Have to keep this short. Running out of time. Will send some photos after.
Cold and light snow in Cody this morning. Although i do not save a lot of time by staying in this rustic cabins and i actually get a better sleep in the tent, i was happy with my decision.
I am keeping a list of "casualties" on the road. This morning, in loading my gear on the roof rack standing on the roll bar over the hood, i stepped on my windshield wiper spray device and broke it. But I was able to get it working so it is functional.
I decided to head directly into the historic snow that was forecast to seize Yellowstone today and drive through the park to Grand Teton Park when i heard the road to Lamar Valley was closed yesterday due to snow. But when i got to the Yellowstone gate, i learned it was open, so my plans changed - drive to the Lamar Valley and camp at Lewis Lake in Yellowstone, where was camped last year.
Sure there was snow here , and we passed through at least five episodes of snow, but the day turned out to be beautiful. And You do not need me to describe how utterly beautiful this place is, in full bloom or under snow. If God had as many vacation homes as Trump, one of them would be here.
Of course, we saw no wolves in the Lamar Valley, but just knowing they are there was good enough for me. But on the drive to Lewis Lake, we came across a mother bear and her one-year old cub. I also came across another young bear frantically eating berries to fatten up for hibernation now that the snow is here, while a group of about 20 people stood about 30 feet away taking photos, unfazed by the plight of that bear.
Donner, of course, was totally befuddled by the numerous bison and other wildlife that crossed our path today, right outside our window.
Later, I pulled into Lewis Lake at 4:30 and was in the process of setting up camp in C39, which Donner recignized from last year, when i started to I debate the option of moving on to the Grand Teton. i decided to move on. Too compkex a decision to decide here , but the deciding factor was that it would take me as long to bear-proof the camp site as it would to drive the extra 75 miles to Grand Teton. We drove on.
I got to the Gros Verde camp at 6:45 and quickly found only one site open in the A loop, the electric sites. By then, dark was setting in. I fed Donner and had unloaded the Donner and was just setting up the tent when some angry senior pulled in driving a luxury van, or at least he thought it was luxurious compared to my humble setup. He angrily ordered me from the site saying he had reserved it for $40. I had all the intentions of moving but asked if we could share it for one night. After all, i said, there are two parking spots and my tent would not take up any space or detract from his enjoyment of the camp in his mobile mansion. He ordered me from the site. So, I loaded everything back into the Defender and drove on. Another nearby camper offered to share his site with me, but i found another loop in the dark and had the camp set up in the usual time, despite the dark. My guess is that that ornery chap who refused to share his site is browbeaten at home and needs to exhibit his residual masculinity on the road. My guess also is his wife saw my setup and turned to Elmer (my guess) and said, "you schmuck, you are five years younger than that guy, why can't you be like him." I hope Elmer is enjoying his electric site tonight, watching Archie Bunker reruns.
Went on too long. Time to turn out the lights. Good night, Elmer.
Ed and Donner, from the road, site B-1, Gros Verde camp, Grand Teton.
P.s. my apologies to anyone named Elmer reading this blog.
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