Our nester

A couple of days ago a couple of little finches kept batting at the rear window of the trailer.  I thought they were thinking there were other birds as the windows are reflective from the outside.  I went out to see if there was anything to see, and lo and behold, there was!  My bike, still on the back of the rig of course, was having a nest built in it!  The front reflector and one of the ladder steps was the base.  It was already about 5” from top to bottom and probably 7”across.

This afternoon I went to hang out Emma’s ‘work’ outfit,; I had hand washed them as she has another 3 days of catering ahead of her.  I have my little umbrella clothes dryer and I usually hang it on the handlebars.  Hey – it works!  However – as I went to hang it there was the flutter, flutter, flutter. 

I had completely forgotten about the nest, duh………..I was very surprised to see a robin fly out – given that finches were making the nest.  Is this weird?  I don’t do birds, but this seems odd to me.  I came back inside and peered out the window – and yup – a robin’s egg!  I waited a bit and mom came back but she is VERY skittish and the least noise inside the rig startles her away. She came back once but wouldn’t settle – I think she was trying to outlast the ground squirrel the second time around.  I suspect she didn’t want him to know where the next was. 

So – a few pictures here – I’ll try to document as we proceed! 

There’s also a picture of our view from the little area where Em and I have cell service.  It’s not too shabby.  LOL

Yesterday Em and I went into Rexburg to Walmart for meds for me and then up to Island Park to see Larry and Sheila.  Merry, Sid, Emma and I floated on the Snake River for about 4 hours.  I have to say – a plug here for Neutrogena SPF 70 sunscreen!  I am as lily white as I was when we started out.  Now – I wish my legs had gotten a teensy bit of color – but at least I know the stuff works!

Sheila treated us to her Navajo tacos – deep fried scones with chili and all the fixin’s.  Emma was enamored with her corn salsa.  No black beans around so it wasn’t black bean and corn salsa, but it was wonderful none the less.  Emma got to see Larry’s special tum tum wood and then we headed home.  We were both pretty beat so Emma didn’t head out to socialize – she waited til 10 this morning.

I had my hardest day’s work – deep cleaning all 8 bathrooms and shoveling out several fire pits and BBQ’s.  This is more work than I bargained for – I’m enjoying it – and I’m hoping I’m gathering some strength and not just screwing my back up more; time will tell.  I’ve told Mark that if he hasn’t found anything by August that he can have my job and I’ll go back up to be the lazy, but friendly, trail head host.  THAT I can cope with!

Tomorrow Em and I are going to Jackson; she needs new work shoes and we’re meeting Sheila’s mom and going on a hike in Teton National Park to see a waterfall.  It’s pretty idyllic here – notwithstanding scrubbing toilets!  :)

Our telephone view!

 

    

View looking East across Idaho’s Teton Valley towards ‘our mountains’.

Our robin’s nest – yes I wish I’d washed my rear window better!  LOL

Mommy robin

Mommy sitting on nest! 

Here we go!

Well – it has mostly stopped raining – and my first group is here!  The Scheer family reunion.  Oh my – and this group is all RV’s!  Yikes!  Including one of those fifth wheels towing a cargo trailer!  The guys have already diagnosed that my rear cylinder is blown – will make it overheat and have no oomph on grades.  I wonder if I can afford to get it fixed, if in fact that’s the problem! 

Actually – my brakes are being weird – and they get the first big of money thrown at them!  But, back to the group.  They expect between 100 and 150 people.  All the way from So Carolina.  I’m new to this family reunion thing – I don’t have much in the way of family! 

They’ve offered me a tin foil dinner when they are ready – hamburger, potatoes, carrots, etc.  Bless their hearts.  I got the power on to the bathroom lights, which will be a nice touch tonight.  I’m darting all around, making sure people are parking in the approved places and such. 

