I’m starting a travel journal about the amazing round trip I took in August 2022 with a big circuit through the US West.
Here’s what I posted on another travel forum back when VoyageForum hadn’t yet regained its freedom. [;)]
Hello!
We got back yesterday in the middle of the afternoon, and here’s a quick first take on the 2022 round trip.
Has America changed? You could say that, yeah. For better? For worse? Who knows.
A massive circuit—nearly 8,000 kilometers, actually around 5,000–6,000 miles.
Round-trip flights went smoothly, except for Air France on the way back, which let a rather large dog in the cabin with an owner who let it roam around the plane. Cool, Air France... Outrageous!
The rough itinerary: Salt Lake City. Jackson Hole–Grand Teton. Yellowstone. Cody. Rock Springs. Moab–Arches–Canyonlands. Monument Valley. Grand Canyon. Bryce Canyon. Zion Park. Las Vegas. Death Valley. Mammoth Lakes. Tioga Road. Mariposa. Yosemite Valley. San Francisco.
Tourists on site—a sociological study:
Italians: Always nice but just as loud as ever!
Hispanics: Same as the Italians, just a different language.
Germans: *Ein, zwei, ach mein Gott!* Order and discipline!
Americans: Still no manners whatsoever. Pathetic. I’m only talking about the tourists, not the locals who work there.
Quebecers: Pure joy!
English-speaking Canadians: Same as the Americans.
Asians: For the Japanese, it’s perfect. But the others from the Middle Kingdom... Let’s not start a war over this. There’s already Ukraine going on. And yet...
Israelis: Still no manners. The Kibbutz kids are the bane of this country.
French: Some excellent, some very good, some good, and some... not much.
Note that tourists in the northern part of the trip were much better behaved than those in the south. "Hello," "Goodbye," offering a hand? Etc. Few Asians in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Lots of locals. The same goes for hotel staff in the northern part—more attentive. Really cool!
On the other hand, we were pretty surprised not to encounter any African-American locals in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, or even Arizona—whether tourists or employees. It’s quite striking, to be honest.
The Hotels:
Holiday Inn - 206 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States.
A modern but soulless hotel. Basically, a place to pass through. Minimal breakfast.
Miller Park Lodge - 155 North Jackson Street - Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Not a hotel but a luxury motel. 750 € for two nights!! No breakfast. Huge room where you could hold a tea dance!!
Well-located. No staff.
Only room of the month-long stay that was fully redone during those two days.
Best Western Weston Inn. 103 Gibbon Avenue, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Well-located, not far from the park entrance. Minimal breakfast. Friendly staff.
Room refreshed every two days.
Best Western Sunset Inn. 1601 8th St, Cody, 82414-4134
Very good. Quiet. Good breakfast. Friendly staff.
Baymont by Wyndham 2717 Dewar Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901
Very good. Quiet. Good breakfast. Friendly staff.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
Wingate by Wyndham Moab. 126 South Highway 191, Moab, 84532
End of the "family" hotels. Start of the tourist hotels.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
Minimal breakfast.
Hampton Inn Kayenta. US Highway 160, Kayenta, AZ 86033, United States
A stopover hotel run by the Navajos. Friendly staff wearing masks. Lots of people.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
Minimal breakfast.
La Quinta by Wyndham Williams. 1100 Cataract Lake Rd, Williams, AZ 86046, United States
Finally, Route 66 for 500 meters!
The staff is there. Nothing more.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
Minimal breakfast.
BEST WESTERN PLUS Ruby's Inn. 26 South Main Street, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764, United States
A factory!!!
Great Hispanic or Romanian staff! A liquor store in the hotel! Awesome!
Very good breakfast, but go early because the crowd—and the jerks—are there!
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
BEST WESTERN Casino Royale - 3411 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Strip, Las Vegas
Good hotel at a reasonable price.
No breakfast, but Denny’s is next door.
Quiet hotel despite the casino. Friendly staff.
No memory of seeing any pets!
