Victor, Idaho 8-25 to 9-24

 

Mark always finds the best views for lunch.  We stopped and had a great view of this beautiful lake in Irwin.

You know you are on the way to Victor, Idaho when you can see the Tetons peaking up in the background!

We really liked Teton Valley RV Resort.  They had a neat gas fireplace where you just sat down and other RVers would join you.  Naturally, I loved the heated pool and usually had it all to myself for aquafit!  There was a restaurant beside the pool and they even have a spa in the park!

What an amazing coincidence to find out that Trish and Hailey (Mark's sister and niece) were going to be in Yellowstone National Park during the time we were in nearby Victor.  So we made the trip to spend a day in Yellowstone National Park with them.  First stop was Obsidian Cliffs.  You can see all three of them on the photo on the top right and Mark and Hailey in the photo on the bottom right.

  

We then headed North to Mammoth Hot Springs.  A network of fractures and fissures form the plumbing system that allows hot water (maximum temperature 163 degrees F) from underground to reach the surface.  Limestone, deposited millions of years ago when a vast sea covered this area, combines with the other ingredients to form travertine that creates these terraces.  

Here is the total family "we were there" photo!!  Great job on the selfie, Hailey!!

It's time for lunch so we found a cozy spot near historic Fort Yellowstone.  We brought a picnic: artisan bread, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, honeydew melon and chips.  Topped it off with some homemade angel food lemon bars.  A nice stop and it's off to Lamar Valley.

We have a bison following close behind.  

He knows he owns this place, the fields and the roadways despite a car in the way.   He just passed us and ran up the cliff by the side of the car!

We lucked out and saw huge herds of bison.  One side of the road had large numbers of mamas with their new born calves. The other side went miles and miles with large herds.  Yellowstone is the only place in the US where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times. It was quite an experience!!

While in Victor we did not get to many restaurants but we really enjoyed this lunch with a humming bird entertaining us - see with spread wings close to top flowers.  

We took a long drive out to Heise Hills to play golf and enjoy their natural hot springs.  It is a scenic walking 9 hole course.  We didn't like the look of the hot springs, but we did enjoy a Heise pizza at the restaurant located just past the last hole.

What a treat to experience Timberline golf.  After golf we went in to enjoy some dinner.  While waiting we encountered this young boy studying.  He told us that the golf course is owned by his great grandfather.  In fact his great grandfather told us that he was a woodworker and he built the entire course, hole by hole.  What a fun story.  I especially loved the antler used as a toilet paper holder!!

We found an RV park in Ashton and had to check it out.  We weren't a fan of the park, but we loved the metal sculptures.  The guitar has a crank and when you turn the crank,  a ball flows down from the top through a maze built within the guitar.  Fun to watch!  Mark just had to get a photo of me with R2D2.

Miles and Miles of hay - this area has been cut and baled, but its always striking to view the majesty of the Grand Tetons!!

Rarely do you see a bison on the top of a building!

Only in Idaho do you see a Drive-In called "The Spud Theater!"

It's September 8th and we had a cold night and woke up to a view of snow covered mountains!!

We were close to Teton National Park so had to make a trip.  Always nice to get a view of the ski slopes before they are covered with snow!

What can I say that can adequately describe the sheer magnitude of The Grand Tetons!!  Powerful geological forces began stretching across this area less than 10 million years ago cracking the Earth's crust to form the 40 mile long Teton fault.  Movement on this fault generated massive earthquakes up to 7.5 magnitude.  Each earthquake hinged the mountain block skyward and dropped the valley block leaving no foothills.  

Ice in the form of glaciers, carved and sculpted this dramatic landscape.

Now that's a great background for a selfie!

The metal sculptures of the Tetons nearby Jenny Lake were beautiful.  The metal moose antler pays homage to the largest member of the deer family.  These huge beasts weigh more than 1,000 pounds and stand seven feet tall!! Surprisingly they dive up to 18 feet to feed on aquatic plants. Sadly, we did not see one on this visit.  On our first visit to Teton National Park we came close to a Moose and her baby and a Ranger quickly asked us to move away as the mama Moose gets very protective and can charge.

We just have to get some extra "we were there" photos!!  This is in front of Jackson Lake.  It's quite large with a 6,772 foot surface!

On our way out of Grand Teton National Park we once again ran into a huge herd of buffalo.  Always takes your breath away to watch these behemoths take over a field!

The sun is setting and the rain clouds are rolling in so its time to leave this Grand Beauty of a National Park.

We have two quick stops: Brigham City, and Fillmore, UT on our way to our next stop: St. George Utah.