Emma is off at a catering job in Jackson.  Yes, she’s been here 2 weeks and has a job.  Good Lord.  Actually quite the job – tonight is chefs coming to a private residence – the service alone is costing the people like $600 – Emma is getting $160.  On Saturday she serves for a wine tasting.  That gig pays $18 an hour.  She had to buy closed tow black shoes for the endeavor – she found some Chinese Laundry flats on sale, and on sale again, for $10 at the only shoe store in town.  AND they were a size 10 – leftovers from Lord knows when.  But – she was in business.  Her own black slacks and a white shirt of mine – thank you Dian!  :)

On Monday we went to Teton National Park, I got my hair cut by Penni from Quartzsite.  Emma and I kayaked on Lake Jackson but no pics – I, ummmm, dropped my camera in the lake.  I think all is well, but we had to let it dry out a bit.  We toured up the East side of Yellowstone – the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is amazing! 

Then over to Island Park to see Larry and Sheila, as well as Laura from the forum.  We were late (LOTS of construction and traffic in Yellowstone) but they had saved some dinner.  Emma was there all of 5 minutes and was hustled off for a float trip on the Snake River. She certainly is having a packed month with me! 

At any rate – back to our new home – Reunion Flat Campground – it’s lovely nestled in here and I will attach some pictures of this!  All is well – I’m hustling my hiney – this job is really designed for two people and Emma is NOT interested in helping with this.  So – I’m doing all the bathrooms and mowing, etc etc etc.  I’d never used a riding mower until yesterday; spent 4 1/2 hours on one yesterday  - my back is killing me, it was NOT happy! 

Well – off to dinner – I have another group, of 60 or so, coming in tomorrow night.  This park has hugely busy weekends, and quiet weeks, we’ll see how I do!

Emma reading to preschoolers at the brand new Alta library – yes, she’s been busy!

Larry & Sheila’s grandson Ben’s softball tournament – Larry, Sheila, Emma, daughter Merry and her son Sid

Reunion Flat Campground at sunset

Jackson Lake that Emma and I kayaked; right before the camera took a swim! The Tetons from the East side!

And yes, I concede – Emma is a stronger paddler than I am!

So – is this gorgeous or what?!  My group has gone off to hike the waterfall trail that I used to be in charge of – I’m going to town to buy bread and make a truck appointment – have another group coming this afternoon!  Emma’s watching a movie, having gotten back at 2AM from the first catering job – but the hosts gave them each $200!  She was ecstatic!  Making bank!

Yellowstone

On Monday Emma and I went to Yellowstone.  It was kind of a whirlwind trip as there is just so much to see!  We circled in through the West entrance and exited through the South.  We will be going back through next week and hope to see more of the East side. 

Here are some pictures of our day – we saw lots of marvelous things and I suspect my pictures are not going to do total justice – but so it is.

As we entered on the West side we saw this big guy – a black bear – yes, he’s brown, but no hump so not a grizzly.  See we’ve learned something already!  I was just glad he was on the other side of the river!

Our next encounter was with the elk – they weren’t quite as compliant for picture taking!

Our next encounter was with buffalo!  An entire herd.  We were so close we could have pet them – they were lying right next to the road.  We were fascinated with the three generations – adults, adolescents and babies.

 

Then we were off to some of the ubiquitous, wonderful, bubbling pools and springs.  The algae, the reflection of the sky – all combine to create fascinating colors.

Then it was off to lunch at the Old Faithful Inn – I opened in 1904 and is one of the few remaining log hotels in the country.  These pictures don’t do it justice – but we had bison burgers and sweet potato fries in the dining room – such fun!

The three story lobby is stunning!

And then – simply because we were there – Old Faithful!

On our way South we passed this fabulous river and little waterfall.  The sun shining on it was stunning! What a way to end our day!

And the view from across the street!  Not too shabby either!  The Tetons are in the background but I know my camera didn’t pick them up……….

Aud & Di Potluck

Aud & Di Picnic

Sunday at noon found Emma and I meeting our area managers, Marion and Vaneta, at their site. Jim and Charlene were there too. We were off to the Aud & Di potluck.

We all piled into Marion and Vaneta’s truck – it seats 6, and 6 we were! Glad I’ve lost some weight! We made several stops – to pick up a trailer at another campground, and a golf cart for Jim and Charlene to use for the summer. Then down to Riverside Park – South of Idaho Falls. It’s a lovely area, although it was breezy. Emma was a really good sport, but says she feels as if she spent the day talking to her grandparents. It’s nice that she was able to tell them she’d just graduated and was going off to Boston for a teaching fellowship and her Master’s degree. Nice to be able to be so proud of all my kids!

