Back at Gulf State Park

We're back at the state park for the winter.  We had a good visit at Stone Mountain & Birmingham and arrived here on Sunday, Nov 28th.  Trailer and truck did fine - first for the trailer in quite a while.  

We've been out for walks. Donna has ridden with the Folks-On-Spokes group.  We're getting into the swing of things.  We're also in the same site for the entire time we're in the park.  Been awhile since we've done that.   Park isn't crowded, yet.  

As Donna's not a candidate for knee surgery, our plans for next year are up in the air.  We intend to play vice volunteer.  We're a little late to apply for volunteer positions for next year.  We haven't been to Utah, yet, so we may go there.  We'll be competing with all those other people out traveling on vacation and no place to put their RV.  It'll be interesting.  

That gets you up to date.  More later.  David

At Stone Mountain, GA

Stone Mountain State Park, GA

We extended our stay in Fredericksburg by about 9 days to complete all our doc appointments.  Normally our appointments are "one and done".  Not this time.  Go to one appointment, get two more. Dentist..Doctors...didn't matter. We were finally finished November 5th, but needed to "recovery" before leaving last Thursday (Veterans Day). We took a day to get down to High Point, NC for the weekend. We left High Point Monday and took a couple of days to get down to Stone Mountain to visit Donna's bother and sister-in-law.  So far, so good as we're building our "grip sheet" for next spring's trailer service.

As Donna isn't a candidate for knee surgery, next year's travel plans are "up-in-the-air".  Other than we know trailer service dates, nothing is planned.  It's a little late to try to find a summer volunteer position for next year, so it looks like we get to play.  A quick check of Fantasy Tours (RV Caravan) for next year didn't turn up anything that we really wanted to do, or their planned trips were trips we had already done on our own. There may be a train trip out there, but that needs to be looked into a little further. Lots of options to consider.  There's so much we haven't done.

Current plans are to move over to Birmingham Saturday and arrive in Gulf Shores November 28th.  As always, that's the plan.  Every time we stop with the trailer attached, I immediately look at the trailer to check & see if the slides are beginning to move out.  That's happened the last two years as we headed east/south.  If the slides move out, that's a major repair and puts us in hotels for weeks at a time. While in Indiana we had the bottom of the trailer removed and the hydraulic line positions checked to ensure things looked OK before leaving. We're keeping all our fingers crossed!

That gets you up to date with us. Thanks for dropping by and checking on us. We'll update once we're down at Gulf Shores.  Until next time, David

Greensboro Greenway, Jamestown, NC

November

Well, we're still in Fredericksburg.  We hope to complete our last doc appointment on Wednesday and leave on Friday.  It'll be a slow trip to Gulf Shores with stops in Greensboro, NC; Stone Mountain, GA; and Birmingham...if all goes well.

It's getting colder here in the 'Burg as the leaves are turning in full force.  As of this evening's weather report, we go below freezing overnight Tuesday night and Thursday night.  Time to add more water in the freshwater tank.  

With Donna no longer needing knee surgery next year, we're beginning to try to make plans for 2022.  Pretty much know the trip from Gulf Shores to Indiana.  Probably work on planning for the fall trip from Indiana to Gulf Shores tomorrow.  After that, we'll start on the that big blank in between.

So that pretty much gets you up to day with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us. Post more in a couple of weeks.  David

At Fredericksburg, VA

Quick update as we're doing our annual doc, dentist, etc., visits here in Fredericksburg. We're fine, but every time we seem to go to a doc or dentist, we end up with at least one if not two more visits for each of us.

We're back in the KOA where Verizon Wireless and the campground's WIFI limited access continues to frustrate me.  Been here two weeks and today is the first day I could at least save a blog post.

The campground itself is fine and full on the weekends.  People are still traveling during the week, so the campground is seeing many overnighters traveling on I-95 (or US 1 when I-95 is closed due to an accident). Otherwise, it's our typical stay.

I'll post again when we start moving. Thanks for stopping by and checking up on us. David

October

Pine Knob County Park, Howe, IN

We' re fine.  We've survived our fall truck & trailer service appointments and moved to Angola, IN for the weekend plus let a cold front pass.  We plan to travel east beginning tomorrow.  Doc & dentist appointments await us in Fredericksburg. So head there is the plan...for now.

