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It’s now been one month that I have been on the road, running away from home on May 11. Of course, I did spend a little over a week in north Florida, but for the past three weeks I have been streaking across the country. Here are some statistics that you might find of interest.
States – 12
Miles – 4000
Fuel – $1400
Dining Out – $300
Groceries – $300
Camp Fees – $700
National Parks – 3
National Forests – 3
Photos Taken – 900+
Books Read – 5
As you can see, the cost of fuel has outpaced all other expenses combined. Lots of folks across the country complaining about gas prices. Takes their mind off of the weather, I guess. Nebraska and Colorado had the highest prices I had experienced so far. The funniest thing I saw is as I drove across the south, the gas prices were exactly the same no matter what town or city I was in or passing through. $3.799! Almost without exception. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Not until I got to Missouri did it change.
The way I look at the expense is this. This will be my one best chance to make this trip. Gas prices certainly are not going to come down, so I may never have a chance to do this as CHEAPly as it is now, AND who knows if I will ever have this kind of time and opportunity.
Moving day yesterday from Dubois WY to Grand Teton NP. Had to cross over Togwotee Pass to get here and that was just a little on the dicey side. It had started snowing earlier in the morning and traffic had already been over the snow before the road crews had a chance to clear it. By the time I made it up that way, it had turned to ice. I could barely maintain traction at about 25-30 miles an hour. My greatest fear was losing traction and start rolling backwards down the mountain. The steering gets tricky when you have a trailer rolling down hill on its own.
I thought that my troubles where over when I crowned the ridge and made it through the Pass.. No sir, that is where it started to really get fun. 6% grade down for 17 miles. The good news is I never touched the accelerator, so I saved a little on gas. However, I did have to drop the Durango into second gear and step up the trailer brakes a notch so I could use them to control the downhill slide . . .
All of the work I had done the last couple of days on cleaning up the trailer and the Durango were for naught, as the nasty weather turned everything a nice shade of tan with a layer of ice on the top. Once I set up camp in the Tetons, I stepped back to take a picture and it looked like some old miner’s camp or hunting lodge.
The campground Gros Ventre is pronounced Grow Vont. I entered the park from the east and drove on down, stopping at the Visitor’s Center on the way in. Not much scenery to see at this point, but only because of the nasty weather. I understand that the views are breath-taking. I can only see an idea that there is something behind the rain, snow and clouds.
I did get to see my first Bison in the wild, so I get to add that to the list of firsts. That list is getting quite long. Also have lots and lots of Robins and Mountain Bluebirds all over the park. I definitely heard geese overhead early this morning as well. And one of the other campers mentioned they heard wolfs.
Looking forward to the arrival of my friend Tracey tomorrow. The weather is supposed to clear, and we have lots of hiking and backpacking plans in the works. Also intending on doing a little site seeing and acting a bit like tourists while we are here. Intend on spending a few days in the Tetons and then off to Yellowstone for more of the same.
Breaking camp in the SNOW, Waterfall in the SNOW and Quonset Hut in the SNOW!!!