You may have heard that Revenge is the dish best served cold, but I'm here to tell you that you've been duped. Karma. All along it's been karma that's best served cold. To begin this story, I take you way back... back to the days when I was sleeping in a real bed under a solid roof, a time when showers came more frequently than twice a week, a mythic time when Doc and A. Broad still had things left to talk about. In those days, a friend said to me that I have perfect karma, and that, furthermore, I could probably cash in on that about anytime I felt like. Now that you know the backstory, let's move forward to a time about four days ago. The place, Grand Teton National Park. After Doc and I arrived in the Tetons we set up camp, just like any other day, and I went on a search for firewood, also a common occurrence. While I was hunting through the woods (and the fire grates of empty campsites... I'm an opportunist) I came upon a plastic moose toy half buried in the dirt. I immediately brought it to Doc and told him that I thought it was a good omen, and that we should call him Herald, the Moose-cot. "Perhaps," I said, "Herald can call us some moose. After all, I've never seen one." If I only knew then what I know now! We decided that we would head into town and have a real meal in Jackson, WY, and that perhaps we would stop on the way home to look for moose (since they like the late evening). We did indeed stop for a "moose jam" and get a peek at my first ever moose thru a kind man's spotting scope. "Wouldn't it be funny," I said, "if we were looking at this moose long-range thru a spotting scope and there was a moose lying in our campsite?" Doc agreed that it would be funny, but improbable. Me and my big mouth. Me and my stupid, perfect karma! Why did I choose THAT moment to call upon all my stored up good deeds and ask for a little bit back? It turns out that when we got back to our campsite there were a bunch of people gathered around looking at my tent. Literally WHILE we were looking thru the spotting scope there had been a moose stomping her foot down on MY TENT and watching it bounce back up! Apparently for about 20 minutes! Luckily for me, nothing was damaged. Unfortunately, she DID decide to lay down in our campsite (well, right behind it) and bed down for the night. The National Park Service (in their infinite wisdom) decided that we were too much of a liability and decided they would move us (and our 30 closest neighbors) all the way across the campground to the farthest possible loop. Nevermind that it was already getting dark, that our site was all set up for the night, or that we already had a fire going! Now I can say that I've seen multiple moose, and my tent has one slightly bent pole to prove it.
Now to step back in time again before the Tetons. While Doc and I were staying at Sinks Canyon SP in Lander, WY we managed to happen upon the Eastern Shoshone Indian Days Powwow. Tons of fun, to be sure. All the enjoyment of greasy fair food and sno cones mixed with an interesting cultural experience. The dancing was phenomenal, and our favorite was probably either the dance for Indians 75+ or the Boot and Hat Special (which involved Indians decked out in a combo of traditional dancewear, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and various other Western items). Very neat. We also made a day trek to Thermopolis, WY, the largest mineral hot springs in the world (at least that's what they say and I don't know any better). Believe it or not, Wyoming's parks are free, and that included their state mineral baths! We were all ready to shell out the big bucks to take a hot soak, but it turned out to be free of charge. Super cool. The only drawback was that the sulfur springs left me smelling like a particularly ripe egg for about 48 hours. Luckily we are outside most of the time. Thermopolis also has a particularly active dinosaur bed, and of course we had to go and see their museum. Doc geeked out (even to the point of having me take his picture!) when he saw one of only 7 specimens of archyopteryx in the world. Even though I'm not a rock or dino nut, I had to admit that it was pretty darn cool. They even had a 140 ft. long dino reconstructed in the museum! So big!
Now we are in Yellowstone, which is of course one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It is still my favorite National Park. The waterfalls and rivers are all pumping water like you wouldn't believe, and some of the hot springs are particularly full right now. Unfortunately, our former favorite, Mammoth, is pretty much dried up at the moment. Doc reminded me that this is the most active geologic spot in the country, so they might even be flowing again tomorrow, or maybe never. That's one of the great mysteries about this place. The gorgeous hot spring that looks like it has rainbow mist coming over it is called Grand Prismatic. So beautiful. We may even go back today for another look. Well, provided the predicted rain and hail hold off. Tomorrow we head towards Cody for the stampede and to spend the 4th of July with friends. Hopefully the next post will be pictures of decked-out cowboys and what we have been promised is the "real" 4th of July experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment