Day 8 Grand Luxe Rail Journey - Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole

We say good-bye to the crew on the train and head for Jackson Lake Lodge for the last two nights. While the building is not impressive, a concrete structure that has unfortunately been painted "Park" brown, the view is stunning.

Next morning we are slated to do a float of the Snake River. Little did I know that I would get in so much trouble. Right off the bat, I get tangled up with Sam, our adorable young guide, for jumping into the raft without wiping my feet! He said to get in, I just didn't know there were more instructions. It isn't long however, before I am teasing him back as unmercifully as he has treated me. The ride wasn't a white water venture, just a nice relaxing float at six o'clock in the morning. It is going to take me a few weeks to recuperate from this vacation.

We see Eagles, Bison, and an American Avocet, which Sam tells us is very rare. We swap stories and it turns out this is his summer job. He works ski patrol in the winter. Some people just have it tough. After our excursion we head to Jackson, for some lunch and a little shopping. I bond with the owner of a fur store, but it is obvious even to her that someone from Arkansas just can't justify this kind of expenditure. Shucks.

Tomorrow we have to get up in the middle of the night to make our 7 a.m. flight. We have had

a great adventure, made lots of new friends and best of all we've gotten to see some great art, some incredible landscapes and we've done it all on a most beautiful train. More details to come in future posts.--Ruth Mitchell

(c) 2008 - Ruth Mitchell - all rights reserved