Steve, Alyssa and I went this year along with our friends Heather and Mark and their baby Jaxon or Jackins as Lyssa liked to call him. We started our trip the right way, with Walkie-Talkies. We jabbered the whole way up on our gadgets. It made it feel almost like we were traveling in the same car.
Our first stop (after Evenston for gas) was in Bear Lake. What a beautiful site it always is to see. The blue-ist water you've seen in a long time. Heather saw it first and won the quarter.
First things first we stopped at Le Beau's for Cheese Burgers, fries and a famous Raspberry shake. Delicious as usual worth the calories and wait.
Next, we rented Wave Runners for two hours. An hour for each couple and traded kids to watch as the other couple went.
While we waited for Mark and Heather who went first, we played in the water. Alyssa was eager to play and splash as hard as she could. Too bad she's not just a little bit bigger so mom and dad don't have to worry about her swallowing so much water.
We took our turn on the machines, it was Steve's first time on a personal watercraft. We took off and jumped and bumped over the waves and past the other boaters. It really gives you a sense of freedom when you can move so quickly, easily gliding what ever is under or around you. But boy, when it was over we sure felt how much fun we had had trying to hang on. We were sore for days afterward. Totally worth it.
After we packed it all up again, we moved ourselves via our cars up the highway through Idaho and into the Cowboy State. After we arrived we checked in and searched for food. Disappointingly, the Homestead Family Restaurant is only open until 3 pm. What in the small town is that about? We moved our search over to the Elk Horn restaurant. The food was edible, but pricey.
The next day we arose at our leisure and went shopping at the local Kings store where we stocked up on kiddy books for Alyssa and picked-up a few other unusual
items.Then, we hit the Homestead for lunch were we enjoyed home cookin including White-Bean and Ham soup. Surprisingly good, Alyssa and Steve particularly enjoyed it. We also enjoyed their specialty of Buffalo chips. Sliced potatoes battered with buffalo sauce and fried. Delish. I only regret that I didn't ask for the recipe.
Then the group headed up to Jackson to spend a day window shopping at over-priced souvenir shops. On the way we got caught in a freak hailstorm. It hit the car so hard we were afraid the car would be dimpled. Luckily we spotted a car wash and pulled under its shelter until the quick moving storm passed, but not before the hail shredded our passenger-side window wiper.
It was record hot in Jackson. Too hot to really enjoy window shopping. Plus with two strollers, getting around all the shot-glasses and fur-skins was difficult. We jumped ship and decided to lay down a blanket in the city park and let the afternoon pass. With a cooler full of drinks and some gummy bears we had a great time. Mark and Heather oogled over Jackins while Alyssa played games w
ith a nearby family. It was maybe the best part of the trip. After a couple hours another storm rolled in to chase us out of the park.Up the road we traveled to the Teton Park. Although we never actually entered the national park, at least the ranger booth where it costs $25 per vehicle, we managed to take advantage of what it has to offer. Gorgeous mountain vistas and wild life.
We stopped and took spectacular pictures of the world famous Tetons in front of the Snake River. Since Alyssa kept insisting that we allow her to jump into the river and was up-set as we foiled all her attempts to do s
o, we made that a short stop and got back in the car.Our next part of the journey proved to be the most interesting. We took a 9-mile winding road though the edge of the park. It was thick forest with beautiful meadows and streams. After only a few minutes in the car we saw a congregation of people off the side of the road taking pictures. We stopped to ask about all the commotion and were told that a Momma and baby Moose had just been there drinking from a stream. As we traveled a little farther down the road, they made another appearance just for us. We pulled the cars over and jumped out with the cameras. It was so thrilling to be so close to wild animals. They moved so gracefully with such ease as they dunked their heads down into the water to drink.
A little further d
own the road we became surrounded by elk on both sides of the road. We rolled down the windows and listened as they spoke elk to each other. Again, a very unique and cherished experience.We then headed out of the park and back down the canyon towards Afton. We arrived just before dark and ate at the Red Barron Drive-in, good food.
The next morning we arose dressed our Church clothes and headed out in search of church since it was Sunday. The first ward house was just letting out of sacrament, so we headed down the road and attended sacrament meeting at a ward in Etna Wy.
We took the long way home through Soda Springs Idaho along highway 34 (i think). We stopped and saw the captive geyser (again). It's getting old at this point, but Mark and Heather hadn't seen it. Also, we stopped by Ho
oper springs with some crystal light to make some soda out of the naturally carbonated water that comes out of the ground there.Established on the trip were two new words. Confirmative and Hemmingway, which is meant to replace "anyway."
It was fun, lets do it again next year.
Post note:
Every year almost with out exception a feel compelled to travel to Star Valley Wyoming. When I was a child we would regularly attend the annual Memorial Day reunion in Osmond, near Afton Wy. My Grandfather was born and raised on a farm in Osmond.
I really enjoyed this tradition when I was a girl. We stayed overnite in the Corral Motel, which is a cluster of about 15 individual cabins arranged in horse shoe near the edge of town in Afton.
As a girl it was a real highlight I looked forward to all year. As an adult now I still anticipate the trip. Although I haven't attended a reunion in years, I have been to Star Valley almost every year since I have been in my twenties. Its a tradition I plan to continue.
