USA Extraordinary Days 1 to 3

Monday 5th October 09:35

Roger

Left Spearfish for Jackson Wyoming (WY) at 09:00 in Snow and as it happened this was to be the conditions all day. On the way we crossed the Big Horn Mountains at a height of 8,500ft on good roads and seeing lots of deer along the way. Owing to the weather we were to lose time on the intended schedule and decided not to proceed beyond Riverton that day and just as well.


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Tuesday 6th 09:30


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De-ice all windows on the car from an overnight frost, unstick doors and check tyre in font as it was losing pressure again. Set out for Jackson WY to cross our next hurdle the Wind Mountains. The Eastern side of the range was not too bad, with good roads and a beautiful carpet of snow on the trees and landscape. The snow graders had been through and the surface of the bitumen was clear and good for driving.

On the other hand after a snicker bar at Dubois and viewing the fabled “Jackalope”. We continued to the summit at 9,666 feet and down the other side to a different situation. The road was icy, snow covered and under construction for 30 miles, the car handled it well with Greg using the all wheel drive function on appropriate occasions. We arrived into Jackson at lunch time.

While in Jackson we went to the information centre and gathered info for the next leg of the journey, bought a loaf of bread at the Supermarket and made our lunch and ate in the car park.


That afternoon we traveled through the Grand Teton National Park, along the Snake River, and passing Jenny Lake, and Jackson Lake. Then on to Yellowstone National Park and the Old Faithful Geyser. For this event we sat in temperatures of -2degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or so and after the geyser did its stuff we headed for the beautiful Grand Lodge and a well earned cup of hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin.

Back to the car and off to West Yellowstone Montana for the night, and along the way came upon feeding Buffalo/Bison, and many Elk. After much searching we found a Motel at the right price for the night, dined at Macdonald’s and Skyped our love ones back in Australia.

Wednesday 7th 09:00


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Drove our squealing vehicle out of West Yellowstone bound for Bozeman, and along the way it was up and over the Gallatin Mountains and another mile or so above sea level. The route was another example of the beautiful gorges, tree lined rivers and rocky mountain outcrops dusted with snow and protruding autumn colours. We passed by the Big Sky ski resort and led an angry convoy of trucks and motorists down the northern side of the range, angry because we dared to travel at a sedate speed less than the 60 mile per hour speed limit posted on snowy slippery roads.

On entering Bozeman Greg navigated his way like a homing pidgeon to his motor mechanic and we soon had an appointment for 1pm for our diagnosis of the car problem. At the 1pm appointment Greg was told that the water pump was U/S and the car was left there to be repaired in the next day or so.
That’s it for now and more later.

Frizzie and Wazza