Shilo Inn Mammoth Lake. 2963 Main Street, Mammoth Lake
Disastrous! Ineffective security system. Fire doors propped open with wooden wedges.
Tiny breakfast room. No staff in the room. Tables not cleaned. Minimal breakfast.
Gross pool.
Rooms need work. No, the whole hotel needs to be redone. They say they’re renovating. They’d be better off tearing it down.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!
Very bad memory.
Apparently, there’s supposed to be staff in this hotel.
Quality Inn Yosemite Valley Gateway. 4994 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338
Hotel or motel? Booking should clean up its listings!
No room refresh! Minimal breakfast.
The staff is there. Nothing more.
Comfort Inn by the Bay. 775 Van Ness Avenue, Marina District, San Francisco
No room refresh in four days! Minimal breakfast.
Friendly and helpful staff.
Well-located. Depends on what for, but well-located.
And then there are those who steal apples from the breakfast to put in their bags in the morning, those who fill up their famous US water bottles with orange juice from the breakfast pump, those who don’t clear their tables—I could go on. And also, those who don’t say hello or respond to a greeting!
Met some super nice French people (in the northern parks)! They’ll recognize themselves!
And the magic phrase that opens doors with Americans: "Do you speak French? OK, good!" Laughter guaranteed!
Don’t try that with Asians who run souvenir shops in big cities—they have no sense of humor unless it’s about the color of the green bill.
The park rangers are always available! Great!
And 5,000 photos to sort and organize, plus a few hours of dashcam videos!
So, flight from Montpellier to CDG to Salt Lake City.
We planned to spend two nights in SLC. A late afternoon to recover, then head to Antelope Island and explore this city built around an ideology. And to be honest, I’ve got some shopping to do there.
After landing and a quick security check, we pick up our car (Ford Edge from BSP Auto) and head straight to the nearest Walmart by the airport—but not the cleanest one. We grab a cooler, backpack, travel bag, and some groceries.
In the Walmart parking lot, I spot a ladder truck from the city’s fire department. Since I spent 35 years playing with red trucks that went *wee-woo*, I walk over and strike up a conversation with the driver. Fun fact: over there in the States, being a retiree automatically gives you some serious street cred. This’ll come up a few more times.
Then, the hotel. Check-in with an employee about as cheerful as a prison door.
The city feels pretty cold—at least the downtown area. A massive mall, a few lively streets, buildings dedicated to the powerful local "organization," and that’s about it!
A parliament building on top of a hill. Streets under construction. Nothing too exciting. We raise an eyebrow at the prices in restaurants, among other things. Steep!
Basically, it’s a business city with a ton of banks. And don’t forget the places of worship.
Can’t wait to get outside. As for photos, not exactly a highlight!
All of them are of Salt Lake City. You’ll have to make do with those.
SLC is okay or pretty decent depending on tastes—let’s see what’s happening a bit farther out.
A 45-minute drive and we’re on Antelope Island. The wild side of this place is breathtaking! Despite the gloomy weather, its aridity gives it its beauty. There are geese—Barnacle geese, I think—around the few water spots, some corvids as fat as barnyard pigs, and our first bison!!! Not to mention a stop at the Visitor Center.
A solid morning of exploring on empty roads, then back to the city for some essential shopping. While SLC might not be a must-see for tourism, it can be a good starting point for discovering the northern parks. Or, if you’ve got the means, you could take a private plane straight to Jackson Hole or Yellowstone. Though, some people don’t want private planes anymore—what a shame.
In two days, I admit it’s hard to form a real opinion of a big city. That said, the city is clean, seems well-maintained, and I even managed to make some tax-free purchases (a cellphone, wink wink).
We’re leaving SLC with no regrets, just a great memory of an Italian meal and a beautiful morning at Antelope Canyon. The rented Ford Edge is packed, and it’s time to hit the road.
I’m skipping Interstate 15 to head inland via Highway 89 and Evanston, with a stop at Walmart for today’s food.
287 miles and about 5 hours of driving. As I mentioned earlier, I love road trips in the US and elsewhere. We left at 9:00 AM and should arrive around 4:00 PM—plenty of stops for photos, gas, and breaks.
