September 26, 3013 - Decisions, Decisions

Morning at Oxbow Bend

Reflections at Oxbow Bend

It was cold last night.  Hoped the Chinese students made it through the night OK, it being their first time ever camping in the US.  I woke up a few times a little cold but managed to get back to sleep.  Learned later from Rick that, it got so cold that the windows to the cab were frozen open (yes we went to bed with open windows in 20 degree weather to allow for cross-ventilation) and he was worried that I was freezing to death.  Eventually, when the snow and associated cloud cover moved in, warming things up a bit, he was able to unstick the windows and close them.  When the alarm went off, I was actually warm and toasty, making getting up at 5:30 for sunrise a little difficult.

Oxbow Bend Reflections (again)

Nevertheless, up we got and off to Oxbow pullout we went where we witnessed, well, no stunning sunrise as the clouds had moved in once again.  However the waters at Oxbow were very still so I got some neat, moody, reflection shots.  The experience was also accompanied by elk bugling, the prehistoric call of sandhill cranes, cormorants fishing off the  banks of the Snake River . . .  and a gaggle of disappointed photographers trying to salvage something from the disappointing sunrise.

Moulton Barn near Teton National Park

Moody Morning in Jackson Hole

For breakfast, Rick and I headed into Jackson (in the midst of a snow squall) to eat at a wonderful bakery called "Persephone's".   We munched on homemade croissant breakfast sandwiches while deciding whether to stick around until Saturday when the weather is suppose to improve, or just head to Colorado after breakfast.  Not willing to give up the ghost, we decided to stick around until noon just in the off-chance that there is a miraculous break in the weather.  So we toured around a few back roads, got the truck filthy dirty, and after a brief break in the weather, when we caught a glimpse of the mountains only to be disappointed by yet another snowstorm, we decided to make a break for it and head for Colorado.  So with Rick's music mix and a full tank of gas we began to head south.  Carbondale, fall foliage colors, ready or not, here we come.