By the time Mark and I hit the road in Zesty, the end of July, summer had progressed a lot and I felt in a rush to reach our main destinations. Yet, we also needed to wind down, relax and forget about our stress and issues from before making this lifestyle switch. My blogging break helped a little bit, but our days were filled to the brim, either with driving, sightseeing, translation jobs, or catching up with internet chores (research, emails, …) Soon, I realized that I needed to let go of this internal pressure to get everywhere as soon as possible. That attitude allowed for spontaneous events and encounters to happen. If it would get too cold or rainy without reaching our sightseeing “goals” this summer, so be it!
Taggart Lake – photo from Mark’s phone to wish our twin nieces a happy 5th birthday
Upon arrival in the Grand Tetons area, Wyoming, Mark and I were in search of a free campsite, something that had been easy to come by the first weeks of our adventure. While driving in and over deep grooves and potholes on the dirt road, needing to back down a steep, bumpy hill and turning around a couple of times bottoming out, Zesty got pretty beaten up the first day. We swore to never do this again, as we settled in a dusty, shady spot for two nights. The last one in miles that was unoccupied.
The following day, we jumped on our bikes and did a big tour, into Grand Teton National Park over pavement and back over rocky secondary (tertiary?) roads, resembling cobblestones. We swore to never do that again either, but that 27-mile loop provided smoky, yet wonderful views of the Tetons and Mormon Row Historic District.
On day 3, we moved to another area with free camping. We waited around until someone left, unwilling to face the steep, 4WD-accessible hill to other camping areas. The lower area was extremely dusty. So much so that we are still cleaning up grime from two months ago. We smelled, tasted and felt the dust each time the wind picked up or a car drove by. Yet, we camped here for five nights. Why? Because I had a two-day translation job (yes, we had T-Mobile cell service here!) and, more importantly, we were in close proximity of this strikingly beautiful park in which we hiked and biked as much as possible. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves… Note: when you hover your mouse over the images, or click on them, the photo captions will show up.
Jenny Lake – Part 1
Mark and I walked around the southern part of the lake to reach Hidden Falls and Lower Inspiration Point together. We needed an early start to guarantee a parking spot. The lot would fill up before 9am; it was August and still high-season.
Jenny Lake – Part 2
I didn’t feel like climbing straight up and down for another 3 miles into Cascade Canyon after that initial effort. So, while Mark hiked onto the mountain, I circled Jenny Lake instead. By the end of this day hike, we had each walked 10 miles.
Bike ride to Jackson
There is a paved bike path from the southern part of the national park into the “big city” of Jackson, a famous ski resort town. To reach the bike path from our camping spot added quite a few miles to our trip. Hurrah for electric bikes, but it was an exhausting 37-mile ride nevertheless.
Menors Ferry Historic District
A shorter bike ride away, this small area in the park was visited in an afternoon and combined with a stop at the small but affordable grocery store. Did you know that it is possible to carry 12 eggs, a stack of bananas, a head of lettuce, a pack of mushrooms, ½ gallon of juice, one bread, and a 12-pack of beer in one narrow panier and under two metal bike carrier clamps?
Taggart Lake
On the drive out of the national park, and on the way north, Mark and I hiked to Taggart Lake. It was our last physical exercise before reaching Yellowstone National Park.
Note: I’m slowly catching up on blogs about our RVing lifestyle, which started the end of July. Our current location can be found in the right column of this website.
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September 19, 2018 at 13:05
Beautiful – and busy!
September 21, 2018 at 11:37
Thanks. It’s only busy, because we don’t like the cold and the wet, so when the days are nice, we have to get out and about and do and see whatever it is we are in the area for. Plus, combine that sightseeing with chores and work. Yeah, I guess life will always be busy. 🙂
September 19, 2018 at 13:13
Gorgeous photos! You are traveling in an area I haven’t been to yet and would very much like to visit. Our family did a lot of camping when I was young but, for some reason, we never got to Yellowstone. I’m looking forward to your posts about that experience.
September 21, 2018 at 11:40
The Tetons were spectacular, Janis. But, good weather makes everything so much more enjoyable. Yes, we are weather wimps. Yellowstone was worthwhile, but a few factors made it less enjoyable (yes, the weather was one of them). It is very hyped up, but fun to check out once.
September 19, 2018 at 14:48
Beautiful photographs Liesbet and I love the scenery, especially around Jenny Lake – it looks so magical and worth staying for a while ???????? xxx
September 21, 2018 at 11:43
You know, Xenia, another reason why we stayed so long, is because we snatched one of the few, accessible free campsites and knew that once we’d leave here and go to Yellowstone, we’d have to pay for a spot. So we did a few things near the Tetons (like solve van issues and work), so we could just focus on sightseeing once in Yellowstone. The views (once the smoke cleared) were magical, indeed. We learned that the day after we left the Tetons, the wind shifted and the smoke from wildfires elsewhere returned, worse than ever. Friends we made there had to leave, because they could barely breathe. So, we did get lucky with our time there.
