Our adventure comes to an end !!

We left Oregon September 13th.  We only drove through 9 states to get back to North Carolina: Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.  We crossed over into North Carolina on September 25th, not quite 15 months since we left on June 30, 2009. This is my 70th and last post - it has been a very good trip.   

The top line in Oregon is the route home.  It meets the in-boundroute in Idaho and splits again just before we left Idaho. The route home from Oregon was a lot shorter than the route to Oregon (see my June 2010 post  'It's been a year...').  We drove a total of 35,728 miles. 

Heading east with the Tetons in the west.

Fall is coming in Wyoming.

The Wyoming countryside.

More...

Going on forever...in Nebraska.

Moon rising over Nebraska.

There was mile upon mile of snow fences in Nebraska. 

This is near the town of Beatrice in the SE corner of Nebraska. It was another one of those sites we found when we were looking for our route home. It commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862. 

The first person to file a claim under the act.

His burial site.

A 'real' home representative of the type of home built in the 1860's.

Osage orange tree.  It was used as a wind barrier/fence prior to the invention of barbed wire. Below is the fruit it bears.

It is the size of a grapefruit.

The Freeman school built in 1872 and used until 1967 (a different Freeman than the one above).

Inside the school.

Some of the kids would initial the bricks along with the year they graduated.

We saw this plant in Kansas and could not identify it.  It is about 3' to 4' tall. Tracy has since called and said it is sorghum.

We went through St. Louis.  When we saw how close the brewery was, we decided to check it out. 

Half of Anheuser-Busch:  Adolphus Busch.

Two of the cold storage tanks (yes, that lady is cold - it was 50 degrees in the facility). Each tank held 3,600 barrels or 200,000 six-packs.  There was 6 of the tankson the this level plus 3 more levels above.  That's a lot of beer !!

We took a free 1 hour tour. 

Bud Light being bottled.

Historic brew house was built in 1891.

One of the famous Clydesdales

We arrived in Bakersville, NC on September 25th, in time for the Creek Walk, an arts and crafts fair that Tracy participated in. 

This is why they call it the Creek Walk: Cane Creek runs through the town and along side the fair.

Tracy with art work neatly displayed in her tent.

Grand Teton National Park

On the way back, Caroline noticed that our route took us close by the Tetons.  We visited there 2 years ago and really enjoyed the Park (it is just below Yellowstone).  We  ended up spending 3 days there.  As you will notice in some of the photos that fall has come to the Tetons.  Made it even better.

The Teton Mountains.  The Grand Teton, the one in the middle, is the 2nd tallest mountain in Wyoming at 13,775.'

The Tetons from the south.

The northern part of the Tetons.

Posing at the Tetons.

A meadow in front of the Tetons.  It may have been the middle of September, but the 'fall' foliage was is in full swing.

This fire was east of the park.  It was a controlled burn that became uncontrollable. It burned the 3 days we were in the park.

Mt. Moran - 12,605.'

String Lake. 

Another view from String Lake.

The water was chilly.

Jenny Lake.  It is the most popular of the lake in the park.  It is about 2 miles by 1 mile and 260' deep.

Another view of Jenny lake.

The Snake River meanders through the Park.

The Cunningham Cabin.  A good example of a homestead ranch built in Jackson Hole in the 1880's.

Hidden Falls.

Along the bank of the Snake River.

A panoramic view of Jenny Lake from Inspiration Point - 7,200.'

Posing at Inspiration Point.

Along a trail that goes around Jenny Lake.

Downtown Jackson.  They have these antler arches in all 4 corners of the main square.

An eagle swoops down to grab Caroline.  What a minute - it's only a statue.  If only...

More of downtown (and next 2 photos).

We saw 3 moose, but  this was the best photo.

Woodland pine drop. It is a root parasite and produces very little chlorophyll.  It was about 2' tall.

A close up.  I'm not sure what these pods are called, but they are about a 1/2" across.