This morning started in Cody, after the wild night of rodeoing. We did have our first clean dump of the septic tank (words I never dreamed I would speak), enjoyed the RV park pancake breakfast (Reed took down 8), and hit up a few (3) grocery stores in town. It's not like we'll be in the Sahara tomorrow for a month, but if we were...well, we'd make a good run of it. The necessaries were milk (legit), snacks (have you tried to road trip without Baby Mums?), some itch relief cream (legit), and organic beef. Thankfully word had not made its way to Yellowstone of our place in the food chain, so when we snapped this pic (no zoom) the 3,000 pound bison ignored us.

On to Old Faithful we journeyed (along with the rest of the state of WY) to learn about and view the Yellowstone geyser. Actually, the more i learned about what this really is, the more I wanted to leave. It's basically a geological pock mark on the face of a massive reservoir of magma 4 miles below the earth's surface (that would wipe out 8 states if it actually erupted). But, it was all smiles and flashes for about 2m of spewing steam. It was worth checking off the list.

 

The day finished with some of the most breathtaking views of the trip, of course, as we entered Grand Teton National Park (thank you John Rockefeller). Grace could not rally for the picture (she was literally asleep on Annie), and we pulled up to the Hatchet Resort in Moran, WY (it's not really a resort so much as a roadside motel). Never heard of Moran? Neither has anyone else. It's in the middle of nowhere, but we are here to story-tell and hike for a day before getting down into Jackson. I do hope the Hatchet survives, because after being here for an hour we've already stopped up one toilet and busted the thermostat. 

Evening reflection-

So many things happen on this trip that I can't write because I just don't have energy/time at night. I'll try to give more description of some of these moments if I can, but when talking about toilets it occurred to me that I never properly told the Grace Trapp story of Graceland (that was Day 1). If you'll recall, we all had iPads for the tour  (which was a bit disappointing) but nonetheless Grace was not allowed to have one (being under the age of 6). I did not bother to tell the attendant that she could handle herself on an iPad...I just shared with her. It was a funny sight...bending down and rewinding things so she could listen. She actually just looked at me in the kitchen and said, "it's OK Dad...I don't really like listening to that". So, she continued the rest of the tour sans iPad. She was always close and still paying attention. It was very sweet. But you know Grace picks up on everything...and when we left the racquetball court where they have told the story of his last day (and death) the next stop is the reflection pool and grave. We proceed (along with a few other foreigners and Elvis fans...real fans...not TCB tattoo on your arm kind of fans...but let's spend a week for our honeymoon/anniversary kind of fans) to the stop and contemplate the life and music of Elvis. I'm actually listening to the story of how his parents bought a memorial for his younger deceased brother when I notice Grace talking to someone. She's got that finger out and then her hands go to her hips...the way she always does when she makes a declaration of fact...undeniably correct and emphatic. The lady actually ignores her and turns back to her group...a little bit bothered.

Me: "Grace, what did you say to that woman"?
Grace: "I told her that Elvis died on the toilet".