Jackson, Wyoming: Though still quite warm (80), the weather changed overnight. The sky is now filled with clouds and we had a little drizzle. Everything we planned today didn't work out - but you know us - we still had a good day. After exercising, we had planned to go to the Virginian Hotel dining room for breakfast. (We are staying at the attached RV Park). Walking to the restaurant we saw the nice outdoor pool area with a hot tub, but found a huge crowd at the restaurant and at least a 30 minute wait for a table. Reverse route, and I cooked our usual Saturday potato hash (that we did not have yesterday). Yukon golds, green pepper, jalapeno, sliced turkey breakfast sausage, sprinkled with all-ready-done-been-shredded Tillamook Mexican blend cheese. I was finished cooking before we would have been seated at the restaurant.
On the agenda today was to drive the Moose-Wilson Road, so we headed out in the RV to Teton Village (where the ski resorts are located). We thought about taking the gondola to the top of the mountain, but the weather was a bit scary, and continued to an obscure park entrance on the Moose-Wilson Road. We love to drive along this short road because we see a moose nearly every time we are here, except for the time we saw a grizzly eating a moose. (That was epic.) The ranger turned us away at the gate, asking if we had not seen the NO RVs TODAY sign? No we had not. Rat farts. Reboot. We turned around and headed back to the southern entrance to the park on the north side of Jackson (driving through busy Jackson). We did take a right up to Gros Ventre - grow vant - means fat belly, what the French-Canadian trappers thought of the local tribe... these are same people who named the Grand Tetons: big breasts. Lonely men, indeed.
After sighting only a fox and a hawk, we decided to go back to Jenny Lake, but the stream of vehicles on the road convinced us to go the National Museum of Wildlife Art instead. By now it was raining. Yes, we have been here a few times previously but we really enjoy this museum.
in 1997 for the museum.
Bonheur lived in her chateau in the forest near Fontainebleau, France.
Mlle. Bonheur kept a lion - in her house - as a pet.
The National Museum of Wildlife Art must display over 60 paintings by German-born Carl Rungius, one of the most important wildlife artists of our time. He started painting realistically and slowly moved to the impressionist style.
After our visit to the museum, we basically hightailed it back to our campsite to wait-out what was surely going to be a good old Rocky Mountain Thunderstorm! By 4p, the sky grew black(er), the wind started gusting and we had lightning and thunder... and rain. We hunkered-down, watching fellow campers scrambling as well to get chairs and awnings quickly secured. Interestingly enough, as the thunderstorm hit Jackson, we began getting all sort of warnings from Alexa and our Ring cameras a big thunderstorm was hitting our house in the Coachella Valley! Random. From the cameras around our house, I think Jackson won the thunderstorm-off tonight. Nothing at our house. Not a drop of rain. Little wind.
After things calmed down, we Ubered to town for dinner at Snake River Brewing Company to drink local brew, eat brew-pub food and catch the Messi v Columbia game.
I guess we were in a smoky mood tonight. We shared two appetizers. The smoked trout spread was especially delicious and I recommend. The nachos were nachos, but nicer due to the smoked chicken. Randomly, the guy sitting next to us at the bar worked at the same hotel as Ms. Hong (our fellow rafter from yesterday), and knew our float guide as well. I tell you, if you spend three days in a small town, you get to know the locals.
We hit the highway tomorrow. Hopefully this storm will clear the smoky air in the area and give us clear views from now on.
PS: Happy Bastille Day!
Until my next update, I remain, your local correspondent.
Campground Information: The Virginian RV Park - This is the only game in town. Less than a mile to town. Full-service sites, bathhouse, laundry, pool at the attached hotel. Restaurants. I will write my review after we leave. We have a back-in gravel site and are paying $170 per night. Not a typo. I will post a review after we leave.