September 19, 2018 at 15:27
Beautiful scenery and photos! I wonder if you saw a lot of wildlife, other than bird life and butterflies. Thanks for sharing your updates, Liesbet.
September 21, 2018 at 14:12
One of the photos showed the grizzly bear cub that Mark saw, Natalie. And, especially for you, I just added a photo of a gopher to the gallery. We also saw a pine marten with a mouse in its mouth during one of the walks. And always many birds and squirrels (brown and black). Get ready for the Yellowstone photos: bison (lots of them) and marmots. 🙂
September 19, 2018 at 15:36
“Did you know that it is possible to carry 12 eggs, a stack of bananas, a head of lettuce, a pack of mushrooms, ½ gallon of juice, one bread, and a 12-pack of beer in one narrow panier and under two metal bike carrier clamps?” LOL! This is good to know, Liesbet! You should have taken a picture of that. 🙂 I’ve never been to Yellowstone so I really enjoy those shots. Loved the first one of you and Mark! Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us.
September 19, 2018 at 15:39
I meant I enjoyed the Grand Teton shots!
September 21, 2018 at 14:14
🙂
September 21, 2018 at 14:14
So many times after the facts, I think that I should have taken a photo of that, Jill. Usually, it’s of stressful and crazy situations, where the thought of a photo somehow never occurs. 🙂 I’m glad you liked the photos. Grand Tetons delivered. In Yellowstone the weather turned though, so most shots are dark-ish.
September 19, 2018 at 16:33
Your photos are stunning, Liesbet. I love following your adventures.
September 21, 2018 at 14:16
Thanks, Donna, and for being one of my loyal readers and a fantastic friend! 🙂 It was so nice to catch up with you and enjoy yours and Richard’s company and hospitality for a couple of days.
September 21, 2018 at 14:18
The pleasure was all ours. We loved having you here!
September 21, 2018 at 14:45
🙂
September 19, 2018 at 23:52
Sadly, Wyoming is one of six US states that I have never had the pleasure to visit so it is wonderful to travel it with you virtually. Your pictures are so vivid that I can almost smell the fresh mountain air filled with pine and the cool on my toes as I wiggle them in those beautiful, reflective waters. And you can always get me with waterfalls. You are making me long for home and another US road trip that includes Wyoming this time around.
September 21, 2018 at 14:19
Lovely, Lisa. You sure have a way with words and I’m glad you managed to join me virtually. One day, you’ll make it to Wyoming! How interesting that you keep track of the states you’ve visited in the US. Or maybe most people do? I’ve never thought to do so. Or of the countries I’ve passed through. That would be a fun exercise.
Waterfalls aplenty on Vancouver Island! I’ll make sure you’ll get your fill of them with my Canadian blog posts in the future. Then, you won’t have to return and can sail the oceans forever. 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 21:54
I am a ‘bean counter’ at heart. I track states (46) and countries (44) visited, oceans crossed (2.75), and nautical miles sailed (42,396). I would LOVE to sail to Canada’s west coast on the way back from Alaska but I look forward to your Canadian blog posts to enjoy it virtually as we make our way there (’cause it is going to be a couple of years before we arrive)
September 21, 2018 at 21:55
(grrrr – typo – states should read 44 too)
September 26, 2018 at 20:51
Got it! 🙂 But, you are seeing and sailing so much that those numbers need constant adjusting! 🙂
September 26, 2018 at 20:50
I hope you get to sail around Vancouver Island in Amandla, Lisa. Since we’ve “moved” to shore, three years ago already, we have only once wished we’d had our sailboat while traveling. Guess where? Yep, all these islands and calm bays in British Columbia look mighty inviting. A tad too cold for our liking, but beautiful nevertheless!
September 20, 2018 at 01:52
Did I spot a bear in one of your pictures? How far was it from you? Amazing natural beauty, looks like you had sunny weather. I would love to visit the US National Parks and doing it in a campervan is the best way in my opinion. Can’t wait for your next post????
September 21, 2018 at 14:28
That’s right, Gilda, a grizzly cub. Mark saw this one, as he backed away and gave the animal space to cross the path. The cub was about 20ft away. He took the photo with his phone. I so missed out on that one, because I walked a different trail. 🙁 He and I did see another cub heading into the woods earlier that day. We hope to see a few black bears here on Vancouver Island one of these weeks.
