Jackson, Day 2

It felt a little chilly when I stepped outside on Sunday morning for Tai Chi and a morning run.  It was peaceful and quiet in Jackson, quite a contrast from Saturday night, and I learned after I returned from my run that it was 45 degrees, which I had not expected.  I had not thought to bring gloves or a long-sleeved running shirt on this August road trip to what has been reported as the hottest part of the country!

 

Our adventure – our “Surprise and Delight” – for today was a scenic float trip down the Snake River which Martha had reserved months ago.  We arrived at the boat ramp on the river, about nine miles from our hotel, and discovered that it was a popular place on Sunday morning for people preparing to tube or kayak down the river.   

 

A man on horseback was comfortably riding back and forth at the ramp, preparing for a ride of his own on dry land along the river.  There were plenty of hikers out.  It was a beautiful day for a float on the river, and we soon met our pilot, Jo Jo – I had to overlook his name, as I had at one time in my past become acquainted, and not in a good way, with an annoying little chihuahua by the same name – who went over the safety instructions, emphasizing that the objective was to float down the river and not to fall in the river.

 

Jo Jo turned out to be an informative and entertaining pilot (or should I say captain) of our little boat, and eight or ten of us were soon out in the relatively shallow and calm Snake River as he pointed out wildlife along the way, including golden eagles, bald eagles, Canadian geese, and signs of river otters and beavers.  Although we did not see any of the latter, we did spot several eagles perched high in the trees, looking for fish in the waters below.

 

I thought to myself what a remarkable thing it was to see this symbol of our country – representing strength, courage, and freedom – out here in the wild.  We passed Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen trees on the shore, and Jo Jo continued to fill us with all kinds of information.  He said, for example, that the bark of aspen trees could actually be used as sun block (confirmed by me on the internet at the end of the day - SPF 5) and that they grew in large groves, connected with a common root system.  When one tree is disconnected from the interconnected root system, it can suffer fatal consequences.  I thought this was almost as good a symbol of our country as the bald eagle.  

Some of the passengers floating with us were also knowledgeable about the region, and one man in particular knew a lot about Canadian geese.   

 

One couple was from Idaho – the part where potatoes were not grown, we were assured – and told us about Idaho Falls, a place we would be visiting in less than a week’s time.  They also told us about Bear Lake, located on the Idaho-Utah border, and its Loch-Ness-like monster, Izzy or Isabella (also confirmed by me on the internet).  The Bear Lake Monster is a being appearing in folklore and originated from articles written in the 19th century by a Mormon settler in the area, who reported sightings of the creature.

 

Among the stories Jo Jo regaled us with was that of the many celebrities who had homes in the area, including Harrison Ford.  The actor flew in by private helicopter from time to time, and he was known to have allowed it to be used for rescues in the nearby mountains.  Toward the end of the float, we came to some rapids, the roughest waters we had yet encountered on our as-yet gentle journey down the river, and all of us got a little wet, which felt pretty good on a day that had warmed up quite a bit since this morning.

 

What a wonderful afternoon!  Inevitably, the song “Cruising Down the River (on a Sunday Afternoon, of all things!)” popped into my head:

Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon

With one you love, the sun above waiting for the moon

The old accordion playing a sentimental tune

Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon

The birds above all sing of love, a gentle sweet refrain

The winds around all make a sound like softly falling rain

Just two of us together, we'll plan a honeymoon

Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Our van was waiting for us at the end of the float, and it returned us to the boat ramp where we had started.  We decided to drive to the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, located just outside Jackson in Teton Village.  The ride on the tram did not occur, after all, due to its schedule and also, I admit, its very steep price.  But we explored the Village and relaxed at a little place called RPK3 with a glass of wine and appetizers.  The place was named after the snowfall in the Grand Tetons and meant it was "Powder Day," which I suppose to a skier is as exciting a cry as "Surf's Up" to a surfer.

 

We returned in plenty of time to explore Jackson some more, and had some delicious salsa and guacamole at a taqueria called Hatch, just a block from our hotel.  It was happy hour!  In more ways than one.