I pull into a gas station (more like a wild-west-themed one—the station, not the cowboy) to refuel and stand there baffled by the automatic pump. *Good grief*, I think. How does this thing work? I need regular gas.
An older man comes out of the shop.
"Hello! Do you speak French?"
"Of course I do," he says with a smile.
He explains he was a Mormon preacher in France and Belgium for 40 years and had just left the congregation with no regrets. Then he shows me how to use the US gas pumps—it’s actually pretty simple. Except when the pump tells you to see the cashier first. You have to specify an amount, and if you pump less, the difference is refunded to your card. Clear enough?
And off we go on a long, mostly empty road—a journey of solitude. The plains of Wyoming, with a brief detour into Idaho.
A few bikers pass by, heading toward Jackson or elsewhere. Maybe getting ready for Sturgis.
And the landscapes—truly stunning to me. No industry, no pollution. Just ranches, ranches, and more ranches. A friend’s partner who lives in San Diego owns a 30,000-hectare ranch in Wyoming… a drop in the bucket.
A few snapshots from the road between SLC and Jackson Hole.
We’re arriving in Jackson Hole on Tuesday, August 2nd, with weather that’s not great at all. I’d planned to head straight to the Visitor Center to buy the America the Beautiful Pass. But once we got there, it wasn’t the right place. Now, we have to go to the Visitor Center at the entrance of Grand Teton National Park, either now or tomorrow morning, or pay at the park entrance tomorrow morning.
We’re 18 minutes away from the spot, so I decide to go right away. And while we’re at it, grab some yellow rain ponchos. About the Passes, there’s one annoying thing: a lot of visitors get their passes or entry permits at the ranger’s "shack" right at the entrance. This causes long, frustrating traffic jams. With the internet these days, the Parks could really update their system. When there’s a lane for pre-paid passes, it’s fine, but that’s not always the case. Unfortunately.
We head back to Jackson a bit disappointed because the weather’s bad and the Tetons are completely hidden. Finally, we arrive at Motel Lodge. Access code and a huge room. Very nice. Expensive but worth it.
Next, we stop by a big supermarket, Albertsons, to pick up some food, toiletries, and—while we’re at it—two Jackson Hole-branded K-Ways! And there’s an amazing liquor store right next door!!
Then we explore Jackson Hole. With a little luck, I might even run into Harrison Ford, who has a house here and, every summer evening, goes out for his two beers at a local bar. Lots of friendly bikers, tons of souvenir shops. Actually, it’s a pretty cool town. We have dinner at Snow King Resort, where I notice a huge mistake on the bill. Quickly fixed by the waitress, who stammers out an apology, but I’m not entirely convinced it was an accident... A $99 bottle of wine that was listed on the menu for $45... That’ll be the only real downside of our month-long road trip.
To wrap up this day and tomorrow, which we’ll spend in town, let’s take a look at the overall pictures. That said, there’s nothing exceptional in these shots.
Let’s continue our stroll through the States with a visit to Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton? Yep, a French trapper from the Lewis and Clark expedition thought the peak looked like a woman’s breast! And the name stuck.
We set off early, but between grocery shopping, finding gear to stay warm, and everything else, we arrive in *thick* fog—like, really thick. The mountain’s completely invisible.
We go through park control with quite a crowd. Honestly, we’re *super* happy with the America the Beautiful Pass! It pays for itself after just three parks—and we’ve visited *a ton*! LOL
We hit the road and try to make it to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. No chance of parking—*no chance at all*! Is there some Brandon rally going on or what?? We end up parking along Teton Road and walking the rest of the way. The fog’s so dense! We wander around, checking out some nice spots. A photographer tells me there’s a bear on the opposite bank of Cottonwood Creek… I look, but no bear. Just some *brilliant* kids chucking rocks into the water like there’s no tomorrow. The bear must be long gone.
We walk among tourists—some cool, others *real* jerks.
I keep snapping photos, waiting for the fog to lift as it warms up.
