Quite the Scene

I spent yesterday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  I've decided that I am going to return here someday and spend a weekend on a dude ranch.  Can't you all see me working at a ranch?  The views are beautiful, people are friendly, the food is good and the beer is cold.  What more could you want?

Tired of driving I decided to see the Grand Teton Mountain range by taking a float trip down the Snake River.

There were eight of us in the boat including our guide.  We saw some wildlife along the way and watched as the sun set behind the mountains.  The couple sitting across from me was from Westbrook, Maine!  What a small world.  We joked about how someday we'd be walking down Commercial Street in Portland and bump into eachother. 

The Tetons are among the youngest mountains on the continent.  The range is a series of jagged peaks with the tallest, the Grand Teton standing at 13,770 feet. 

Although beautiful, this is not the scene to which I refer in today's title.  A little background...

Sam recently challenged me to spend $40 a day on food, obviously basing it off the Food Network show.  That was easy until Wyoming.  When I started my drive in Seattle I went to a local grocery store, bought a cooler, bread, water, sandwich meat and snacks.  I have been filling the cooler with ice everywhere I have stayed.  I have also been choosing hotels that have continental breakfast included (as well as internet access obviously).  Lodging has ranged from $60 - $80 a night.  

When I looked at lodging in Jackson Hole, it was nearly twice what I was paying in other places.  Just as the realization began to set in that I was no longer receiving a paycheck and I was not in fact rich as I had lead myself to believe, I received a most generous offer.  Without knowing about my dilemma, John texted me and offered to buy me dinner which included knocking two beers off the list at the Snake River Brewing Company.  He even did some research and chose the location for me!  Who was I to say no to such an offer?

 

I ate at the Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse.  Wanting to try the local flavor I had the bison special and it was excellent.  Thanks John.

Following dinner I went up to the bar.  I told the bouncer at the door about the beer list (actually showed it to him since he did not believe me) and said that I was on a mission to knock off some from this list.  Upon informing him how lucky he was that I chose this location at which to complete this task, he waived my cover charge!

The bar, as you can, see is lined with saddle stools.  I chose a saddle near the end of the bar.  I immediately ordered the Snake River Pale Ale.  It was ok, but I must admit I've liked some of the others I have tried on this trip better.  I began to peel off the label (a necessary part of completing the list) when I saw the bartender curiously looking at me.  I began to tell him about the list and he was intrigued.  The bartender, Chris, I learned is a Yankees fan.  Despite this he gave me my third beer for free.  Why would I leave this place?  I ended up having several beers all from the local breweries. 

I watched as the waitresses came up to the bar and ordered drinks, and I chatted with them as well.  I learned that many people in Wyoming are PBR fans....perhaps PBR is a universal language!

The bar had a live band and line dancing.  Around midnight a guy approached me at the bar and came up with a pick up line that can only be used in Wyoming...."nice saddle you got there."  Obviously he was quite intoxicated.  I laughed thinking he would just wander away but then he asked me to dance.  Politely declining he proceeded to smack me on the ass in an attempt to convince me otherwise.  The bar on a Monday night was not particularly crowded and the same bouncer that let me in for free was apparently watching this guy closely.  Upon seeing this gesture the bouncer came over and threw this "cowboy" of sorts out of the bar, causing the few guests left in the bar to check the scene out.

As thanks I told the bouncer that I wanted a picture of him to post on my blog.

Ironically his name is John.