We had typical potluck fare – something Emma wasn’t entirely used to. I caught her on the phone today telling a friend that we had macaroni salad, potato salad, pasta salad, lime Jello with walnut salad - her comment was that everything was cold. That wasn’t entirely true – we also had baked beans and sloppy joe’s. They were warm!

On our way back Marion and Vaneta had us stop at their favorite place, Rainy Creek, for a square ice cream cone. As if we needed MORE food! But, of course, we all indulged. Then back to where we picked up the golf cart to deliver some of the firewood bundles we had picked up – and then, back to Teton Canyon! Was quite the afternoon. Emma sat in the middle of the front seat and her head kept bobbing on the way home.

A Sunday afternoon adventure!

Sue (my boss’ wife), Vaneta and Emma

Jim & Charlene – hosts in my park

Emma lounging on a picnic table

Group of Aud & Di Camp hosts – no, I don’t know all their names!

Tomorrow – Yellowstone! 

Emma’s Here

Emma’s here! Emma arrived on Wednesday and has been keeping me busy! She came into Jackson – I’m attaching a couple of pictures here. We also saw a moose on our way up the canyon on the way home! I’m attaching him – yes, the photo quality is not wonderful – but I promise to work on that! Emma has a fabulous Canon camera and she might download her pix to my laptop, then things will look a LOT better!

She has already volunteered to do one of the library’s preschool Wednesday morning story times. She’s going to tackle diversity. We ran into a woman in Victor, a neighboring town, with two adopted Ethiopian kids – she kept saying hi to Emma in the grocery store and Emma couldn’t figure out why. Eventually, she put the mom (Mindy) and the kids together and realized the ‘connection’. It was kind of funny actually. We are going to get together with Mindy and kids next week – Mindy feels as if she is single handedly integrating the Teton Valley. That’s probably not entirely true – but pretty close! She really wants to talk to Emma about the whole issue.

We’ve been meeting with the wilderness rangers for our area. Next Saturday we get bear training. Emma loves that the bottom line of dealing with a bear is to play dead. She’s kind of yeah, as if…………..I figure I won’t ever see one because I’m not likely to be 10 miles into the mountains. Emma, however, is going to be a Forest Service Volunteer and is going to take a multi-day trip into the back country. They are going to find her a tent and off she goes! I can’t imagine – but she’s excited and it’ll give her something to do. She’s also been given the 411 as the to only ‘good’ bar in Driggs. Something only the 30 somethings would know. Mom sure didn’t!

We’ve found a bakery in town – they’ve been open since April and the bread is the best I’ve ever eaten. They have a multi-grain that has sourdough starter in it so it has a bit of a bite. The actually stone grind their own flour every morning. Quite the enterprise. I’m sure we’ll be in there a LOT! Plus – Emma thinks the guy who owns it is really cute. Nothing like hanging with a 22 year old!

Today is a potluck for all of the Aud & Di employees. At least those at this end of Idaho. We’re buying something from the organic grocery store –the only store (literally) in Driggs that is open on a Sunday. Hope they have something interesting!

Tomorrow Em and I are going up along the Tetons on the west side and through Island Park where Larry and Sheila are. We’re heading over for a tour of Yellowstone – we’ve been a number of times before and Emma says she doesn’t need to see Old Faithful again. So – just a quick trip I think – and then back through Island Park to see Larry and Sheila and then back home.

I check my bathrooms a couple of times a day, and given that the weather is still pretty crappy (50’s and rainy) there hasn’t been a ton of traffic. I have, however, been warned of what is to come. I did have to explain to the head wilderness ranger that I was in charge of the bathrooms – he gets to bury poop he finds on the trail – that is NOT within my job description! So far I love it! Emma even found a good radio station and I’m amazed at how much company it is. She’s out for a walk right now – and we’re supposed to leave in just a bit for the potluck – hmmm – I don’t want to stress about her not being ready! Well, some things never change, you know?

Wort Hotel in Jackson – I had a grilled ahi sandwich here – it was great!

Another Jackson view

The elk horn arch in the main park in Jackson

Our first moose!

