From Custer, South Dakota we went now to our most west destination to Jenny Lake Lodge
AND we had dinner reservations for 20:30 at this very Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room...
TRYING HARD to share with our readers what our eyes experienced this day!
Being the sole driver, I just absorbed and my 93+ passenger Pieter is no longer capable of capturing all this...
This would be my 2nd longest distance drive of the entire trip.
You BET that we enjoyed our 5–course DELICIOUS DINNER at the end of this day!!! *****
Around 9:43 we made this pit stop at Powder River Rest Area, Buffalo, Wyoming
We had been traveling fast on Interstate 90 with a maximum allowed speed of 80 miles.
Powder River is winding its way through the mountains.
Cloud Peak to the left of Buffalo at 13,173 ft or 4,015 m in Big Horn National Park.
We came all the way from Custer State Park driving west...
Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic HWY 16 Wyoming ←great video showing our 1st stretch from Buffalo to Powder River Pass at 9,666 feet or 2,945 m (as visible in the end on our Relive video).
Both, Pieter and I were in awe about the enormous lengths of these wooden Buck and Rail Fences.
Especially on the stretch from Buffalo on the Big Horn Mountains Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Highway 16 Wyoming, as you can clearly see at 4:33 min in above video link.
At 19:15 min in above video link, you see the tall snow fences at Big Horn Powder River Pass, also visible from drone images at 20:03 min.
Buck and Rail Fence ←click link
Very impressive was the view on the Big Horn Powder River Pass.
Similar to this image from snow fences, Wilcox, Wyoming ←click link
Snow fence ←click link
In Wyoming, they build permanent snow fences to prevent snow from drifting on critical highway and railroad corridors. This fence is 14 feet or 4.27 m high, and runs almost continuously for miles.
We so enjoyed these very high plains, second only to the State of Colorado.
The lowest point in Wyoming is still loftier than that of the highest point in 17 USA states...
Snow fences at Wyoming I-80 Mile 208.8 ←click link.
Two days later, I did drive out of the Cowboy State Wyoming, via the Interstate 80, shown above, where you see the impact of adding such tall 14 feet (4.27 m) snow fences (seen to the right).
~
Scenic Byway US HWY 16 Ten Sleep Wyoming ←great video showing our 2nd stretch from Powder River Pass to Ten Sleep
Ten Sleep Canyon along the Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway around 11:20 my short video overview
Pieter taking in the canyon view.
To Pieter's left is an Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) with soft, velvety leaves...
Beautiful wildlife!
Again, what a beautiful day we had for this most scenic drive!
By 11:38 we made a pit stop for getting gas at Conoco in Ten Sleep.
Loved the sign of the Pony Express Convenience Store!
The Pony Express has become synonymous with the Old West.
There still remains a National Pony Express Association ←click link
Wyoming the Cowboy State indeed is full of surprises...
Conoco in Ten Sleep, Wyoming
From Ten Sleep, we ended up on US 20, via Worland, Lucerne and Thermopolis to Shoshoni onto US 26.
From Shoshoni we went onto the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway
The canyons rock walls rise 2,500 feet or 762 meter on both sides...
Wind River Canyon - Thermopolis Wyoming ←great video showing our 3rd stretch from Worland on US 16 onto US 20 near Bighorn River to Thermopolis and on to Shoshoni to US 26 Wind River
We both are very happy with this footage of our exact same memorable scenic route!
Thermopolis is the world's largest mineral hot springs!
At 14:57 we passed these red rocks, so similar to the ones from Arizona.
Ever changing nature, this was before Dubois.
Around 16:47 we enter Yellowstone.
Pieter has a lifetime Pass for National Parks, so we got through fast.
The planning was, that we would view Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, before checking in at Jenny Lake Lodge.
That way, I would not have to drive next day but could RELAX!
Yellowstone Flood June 13, 2022 ←click link for video
BUT the website from Yellowstone National Park did not say anything about the very bad road conditions at their south entrance. The pavement ended for stretches and other areas we had to stop as the oncoming traffic had yield for passing on our lane...