While we were having the trailer serviced, we took time to visit some of the smaller county parks in the area around Howe, IN and Sturgis, MI.  One park that stood out is the Pine Knob County Park just east of Howe, IN.  Besides the little lake (above), the park had a 1.7 mile archery trail (handicapped accessible) with about 30 archery targets.  Targets were animals and a couple of dinosaurs.  Nice place to visit and made for a great walk in the woods looking for the targets.  A few more pictures are at the end of this post.

So that gets you up to date with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking in on us.  Post, again, later.  David

 

Headed East

Laramie Greenbelt, Laramie River, Laramie (of course), WY

 We left the hatchery Friday and currently spending the weekend in Laramie, WY.  As I write this, a cold front is making it's way past Laramie.  It's about 50, overcast, windy (normal), and wet.  Rain stopped a few minutes ago, though I can see rain showers on the radar still to come from the west.

We're fine.  On Friday we'd stopped for the night in Rock Springs, WY where we experienced my first wind storm.  Cloudy, no rain, just high wind gusts that picked the dust & small gravel and "sand" blasted everything in the campground for a couple of minutes.  It came up so quickly that we couldn't get the satellite antenna down quick enough to beat the wind.  Then we worried if we tried to stow the antenna, we would put it in a weaker position and do more damage.  Decided to just ride it out with the antenna up, then stowed it as the wind calmed down to more normal gusts.  We waited until the wind front had passed and then raised the satellite antenna back up.  So far, so good.  Trailer seems to be no worse for wear from the "sand" blast.  Passenger side windows on the truck now have numerous chips in them, but all else seems OK.  Our little step stool that we leave outside only moved about 10 feet.  We somehow ended up with someone's lid to a large plastic storage bin.  Whoever owned it was may more organized than we are.  The packing list of what was inside the storage bin was still perfectly tapped to the lid.  No one ever came and picked it up.  We left it on the picnic table with the lid propped up hoping that whoever owned it would see it.

The Laramie KOA has added about 40 improved (they describe it as "deluxe") sites on what used to be an old rundown mobile home block just to the east of the campground office.  Sure makes the campground more attractive.  Just wonder how all that gravel is going to move around when Laramie experiences those super wind gusts.

We'd planned to head over to the Snowy Range this morning, but the weather has put a dampener on that plan.  Current plan is to head further east tomorrow (Tuesday) and spend next weekend near Des Moines, IA.  Head on into Elkhart the following week.  

Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us.  Probably post more next weekend.  David

   

Happy Labor Day!

Lewis River Canyon, Yellowstone NP

 Well, it's still August and Labor Day is a week away, so Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone in the southeast is doing OK by Hurricane IDA.  It looks bad as seen from the northwest. We're all OK here.  Our time here at the hatchery is winding down.  We have about seven work days left.  Still planning on how we'll travel east and what date to depart Jackson.  What we do know is our first appointment in Elkhart is September 23rd.  Be in that area about a week.

We had a great visit by Terry & Forrest this past week.  They had a terrible time with flight cancelations and delays.  Their luggage got here before they did!  We think they enjoyed themselves, though we probably fed them food they weren't use to eating.  They got in a couple of trips to Yellowstone National Park and a couple of museums in Jackson.  Unfortunately, the smoke didn't clear until their last day here.  This weekend, so far, has had great visibility - always after company leaves! 

That catches you up with us.  I've got my list of things to accomplish to get the trailer ready for travel.  Mostly it's just one last cleaning before we hit the road.  Anyway, thanks for dropping by.  We'll post again once we on our way east.  David

Brink of the Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone River above the Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Upper Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Lower Falls as seen from Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Mid-August Update

Grand Teton National Park

We're fine and still hot & smokey.  We were able to get out and get a hike in with decent visibility this past Thursday.  Looks like the heat wave is about to break this Wednesday as a cold front (with moisture) makes it's way across the area this coming Wednesday-Thursday.  Highs are currently predicted to be in the high 60s mid-week, mid-70s for the weekend and return to the normal low 80s the following week.  Lows only get to the low 40s, so we're not turning cold just yet, but it's coming.

It appears that the traffic has died down a little in Jackson.  We're not seeing the long lines south as you enter the city of Jackson.  My favorite spot to park near the town square (where you see all the elk horn arches & stage coach rides) has been open the last couple of times we've gone into that part of town.  Popular spots in the Grand Tetons are still packed, though.  Campgrounds still full.  String Lake picnic area is still packed by mid-morning.  Jackson Lake is down significantly and while you do see boats on Jackson Lake, none were "parked" at Colter Bay.  There were still some boats in the water at Signal Mountain Lodge & Marina.

