone (Madison) to Grand Teton (Colter Bay)
Even though we didn’t have electric hookups at this campsite for the past 3 days, it actually worked out ok. Most of the electronic items we have (games, cameras and phones) could be charged in the truck as we were driving around. My SLR camera and my laptop not so much. When I would use the bathroom at the campground, they had an outlet there so I would charge my camera battery while brushing my teeth. I certainly feel as though God provided for me here because the only two batteries I have seemed to last longer these three days on minimal charge than they ever lasted on other days. All in all though, we really enjoyed the campground and were thankful for staying there and glad for the plan God had for us.
On the way out of Yellowstone we stopped again at the Old Faithful area. My phone picked up signal there so Steve was able to spend some time catching up on business. The kids and I went to the gift shops and the Inn in the meantime. We didn’t realize it at the time, but Gabriel left his favorite Puma hoodie there. On our way out of the Inn to go back and meet up with Steve, we saw that we’d just missed Old Faithful. It figures – the last two times we were standing there waiting for it, it was 10 minutes late. This time, it was 10 minutes early! On our way we saw another waterfall area, so we stopped to check it out. A funny memory here: the kids asked about lunch, so right there in the pull-off parking lot Steve sparked up the grill for some hot dogs. Probably we weren’t allowed to do that, but just for once it was fun.
On our way…another traffic jam. This time, a pair of elk (they are both in the center of the picture, kind of behind the trees). And Morgan showing us the way…
Grand Teton park borders Yellowstone at the South entrance so you really just go from one park to the next. On the way, I’m taking pictures and I lean my head a little too far out of the window while we were moving and there went my favorite brown hat! I guess I can say “I left my hat, er, I mean heart, in Yellowstone!”. There was no shoulder so we couldn’t drive back to get it. 🙁 But, the road into the Grand Tetons was just about worth it.
We weren’t able to get full hookups so that meant 4 days, no showers. Oh well. We parked our camper at the Colter Bay Campground then drove around to check out the place. We found an entrance to the beautiful Jackson Lake just up and around the corner. Rocky beach and bottom, and clear COLD water against the backdrop of the Grand Tetons. Steve and the kids took turns challenging themselves to get in while I just hung out and watched – too cold for me! And it was Gabriel’s idea to be buried in the rocks – kind of like burying yourself in the sand at the beach. 🙂
We drove to the marina for a pizza dinner right on the lake.
Then we walked over to the marina and the dock, and the boys had a quick race.
Another beautiful day!