Yeah, the morning mist over Grand Teton isn’t exactly thrilling. And Jenny Lake was packed! After a good exploratory walk around the area, avoiding the overwhelming crowds of Asian tourists, we got back in the car parked at *Diable Vauvert* and headed back onto Grand Teton Road, stopping for photos along the way to highways 191 and 89.
The misty sky started to lift, and we could see the mountain through the clouds. It’s actually not so bad after all. We took our time to sit and admire the view. Down in the canyon, the Snake River flows. Words aren’t needed. Today, we’re blown away by the landscapes of Grand Teton. Tomorrow, the impact will be even more incredible. But that’s another story.
Over several stops, we prepare to return to the hotel for the mandatory nap. Yeah, I'm at that age and from the South!! Every day up at 5 a.m. or even earlier—it’s exhausting.
We’ll finish with a meal at a restaurant in the ski resort where it’s highly recommended to check your bill before paying. I’m not talking about the food served. If America knew how to cook, we’d know it by now.
Anyway, for lunch today, we had the cooler and enough to sustain ourselves modestly.
Highway 89 offers some truly interesting views of the landscapes. In the distance, we see a gathering of cars and some good-sized RVs. Not to mention a few motorcycles. We’re near Elk Ranch, and the ranch’s bison have decided to cross the road. Well, go ahead and cross, gentlemen—I’m snapping photos.
It’s Thursday, August 4th, and we’re hitting the road for Yellowstone National Park. Once we finish packing, tidy up the room and the car, it’s "off we go"—heading north!
I’m over the moon to see a sky free of clouds this morning, with an intense blue that’s just breathtaking.
We set off full of hope for what promises to be a beautiful day—and it *was* beautiful. We head up Highway 191, stopping for photos along the way. The Grand Teton Peak comes into view. Stunning. Our main stop is Mormon Row Historic District, home to that iconic barn photographed millions of times. Now it’s my turn to find the perfect angle. Further on, we see other buildings from the golden age of the Old West. We spend a long time here.
But to get there, you’ve got to see other sights too, right? Absolutely. And here’s a photo tip for the barn: go in the morning (I followed a fellow forum member’s advice), when the light is nearly perfect and well-positioned. In the evening, you’d be dealing with too much backlight—and way too much Photoshop later.
We get back in the car to drive just a few meters and park near the other protected buildings in the Park. Still in the Mormon Row Historic District area.
We then leave this magical corner of Wyoming. I loved it, of course. Yes, there are tourists, but no mass tourism like we’ll see later. Lots of locals who are keen on hiking and navigating the lakes and rivers. And fishermen. Fly fishing and catch-and-release! I can just imagine the faces of the Lewis and Clark expedition members when they saw this region!
We didn’t see Harrison Ford, unfortunately. But we did see something else. Grand Teton National Park is absolutely worth a detour. I’d love to come back and spend more time here—maybe in the spring, for example. Something to consider.
Holidays Inn - 206 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States.
A modern but soulless hotel. Really just a stopover. Breakfast was minimal.
Miller Park Lodge - 155 North Jackson Street - Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Not a hotel but a luxury motel. 750 € for two nights!! No breakfast.
Wingate By Wyndham Moab. 1260 South Highway 191, Moab, 84532
End of the "family" hotels. Start of the tourist hotels.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hygiene, hello?
Breakfast was minimal.
La Quinta By Wyndham Williams. 1100 Cataract Lake Rd, Williams, AZ 86046, United States
Finally, Route 66 for 500 meters!
The staff is there. That’s about it.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hygiene, hello?
Breakfast was minimal.
Hampton Inn Kayenta. US Highway 160, Kayenta, AZ 86033, United States
A stopover hotel run by the Navajos. Friendly staff wearing masks. Crowded.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hygiene, hello?
Breakfast was minimal.
Shilo Inn Mammoth Lake. 2963 Main Street Mammoth Lake.
Disastrous! Security system ineffective. Fire doors propped open with wooden wedges.
Breakfast room was tiny. No staff in the room. Tables not cleaned. Breakfast was minimal.
