Lake Ogallala, NE 24-26 Sept

24 – 26 Sept 2010

Lat/Long: 41.2281, -101.6614

Location:  Lake Ogallala, NE

Electric Hook Up:  Yes

Water Hook Up: No, but within 10 yards

WiFi: Yes, but it’s some homegrown network – 10 bucks for 30 minutes – no thanks!

Bathroom: 200+ yard walk

Shower:  Free….but a push button shower, 30 seconds each push

Reserve on web at: http://www.reserveamerica.com/

Site:  3

Had a great visit with my brother Jason.  This was a much better campsite then the previous Nebraska site (KOA).  We had perfect real estate that looked over the lake.  We were on the opposite side of Lake McConaughy.  The campground is clean and well spaced – but EVERYONE had a dog so it was a little loud during “walking time”.  But – can’t complain – our dogs were the LOUDEST by far.  So yippy yappy…namely Chase.  

Jason and Dandy Dog are wonderful.  We enjoyed seeing him and spending time with them both.  We ate well, we slept well, we were entertained 100% of the time.  We arrived a little late Friday, but Jason had the fire going and threw on some hot dogs for dinner.  Played a little bit with my camera and the lantern – as you can see in the pics.  Saturday it was windy almost all day, but it settled down about the time the sun set.  Today…just gorgeous.

We had wonderful neighbors beside us.  Jason be-friended them right away Friday.  Their daughter came for a visit and Jason and I helped set up their tent.  We watched them for a bit struggle with poles, fabric, stakes…Jason and I stood up about the same time and took charge – thanks Dad for those handy skills!  But we swapped stories, experiences, dog stories, they brought over some banana bread this morning.  We enjoyed them.

Trip home was a piece of cake.  Took about 3 hours or so.  We passed this lady pushing her car by herself down the interstate.  We decided to turn around…turned out she’d been trying to push her car for AN HOUR, she had her 2 year old strapped into a car seat as she heaved her 4 door sedan down I-76.  Anyway – no one stopped, not even a cop.  We initially called the state patrol and thought we’d just keep going, but our conscience wouldn’t let us.  She ran out of gas…took her to a station, filled it up, in the meantime the cop we called showed up, we wished her luck and that was that.  Just can’t believe that no one bothered to stop…disappoints me greatly.

 

But – back to the trip – all is good.  Dogs are zonked, appears they had a good time too..  Next trip is in two weeks…probably the last one of the season.  ;( 

Happy Trails!!!

Grand Teton's/Yellowstone National Park, WY

5 Sep – 8 Sep 2010

Lat/Long:   43.908653,-110.642667

Location:  Colter Bay, WY

Electric Hook Up:  Yes

Water Hook Up: Yes

WiFi: Yes, at the laundry/shower facility

Bathroom: 5 yard walk

Shower:  $3.75 a person

Reserve on web at: http://www.gtlc.com/lodging/colter-bay-village-rv-park.aspx

Site:  27

We have arrived at one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  We left Greybull around 7:30 Sunday morning and drove thru Yellowstone National Park.  We saw thermal pools, Old Faithful and so much more.  Yellowstone is NOT a two day drive thru – it’s a week long stay if you want to see just a ¼ of it!  We were blown away with the sites we saw.  Old Faithful was cool – it’s something to check off the Bucket List….be prepared for 10,000 of your closest friends though.  It was packed.  We stopped, let the dogs out, made lunch, sat in the shade for a bit and then walked up to it when we saw the masses run to their cars and peel out in bumper to bumper traffic.  We sat for a good 80 minutes waiting for it to go, but sat next to a funny and friendly couple.  Afterwards we got an ice cream cone…even though it was FREEZING cold (it was on recommendation…and it was good Lindsey!)  We didn’t even bother going into the “General Store” b/c they were packed full of people.  Nothing like coming to Yellowstone to escape people…they are here….and here in masses!

Our campsite is nice, it’s quiet, wooded, shaded and we have a pretty private nice spot.  Ironically there is another T@B here!  They pulled up sometime today, but it’s the red one pictured below.  There is also a T@DA here (upgrade from the T@B) – they came up to us yesterday to talk, said they owned a T@B but upgraded for space and a potty/shower.  They are below as well.  

