The Last Leg

Generalized Trip Outline.

 I think I have stats on how many miles logged, or the total campground stays vs. hotel motel stays, even the number of National Forest and parks we visited. But really it does not matter.  The point is the process of the journey, the not quantification.

*BTW- this is not a frowning Pac-Man.

Star-date July 5, Provo Utah

With punchy laughs and understood tolerances of everyone idiosyncrasies, a state park beach with drained low water level shores riddled with thorns was testament to our understanding that not all expectations and plans are as they seem. And for fuck sake that's OK!   So a laugh and a 'lets get out of here' decision was worth the missed chance at a swim. We just shrugged it off to the experience! The laughter and the punchy goofiness as well as the epic sunset in it's pure beauty superseded spite a missed swim in a junky beach.  So we wind down with this trip down we reflect, seems like a long time ago when we embarked from Nevada on June 16.

 

 

So as I blather on, a digression (bla, bla) from a general report like update in this travel log. What, I feel really got us here was, attitude, understanding, oh right, a van with a good engine, four tires and A/C.  Boom! It came down to many things: communication, interactions a complete understanding of 'us' together and individually: the travelers on this westward trip. 

 

So let's rewind, over the boarder from British Columbia to Washington State.  We said good bye to the last bits of wine grapes and cherry orchards.  A great Canada Day and now back to USA.  Our compass bearing taking us south though more rocky crags, and pine spruce arid landscape. A native land I imagine, with a horseman brave overlooking the scene from the outcrops.

 

 

Yet we are reminded of progress, and just human nature in our culture, we arrive at a 1 mile long river inundation. 

It's all aBout the water.

Grande Coulee Dam WA 

 

These Projects are massive. A master piece and representation of the 'can do' attitude, the planning design and engineering.  It brings power to the cities. Yes these innovative efforts explained and documented, great learning at this museum like interpretive center, yep a mandated offering.  but really this at the cost of a prized salmon fishing hole, hmm. As always I'm torn...  This dam spins turbines.  And as an aside, the second dam visit of this trip (Hoover Dam NV). So to bore you more please look for a comparative analysis paper next.  NOT! ugh fuck progress a evil necessity. Grrrr.

Washington State and Montana Big Sky!

Metro-plex Missula Montana, urban camping (yep another KOA, which I have to say are consistent and very convenient for this nomad travel experience)  The pre-fourth of July celebrations. RV's rolling, diesel engines humming, and kids splashing.  As we head east and gain elevation there is more of timber and lumber feel to the culture.  And of course fishing.  Montana's 'old story' shines though the mini-malls, hustle bustle, and quick gas convenient store.

Yes a true frontier town, and we enter the plains and grassland, and yes success on all fronts (caught a nice trout). Boom.

Yellowstone National Park WY

Ok, ok, another gate entrance - a map hand off from a ranger, and a ride down a parks service road with non stand signage, and turn offs a-plenty.  You get the drift. 

Biology of the Geyser.

The Lodge rafters.

Enter The Tetons

Just amazing mountains.  Say no more.   

Jackson Hole WY

A cow-town infused with style and glam.  Hints of local regulars dotted with a heightened awareness of flare and bling.  I call it carhartt cow-shieke-a-rama shine.  A great mixture really... and, the skiing, I hear, is not that bad.  Again, history and traditions are the back-story here, we as pioneers were the new-comers, we were doing the learning and as we tried to lead we can remember how and who got us here. 

The Travelers Backstory... Your Color of Birth

Some interesting notes on this traveling team. Let's go full circle, shall we;communications, tolerance and flexibility, some, or all, of these fragment seem in our colors, and, we are grateful.

ETHAN MOSEDALE:

CINDY MOSEDALE

ANDY MOSEDALE (yep upside down...)

CHARLOTTE MOSEDALE

Addemdums and spell check. TY C!

Salt Lake City and Diamond Fork Hot Spring UT

Salt Lake City, Utah

 

That is the last leg, filled with; cities, rocks, trees, plains, rivers, creeks, campgrounds and people.  I often cherish these interactions within our collective travel unit and the random strangers, store clerks, and all and any passerby-ers we encounter.  That's the icing, we have a good cake.  

Until another rant, rave, and/or report

#radandy

over and out

@amosedale

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