After leaving Yellowstone, Ashleigh and I drove along Snake River on Route 89 into Jackson. We took a couple cute pictures of the Grand Tetons and rolled into Jackson. Planning to meet Ashleigh's friend Deputy Dani Demers at five o'clock, we had a couple hours to spare, and we spent it walking around the tourist district and eating a great lunch at the Merry Piglets Mexican restaurant.
Since the beginning of the trip I had been nervous about taking the Jeep and the trailer up and down Teton Pass, which is a very long, winding, treacherous 10% grade road. That was the primary motivator for having the fluid service in Missoula. Dani explained to us, however, that if we went out of town south instead of west, we would exit on Route 89, which doesn't go over a tall mountain pass. If we did that, she would take us in her cruiser over Teton Pass to her home in Victor, Idaho, and bring us back in the morning (which is this morning). That was a big relief and I accepted with thanks. We parked the trailer at the sherrif's office (as safe a parking spot as I could hope for), packed overnite bags, and got in the cruiser. Her semiautomatic rifle was strapped in the front cab; her shotgun and shell belt was strapped in the the back trunk space; I was wedged into the perp cage in the back seat, which was obviously not built with six-foot-five guys in mind. It was a great ride, though, and she even gave me one of those little plastic sherrif's badges they hand out to children. I proudly pinned it on my cap.
Her house is a beautiful log house in a log neighborhood with large yards with views all around of the tall mountains. The sunset was gorgeous and she had a pair of young twin black cats who loved to play with strings and cuddle. They were perfect cats, the kind Ashleigh and I want to get. (Look out, Dani, we might come back and kidnap your cats!)
This morning we drove back over the pass at a few minutes after dawn. We found internet for the first time in a few days here at a bagel shop, which is why you can all enjoy a slew of new posts and pictures.
Our original plans took us to Arches National Park yesterday, but a while ago we realized we wouldn't be able to make that long drive, which is why we stopped in Jackson. Today we have a long drive ahead of us going toward Zion, where we have reservations tomorrow nite. With luck, we'll get close to there tonite, finish the drive in the morning, get to Zion around noon, and get in an afternoon hike.
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