Monday, August 3rd, found us checking out of the Hampton Inn in Tremonton. It had been a good home away from home and you really don't need room service every day. We totally loved seeing and being with family during the last week. Now we were ready to take as long as needed to get ourselves home. This first day we planned to get from Tremonton, Utah to Cody, Wyoming. And...we're off!!
Lots of pictures in this post. These first pictures are driving from Tremonton across the valley toward Logan.
Outside of Logan is the lovely marsh land. It causes lots of fog in that valley but it is great for those who hunt birds of all kinds.
We found our way in Logan to the place where 50 years ago on February 13th Claude and I were married and sealed for time and all eternity, the Logan Utah Temple.
After this sentimental journey, we found our way to Logan Canyon. These pictures are the drive through Logan Canyon.
At the end of Logan Canyon is Bear Lake. These are pictures of Bear Lake. We were alerted to the importance of stopping here to enjoy a raspberry shake. This is one of the things for which Bear Lake is known. This was great advice and we did each enjoy our great raspberry shakes.
In this area we saw a really good example of a snow fence. These are placed where the snow drifts and tends to cover the highway. They help a lot in the snow and wind of these mountains.
We drove through Star Valley. Years ago when we first talked about what to do and where to live in retirement, Claude mentioned that Star Valley was one place he thought would be a fun place to retire. When we were in Utah visiting, we mentioned this. Cordell and Julie joined us for an overnight trip to Jackson, Wyoming so I could see this area through Claude's eyes as a potential retirement location. We stopped for gas in Star Valley, it may have been Alpine. The gas station had a very tall covering over the gas pumps. I asked the gas station owner what winter was like in Star Valley. He pointed to the top of that cover and said, "It can get up to there." I looked at Claude and he knew that was not where I wanted to spend my winters. I will give you that Star Valley is gorgeous. These pictures will attest to that. A drive through Star Valley.
Star Valley Temple.
These mountain areas fascinated me. The trees only grow on one side of the mountain rims. Claude is sure it is because of wind on one side more than the other. I believe he is correct. Although sometimes he gives me a solid sounding answer just to keep me from asking more questions. That's when I say, "I doubt your veracity." This time I did not say that because I believe he just might be correct.
We entered Jackson and stopped to fill the car with gasoline and grab a bite to eat. Then on through Jackson to the Jackson Hole area and the Grand Tetons. We would find a herd of buffalo (bison). We didn't see any elk this time. When we went here with Cordell and Julie we paused on the side of the road to watch a huge moose run across a field and right behind our car to cross the road. It was early in the afternoon this time and was not really the time of day for deer, elk or moose.
We left Jackson Hole and the Tetons and drove north to Yellowstone.
We entered Yellowstone National Park from the south entrance. We would drive around the southwest corner of the park and exit at the east entrance. Doing this allowed us to drive around Yellowstone Lake. We were given a brochure for Yellowstone National Park and a newspaper. The map is from the brochure and the Covid-19 warning is from the newspaper. The entire trip was punctuated by the virus. It is a strange time we are living through. We felt very safe in our hermetically sealed Buick Envision. We did see two hot pots on the edge of the lake.
The last leg of this days journey was from Yellowstone to Cody, Wyoming.
We were happy to see Cody. Time to find a hotel. We watched the signs while driving in and found a Holiday Inn and a Comfort Inn. We tried the Holiday Inn first but found a No Vacancy sign lit up. We went to the Comfort Inn and I went in to see if they had any vacancy. No vacancy. There was a man sitting at a table as I entered the lobby and they suggested I speak with him as he had cabin rooms. It turned out that the property on which the Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn were built was originally covered with well over 100 cabins. These cabins were part of the Buffalo Bill Village. The souvenir store and office for rental of the cabins was still out front by the Holiday Inn. There are still 80 cabins but the are all located behind the Comfort Inn and the Holiday Inn. You can't even see they are there. Since the same person owns the cabins and the Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn, he allows the guy to sit in the Comfort Inn lobby and get the left overs that want to stay at the Comfort Inn. He wanted to be sure I liked the cabin enough to rent it for the evening. He and I got in a golf cart and drove to the room that was available for Claude and me. I pronounced it good. He called the office on a walkie-talkie and told them that room was no longer available. Then he drove me around to the Buffalo Bill Village office and I checked Claude and I in. This would be the most expensive room we would stay in the entire trip. That is funny!! It was nice enough. The bathroom had been completely updated and was very nice. The other room had a full bed and a twin bed in it with a table and chairs, television cabinet and freestanding clothes closet. I was told these cabins were originals and were built by Buffalo Bill. It was nice to get in a room for the night. It seems the area was full of bikers. Sturgis was going to happen the coming weekend and all the bikers were headed to Sturgis. Hence no rooms. Claude had wanted us to travel to Deadwood and drive through Sturgis but when we learned it was bike weekend at Sturgis we determined we would avoid that area completely.
Good day. Some beautiful scenery. No problem with social distancing. We really enjoyed this day.
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