This morning, we rolled out of bed at a fairly leisurely pace, and strolled through Saratoga to the Saratoga Hot Pool, a natural hot spring. They’ve built a bathhouse and squared off to make a shallow pool, which came up to my neck when I was sitting in it. The floor is rock covered with dark fine gravel/coarse sand. It was blissful to just sit, arms floating, smelling the faint but pervasive sulfur, and watch the occasional blurble of small bubbles rise in the middle of the pool. There’s one section, left natural, that’s the hottest part, but we both decided it was a few degrees hotter than we wanted to try (if it hadn’t been already warm and sunny out, I might have been more tempted). Just wonderful and relaxing.

We strolled back, checked out, had lunch at a little coffeehouse next to the hotel, and got on the road. The first part of the trip was through plains again, hot and flat and mostly brown, with the added discomfort of gusts and blusters of wind. But we got through that, and started heading up into the mountains, and then it was just lovely. Evergreens, jagged mountain peaks, cool air. Around every corner was another stunning view. I was back in my element.

We entered the Grand Teton National Park and soon slowed down due to a traffic jam: There was a moose at the side of the road, down in a gully. We didn’t stop; we’ll see more while we’re here…

The rooms at the lodge are little cabins, charming and airy with moose carved on the headboards. We shared a long shower and then, starving, hit a poolside barbeque buffet. It was a little pricey, but it was worth it to have food right there, right now. It was actually a huge array of food: burgers (meat or veggie), hot dogs, beef brisket, bbq chicken (which I had—yum), corn on the cob, baked beans, corn bread, potato salad, coleslaw, potato chips, tortilla chips and salsa, fresh fruit, apple pie, and brownies (of the frosted, mouthwatering variety). Also lemonade, iced tea, coffee, and an assortment of poncey-brand teas (I had some Earl Grey so I’d stay awake for a few more hours…).

After that we strolled up to the lodge to watch the sunset over the Grand Tetons. Geeks that we are, we not only brought the camera, but the laptops, and I discovered that I could even get a wireless signal on the patio.

So we hung out with friends, watched a mama moose and her baby frolicking in the field below and geese flying overhead, and a glorious sunset. And as twilight fell, bats swooping just above us. We chatted until it was well dark, and then the other folks wandered back to their cabins, and Ken and I went inside and sat in the huge lounge, catching up on e-mail and whatnot. (Today was the day for a flurry of e-mail, but I got through most of it.) Music spilled out of the bar across the way every time the door opened. I swear John Denver’s “Country Roads” was on repeat, and I thought I might have to go over there and hurt someone… Of course more people we knew kept wandering by, too.

Tomorrow should be a fairly lazy day. Ken has to help unload and set up some bike lifts in preparation for the tech session on Wednesday (which he’s in charge of). I predict there will also be food, a long walk, some writing, and maybe even a short ride.