Father's Day 2012

Guess as I am travelling around continually and at my own pace (except when the Jeep is in the shop), everyday could be considered "Father's Day" -- minus the presence of my beloved son and daughter.  A brunch or dinner with them would be the highlight for another day in the wilderness up here in Wyoming.

Yesterday, I took the 7:00 a.m. bus south in search of a fishing license and to see some of the sights along the Tetons and its lakes.  It was the first morning I had felt well enough to awake early and take the chilly ride south (thinking how nice and warm it had been in Florida and even Colorado).  Looking forward to the month of July in southwest Colorado.

Signal Mountain Marina

I stepped off the bus at Signal Mountain Lodge since it was the first stop noted to sell fishing licenses (thought I should be legal for at least a couple days of fishing instead of hiding behind trees and boulders while catching those tasty Cutthroats).  The ride in the bus (right side) provided the best views of the lakes and the Grand Tetons.  When there weren't any sights to take in, I studied the bus schedule to see how I could best spend my time (after getting my fishing license) before getting the bus back to the ranch (hoping to arrive back at 2:30 p.m.).

After getting my license in the lodge, I wandered around and took some pictures while awaiting the next northbound bus to take me back to the Jackson Lake Lodge (where I planned to have breakfast and take in the views most locals raved about).  Since it was such a beautiful day, the views were spectacular and worth the $14 bus ride(s).  I also checked out the store at Signal Mountain to see if they had any better selection than the one at the ranch and decided not really (did purchase more cough drops).

The ride back to Jackson Lake Lodge went over the dam and I could see one or two fishermen on the south shore below the dam trying their luck to catch some trout.  We also passed through the meadows beyond the dam and a section of the road had been marked with cones and signs telling people not the stop -- an area where a black bear and her three cubs had been sighted the day before.  On the way south earlier, I had heard a woman in the seat in front of me tell the cowboy next to her about her sighting of the four bears and she pointed to the area where she had seen them.  No such luck on my two trips past the sighting area -- Darn!

Mount Moran beyond Lake Jackson

Jackson Lake Lodge is spectacular and the views upstairs looking out over the meadow and lake at the Tetons are everything the locals had said it would be.  I had the additional pleasure of getting a seat next to the windows in the restaurant and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast buffet -- Father's Day one day early (no breakfast like that today).  After a sumptuous breakfast I enjoyed getting out on the patio and paths to take pictures and even spotted an Elk way out in the meadows/brush with the help of my Nikon binoculars -- and the mention of the Elks presence by a young girl to my left.  Her brother vehemently denied that she could have seen the Elk but, I confirmed that I had seen it too before it ducked into a hallow by the bushes.

Jackson Lake Lodge (interior)

I spent some time in the lodge afterwards not far from one of the two walk-in fireplaces which were away from the huge windows -- maybe napped a little too after the satisfying breakfast.  The next bus north wasn't due for about an hour and a half and I hoped to get to Colter Bay Visitor's Center where I planned to await the next bus back to the ranch.

Colter Bay had been my second choice for parking the RV and it definitely is a hub for activity around the Visitors Center, its campground and the busy marina.  It also had the best selection of food and supplies in its vastly larger store area (more than double the space here at Flagg Ranch) -- and you get cell phone service there too and 10 more amps of power ($12 a night more).  Me?  I wanted to be closer to Yellowstone for those longer drives around the park.  Just another of my bad decisions -- Cats have been no help in these matters.


Colter Bay



View from Colter Bay V.C.



Father's Day on the Snake River

After getting back to Flagg Ranch, I headed out mid afternoon back down the hill to the Snake river where I hoped to catch my limit -- only brought back one and two others got away (would have been my limit of 3 Cutthroats).  So, I will go back again today before noon and fish a couple hours around the noon hour and head back again around 6:30 for another couple hours.

Now for a simple breakfast and open those Father's Day cards.  Happy Father's Day to all.