Gross pool.
Rooms need work. No, the whole hotel needs to be redone. Apparently, they’re planning renovations. They’d be better off tearing it down.
Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hygiene, hello?
A really bad memory.
Oh, your addresses really make me want to go! Is this a list of hotels to avoid?😅
We’re leaving Grand Teton NP with a pang of regret. And knowing the name was coined by a French trapper really touches me. It’s true—the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition is enough to make anyone dream.
We hit the road—or rather, we keep going—on Route 191. 2 hours 50 minutes and 190 km. We’ve got time. The road is beautiful, so let’s roll! A few stops here and there, a few more photos of the Snake River, Jackson Lake, and life is good.
Here are some shots taken around Jackson Lake, with its authentic chapel.
Highway 191 is pretty nice—I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
We’re about to pass through the holy grail: the South Entrance of Yellowstone! We’re here. No photos yet, but soon there’ll be videos from the DashCam, which got a good workout!
For daily images, I’ve decided—with my own approval and conscience—to group site photos instead of talking about each day’s visits.
So, I’ll post images around these themes:
* Geysers
* Wildlife
* Rivers and Streams
* Miscellaneous
With the usual commentary, of course.
We arrive in West Yellowstone in the middle of the afternoon, stopping by the Visitor Center first. After a quick chat, we cross the street to rent bear spray—you never know! !
We continue the story with a visit to the charming town of West Yellowstone, Montana.
After settling into the hotel (Best Western), we head out for a stroll. The town isn’t huge but is well-stocked with souvenir shops, fishing stores, shooting ranges (well, yes), and other delights. I notice that the Second Amendment is the local creed here—it’s prominently displayed in shop windows. My interests lean toward restaurants and bars, while my wife is more into souvenir shops and various clothing stores. Two kids, four grandkids, one great-grandson, and close friends to think of! The Walmart-made travel bag is starting to fill up, and the budget is getting lighter by the minute. With pizza priced at $30, you’ve got to keep an eye on things without stressing—but still, keep an eye on them.
I spot a food truck, which is pretty rare in these agricultural and ranching parts of the West.
I walk up and am surprised by the menu. Could this be someone from a Middle Eastern country that’s neither Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, nor Jordan? A quick chat with a neighbor confirms my hunch. We’re dealing with a member of a community that typically wears a head covering, of course. My wife quips, "They’re everywhere! Well, you *are* everywhere!"
Except our food truck doesn’t operate from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and this Saturday evening, it’s running on minimal service. So no hummus for me in Montana!
We continue exploring the town and later enjoy a good beer (non-alcoholic for the missus) in a typical dive bar with a "Liquor" store of excellent quality for later.
Photos of the town and its one truly commercial street. Let’s explore. For the pictures, I used my little Panasonic.
After a restful night, we're up pretty early. Breakfast down the hatch—whatever was available, which wasn’t much—and off to the park entrance.
It’s barely 8:00–8:30 AM, and there’s already a crowd at the checkpoint, with people still grabbing their passes and causing a bit of a bottleneck. Patience—we’re so close to the holy grail. Or the holy wheel, at least.
Alright, we’re finally in the park. The weather’s decent for the day—not great, just decent. Meaning it’s overcast and rainy.
We head straight for Old Faithful and the gang! And there’s plenty of company—turns out arriving early makes parking a breeze. That said, I’ll grab some sweatpants or something later. These long shorts aren’t cutting it—I’m freezing.
Stop by the Visitor Center for the geyser’s schedule and hunt for some cold- and rain-resistant gear.
With the fine drizzle coming down, I grab the Panasonic for photos. Gotta avoid any disasters. Unfortunately, the mist gets the better of the camera. Trash bin back in France, I guess.
The place is pretty commercial, actually—hotels, shops, you name it. No big deal. We watch the geyser and move on. Even the corvids seem happy they saw the show! Between us, I was expecting something more impressive. Still, Old Faithful is worth seeing—just not in this weather.
So we saw and observed the Old Faithful Geyser and its cohort of neighbors.
