Out West Trip: Day 32 (Jackson, WY to Thermopolis, WY)

Today’s highlights: Another bison traffic jam. Our final Continental Divide crossing. Ordering food via red telephone from our booth. Swimming in the hot springs in Thermopolis.

I woke at 5:30 to try to connect to my conference call, but could get neither a wifi nor a mobile hone signal. Grrr. Up so early, I worked on my photos and recaps of the previous two days, then got the rest of the family out of their beds so we could start packing up and get to the bagel shop for some breakfast, coffee and wifi. We ended up spending over an hour and a half at the bagel place getting photos uploaded and work things downloaded.

We left town by heading north and then east over the pass. We went from deep snow into hot desert like lands. Around 2pm, we entered the funny little town of Thermopolis. Just the name was enough to make me want to visit this town! We drove through the Hot Springs State Park, then went back to the A&W restaurant where we picked up the red phone and ordered our meals. After the best grilled cheese and onion rings we’d ever had, we head out stuffed and ready for the spa.

a & w - 22 jun 2011

The Star Plunge wasn’t quite a spa, but the pool was warmer than anything we’ve been in recently! Camille jumped off the high dive. Rob jumped off the high dive. Chloe climbed up. And panicked. She waffled. And the people in line behind her? Didn’t lose patience, but gently cheered her on. And she jumped. Then cried about her fears. But she did it! After that, Rob and the girls went down some of the water slides while I enjoyed soaking in the warm sulphur water.

star plunge - 22 jun 2011

After the pool, we drove around the park, then walked over the suspension bridge and around the “terraces” of hot springs (again, just like a small Pamukkale). We checked out some strange formations which had started out as man-made fountains, but with gradual deposits from the water have taken on lives of their own. A little searching on the web had us check out a nearby RV park — we got the last spot, a tiny slip, for $20. With a table, power, wifi and nearby showers, we were more than happy. Still stuffed from lunch, we picked up some fruit and veggies and seltzer at the store, then settled in for the night. Chloe made friends with people with dogs while Camille and Rob played a game.

thermopolis - 22 jun 2011

Trip Stats:
Roadside Attractions: A&W Bowling Alley. Hot Springs. (Total: 25)
States: Wyoming. (Total: 14 – GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO, CA, NV, WY, ID, MT)
State Plates Spotted: None. (Total: 51 – includes DC)
Miles: 247 (Total: 7373)
Gallons of gas bought: None. (Total: 426.1)
Poptops Spotted: None. (Total: 48)
National Park Stamps: None. (Total: 14)
Miles walked: 1 (Total: 72)
Dollars saved with NP pass: None. (Total: 195)
Continental Divide Crossings: 1 (Total: 8)
Time Zone Changes: None. (Total: 9 – EDT, CDT, MST, MDT, CDT, MDT, MST, PDT, MST, PDT, MST, MDT)
Security checkpoints: None. (Total: Border. Petrified Forest. Agriculture. Dam Security. WY Hwy Patrol.)