We're beginning our last four weeks of volunteering at the hatchery for this year.   Plans are to wrap up and leave September 13th though the hatchery hasn't given us a confirmed departure date.  We're planning a relatively quick trip bouncing along I-80 to Indiana for trailer & truck repairs/service before moving further east to Virginia.  Since the government isn't shutting down RV parks, it appears we'll have our typical (or routine) trip east and down to the Gulf Coast as in years past.  Maybe we can do this trip without the devastating hydraulic failures that have plagued us for the past few years.

Well, that gets you up to date with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us, David

Grand Teton National Park

Dog Days of Summer

Cascade Canyon, Jenny Lake GTNP

I once heard the Dog Days of Summer were defined as July 3rd through August 11th of each year.  Everyone one out in this part of the country is kinda getting tired of 'em.  However, some of the area - especially the Jackson Hole area - is getting a little break as we're finally getting some of the Southwest's monsoonal rains this weekend and into next week.  We've still got smoke from the west, though.

We're fine.  Mask mandates for all are back in place at the federal buildings beginning this past Thursday. Teton County has recommended masks mandate while indoors for all businesses and for employees.  We'll see how it affects dining in.  I guess too many of us vaccinated people were giving unvaccinated people Covid.

In other news, diesel has gone from $3.289/gal to $3.989/gal - a 21% increase.  Regular gas is $3.949/gal.

We also met Randy & Shirley in Idaho Falls this past week for lunch and a visit to a cookie store.  They're volunteering at a national recreation area near Stanley, ID.  This was our first visit to Idaho Falls.  It's a pretty drive from here to Idaho Falls (and back) as you go along the Snake River. We're going to have to go back and stop at the rest area near Idaho Falls and take some pictures.

So that gets everyone up to date.  I've put some pictures of today's walk along String and Jenny Lakes.  We started out fogged in, but it lifted and gave us a great view of the Tetons.  I hope you enjoy them.  Everyone be safe out there.  David

 

Mid-month Update

Grand Teton Natl Park

A quick update just to let everyone know we're fine.  We're pretty much into a routine as we've reached our halfway point of this year's volunteer stint.  The pictures here are the last of the "pretty" pics as the wildfire smoke from the west has arrived.  There are days when we can't make out Sleeping Indian Mountain (Sheep's Mountain) across from the hatchery due to the thickness of the smoke and the bouncing (refracting?) of sunlight within the smoke.  Just not a pretty area any more.

Seems like everyone is having a weird year when we watch the national weather.  I noticed that Voyageurs Natl Park was getting into the 90s.  That's stifling hot for that part of the country, and their park rangers are probably dying in the wool uniforms they wear.  For the Jackson Hole area where we're at this summer, it's gotten hotter faster which sucked the moisture out of the soil which requires more irrigation water in Idaho which is resulting in lower (and lowering) lakes along the snake river.  

When we first arrived here for the summer of 2018, I laughed at the thought that Jackson Lake (now located in Grand Teton Natl Park) had it's dam installed (before becoming a national park) by justifying it as a source of irrigation water for the state of Idaho.  If I heard a local Idaho Falls news reporter correctly last week (and this is a big "if"), it's expected that Jackson Lake would be as low at 15% of full capacity by fall.  (The lake was 95% of capacity when Doug and Stephanie were here.)  Going to have to get a picture of Jackson Lake if it gets that low! 

Well, that gets you up to date with us.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Thanks for dropping by.  David

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton NP

Jenny Lake, Grand Teton NP

 

Happy 4th of July

Jackson Lake/Mt Moran

Happy 4th of July!  Hope everyone is doing OK.  We're fine.  Stephanie & Doug came out for a visit and appeared to have a good time.  They and Donna got some kayaking time in plus Stephanie & Doug made it into Cascade Canyon.  We also made it for pizza & breadsticks at Leeks Marina.

It's been 5 to 7 degrees warmer than normal here in Jackson but nothing like other parts of the country have (and are) experiencing.  The "Wyoming Wind" helps keep us a little cooler.  For the most part, Donna and I talk fish though Donna got to do some serious house interior painting and cleaning as the hatchery staff prepared the government house for the new supervisor arriving today.  

The Jackson area continues to be overfilled with people.  Rental cars remain in short supply and the going rate remains a $1,000/day.  RVs are everywhere.  When giving tours, it's not uncommon to talk with families who are  "winging it" in a RV and spending each night in local or city parks or at pull-offs/rest areas where overnight parking is allowed.  There's no shortage of private/business jets flying in or out of Jackson Hole.  Lines at downtown Jackson restaurants remain long.  Parking has always been a problem in downtown Jackson.  Now it's almost a fantasy.  Best practice remains just as it has in previous years we've been here:  go early, plan to walk.