Traveling the American west with all its amazing national parks had been on my mental list for a while as well. Doing it in a camper van sure suits us! I’ll cross my fingers for you to make it happen soon!
September 20, 2018 at 02:07
Rings back happy memories from 2 years ago for me!
September 21, 2018 at 14:29
You must have been on a similar journey that year, I think.
September 20, 2018 at 05:16
Stunning scenery! A lot of work but you saw things most people never will.
And is that a bear in that one shot?
September 21, 2018 at 14:33
We seem to like the challenge of combining work and pleasure (as in extended travel), Alex. That is a bear, indeed, a grizzly cub. Your comment made me realize that people probably don’t see that I caption most of my photos. I added a note to this blog about how to read the comments with the photos and I’ll try to remember and do that for the next few blogs as well. If you hover your mouse over the photo (on a computer), softly tab the photo (on a tablet) or click on it, the caption appears.
September 20, 2018 at 08:00
Completely spectacular scenery (and photos of it)! It’s been a very long time since I’ve been to Jackson Hole, and I went to ski so I never got to really hike in the Tetons. We are so eager to go back some day. I know it was a busy and stressful time, but this looks like one of your very best stops this summer.
September 21, 2018 at 14:37
This certainly was a very satisfying stop this summer, Lexie, especially since the sun was out and we managed to use our bikes a lot, and hike. This time of the year (in Vancouver Island anyway), the bikes are not used because of the constant rain. I miss it! When I gave a general summer route in one of my blogs, I remember you recommended Glacier NP most. Unfortunately, forest fires prohibited our route to go that way, so I will have to keep that on my “list for the future”. Maybe next summer?
September 21, 2018 at 03:03
Your photos of the landscape and the lone houses have me wishing I could go to Wyoming to experience this all first hand, except for the dust (as I am allergic to it.) Gorgeous photos… love the dark green of the evergreen trees against the mountains and the feeling of serenity created by the water and the reflections.
Peta
September 21, 2018 at 14:39
This time of the year, it might be less dusty in Wyoming, Peta. Over the summer, a lot of areas (even here in Canada) had an extremely long dry spell. I think you would have enjoyed just sitting about those lonesome Mormon houses of yore. And, paint one of them. The barn, maybe? 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 08:23
Grand Tetons is one of our favorite national parks. Beautiful images!
September 21, 2018 at 14:40
Thanks, LuAnn. It was actually a park for which we had no expectations, since Yellowstone was the big draw. A pleasant surprise, indeed! 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 09:01
Although the dust and grime is not a happy souvenir it looks as though your experiences were astounding. Such wonderful weather too. As to how much you can carry on a bike I think there should be a prize for your accomplishment. Now the question is were all the eggs intact on arrival? 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 14:42
The eggs were intact and the juice container did not burst. Although, I have to say I was a bit worried, each time my bike hit a bump on the road. I wish I’d taken a photo of our set-up. Back then, I never thought I might mention this accomplishment in a blog post. It’s funny what one remembers of a certain visit and what makes it into a story. 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 11:40
Stunning scenery, Liesbet! Who wouldn’t be envious? For a holiday, I did seem to see the word exhausting a time or two. No gain without pain, I guess 🙂 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 14:44
It was a just a break from blogging, Jo. Holidays are something we never take or have, in the sense of how people usually go on a vacation anyway. I’d need a bit of money first, and then decide to spend it all on a vacation. It would be a tough combination (but I hope it will happen one day), so, instead, we try to combine work and travel, as always. Never gain without pain! It feels more deserved that way, also. 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 16:08
I know you don’t do conventional holidays, Liesbet. I meant more that the effort seemed to outweigh the gain sometimes. I’ve probably got it wrong 🙁
September 21, 2018 at 16:50
No worries, Jo. And, you don’t have it wrong. Sometimes, the effort does outweigh the gain, but that’s just part of living this unconventional life. Not everything goes the way we want, if ever, just like everywhere else. But, for us, it’s a reason not to plan or expect too much. When taking life as it comes, gain often arrives without effort. Loving this life right now, despite the rain! 🙂
September 21, 2018 at 15:18
Love the pics! The Mormon houses feel like Andrew Wyeth paintings. I’m looking forward to when we don’t have to work in the summer and can travel to the Northwest.
It is so hard not take on a fast pace – there is so much to see on land! We really had to try and slow down this last winter.
Finding a camping spot can be so stressful – you never know what is around the next bend sometimes. I am pretty much up for trying to go anywhere, but steep hills scare me – we either turn around or I get out and walk.
September 23, 2018 at 08:23
Got to love that strange toilet sign. It does make you wonder if people really use the toilet like that, doesn’t it?
