Alaska - Canada 2014. Jackson to Cody, WY. June 5th to 7th.

"Chance Encounter" - a sculpture at the Jackson Visitor Center.

Our ride along the Grand Tetons.

At Jackson we park at the Visitor Center to ride the most beautiful paved bike path in the county. It goes up the valley for 20 miles, past the National Elk Wildlife Refuge and a parade of slate colored Grand Teton peaks that make no apologies for their dominion over this valley. What a panorama and we get an unobstructed view of them as we ride up the valley. At the turnouts along the way people are taking their pictures with the movie star peaks looming large over their shoulders. We do the same. The path ends at Lake Jenny where we have lunch then head back for Jackson.

A view of the Teton's from Lake Jenny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sandhill Crane family.

Before we get back to the Visitor Center we stop at one of the turnouts to watch a pair of Sandhill Cranes forging with their chicks in the marshes. The chicks follow after the parents learning their skills. May your life be bountiful little Sandhills.

Our camp at Flagg Ranch.

By mid-afternoon we head down the road and decide to stay at the Flagg Ranch on the south side of Yellowstone instead of going into the park because it would be colder higher up. The Flagg Ranch had a nice campground and great showers.

Our bike ride at Yellowstone Lake.

 The next day we drive into Yellowstone and parked at Yellowstone Lake Village to take a 30-mile bike ride around the north shore of the lake. The lake is a sheen of sparkling blue with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains.  It’s a funny thing about turnouts in Yellowstone. When we pull into one where no one else is parked a few minutes later it’s filled with cars. Everyone passing by thinks there’s something going on and they don’t want to miss it. That’s how we got someone to take our picture. 

Our camp at Rex Hale a Forest Service CG.

We left Yellowstone by the east entrance and before we get to Cody, WY, we camp at Rex Hale CG, a nice little forest campground on the bank of the North Fork Shoshone River near the east entrance to Yellowstone. It’s a favorite of ours, a quiet place in a meadow without trees, but as cool as it is the sunshine is appreciated as well as the mountain views.



We stayed one night in Cody, WY to visit the highly recommended Buffalo Bill Museum of the West. We strolled around the grounds to see the sculptures that bring to life the historic people of the West.

Raptor presentation.

We were in time to see a raptor presentation with 5 birds from a raptor rescue sanctuary. Due to their injuries these birds will not be released back into the wild so they’ve become ambassadors for education and conservation. 

The young Bill Cody, "Hard and Fast all the Way".

Five sections make up the museum: Western Art, Plains Indians, Natural History, Art & Photography, and the history of Buffalo Bill Cody. The building invites exploration and each of the sections are designed to create an environment to immerse us in its content.

The Buffalo Bill section is engaging, entertaining. There’s a humorous animated short film on how Buffalo Bill became a world renowned performer. 

We don't often see him portrayed as a young man but this statue in front of the museum says it all.

"Sacagawea"

In the Natural History section the path takes you curving around and down through different levels and environments as birds sing, wolves howl, or elk rustle through the forest.

In the Plains Indian section the displays take you in circles so that as you wander through you see things from different perspectives. A very beautiful, personal and moving connection to the native peoples.

There are many beautiful statues and gardens throughout the museum grounds.

"Buffalo Prayer"

"Tumbleweeds" by Clyde Aspevig.

Landscape study by Remington.

We loved this exquisite painting by Aspevig in the Western Art Gallery. There is a Remington exhibit with a recreation of his studio. Here are two gorgeous landscape studies by Remington.

This museum was highly recommended to us and we highly recommend it to you.

Until next time.

Jackie

Landscape study by Remington.