That's gets you up to date.  Everyone enjoy the holiday.  Be back on the blog in a couple of weeks.  thanks for dropping by!  David

The trio make it onto Jackson Lake

 

Mid-June Update

Phelps Lake, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP)

Just a quick update to let everyone know we're doing well.  Hatchery stays busy.  Jackson and the nat'l parks are crowded.  Most nat'l park restaurants are take-out, only.  Most stores post signs indicating that if you're not fully COVID-19 vaccinated, you should wear a mask.  Most people don't.

Weather has been hot.  Today we're back in the mid 80s, but that's still a little warmer than usual.   The Wyoming wind is still here.

Foxes are back at the hatchery.  Coyotes seem to rule the Elk Refuge.  Ground squirrels are out.  Magpies (a bird) seem to rule the hatchery air space.  Last time we volunteered, the air space was ruled by cliff swallows and a few ravens.  The butte (East Gro Ventre Butte) across the highway had at least one osprey nest.  Now the cliff swallows fly by at the hatchery, but aren't building their nests like they use to on hatchery buildings.  We haven't noticed osprey activity at the butte.  We have witnessed one air battle between an osprey & an eagle.  The battle seemed to move south from the Tetons toward Jackson.  Aerial combat was pretty intense as it moved over the hatchery and Flat Creek.  We think the osprey won that day's battle.  We'll have to wait and see how the war turns out.

The hatchery gets a new supervisor next month, so everyone is waiting to see how that turns out.  Doug & Stephanie are due here tomorrow for a week, so we're cleaning and looking forward to their arrival.  That gets you pretty much up to date.  Pictures are from around the area and Phelps Lake, GTNP.  

Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us.  Until next week, David

Phelps Lake outflow

Phelps Lake, GTNP

Sheeps Mountain (Sleeping Indian), Jackson Natl Fish Hatchery

Ponds on the southside of Jackson where Swans hang out

Trumpeter Swans, Jackson, WY

 

Happy Memorial Day

String Lake, Grand Teton

Happy Memorial Day!  We're fine.  We've gotten our schedule at the hatchery worked out and been out into the park on a couple of days we had off.  Jackson is busy.  Internet has definitely slowed down over the weekend. The hatchery now has only two, fulltime staff (should be 3 fulltime plus 1 seasonal) so extra volunteers are here helping out with picking eggs and cleaning tanks & raceways. 

 

Our first trip into Grand Teton was an acclimation walk along String & Leigh Lake up to Campsite 13 and back to the southern bridge on the String Lake Trail. Started out quietly with few people as it was chilly and clouded.  On our return from Campsite 13, clouds broke and it became warmer.  Soon kayakers & boarders were out in abundance.  

Our second hike was earlier today as we drove up to Blacktail Butte.  Blacktail Butte looks out of place as it sets somewhat in the middle of the "Hole" adjacent to Mormon Row and consists of nothing more than glacial till.  The trail is an out & back trail up to the summit.  You can continue further, but we don't know where it comes out at.  News to me: I wasn't aware that Blacktail Butte was know for rock climbing, and there were folks climbing.  We never saw them, but you could hear them.

Blacktail Butte Trail

That gets you up to date with us.  We're here until September - at least that's the plan.  More pictures follow.  Have a great Memorial Day!  David

 

Seeing the area - Yellowstone & Jackson

Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

 

After arriving  at the hatchery Monday, we travel up to visit Yellowstone NP Tuesday.  Busy with people.   Visitor Centers closed.  Meals were take out, only.  Most lodging closed except for Snow Lodge in the Old Faithful area.  Not as much snow as expected.  Parking still an issue at the more popular stops. Old Faithful geyser still worked.  Grand Tetons busy as well.

Thursday was a walk around Jackson.  Nice day out.  We did some shopping and ate lunch out.

Jackson greening up.  They're still building those $3+ Million homes.  Jackson busy as well.  

Today is our first official work day.  Don't know how busy today will be.  Nice this morning, so we may get some people fishing.  Hatchery is open, so we may get to take some people through. Rain/snow predicted for tomorrow and tomorrow night.  Still have those 20+ mph Wyoming winds!

That gets you up to day with us.  Thanks for dropping by!  Sorry for such a quickly written post.  Gotta go to the hatchery, David