Saturday (6/6)  We are in the Grand Tetons and the visibility is very low as it rainy.  Driving through the park we are unable to see the peaks of the teton range but the view with the snow on the mountains and the clouds sitting right on the mountain is spectacular (see picture.)   We were on the look out for animals and saw elk, pronghorns,  buffalo, pelicans and many birds.   The bear and the moose are not ready for us to see them yet -  I guess they are shy but we will keep looking. 

We went down to Jackson in the late afternoon.   We have always heard of Jackson and Jackson Hole but didn't know if they were the same or different.   Well, Jackson is the town and Jackson Hole is the valley- now we know!!  Jackson is definitely for tourist with many expensive shops and a great deal of art work for sale.   You could buy all the expensive cowboy hats and boots you would every want.  

We had dinner at the Silver Dollar Bar and Grill in the historic Wort Hotel.  The bar got its name for the 2032 Morgan silver dollars that are imbedded in the bar top.  The Wort Hotel opened in 1941.  It was a dream of the Wort family to build a luxury hotel in downtown Jackson and they did (see picture.)  Many famous people have stayed there.

In the evening we went to the Colter Bay Visitor Center for two talks by a park ranger.   Both talks were very informative and interesting.   The ranger who gave the talks has worked at this park for over 30 years and it was evident that he just loves it.  

Friday (6/5)  We left Idaho Falls, ID for the Grand Tetons, WY.   Before we left, we went to the Museum of Idaho to see a traveling exhibit about the Titanic.  The exhibit included many personal items from passengers on the ship.   Salvaged items included a suit of clothing that was completely in tact, a pair of cotton gloves, glass vases, dishes,  many leather items and even paper items.   Most of the paper items were found inside of leather pouches.   The leather in those days was treated with a wax substance and it is believed that is what kept the paper in such good condition. We were given a "Boarding Pass" when we entered the museum.   It contained the personal information about a passenger on the Titanic.  At the end of the exhibit you could look and see if that person survived.  It was a unique way to make the exhibit more personal.

We left Idaho Falls in the afternoon.  The landscape along the way was just breath taking - REALLY.   It included lush green trees, green mountains, lakes, rivers and snow capped mountains (see pictures.)   Pictures cannot do the scenery justice.  

We arrived at the RV park about 6 pm.  It was raining and our site is on the muddy side - Ughhhh!!!!!   Our most expensive RV park yet but not the least bit nice.  If it weren't for the scenery around it, it would have nothing to offer.  Oh well, three days here and then on to Yellowstone.

Thursday (6/4) First, I am sorry about saying there was a picture in yesterday's post.  I had the most wonderful picture of Rich with an Idaho potato but somehow all my pictures from the museum got lost.  For some reason, once I compose the blog I am unable to edit it.

Today we went two hours west of Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Arco, ID (population 1026.)  On the way, we went through Butte, ID (population 76.) We are sure when the population changes, they just take a marker and make it 77 or 75 (Ha Ha.)  Along the way we saw many potato storage buildings (see picture.)   These buildings are somewhat in the ground and have sod roofs.  Potatoes can be stored in them for many months without spoiling.

Craters of the Moon was describes in 1923 as "The surface of the moon as seen through a telescope."  It has been called "a weird and scenic landscape, peculiar to itself."  The craters are of volcanic origin beginning 15,000 years ago.  It was just miles and miles of porous black rock with deep splits in the rock where vegetation is slowly growing and surface temperatures can reach 150 degrees.  We went down in to the Indian Tunnel which is a lava tube (see picture.)  In contrast to the surface, it was dark, cold and wet.

In 1969, NASA's Apollo Astronauts learned about volcanic geology at Craters in preparation for their moon mission.   Once on the moon, they found out that the moon's surface was vastly different than the Craters.  

Rich and I climbed up the Inferno Cone which is a cinder cone that is formed when volcanic froth that is gas rich erupts high into the air and then piles into a mound.   Mound is a bit of an understatement.   The Inferno Cone had to be 400 feet high and pretty steep.  Once on top, we could see for miles (see picture.)

It was a great day!!!!  

Wednesday (6/3)   We are in Idaho Falls, ID.   Today has been mostly a down day for us.  We took the TAB to a TAB dealer to have the thermostat on our air conditioning replaced.  We also lost our outside light cover somewhere in our travels, so that is being replaced too.  The Northern Breeze cover was acting up to that was fixed too.   So glad to get those things done at a T@B dealer where they know about T@Bs instead of just any RV dealer.

In the afternoon, we went to the Idaho Potato Museum - yeah! - they have a museum for that.  It was actually a very small museum but very well done and quite informative.  The great big potato (see picture)  outside was just a hoot!!!   They actually give you a box of hash brown potato mix when you leave.  

