DAY 28

"Patch of Green" 7.5 x 12" Oil on Canvas Board

I could not get a good photo of this painting no matter where or how many shots I took, but I guess it's better than no photo at all. I'll re-post it once I get a better image. This is the scene right behind our camper. This afternoon a beautiful light broke through onto a path leading into the dense forest right in front of a stand of Aspens. I was attracted to the play of dabbled light on the cool pathway. The painting really looks a lot better than what you are seeing. I am finding my landscapes here are all moving to a much more abstract quality for some reason? The mosquitoes tried their best to take me home for dinner while painting it.

This morning we drove over to the Jackson Lake Lodge, which sits in the most picturesque setting in the world, for a splurge breakfast sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the entire valley. By now the oatmeal and dry cereal is starting to get a bit old. However, by the time we ran a few errands and arrived at 11:00 a.m. (Dave is not a morning person) the buffet was over and the only other options was to eat in their diner-like cafe. Unfortunately, the diner was transitioning on to lunch and would only serve us granola... inside...and without the view. Drats!!! We did get to take our coffee outside on the patio so all was not in vain. Here are a couple snapshots of the view.

 

 

Yesterday was a really great day of canoeing, fly fishing, and painting along side of the lake which is just a football field away walk through the woods. We stayed there all afternoon in the warm light until the sun finally took its final bow and dropped behind the Tetons, and the evening chill began to creep in. Back at our camp Dave built a campfire and we feasted on the best hot dogs and baked beans ever!!! Life is so good. What a blessing this trip has been for us.

DAY 26

"Green With Envy"

6x6" Oil on Canvas Board

Vernal, Utah

"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again, like a couple of gypsies we go down the highway"... 

Leaving Vernal we pass through the Unita Mountain range north on Hwy. 191 and into the Flaming Gorge where Triassic formations of fossilized sand dunes, and formations of coal, oil, and phosphate used in fertilizer were made. We continue on into areas where fossils of crocodiles, sea creatures, the remnants of an ancient sea, and precambrian volcanic ash exist. Actually, seeing a dinosaur appearing at that point wouldn't have surprised me in the least.

Entering the Flaming Gorge Area

Dam in the Flaming Gorge

Hoback River

Crossing the border into Wyoming's mesas and valleys, the sky is covered with hundreds of flat bottom clouds that look like huge gray floating platters serving up mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes...maybe I am just hungry? Blue silvery mountain lupine line the road in reckless abandon in so desolate a country that only an occasional road sign interrupts the feeling of being the only two people in the universe.  We travel on between red tiered mountains both to the east and west. Near Rock Springs I begin to see more mountains popping up on the horizon to the north, veiled with misty layers of atmosphere, and near the tops tiny streaks of snow are visible at the highest peaks.

Munching on peanut butter and honey sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, bananas, and one of those you-only-have-to-have-one-of-these-chocolate cookies, we've entered an area of land so dry and barren it must be called "Dry Gulch." Everything I see for miles and miles is the color of dust, with just an occasional hint of raw umber and a touch of sap green, even the grass is a colorless flaxen. To the west, the mountains look like one long row of the tops of taupe cowboy hats all lined up one against another; only the coral snaking body of a passing train transporting double-decker sea land containers provides a glimpse of any real color to the scene. A little further down the road we enter the town of Eden, population of 220. The Wind River Mountains rise to greet us with rich fertile fields of yellow and bright green, dotted with neat little stacks of freshly baled hay. This must be the land "Home Home on the Range" was written about because there are antelope appearing in nearly all the fields we pass by.

Jackson Lake Marina

After seven hours on the road, we finally arrive in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, Jackson Hole sitting right at the base of the jutting Grand Tetons. Another 40 miles on to the north, sitting on Jackson Lake lies our destination, Colter Bay Campground. However, we arrive only to find all the sites have been taken, so we opt to rent a Cabin Tent with a pot belly stove for the night. A cabin tent has two log walls with bunk beds and the rest is all canvas. It turned out to be quite cozy once we built a fire in the stove to warm us in the 40 degree morning mountain air. Today we were able to move into the campground with our pop-up.  

Wifi is only available in the restaurant so I should still be able to post to the blog everyday. Gosh, this place is spectacular...I'm off to paint and then head down to see the lake.