New Work…New Places to Visit…Now Back on the Road Again

We didn’t get much time off in between jobs…done on Tuesday and new work began on Sunday, July 4th with travel of only a few hundred miles. It’s work we both know and are good at,  it’s busy, time is flying and we love it. We will be adding a separate post reviewing our time at Snake River Cabins & RV Village.

Our first week off we went down to Rock Springs, Wyoming where we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. We experienced great customer service that allowed us an early checkin without any hesitation. The pool and jacuzzi were fabulous, we spent a few hours relaxing in them. The room was clean and huge with a couch, fridge, microwave, a very comfortable bed, a walk-in shower with the softest towels. They even had FS1 on the big screen TV where we could watch the NASCAR Truck race. They offered breakfast, but we are still waiting for it to go back to normal instead of this prepackaged stuff they are offering.

The drive was hazy and the entire area has been smokey, due to the Pacific Coast fires. After another week and some major wind, some of the smoke disappeared , but it was still hazy, hopefully soon it will all be out of here completely so we can see the fantabulous scenery once again.

We took a drive over the 10% grade Teton Pass and it was not as scary as anticipated. For sure we wouldn’t want to take Maggie through it but we have been on worse with Maggie several times. The scenery was not all that great either in comparison to our other drives, there was one spot overlooking that was gorgeous but other than the one spot we were disappointed.

We stayed at the Shoshone Bannock Casino & Hotel In Pocatello, Idaho since the rates are the cheapest around and as long as we don’t overindulge on the slots, we do good. Checkin was uncomfortable, we had to just about beg to get in at 1pm since she immediately went to the fact that they do not checkin anyone earlier than 4pm, but she finally caved and we got in. The room was spacious with all the amenities, including fridge, microwave, coffee pot, comfortable king bed, a nice sitting area and a huge bathroom with a wonderful shower. Even though the room was great, the customer service regarding checking in early was awful, especially when she emphasized that the next time we come we will not be able to check in until after 4pm. For that reason alone, we would not recommend this hotel and we will not be returning to the hotel.

This week we got rain, just a little but enough to clear the smoke, construction dust and lower the excruciating heat, but only for a day. We are looking forward to our days off to do more exploring of the Tetons and more. We drove through some of the Tetons National Park and it was as gorgeous as we expected. Jenny Lake area was picturesquely magical and the Tetons were majestic.

Thank goodness we took all these photos on our way since by the ride home the next day the smoke was extreme and could hardly make out the Tetons. 

We then drove to Lander, Wyoming where we stayed at Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel. As usual we wanted to checkin early so we could soak in the hot tub and beautify ourselves, but they were adamant about 4pm checkin. We played a little, had lunch and then within 10 minutes of our getting into our room, the emergency alarm went off and was continuously warned to leave the building immediately through a loud speaker in our room. Jerry was in the elevator after getting our lunch and was told there was no emergency but the alarm continued for another 10 to 15 minutes. We were just so exhausted by then that we just ate our lunch and hung around the room. The bed was not comfortable, the shower was a walk-in and we had plenty of hot water, but the cleanliness was poor. We noticed drips on the glass next to the toilet, dust everywhere, coffee grounds still in the maker and stains on the rugs. We were not impressed. The casino was quiet and they kept it clean, much more than we can say for the hotel rooms.

The next week, we took a different route, SR34 to SR30 to stay and shop in Pocatello, Idaho. Due to the storms in the area, the rivers turned to mud for a few days.

How wonderful it was to be greeted with a huge welcoming smile at the LaQuinta Inn when we arrived around noon and then to have a room available for us without hesitation. We spent hours enjoying the spa and pool, the bed was okay, definitely needs a more comfortable chair, and the shower was ordinary, but due to the exceptional customer service, we would return again.

We did have lunch at The Bird and it was good but the service was terrible…we waited so long for everything.

As fun as it’s been and meeting some really good people, our time here has come to an end since BOA with PepWear is calling. We begin our travels August 16 to first drop Maggie off and then proceed to pickup the truck and trailer to begin our event travels. We truly missed it last year and hoping for a great season again this year.