I can’t believe how far you guys cycle and hike, Liesbet. It must keep you both very fit and healthy. And who wouldn’t want a view like that while having lunch? Stunning.
Did you see many gophers? They look very cheeky. I hope they didn’t try taking anything from unsuspecting tourists?
I see you’re current on Vancouver Island. Have a great time.
September 26, 2018 at 20:58
I’ve been to many countries where the only toilets are of the “squatting kind” (in Belgium we call them “French toilets”, not sure why), Hugh, so my guess is that residents from those countries when traveling to western countries use our toilets in the same manner. Imagine the mess… hence the signs.
We try to hike and bike as much as possible (mostly weather-dependent), but I wouldn’t call us that fit. Especially me. I’m a flat lander and each time we have to climb a hill or a mountain, I huff and puff. No pain, no gain. 🙂 The electric bikes help us cover distances and give us exercise at the same time. We love them.
We didn’t see too many gophers, but they are funny. None of them seem to have gotten in trouble. Some chipmunks were cheeky in Yellowstone, tough. That’s what you get when tourists feed the wildlife. It’s not so wild anymore. 🙁
Thanks for the good wishes, Hugh. They turned our rainy spell into sun. And, yes, we are enjoying that and the island.
September 28, 2018 at 03:58
It just goes to show that I’ve not travelled much in my life, Liesbet. I think the only kind of toilets I’ve come across where one had to squat were the medieval ones in castles. Not wanting to go into it too much (because this subject could be a whole post) there was usually a grill in the floor with a hole underneath that went straight down into a river. That’s enough on that subject. ????
I huff and puff just by climbing the stairs, so well done on all the exercise you do, especially in those gorgeous surroundings.
I agree about wild animals and how we humans have changed they way they expect to get their food because of us feeding them or leaving rubbish on the ground. It’s a shame it happens. I’ve seen a good many seagulls attack folk who were eating. Brings back memories of the movie The Birds.
September 30, 2018 at 14:48
I had no idea about squatting toilets in the castles, Hugh, but I guess it makes sense that the first toilets were like that. I remember when I grew up, my grandparents’ restroom was in a separate shed outside. Not quite an outhouse, but it was so cold to do your business in winter! And, in certain island nations, we have seen the wooden outhouses built right above the water. 🙂
October 1, 2018 at 03:21
I remember some of my aunts and uncles having homes where the toilet was in an outside building, usually down the bottom of the garden. There were also no bathrooms in some of the houses. Washing was done at the kitchen sink, and the once a week bath in an old tin bath in the kitchen. In those days, homes with bathrooms were considered a luxury.
Thanks for bringing back those memories, Liesebt.
October 1, 2018 at 11:47
People these days don’t realize (or appreciate) the comforts of modern life, Hugh, which is a shame. Living on a sailboat or in a camper for a while will make anyone re-appreciate the conveniences of a regular house. 🙂
September 24, 2018 at 17:07
Hi Liesbet! So much fun following along on your adventures. You are certainly seeing some beautiful countryside AND getting a ton of good exercise too. I’m glad the weather has been mostly working out for you. May it continue as your adventures unfold. ~Kathy
September 26, 2018 at 21:00
Thanks, Kathy. It is so nice to finally be traveling again. That, truly, is the life I love. Everything else is just “in between” for some good reason or another. I’m glad you’re enjoying the sights and the photos. I hope to post a really cool video on Facebook soon, if the shaky internet allows me and if I have battery left after this internet spell.
September 25, 2018 at 19:34
Wow, spectacular photos Liesbet. Sorry to hear about Zesty’s rough go over the potholes, hope she holds up! And bonus time catching the Wifi while camping out. You guys are so efficient. And you guys must be in fantastic physical shape with all your hiking exercise. 🙂
September 26, 2018 at 21:02
Zesty is a great home, but he has his issues. That’s what you get with a 14-year-old camper. Our list with things to fix is never done, just like with Irie, our sailboat… We might have to reconsider some of our plans because of that. My physical shape could be better as well, but I actually might get there if we keep hiking and biking every day, which is not very likely. 🙂
October 1, 2018 at 14:04
Beautiful and such understated names for such beauty! Liesbet, it looks like you both had an amazing time! A lovely part of America.
October 1, 2018 at 14:32
We sure are enjoying this new lifestyle on the road, Suzanne. There’s something new and exciting around every corner! But, not much time anymore for online pursuits…
October 11, 2018 at 12:36
Such beautiful landscapes in these photos. How lucky you are to have the time to hike and bike in these gorgeous locations!
Jude
October 17, 2018 at 00:59
You have no idea how happy we are with the concept of time these months, Jude! It’s a lovely commodity to have. Time, love, and freedom. Some things are more valuable than money. 🙂 At least for a little while…