This was my last day at Gros Ventre Campground. I ate a late breakfast and then spent about two hours driving north through the park, stopping occasionally to enjoy the scenery and take photographs. One of my stops was the Mormon Row Historic District, famous for its old homesteads and barns set against the dramatic backdrop of the Teton Range.
Photographers flock here in the early morning to capture the historic barns with the mountains illuminated by the rising sun. I'd seen countless photographs of the scene and wanted to see it for myself. The light wasn't particularly interesting when I arrived, so I decided to return the following morning on my way to Yellowstone. With any luck, I'd have better light and perhaps a few clouds to add some interest to the sky.
I eventually turned around and headed south toward Jackson, Wyoming. The town has an excellent recreation center with a beautiful shower facility. For $12, I could enjoy a proper shower, which was a welcome change from the limited facilities in the van. I had also considered taking one of their yoga classes, but when I checked the schedule, I discovered I'd missed it by about 30 minutes.
Afterward, I made a late lunch in the van and headed to a laundromat in town. This turned out to be the most expensive laundromat I've encountered on my travels. Washing a load cost either $8 or $10, depending on the size of the machine, and I needed two of the larger ones. The dryers were a little more reasonable, starting at $3 for 24 minutes, with additional time costing extra.
While the laundry was doing its thing, I walked around the nearby shops. There were several restaurants and gift shops, a workout studio, and a western apparel store selling hats and boots. I’m always a little amazed that stores specializing in western hats and boots can stay in business, but there were plenty of people inside. I know those hats aren’t cheap. I remember stopping in Eminence, Missouri, and watching them steam and shape hats to fit each customer. Some of those hats were selling for upwards of $600, and I can only imagine what they cost in Jackson, where the overhead must be considerably higher.
By the time I'd washed and dried everything, folded the clothes and remade the bed in the van, over three hours had passed. It's surprising how much of a day something as simple as doing laundry can consume when you're living on the road.
I still needed groceries and discovered there was a Whole Foods less than a mile away. It was already after 6 p.m., so I decided to have dinner there before shopping. I put together a salad from the salad bar and picked up a slice of thin-crust vegetarian pizza.
I enjoy shopping at Whole Foods because they carry certain products that I rarely find in other grocery stores. Living in the van means I don't have much room to stock up, so when I come across one of their stores, I usually take the opportunity to pick up a few favorites.
With the refrigerator restocked, the laundry finished and the van back in order, I stopped at a gas station to fill the tank. I'd be leaving for Yellowstone National Park in the morning, and I wanted to have everything taken care of before heading north.
It wasn't a particularly adventurous way to spend my last day in Grand Teton, but after several days of hiking, cycling and photography, it felt good to get the ordinary chores out of the way. Tomorrow would bring a new park and another stretch of exploring.
With the refrigerator restocked, the laundry finished and the van back in order, I stopped at a gas station to fill the tank before heading back to Gros Ventre Campground.
There were noticeably fewer campers around on this final night before the campground closed for the season. It was quieter than usual, and I was happy to settle in for the evening. I watched a movie and enjoyed the simple pleasure of climbing into bed with freshly washed sheets. I'd be heading to Yellowstone in the morning.