Summer's Final Fling

Where did the summer go?  Every August, as school starts again, we find ourselves contemplating this question.  But this summer, with all the chemo treatments, the summer seemed to evaporate faster than raindrops obliterated by the heat before they reach the ground.  We didn't even get to fill our summer with camping and cookouts, like we usually do.  So, to make up a little for a poor summer showing, we decided to take a little family vacation to Wyoming.

On the drive up, we were able to visit with some of Steve's family.  Then we spent the next day driving through the Grand Tetons.  The day was hazy, but we were still able to see the peaks.  The views were fantastic!

Some of the peaks.

Beautiful Jenny Lake and some beautiful girls.

An historic homestead cabin

According to the kids, the highlight of the trip was seeing two mooses (meese?) grazing along a river bank.

Two "meeses"

That night, we had dinner and a show at the Bar J.  The kids really enjoyed the music and jokes of the Wranglers.  What I liked best was hearing Megan giggle at the jokes.

Enjoying dutch-oven biscuits at the Bar J

Encouraging a stubborn mule

The next day, we headed south down Star Valley.  On the Internet, I'd found mention of a cool water geyser in Afton, so when we got there we decided to go on a little adventure.  We drove up a canyon for a ways, then found the trail head to Periodic Springs, as the geyser is known.

We hiked about half a mile to get to the spring on an easy well-maintained trail.  Unfortunately, my camera battery died on the hike, so I had to take photos with Steve's cell phone.  They turned out better than expected.

At the spring

I was expecting a geyser like you find in Yellowstone, shooting straight into the air; but it was more like white water rapids flowing out of the side of a mountain.  Every 15 minutes or so, the spring trickles to a stop, then starts up again about 15 minutes later.  It was neat to watch the white water start to appear on the rocks above, like magic.

The kids and Steve hiked up a steep trail and were right next to the spring when it started flowing again.  I watched from below, but wished I could have hiked up the trail with them.  Maybe next time. 

After that adventure, we headed for my parent's house and then on home the next day, so the kids could start school.  Our trip was short, but a lot of fun.  It was a good way to say goodbye to summer.