While driving into Jackson Wyoming snow and sleet started falling, a harbinger of weather to come. I made my way to the Fireside Park, set up camp, and opened a bottle of champagne I had waited three weeks to open. I also had a bottle of Pomegranate Liqueur to mix with it. The mimosa didn’t quite taste right, I was not sure why. The next morning I knew.
The next morning when I woke up large snowflakes were floating down. I also felt bad but refused to believe I was getting sick. Another camper helped me roll the motorcycle off the rack. Taking the motorcycle off the rack for the first time was difficult in the cold and rain. Then the motorcycle would not start. The engine would not even try to crank over. There was a yellow engine symbol displayed. I looked in the manual, and it said “PGM EFI”, take to dealer immediately. The electronics controlling the fuel injection detected a fault. The motorcycle only has 80 miles on it.
Not being able to use the motorcycle crushed me. The motorcycle was an integral part of the trip, my way of getting around with the RV parked. I called several places in Jackson, but no one would work on it. I still hope to get to Honda dealer sometime on this trip to try to repair the motorcycle, but now, it’s just 289 lbs of dead weight I hauled all the way from Florida, and maybe back.
By afternoon, I really began to feel lousy. I realized that I had a bad head cold, sore throat, ear ache, and fever. The next week was 32 degrees to 45 degrees with cold rain and no sunshine. I felt really awful. A couple of days later I took an Uber ride into Jackson to an Urgent Care Clinic. The doctor was really nice to me, I think he felt sorry for me. After driving 2488 miles over three weeks and finally getting to Grand Teton National Park, I was the sickest I had been in 11 years. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me and told me what kind of cold medicine to get. He said I was in day three of the illness, that it would likely peak in a few days, and that I should start to feel better by Sunday. He said I caught a cold about four days earlier, which would place me in Ft Collins. He said that “people are filthy” and that is why I got sick.
Feeling extremely discouraged, I felt like going home, selling the RV, having Amazon deliver food to my house, and never leaving home again. I also realized that when you are sick is not the time to make decisions. I knew there would be highs and lows on this trip, but I didn’t expect this deep of a low.
So I spent a week at Fireside RV resort, mostly laying in the RV in cold rain and snow, feeling really lousy. By Sunday, I started to feel better. The first week in Grand Teton National Park was a washout, but at least I had 10 days at Coulter Bay in the heart of Grand Teton National Park coming up next. I drove The Mountain Lioness to Teton Village to Coulter Bay Campground in the heart of Grand Teton National Park. When I entered the park, I bought a lifetime pass for National Parks for $80, since I am now 62 years old. The pretty park ranger smiled and me and said, “Now you are set for life.” That comment made me think a bit, and now I have my first card that says “Senior” on it.
The weather has been perfect in Coulter Bay for the last 8 days. Temperatures range from 35 degrees in the morning and 60 in the afternoon, with bright sunshine each day. I’m in far better spirits now. The Teton Mountain Range is beautiful the mountains restored my soul. In a few days I will head through Yellowstone National Park for 10 days. I am renting a car there to get around the motorcycle problem.
I knew there would be highs and lows on this trip, after all, it’s not a vacation, but my life for now. You can’t stay at a high level of excitement for days on end like on a vacation. But life is good now. I think my favorite part of these trips is the aroma of the pine forests. The scent is wonderful. Most people don’t think of scent as one of the most powerful of the five scents. But think about a time where you smelled something, and it took you all the way back to your childhood right away. For me, when I smell leather, it reminds me of a first baseman’s mitt I had when I was a kid. I am sure everyone reading this can think of a scent that takes them back to years past.
I know it’s been a while since the last post. Not having internet for last week has been both good and bad. So I’m trying to get out a quick post using the WiFi from the campground restaurant.
Wow. I’ve been watching all of the cool photos of the Grand Tetons that you have posted. Had no idea that you had been sick. Hope you are fine now.
Are you really only 62 years old? I can’t even remember when I was that young!
Thanks Rollins, yes I am 62 now. I’m slowly getting better, keep having relapses, but I think I finally turned a corner, feeling better this morning.
Generally I try to keep the posts upbeat and positive, but the last few weeks have been a little rough.
“Snow Falling on Lodgepole Pines” — Is this a reference to the book “Snow Falling on Cedars”?
Yes it is. Great book, sounds like you read it. Good pick up Rollins, kind of an obscure reference. I wondered if someone would figure out the reference.
Yes, I read it when it was new. Don’t remember too much of it today, but I know I thought it was a good book.
Where are you going to be the last week of June? If all goes well we should be in the Yellowstone area beginning the night of June 23rd for a few days.
I’m leaving around the 17th Dale, just missed you by a week.