Memorial Day Weekend Tour, 2003
Jackson Wyoming, Let's Do It Again!
Going north to Jackson Hole, Wyo., was "cool." The drive both ways was definitely cooler than recent past southern Utah Memorial Day weekend excursions have been. Twenty two cars met at Hogle Zoo on a sunny Saturday morning, May 24. The high-speed group left first and included a few day-trippers who turned back later in the day from the Bear Lake area. The less speedy folks trundled off soon thereafter and passed up some of the faster crowd in the course of the day -- the old tortoise and the hare thing.
In East Canyon, a potentially serious incident ended well for John and Barbara Progess and their lovely MGA coupe. A knock-off was lost from a front wire wheel, but the car was safely brought to a stop before the wheel came off. The wandering knock-off could not be located in the weeds over the bank, so Mark and Karen Bradakis, good Samaritans associated with the Fat Chance Garage, returned to Salt Lake for a replacement knock-off. After this incident the MGA returned home without continuing to Jackson. We missed the Progesses, but there will be many other tours they will be making.
Sunday morning around 9:30 all breakfasted, and with fully gassed tanks and windshields somewhat debugged, the majority of participants met to decide where to go and what to do for the day. Even with all the greatly appreciated suggestions Don and Julie McEligot had supplied throughout the planning for this trip, everyone was somehow coerced into taking the same tour. We determined smaller groups would be more manageable than one large caravan, so volunteers for group leaders were requested. Bill Van Moorhem's shoulder was seen to twitch ever so slightly, signifying a willingness to lead one group. The tour-masters, Susan and Jon Hermance led a second group. We toured along the eastern foot of the Grand Tetons, stopping at the Chapel of the Transfiguration, the southern end of Jenny Lake, up to the summit of Signal Mountain and on to a lunch stop at the Jackson Lake Lodge. From the lodge we were on our own, and most hung around the lodge awhile to enjoy the view or headed back to Jackson.
Some of us returned to Jenny Lake and hiked to Hidden Falls. Returning to town after the hike we encountered a portion of the thunderstorm that had been threatening the area much of the afternoon. When necessary, one can actually stop at the side of the road and raise the top on an MG in seconds. A little sleet and lightning overhead even speeds up the process.
On Monday, all returned safely as far as we know, some through Evanston to the freeway and others the way we came over Monte Cristo and through East Canyon with the exception of missing an onerous detour on Highway 89 by going east of Bear Lake rather than along the west shore.
Due to the good weather, this was a particularly nice tour. The Antler Inn was a well-run, centrally located facility, and the area around Jackson offers a variety of things to do. The BMCU will probably do this tour again.
Those who participated were: Brent Anderson; Wade and Alice Ashby; Mike, Sharon and Scooter Bailey; Mark and Karen Bradakis; Kendall and Connie Dewsnup; Rob and Nan Green and family; Alison Hermance and Mike Magruder; Jon and Susan Hermance; Bill Holmes; Bob and Dixie Jahnke; Mitch and Diane Johnson and family; Gary, Sandy and Margaux Lindstrom; Dan, Laura and Bear Dog Maitzen; Dave and Carol Marks and family; Don and Julie McEligot; Todd and Connie Pixton; Pugs and Diane Pivirotto; Bill and Julie Van Moorhem; Doug and Ilene Wimer.
Day-trippers: Stuart and Nick Nichols, Mark Noeltner, John and Barbara Progess, Bill Walton. Our apologies to anyone we may have missed.
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L to R
Brent Anderson (-sen?) TR2 |
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Baileys in front of Grand Teton |
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group picture, atop Monte Cristo Pass |
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Sandy Lindstrom, Diane Pivirotto, Margaux Lindstrom at Monte Cristo |
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Sharon and Scooter Bailey |