 

We drove to Jackson today.  I have to say…little disappointed.  From all the hype I pictured this epic little town with bistro’s facing the Teton’s.  This town does not exist…if it does, we did not go there.  We did however, go to Loaf and Jug, get gas and head back to our quiet little space here.  We stopped by Jenny Lake, which was very pretty (and full of people too).  I made a command decision that National Parks should NOT sell nacho’s and hot dogs.  There are very two different types of people that visit, those that pack a lunch and those that feed a family of 4 nacho’s and hot dogs…at a National Park.  

I guess I got a bad taste in my mouth because all day I saw people just act poorly.  About 30 people crowded around this moose down at Jenny Lake to get a picture…but the moose was trapped in between the water and the hill (that all the people were on).  I saw a guy CHASE DOWN A BEAR and it’s cub…that’s right, chase down.  We saw tons of people stopped on the road…so we stop to see what it is (touristy I know) but it was a bear.  Next thing I see is a guy running parallel with this thing with his point and shoot.  They give you SO much information on bears here, but the first thing on EVERY one of them is this:  “If you encounter a bear, do not run.  Running can elicit an attack.  If the bear is unaware of you, detour quickly and quietly away.  If the bear is aware but has not acted aggressively, back away slowly, talking in an even tone while waving your arms.”  I quietly hoped that bear would have stood up and scared the crap out of that guy…it did not. 

Anyway, after driving and seeing some of the area, we really have a sweet spot.  We can see the whole range and it’s gorgeous.  I got some sunset pictures last night, some sunrise pictures this morning.  Will be posting lots on flickr, check back soon.  A few below to see.

Got a guide to the “best” spots to shoot in the area today, we plan to follow the map around and see what we see.  I will have a lot of editing to do when I get home—but that’s a.o.k!  So worth it!

Happy Trails, see you back in Denver!

 

Greybull, WY KOA

2 Sep – 4 Sep 2010

Lat/Long:   44.493004,-108.04999

Location:  KOA Greybull, WY

Electric Hook Up:  Yes

Water Hook Up: Yes

WiFi: Yes, but a little weak

Bathroom: 50 yard walk

Shower:  Free, Free, Free and super clean

Reserve on web at: http://www.koa.com

Site:  27

This has been our longest trip with the T@B, however, it’s been fantastic!  We left Denver about 9 am on Thursday, got to Greybull a little after 6.  Met with friends at a local hot spot – Trapper.  If anyone is in the area – I highly recommend it.  Affordable 5 star food for sure!

The KOA is great.  It’s a little small and all of the RVs are kinda on top of each other – but if you’re staying at your camper all day in a place like this then enjoy looking at the back of my camper -- cause I won’t be looking at the back of yours.  There is SO much to see and do here.  We decided to drive to Yellowstone yesterday (hour and a half or so drive) and was glad we did!  Not only was the park gorgeous but the drive getting there was just as gorgeous.  I wanted to stop the car every 10 minutes and take 10 or 100 shots.

Just in this area there is lots to see and do and we hope to make another trip to see more of this part of the state, however, time is short and we will be moving on to our next site on Sunday.  But, the Big Horns are here, endless hikes and a landscape that you don’t get to see everyday.  It’s like a different world out here!  Kayle had a GREAT day yesterday, she swam in the clearest water.  She had to stay on leash….but it did not deter her a bit.  

Looking forward to the Grand Tetons – I mean I CANNOT wait!  I’m so stoked to be able to see this.  We didn’t have reservations when we left Denver for that area, however, this morning I booked a site (little pricey) – but will be worth it as I was reading that the National Park was going to be dry camping…and it gets really stinking cold here at night, so having heat was a must. 

Met with friends today for their daughters birthday.  If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be on this trip – so big thanks to them.  And a very happy birthday to Baby Kate!  She is the most adorable little girl, I always look forward to taking her pictures.  Will be an early bedtime and an early rise…headed back to Yellowstone….with T@B in tow tomorrow morning!  Yee-haw!