The sun had set as I was still looking for a place to put up my tent. I knew there was supposed to be a camp site near the parks south entrance and eventually I pulled up into the forest road marking the site. Behind me another car followed shining it’s light on me. I stopped in front of a sign post that every visitor at any of these campsites has to take a look at to find out how much to pay, and other general information for camping at this location. Behind me the car had also stopped while we read the information with our engines running. I finished reading and ready to go I turned my head to the left to spot a big sign almost obstructing the road into the campsite that read: Campsite Full. As soon as I had turned my head I heard the car behind my rev the engine and the wheels spinning as it passed me going up to the camp spots. I was furious because clearly if there was any camp spot left it should be mine since I arrived first. I followed the car and indeed they got the last remaining spot. Normally I would not care much because there are inconsiderate idiots everywhere and caring is not worth my time but in this case I didn’t want to let it slide since I would have to go back and start searching for another campsite in the middle of the night for who knows how many hours and kilometers.
After doing another round to double check that I really hadn’t missed any spot before making a fuzz I slowly passed my spot while its occupants got comfortable trying to avoid the unmissable loud motorcycle next to them. I stopped the bike and was about to get off to tell them what I thought of their move as a little old lady walked up to me from behind. She noticed I was looking for a spot an asked me if I could not find any. When I told her that all spots were taken she immediately offered me to put up my tent at her spot on the opposite side. My anger was gone immediately and I gratefully accepted the offer before parking the bike behind her trailer.
I forgot her name but she was a retired teacher who sold her house, moved into an apartment and bought a car and a trailer to tour the US with her little dog. She offered me something to drink and let me use her camping chair, bug repellent torches and the rest of her bonfire as she was about to go to sleep anyway. I was glad I didn’t have to start and argument with those people and after warming up a can of raviolis on my little stove -the fire was not strong enough anymore- I crawled into my tent an slept like a rock with a full stomach.
In the morning we talked for a little while, about our travel plans and experiences while we packed our things. She had a wonderful attitude towards life and only briefly cared about the fact that she didn’t have her dentures in for the photo.
After a quick breakfast we said good bye and for a change I was back on the road early in the morning.
Leaving the park behind the views were still spectacular. I could not believe my eyes when I saw three buffaloes jumping over a fence with their massive bodies. After one had jumped it waited for the next one before they proceeded to cross the road.
It was interesting to see a very flat landscape with a narrow chain of mountains sticking out on one side.
More mountains appeared as I was nearing Jackson, a big ski resort in Wyoming.
It was difficult to imagine snow while I was melting in the heat. Jackson was suggested to me by a traveler but I it’s only really interesting for partying and not for it’s sights or nature. It was noon and I was exhausted. I stopped at a big supermarket where I stocked up my food supplies for the next days and got some unhealthy sugary pastries that had no taste beside sugar. But I was too exhausted to mind and too happy about the shady spot I had on the grass in front of the supermarket. In most of North America dog owners have to clean up after their dogs or there is a hefty fine. So unlike back at home in Austria all the patches of grass in the cities are clean and can be enjoyed by humans too. Way to go North America!
I continued south where the mountains disappeared and the wind picked up. In fact there was not a single bump on the horizon. Thus leaving no resistance to the wind. It was not pleasant to drive. There was almost no traffic so the few cars and truck passing me drove a little faster, creating a huge blow each time the passed me. A sign next to the road caught my attention. It marked the crossing of the remains of the Oregon trail. One of the old historic roads essential in conquering the west. About 300 wagons and thousands of cattle passed here every day during the 1850s.
The distance between springs to stock up water supplies was huge and one of the biggest problems for settlers.
The wind picked up and it became increasingly difficult to make progress. A usually unpleasant oil change next to the road was a welcomed break for my sore muscles from holing the bike steady.
Another hour later the wind had become so strong that I had to reduce my speed to 30-40km/h. When I missed a turn and ended up on a highway with cars passing me at three times my speed I knew it was time to call it a day. I got off the highway and disregarding my heading started to look for a place to camp. It wasn’t even dark yet but the beautiful colors in the sky and the saturated colors of the rocks that had become yellow and red over the past few hundred kilometers let me forget about the lost time.
I put up my tent and did my best to heat the meat I had bought without any oil. I ended up half cooking it in boiling water and it turned out surprisingly good. The storm had been rattling on my tent when I put it up but by the time I went to sleep it had completely died down and I went to sleep looking forward to the next day.