Very slow we went with 25 miles per hour and less, those 78 miles to the north!
The north and east entrances were still closed due to the huge June flooding with lots of damage.
So that made the south entrance very congested.
After using the bathroom at the Old Faithful Lodge, we both walked up to geyser Old Faithful...
This was at 18:06
Half a minute later, there already was a lot more activity.
But both of us have seen this daily, on our way to work high on the Dieng Plateau in Java, Indonesia.
From Old Faithful it would only be 13 minutes till Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook...
Grand Prismatic Spring & Old Faithful | Geothermal Features | Yellowstone ←click for short video.
But with the lack of good signs, for finding our way easily, and the very congested area, we did not want to risk coming too late for our confirmed 5-course dinner at Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room.
After checking in to our Aster Cabin at Jenny Lake Lodge, we walked the trail to Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room and made it in time!
The hostess placed us right here, with the best view of the Grand Tetons
Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room Housed inside a 1930's–era log cabin nestled in the woods at the base of the Teton Range...
Appetizers
Soups
My Salmon Confit
For Soup we opted both for Chef's du Jour
Chef Jedediah Dzimiera deserved kudos for all 5 courses!
And also the excellent, highly attentive and courteous serving staff.
What a joy to dine like that...
Salads
Entrees
We both opted for the Jenny Lake Signature Salad
For Entree we both opted for Dover Sole
White wine cream, lemon orzo, garlic asparagus
Dessert Menu
Pieter opted for Pastry Chef's banana bread pudding with huckleberry sauce and it was yummy!
My Vanilla Panna Cotta
Huckleberry gelee, local honey comb
What a royal ending for a long day with so many impressions about Wyoming!
Quite some climbing done towards this very rugged area.
The Grand Tetons are visible below in image!
A total of 7,988 m of climbing or 26,207 ft climbing for that day!
My solo drive was 981.9 km or 610 miles for that day...
~
Stay tuned for more...
Enjoy this 2 minute Relive video:
Very informative and beautiful pictures. Thank you
ReplyDeleteDearest Reader,
DeleteThank you and I sure was hoping that someone would find lots of information from my compilation.
Hugs,
Mariette
El menú parece muy apetecible. Me gusta los bellos paisajes de tus fotografías.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas una buena semana. Besos.
Querida Antónia,
DeleteGracias y sí, ese menú estaba delicioso. ¡Ambos quedamos tan impresionados por la belleza del paisaje por el qué estábamos pasando y donde realmente estábamos cenando!
Abrazos,
Mariette
What an amazing trip, Mariette! I'm glad you both got to do it, and had such a wonderful experience overall. BTW, I'm drooling over the food in today's post. I think I could eat fish (and shellfish) almost every day, and that bread pudding...! I wouldn't be eating it now (sugar and dairy-free), but oh, my, how I do LOVE bread pudding. When I still lived in Halifax, NS, I sometimes would go to a particular restaurant that had bread pudding with "Louisiana whisky sauce," and oh, it was sooooo yummy! :-D
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteFrankly, this trip was way above our own expectations and we soaked it all up while being there.
Trying to compile it, with very few of our own images or footage was quite a challenge but I managed to find it!
Oh, the food at Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room was the perfect ending of that day and feeding the soul as well.
Only wish we would find that good old fashioned courtesy and great teamwork at more places in present time. Pieter and I have encountered lots of it in the 1980s and 1990s but this is so rare for now!
We both most often eat seafood and Pieter would fight with you over the bread pudding it sounds like... He so enjoyed this, our waiter described it as his favorite. Pieter wholeheartedly agreed with him afterwards.
Hugs,
Mariette
I hope my comment went through, because I don't want to retype it! :-D
ReplyDeleteIt sure did Kim!
DeleteSo cute. Regine
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Dearest Regine,
DeleteThank you and we surely enjoyed every day of our journey together!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette! Absolutely stunning scenery!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteThe best scenery we've ever seen; loved that entire day!