That’s all for today! Now I just need to find a place to send this from! Will be SOOO nice when the weather is better and I can just go down to a picnic table and use Jim and Charlene’s wifi! But, still cruddy, but we keep hoping!

Getting Settled

I’m getting settled in here at Teton Canyon Campground. The sun has finally come out today, although it is clouding up now. I’m attaching more pictures, but I know they could use some cleaning up. I’m going to download Picasa in the parking lot today! That seems to be my lot in life – no internet in the canyon. I think that Jim and Charlene, co-hosts, will get their Starband set up and give me the password, but I’ll still have to walk down close to their rig to get the signal. Amazingly, my phone is allowing data transmissions! It doesn’t like to send my responses though, so they might be pretty brief sometimes! Also – bear in mind I’m keyboarding on a phone, and for that I’m a one fingered wonder.

I cleaned my first bathroom yesterday, but it really wasn’t dirty as we haven’t had much ‘company’. I think on weekends I’ll do them in the afternoon and at night, and during the week, just in the evening. I can take the dogs for their last walk and do the bathrooms at the same time. I’m also picking up some trash – it’s little stuff like the plastic spoon from someone’s lunch, although I am trying to get a Bud can out of the creek. I tried to tiptoe in to get it yesterday but only netted a sopping wet hiking boot. And no, they aren’t waterproof! LOL I have my Chacos on today and am going to try again.

The people I’m working with are delightful, and that’s always a help! A couple in their 70’s, Marion and Vaneta, stood in the rain for probably an hour that first afternoon helping me get my rig positioned. Marion understood that for a 3 month stint I didn’t want to look at the well house, so we worked hard to position the rig so it’s not all I see. Lots of people would have been annoyed as hell with me about that, but it was actually his idea!

The other couple, Jim and Charlene, are in the campground I’m associated with. They were here last year as well. Everyone is happy I’m here as this was an unfilled position the last couple of years. The site wasn’t conducive to a big rig but the Forest Service reworked it apparently and now it’s more accommodating. At any rate – they too have been wonderful! Charlene brought me a present this morning – a toilet brush! Woo hoo! Still getting my supplies squared away and I need a set of keys, but that should happen today.

I have had a roof vent leak, which is always fun when it’s raining over an inch a day – but Marion went to a trailer supply place in Idaho Falls for me yesterday, as he was taking water samples there for testing, and bought me some of the appropriate sealant. Jim is going to crawl up and seal it. They are definitely making sure I’m absolutely OK.

I’m practicing writing this in Word, and then when I go down to town I’ll get online, and move it over to the blog. Let’s see how it works. It’s just a change of how I do things. I got a library card on Saturday; they had the new Jodi Picoult book I wanted, and I borrowed 3 movies – watched them all in the rain so will return them and get three more today! It’s a brand new little library in Alta, WY, which is right below us. They don’t have a post office, but they now have a branch library; their home library is Jackson, WY. It’s funny they have to use an address in Driggs, ID when they live in WY, but somebody thought that was a good plan for the state line! I’d have drawn them along the ridge of the mountain personally! But, no one asked me. LOL

Emma arrives tomorrow – I pick her up in Jackson at 1:45. I suspect I might have to get her some shoes to wear up here. I think she is pretty much a city girl now, and this is definitely the country! I have scouted two good looking young men and their golden retriever, Scout, who said they would be back! I think she’ll like the grocery store in Driggs, it is brand new, has a pizza place and a sushi bar run by real Japanese! I guess Driggs is getting some of the overflow from Jackson, WY – it is similar in feel, but a lot less expensive. The grocery store is lovely though, for those of you who know Bend, it’s like a giant Newport Market!

Well, that’s more than enough for today I imagine. So far, so good! No ‘shit bombs’ in the bathroom, the dogs are doing fine, we’re drying out , and getting into the swing of things!

Enjoy your day!

Looking down the canyon from the trailer - West

Up towards Table Mountain behind me – to the East

To the South

• To the North

Teton Canyon!!!!!!!

The city girl has hit the country as Dale says!  I have made it to my park – and am all installed other than water hookups.  Water hasn’t been cleared yet so unavailable.  I’ve been told mice are rampant; I just bought two big clip things that I don’t ever want to use, and this thing you plug in and it makes mice go away.  I don’t have $30 for this kind of crap – but I am not going to be invaded by mice either!