The place is nice, with people around, and the Park is big—really big. So you’ve got to see more. Explore, admire.
A long time ago, huge fires ravaged the Park. At least part of it. That’s what makes the trees so striking. The decision to "let it burn" can be controversial, sure. But that’s what happened. The "big" scientists said nature needed to regenerate. They weren’t wrong. Until it was time to stop the damage, which they did. But the scars remain.
We’re still in the middle of the big debate about massive wildfires. On the way in and out of the West, I flew over northern Montana and part of Alberta in Canada. The fires there are enormous. And to put them out, you’ve got to wait for rain. Tough luck. But everything’s so vast. Take the 2022 Gironde fires and multiply by 100!! You’ll get the idea.
Grand Teton National Park was amazing. I really, really want to go back!...
I think I went in 2022. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time.
But wow! What a treat for the eyes
I also loved the landscapes at Antelope Island, but weren’t you bothered by the little critters?... I could barely get out of the car because we were literally getting eaten alive by bugs. [:(]
I missed part of your travel journal—will dive back in as soon as I get five minutes.
Carnets de voyage :
Ouest : https://voyageforum.com/discussion/video-time-lapse-road-trip-dans-ouest-usa-novembre-2013-carnet-voyage-d6301659/
Floride : https://voyageforum.com/discussion/retour-voyage-en-floride-21-mai-9-juin-2016-d7536021/
Here we are at last inside this vast Yellowstone Park. I’ve been waiting for this moment for many years. So many years.
To sum up and go back to the planning: 4 days on-site, including 2 days of rain or really bad weather. Plus one morning for the drive to Cody. So we didn’t get to see everything—no need to point that out. The geysers, for example, there are so many that you’d need a whole week just for them.
I had set a few priorities. And given how easy it is to get around the park, we did the Grand Loop Road and a few Scenic Drives here and there.
Our first stop was, as you’ve seen, Old Faithful. Then, following the road, the other geysers. The bison and the desperate search for a bear we never spotted. And those stunning landscapes. Along the trails and wooden boardwalks, we had some great encounters—like that Quebec family we’d run into again in Cody, or those young guys from central France.
Pets are "allowed" in the park but must be kept on a leash and are banned from sites like the geysers. Except some "tourists" don’t understand English. Or pretend not to. That’s what the rangers are there for.
There are plenty of picnic areas for a snack and to use the restrooms. And rivers like the Yellowstone River, the Firehole River, and the Madison River. And in the middle flows a river...
Lots of stops for photos, of course. Traffic jams because the animals are at home here. In short? Pure happiness.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton—two iconic parks that ended up being our two biggest highlights. To be clear, the other parks are great too, but they’re more crowded. Here, it’s just cool!!
Let’s start with some random photos of everything and nothing. We’re in Yellowstone Park!
We're still in Yellowstone. As mentioned earlier, the rain is here for the meet-up. Today’s plan is to explore the geysers. There are still some sunny breaks, though.
Along the way, we came across members of a community—Amish or Mennonite, I’m not entirely sure. The night before, I was at the laundry (yes, that’s my chore during vacation), and this group was doing their laundry too. Among them was a young girl dressed according to their standards, who seemed to be discovering the world—and another planet. An African-American man walked in to do his laundry, and the girl was left speechless, as if she’d seen an alien. Quite a surprising reaction.
Gorgeous! A feast for the eyes.
I can’t wait to go back...
Same here! Can’t wait to return. I was supposed to do another road trip in 2026 in that area with Rushmore, Little Bighorn, Yellowstone, Glacier NP, and Seattle, but the Prime Minister (my wife) firmly opted for the southern part of the country—Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Still in Yellowstone with some big storms. We're trying to find the breaks in the weather to see a bit more than the bare minimum. Actually, over the 4 days we've been here, we've had some pretty satisfying moments.
The colors are really remarkable. It's crowded, but manageable. We can still take photos without too many people in the way. The big downside? The cellphone has become the go-to for photos. Tourists snap pictures however they can, get too close to restricted areas, take their photo, check it out, and take the time to post it on social media. Meanwhile, you're waiting for them to move so you can have a clear shot.