Hugs,
Mariette
The 5–course dinner looks incredibly good, Mariette.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip!
Love the rugged vistas.
Hugs and blessings, dearest friend.
Dearest Veronica,
DeleteYes, we were literally in heaven with that superb Jenny Lake Lodge.
Those rugged vistas were the best we've ever seen in all our journeys; quite surprising.
Hugs,
Mariette
Your posts are always so very informative. You definitely deserved that dining experience after such a long day of driving.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteThank you and yes, I try to give as much information for us to look back onto a complete report and for others to help finding worthwhile areas.
Oh my, that dinner was a welcome treat indeed!
Hugs,
Mariette
I love to read your informations and see all the beautiful pictures you took, Mariette! I'm traveling vicariously through you two!
ReplyDeleteOne day, I hope Nuno and I can also travel through the USA. We both love the States and I'm always amazed at how beatufil it is. I love my country, but I have to confess that the USA have a very special place in my heart.
The food looked delicious and I'm glad everyone was so nice and hospitable!
Have a blessed week, Mariette and Pieter!
:)
Dearest Paula,
DeleteThank you and yes, even with my very limited ability to photograph, being the sole driver, this makes it complete. Fond memories to cherish forever and you are so right about the USA, surprise after surprise and oh so vast!
The food and great courtesy was the perfect framing of the end of a special day!
Hugs,
Mariette
I enjoyed every single picture and description throughout the entire blog. I would have so enjoyed being along. I have not been West. My entire family has but not me.
ReplyDeleteDearest Katie Isabella,
DeleteSo happy you enjoy traveling along with us!
We have been to the West in California for work a lot and Pieter also in Oregon and Washington state. Both of us worked one winter in January in North Dakota with -40°F or -40°C and I swore to NEVER ever doing that again, not even for a million.
But how amazing their 'short' summers are!
Wish you could have been with us...
Hugs,
Mariette
Great photos, I am unable to read due to watering eyes
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteHoping you soon will find some relief!
Thanks for your visit.
Hugs,
Mariette
Querida Mariette, fiz toda a viajem e não enjoei, mesmo no vídeo onde fui guiada!! rsss Lembra que eu lhe disse que enjoava num carro? Pois vi tudo, os detalhes, a paisagem lindíssima, a comida apetitosa... Aquelas montanhas, maravilhosas! O River Canyon, fantástico
ReplyDeleteAplaudo vocês!!!
Vou seguir viajando por aqui!
Deixo um grande abraço daqui do sul do Brasil.
Querida Taís,
DeleteFico feliz em ler que você gostou da viagem e da deliciosa comida.
Há muito mais por vir...
Abraços,
Mariette
Amazing photographs and such wide open spaces. The weather looks good. I hope it was not too warm. Such a wonderful holiday.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteThank you and yes, the weather was perfect for the entire 11 days!
We both felt so lucky and blessed.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette, Wat een prachtige reis hebben jullie gemaakt. Ik heb gisteren nog een aantal blogjes teruggelezen. Het filmpje met het houten pad is trouwens ook top! Wat een werk is dat geweest voor Pieter. Ik heb het mijn man ook laten zien, hij was vol bewondering. Fijne dag, lieve groet!
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, al zeker na Pieter's mega klus van het houten pad was dit een heerlijke tijd om te relaxen en om alles in ons op te nemen. Zóveel gezien en het was eigenlijk allemaal boven verwachting. Je kunt het in foto's en video moeilijk weergeven hoe het in werkelijkheid is.
We voelen ons gelukkig dit samen te hebben mogen beleven!
Liefs,
Mariette
What a spectacular trip. Yellowstone National Park is a unique place. I believe it to be an impressive visit.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteIt surely was a very impressive visit! More to come soon.
Hugs,
Mariette
Viaggio e piatti meravigliosi!Buona serata.ciao.
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteGrazie e era un meraviglio totale!
Abbracci,
Mariette
You take beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debby,
DeleteThank you and it was such an overwhelming stunning area...
Hugs,
Mariette