The park is stunningly gorgeous and the one couple I’ve met are really sweet.  They are my ‘area managers’.  He worked his butt off in the pouring rain to help me get squared away in my spot.  He understood I wanted a good view.  That’s a rare man!  :)

I’m in town on my laptop – when my neighbors get up to camp I am hoping to cadge off of their satellite for wifi.  Otherwise – know that this will not be an everyday event as I have to drive quite a ways in order to get online.  But – so it goes – I’m sure you’ll all live! 

I have moose dropping right by where I park and I understand they are the most common wildlife there. 

Guys dealing with brakes on side of I 86

 

Kerry slept in a Walmart parking lot with 3 other rigs!

 

The road up to the park

Going up!

View from my site

My rig

My moose droppings!

And most impressive of all to me is that I took these photos – put the card in the slot on this new laptop – opened them up – dragged them to the appropriate file and voila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LOL

I’ll be back online as soon as possible! 

Rexburg Walmart

Rexburg ID – the hard way!  Well, actually the easy, nice, flat way.  However, had my brake controller fail just as I was hitting the road this morning.  A nice ID patrolman said I was unsafe and I could NOT drive to Idaho Falls as planned for repairs.  I sat at the intersection of 84 & 86 for 5 hours or so – joined Coach Net – they let me join AND use all in one day.  I have had Farmer’s towing as a stop gap since I left AAA and knew it wasn’t going to cut it.  I’d planned to join Coach Net in July – they just got bumped up a month. 

Had two guys with me for probably 3 1/2 hours – they trouble shot the whole mess – missing magnet brackets and three of the four trailer wheels – although Coachmasters says I went out good yesterday – and I won’t argue – and then they had to trouble shoot the wiring from the controller in the truck, and then install the new one!  This cost me the $100 it cost to join and an extra $215 including parts.  Such a deal!  If it had to go down – well that was the way. 

I was going to pay back a loan to my first ex this month – it’s nominal, but I’ve been working up to being able to do it – and of course, I just spend it.  But at least it was there to spend!  So far I would highly recommend Coach Net – they were great.  Cute ISP who wouldn’t let me continue as well.

I didn’t sleep well last night – too much light – too much noise – so gee, THAT was so successful I’m now in a Walmart parking lot!  LOL  Hoping for dimmer and quieter.  I have  a family from Wyoming who is adjacent to me.  My pups are going nuts barking at their dog and boys.  But – I have company.  If I’m hungry I’m right by a KFC as well.

Actually – going to eat dinner now, take a shower and go to bed.  It IS 8PM here!  I think I’ve only got 50 or 60 miles tomorrow.  I’m going to check out the Walmart and Albertson’s before I leave; this is the closest Walmart to the park.  Emma is quite worried because repair guy said that Driggs was a ‘podunk’ town – and he’s, um, not exactly used to the big city!  :) 

Night all – hope this works well!  I’ll let you know tomorrow…..

Twin Falls

I made it to just outside of Twin Falls, ID.  Drove about 450 miles.  I’m at a Flying J truck stop – but am off to one side – I wanted to open my slides.  I actually have a lovely view – and am all locked up.  I’m not feeding the dogs tonight so they don’t have to poop – well, maybe I should – I guess the jury is still out on that.

The day was uneventful – at least I don’t remember anything terribly noteworthy!  Was surprised to find that if so inclined, I could drive 75 here!  That’s a little brisk for me with this rig – solo – you betch'a! 

Rained some – warmer here – still almost 70 – makes me think T storms might be in our future.  Having three little chicken tenderloins with some of my precooked wild rice for dinner.  Isn’t this just so uptown!  LOL

I think that’s it for now – oh – I now owe Coachmasters $417 for the brake assembly and labor.  Ugh………..but, it’s nice to be able to stop!  They are great guys to spot me that so I’d be safe on my way.  I should be up in my park tomorrow afternoon – calling Loren (boss) in the morning but this morning he thought I should be able to get in! 

A couple of pictures of the truck stop!

Truck behind me

Truck wash in operation!

The rig – nighty night!