We went to a casino in Blackfoot, UT.  Did very little gambling and only lost our lunch money for the day.

Tuesday (6/2)   We are leaving Salt Lake City today but before we go, we must visit a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurant. The Blue Plate Diner is know for their biscuits and gravy and corn beef hash.  We tried both and they were outstanding.  A funky place with a great waitress - a fun experience.

Stopped at Antelope Island State Park which is bounded by the waters of the Great Salt Lake. The lake is a remnant of pre-historic Lake Bonnieville which was ocean water. The salt in the bottom of the lake is three to four feet thick.  In 1893 a dozen buffalo were introduced to the island and today there are 600 in the herd.    There is a lone working ranch on the island that has been there since 1848 and is Utah's oldest Anglo-built structure still standing on its existing foundation.  It was very basic and built to feed many ranch hands. There was a chuck wagon there that had as much room as our T@B and just as much character (see picture.)  I tried to talk Rich into getting it but he was having none of that!   There are sand beaches that are at least 500 feet wide and as clean as can be.   A very beautiful place to visit.

Our next stop was Promontory Summit to see the Golden Spike National Historic Site.   This site is called "The End of the Frontier" because it is the place where the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railroads were joined.   The last spike made of gold was driven on May 10, 1869. This linked the east and the west and turned a six month journey into a six day journey.   The news that the last spike had been driven was sent across the country by telegraph and caused much celebration among the U.S. citizens.  The first train to run on the joined tracks was the Jupiter (see picture.)   A replica of it performs the historic run many times each day.  The driving of the spike is re-enacted each Saturday during the summer.

Monday (6/1)  June 1st!!!!!.   Where did April and May go?    After all our anticipation of this trip, it will be over before we know it.

I guess we have a thing for state capitols.   We visited the Utah State Capitol this morning.   It is a lovely domed building built in the early 1900s at a cost of $4 million (see picture.)   It had been very neglected and in 2006 they completed a $230 million renovation.   It is just beautiful inside, fresh paint, cleaned paintings and it can now withstand an earthquake of 7.5 - pretty impressive.  They said that during an earthquake, the building can actually move 24 inches without sustaining any damage - How do they do that??????

Our next stop was the Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine near Salt Lake City.   It is the largest man made "hole" in the earth and can be seen from outer space (see picture.)    They have 70 gigantic haulage trucks that can carry 250 to 320 tons of material in a single load.   They are as big as a house, have 12 ft. high wheels and cost $3.5 million EACH.  They mine about 55,000,000 tons of copper ore and 120,000,000 tons of overburden (the excess soil) each year.   It is impressive to see something so large and know that it is man made.

We had some time to kill before going to a baseball game, so we went to the Family History Library (sponsored by the Mormons.)  Rich did get a few dates to add to his family tree in the little time that we had there.   They have several (approx. 50) computers there for the public's use.   It is all free of charge.   The library was very busy - there must be something to this family tree stuff.  I guess that is why Rich spends so much time doing it - it is infectious.  

The Salt Lake Bees were playing again tonight, and one of the KOA Kamp Workers was kind enough to get us free tickets.  It was a great night to be there because this is Air Force Week through the Nation and in Salt Lake City.   There were three Air Force sponsored recreational vehicles outside the park, an Air Force Band, and many Air Force personnel that you could talk to.  Inside they had a four-start general throw out the first pitch, four sky-divers, and a fly by.   It was a great night to be at the game.  

Sunday (5/31)  Started our day by going to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing.   It was just beautiful - three hundred voices and 110 piece orchestra (see picture.)  The tabernacle was built in 1847 and the acoustics are amazing.  Every one at the tabernacle was so polite and friendly. After that, we took a tour of the flower gardens in Temple Square, the seat of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons.)   It is a very large complex with many nice buildings and wonderful flower gardens.   A very nice experience all around.

We came back to our camp site to change our clothes and saw the greatest tire cover on one of the campers.  We have enclosed a picture of it for fun.   We ate lunch at the Red Iguana, a restaurant that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.   The mexican food there was excellent.   We tried to eat there last night but there were at least 30 people waiting outside to get in to eat.

After lunch, we toured the home and office of Brigham Young, the man responsible for bring the Mormon to the southwest.  The home was very nice and I am sure it was elaborate for the time.  

We also visited the Tracy Aviary.  It has many different kinds of birds living there.  These are birds that have been injured and cannot survive in the wild.  Particularly fun was a peacock who just posed and posed for pictures.   We think he had the hots for Sue as the more picture she took the more he posed.