Back At It Again

Hey everybody,
It's been so long since I've done one of these, I nearly forgot how to do it. Numerous people have asked if I was going to update the blog this year, and my response has always been that I will try, but I won't promise. I will say that I plan to at least once after midway through the season.
My trip started on Tuesday when I packed everything up (including my bike) in my small Subaru Impreza and drove to Indianapolis to hang out with Patrick and Rachel. Then, Wednesday I drove 12 hours to Brookings, South Dakota where Jordan and Karen live. It was really nice hanging out with them and their 7 month old son, who I haven't seen since he was 7 weeks old. I left their place on Sunday after church and drove about 9 hours to a small town in Wyoming. I was very determined to make great time that I would not stop for any unnecessary reasons. Do you know how hard it is to be so close to things such as a 40 ft. dinosaur, Mt. Rushmore, underground caves and caverns, reptile gardens, and bear country and not stop to see everything? It's incredibly hard. However, I did suffer through all of the billboards and kept driving.
I had to get up early this morning, because I was having some car problems, but after having it looked at, everything was alright. It took me about 3 hours to drive to Dubois, which is the nearest city east of the Tetons. The weather was great until I went from Dubois to Jackson Lake Lodge. I was driving next to ten foot mounds of snow next to the road. I literally couldn't see anything but up and straight ahead.
When I pulled into the Lodge, everything but the roads were covered with snow. Now, I can guarantee there were mountains here last year, but I have yet to see any due to the heavy fog and rain. However, the rain is good because it is helping compacting and melt the snow. Last year, when I arrived here, I came so late it was in the middle of the season. Now, I am 11 days before guests even arrive (which is good because of the snow). It is definitely weird now- not only because of so much snow on the ground, but because there are so few people here. There are only a few guys from the boat crew, and most of them arrive tomorrow, so that will be great to see even more familiar faces.
I definitely have a totally different expectation this year. Last year, I didn't really have an expectation. Not only had I never been out here before, but I also didn't know a single person. This year, it is completely different because I know what it's like, and I will actually be working with a good majority of the guys I worked with last year.
Well, I am getting off now as I have orientation at 8 in the morning and then in the afternoon I will start working for the first time in 2011.
Please, leave a comment, even if it is just to say you are reading. I love to find out who is reading this thing.

Have a great night,
Adam Conrad