Sept 18-28th, Days 39-49 HOLING UP IN JACKSON, Traveled, MT, ID, WY After dropping down through Montana and briefly into Idaho I stopped in the glorious Jackson, WY (which is within the Jackson Hole valley). If Montana took my heart as a state, then Jackson has taken my soul as a town. It's has a population of just under 10,000 and is a wealth of lovely little boutiques, galleries and gorgeous restaurants and cafes; I was in heaven. To add to my delight the fall colours had just started to pop, which meant the surrounding Tetons and Jackson Hole were in umbers and ochers of the aspens, burnt siennas of the hills and the dusty green of sage bushes. I'd intended to stay for three days, but instantly knew that wouldn't be long enough so extended my stay to six days. As we'd dropped down into Wyoming we came through Yellowstone Park, which has some beautiful gesyers (I have to admit there was a massive tailback 16 miles from Old Faithful and I couldn't face sitting in traffic so I skipped it) and the stunning Yellowstone Grand Canyon. But between the crowds of tourists and the poor Lilster basically being stuck in the van I skipped through pretty quickly. In all honesty I was a little underwhelmed by Yellowstone, but maybe I'd just been spoiled by Glacier National Park. However, I couldn't help but think it was a little like Bondi Beach, Sydney - the place where all the tourists go so the locals can keep the best beaches/parks to themselves. But the Tetons, oh the Tetons! Towering majecstically up, billowing folds of mountains down into the valley. What I've discovered is that most National Parks (dogs not allowed) have a National Forest next door where dogs are allowed off leash and the Tetons were no exception. Backing onto the Tetons near Jackson are the Bridger-Teton and Gros Ventre Wilderness areas. It is hunting season so we wore our orange blaze but did some spectacular hikes all with views back to the Tetons. So enamored was I with the colours and the scenery that I happened upon a one day oil colour painting workshop - thank you Michaela for letting me know about the Jackson Art Association. They kindly rented me all the equiment I needed for the day - asking 'you do know how to paint?', 'no' I replied, 'not since I was a kid at school' - but undaunted by my amateur status they let me enrol. We spend the day out at Triangle X Ranch where our teacher, Kathyrn Turner, was 4th generation on the ranch and she taught us how to look at shapes, the value of colours (how light or dark they are) and how to compose a picture; I was rapt. In the afternoon we drove down to part of the Snake River that wound its way through their property with the Tetons looming high in the background. I chose to paint a canyon that caught my eye and the hours flew by. I loved the experience so much I'm hoping to buy some basic oil paints in Austin in a few week's time so I can continue painting - I've included a photo of my first ever attempt. As I chase the sun and the autumal colours engulf me I continue south to Colorado.
