Day 1 of my Trip: but first…

First.. I doubt I can find words to express to you how relieved, how hopeful – and how blessed I have felt over the last 24 hours – thank you all for jumping in and helping in so many ways with Mama Tess. The overwhelming outpouring of concern for both myself and MT – has washed over me with a warmth and strength I didn’t know could exist. Even though my horse is very sick, I feel very lucky.

This leads to my huge conflict of reporting on my Wyoming adventure. I have received emails from readers declaring their disgust that I could go on vacation when I was asking for funds to help with MT.

Honestly, I could understand that… (read on)

If one doesn’t have the time to read my blogs and maybe just skims the posts or simply reads the photo captions, they might not understand that this venture was booked and paid for (non-refundable, all inclusive) in February. Hubby is funding any incidentals.

And although the timing seems to be bad, it truth, it is actually…not a moment too soon. I needed the break and the recharge. Tess is in wonderful hands and her daily improvements are measured in minute increments. As DR E said, nothing good or bad can happen in one week.

So, thank you for coming along with me… and I can promise you that not a dime of Tess’ Bucket Fund money (or my paycheck) will go towards anything but Tess’ medical bills.

DAY ONE: CASPER TO TETON VILLAGE

It is late so I’m going to caption the photos…and write more tomorrow. In short, this was my trip from my arrival destination (Casper) to Teton Village via my trusty rent-a-car (292 miles)!

I took a stroll around Casper and found this store (Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters) that was a block long and 4 levels tall. It is owned by one family and they just keep expanding it… Family members still work the store. No computer inventory –

I noticed this huge, black cloud and I took a photo because I had never seen one like that before… as soon as I got in my car and turned on the radio, we were told to GO INSIDE – HUGE HAIL STORM coming! So, I went back into the hotel. Lo and behold, the windshield of my little rentacar was cracked! Arrgh. Cool clouds, eh?

The many miles (at 55mph, mind you…) single lane highway was very interesting. I kept seeing these formations and I wish I knew the history. Also, tons of flash flood created creeks and rivers. Very dramatic.

All of a sudden, I came upon these really dramatic red rocks. The people of Wyoming are smart enough to know that gawky tourists like me are going to drive off the road trying to take photos so they carved out an area to swerve over and take photos. Of course, I did.

This is the sweet town of DuBois. I had a lovely homemade sandwich at the coffee shop. They let me recharge my phone there. I was afraid my phone would die (hence my GPS) before I got to my destination.