In the northern part of the park, the Mammoth Hot Springs site is a spot you’ve got to check out. The area’s nice, it’s busy, but we handled it just fine.
Yellowstone is indeed a volcano, but it’s also a land of rivers and streams. By taking a few back roads here and there, you can discover some really nice hidden gems.
Sometimes, it’s hard to stop at a spot because parking spaces are scarce or there are too many people. But you adapt—and it’s magical.
It’s time to leave Yellowstone with a few regrets due to the unfavorable weather. We’ll cross through again, departing from West Yellowstone to reach Cody. A pretty nice drive, but unfortunately, we also saw the damage from forest fires in the park.
As a (former or not) "firefighter" with some specialization in forest fires, I don’t entirely agree with the U.S. "Let It Burn" policy. That said, it’s important to understand that the vastness of the territories requires adaptation in firefighting and strategic choices.
Before continuing the travel journal, I need to take a writing break. I'm on a work assignment for the National Deuch Gathering! A concentration of Citroën 2CVs, each one more beautiful than the last, not to mention the Méharis! Anyway, I'll be there from morning till night from the 27th to the 30th of May! So, not much time or energy to write. And if you're passing through Agde in the south of France, don't hesitate to stop by!
And here we are, back after a week among the Deux Chevaux. A unique world with its own rituals, its "enguelades" (heated arguments), its "jamaiscontents" (never-satisfieds), and its beautiful—or not so beautiful—vintage cars!
In short, if you want a Deuch that runs with everything redone, it’ll cost you 20,000 €! For a Méhari, the price goes up to 25,000 €.
I had some great meet-ups with crews who crossed France from end to end to attend these Annual Meetings.
We hit the road toward Cody through Yellowstone. Actually, we’re heading down to Cody. The drive is gorgeous—we stopped by a river for lunch, and life is good.
We roll into Cody in the late afternoon, check into the hotel, and then take a stroll around town.
Cody has its Main Street, of course. Given how close it is to the big Harley rally in Sturgis, bikers are everywhere—and super friendly for photos.
I got a bit mixed up with the visits in Cody. Actually, on the first day after arriving, we visited the reconstructed old town at the entrance of the city.
It’s a pretty interesting place to discover how people lived in this unique region. Well worth a detour.
So for the second day, we’ll be visiting, among other things, the Cody Museum. It’s quite large and well-organized, perfect for spending a good chunk of time there.
The Buffalo Bill Museum is definitely worth a detour, even if ol’ Buffalo Bill wasn’t exactly an angel in his day.
And I’ll start reducing the image sizes—otherwise, I’ll never finish this travel journal!
The visit to Cody continues with a reenactment of a Western scene from the time of the Old West conquest. It’s easier to follow the cowboys' adventures, the Sheriff, and the ladies of ill repute if you understand English well, but the show is still fun.
For the rest, the usual souvenir shops and local products, with one in particular for professional cowboys that’s quite remarkable.
The legendary Irma Hotel restaurant, packed with tourists spilling onto the terrace.
Cody is a stop that’s not without interest on the journey that will take us to Rock Springs for an intermediate stop.
The drive to Rock Springs is long. We make stops for photos and we’ll arrive in town by the end of the day. A little shopping, a dip in the hotel pool, and the next day some car cleaning with a fun, laughing vibe at the local gas station.
Between Rock Springs and Moab, the drive is long too. Plenty of photo ops in the middle of the surrounding solitude make this sun-scorched road more enjoyable.
We’ll arrive in Moab late in the day, and the peace and quiet are over. Mass tourism begins here. The hotel staff points out the best spots to check out. The hotel is on the outskirts of Moab—obviously packed—and they allow dogs of all sizes. We won’t say anything about the room carpets. Breakfast is nothing special, but lots of people stock up on supplies for the day. Just to be clear—I’m not saying it’s always the French who behave like this!
