This part three of a serialized account of a trip my wife and I took to Colorado & Wyoming earlier this summer. I will release subsequent editions over the next few weeks. Some names and places have been changed. Part one Part two
7 AM Monday – I woke fresh in the morning, ready to find a service station in CumminsTurbodiesel, Wyoming that would work on this millennial urbanite Euro THUD SCRRTCHH rental car. Surely a handlebar mustachioed mechanic with a six shooter on his hip would zip-tie our bus car back together, if only we fork over our life savings.
Four separate visits and Ah, a breakthrough – the friendly owner of Wind River Body Shop was going to try to get us back on the bus work on our car! We left THUD SCRTCH Saab in his greasy hands while we sought out a coffee shop. Entering a dusty brick facade on Main Street in Bolt-Action-Remington-700, Wyoming, we suddenly found ourselves amidst dreadlocked and tattooed hipsters of the mountain variety, Subaru Patagonius. Me reading a 1960’s counterculture book and Colleen ordering a coconut milk vanilla latte, it felt nice to blend in and not stand out amongst the more numerous Carhartus Frackus.
After a caffeine and oatmeal recharge, Colleen suggested we go check out the fly shop across the street. I nearly spit out my coffee. Even after surviving the night at the Serial Killer Suites, I thought this trip was done; back to Colorado as soon as the Saab was driveable. But she insisted, and within 10 minutes we are licensed up for the week. We made our way back to the body shop – the bus Saab is road ready for only $35! We were on the road by 10 after pulling off the greatest vacation salvage in history.
1 PM Monday – Moose Wyoming. After drinking enough to kill a village at the wedding, we swore we were done with booze until July 4th. That was before THUD SCRTCH VROOMLOOM tikatikatikatika green hair tongue ring. We enjoyed celebratory beers and pizza at Dornans in the shadow of the Teton Range. We paid a visit to the ranch where we first met. We cruised into Jackson and stroll around town, waiting for Roger to finish up with his client. It was surreal being back in the town where we had our first date. If I may wander into overt stereotypes, Jackson is a curious mix of wooks and cowboys, a raw Vegan organic cold-pressed juicery across the street from the world’s largest jackalope exhibit. The fly fishing/mountaineering/skiing community relishes a nice Grateful Dead cover band concert, while the horseback/ranching/rodeo crowd is ready to host the next #MAGA rally, and somehow they all get along.
We met up with Roger and his fiancée Lisa, and moved our stuff into their apartment just off town square with a beautiful view of Snow King ski mountain. We caught up over a nice tapas dinner at a nearby wine bar, downing a cabernet and a rose, and finishing it off with a Baileys cheesecake. Life is good.