It’s early, and we’re hitting the road again to head to Dead Horse Point for sunset photos. For the shots, there’s a mix between Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands. Sorry for the mix-up!
On the second day in Moab, we head to Arches NP. Early enough to avoid too many people at the entrance.
Lots of photo stops, an iconic site, and the heat really ramping up. We run into a French family who tells us they got caught in a storm yesterday afternoon—a downpour, according to them. And during the storm, part of it was spent outside the car.
We wander along a pretty busy trail. By around 12:00/1:00 PM, it’s way too hot, and we decide to head back. Too bad, but it’s unbearable. Maybe we’ll come back another day...
Once the worst of the heat has passed, we're heading to Canyon Land and the surrounding area.
It's not very crowded, which is just as well—I can take photos in peace.
We'll head back to the hotel in the late afternoon.
We're leaving Moab with a bit of regret, it's true. While the town itself isn't all that interesting, as mentioned earlier, I feel like I didn't quite finish exploring Arches National Park. It was too hot and too crowded. For the heat, you just need to pick a different season, but for the crowds, you have to accept that others will be there too.
Maybe I'll come back one of these days.
We're now heading down to Monument Valley. Along the way, we stop in the charming town of Bluff. The main attraction is a reconstructed historic site. Back during the Wild West era, Bluff was a key passage for those trying to find a way through the hills while avoiding the local Native Americans.
I love the little fort in Bluff that I discovered thanks to Statesetmoi, especially for their lemon cookies and the bread that reminds me a bit of our French sandwich bread.
Not to mention their pineapple ice cream... yum!
Every time I stop by, I clean them out...
Carnets de voyage :
Ouest : https://voyageforum.com/discussion/video-time-lapse-road-trip-dans-ouest-usa-novembre-2013-carnet-voyage-d6301659/
Floride : https://voyageforum.com/discussion/retour-voyage-en-floride-21-mai-9-juin-2016-d7536021/
For the joke about Bluff. You know there are cabins and by pressing the button in French, you get the explanation of the place.
So, I press the button in French and suddenly, I felt like I was in Aunt Rachel’s cafeteria!! A Pied-Noir accent to die laughing! You must know Antibes! And like an idiot, I forgot to record the sound with my phone! But what a laugh! The truth!!
We’re arriving at Monument Valley, where we present our private reservation because, as everyone knows, the America the Beautiful Pass isn’t accepted in parks run by tribal organizations.
Crowds, so many crowds. We’re definitely in the middle of mass tourism. A packed Visitor Center with a long line just for the ladies’ restrooms.
We soak up the views, drive down into the Valley on the SUV-friendly track, and get a kick out of the horse rental for that iconic John Ford Point photo.
I’ll skip the negative details since there are plenty during peak vacation season. I can imagine the place being much quieter outside of these times. We’re staying at a hotel in Kayenta with an Indian dinner at the hotel. Here too, it’s busy—a closed pool, but nothing major. Some tourists climb over the high barriers to take a quick dip. Don’t worry, they’re not French.
Just one night in Kayenta, then off to Williams. The Grand Canyon is waiting for us.
The road is beautiful, and we arrive in Flagstaff during a good storm. We pick up Route 66. A stop to stretch our legs in town, grab a few supplies, have a drink at a local bar, and hit the road again in the rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXIL4Ve_NI&t=37s
We arrive in Williams, do some quick shopping, check into a really nice hotel, and take a stroll through town on the historic Route 66.
We’re hitting the road super early to get to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The parking lot is almost empty—guess the tourists are sleeping in. Not that I mind!
Once we’re settled, we head toward the gap between the trees to reach the Rim Trail. Wow, just wow! The site is absolutely stunning!!
We take a great walk and snap tons of photos along the Rim as we head west toward Mather Point. Stop by the Visitor Center, then head back to Williams under a downpour that’s *next-level* intense.
Got back under a massive storm, so we spent the evening in Williams—checking out the shops, the historical reenactment, and wrapping up with an Italian restaurant. Nothing out of the ordinary. My legs are tired, so tonight’s sleep will be restorative.
