Back Where I Started From

[JudyJB]

After my dusty experience with the weird hookups and cramped spaces at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone and after spending 6 days without hookups at Grant Village, I found this commercial campground in West Yellowstone, which I really liked. It is the same price as Fishing Bridge and has asphalt roads and grass, and decent size spots, along with full hookups and is very well maintained.

Anyway, I spent four days here last week and then left for Mammoth Hot Springs, where I got a walk-in spot. No hookups but good cell service. Only problem was that is was VERY hot outside, and I had to work indoors. Ran my generator and survived. Also, all the spots were very unlevel, which means I slept on a funny angle, even with blocks under two wheels. Weird night.

So yesterday morning, I left for my spot I had reserved in the Tetons at Colter Bay. When I made my reservations a couple of months ago, and also when I checked in yesterday afternoon, I asked about cell service and they had assured me that if I had Verizon it was good. Based on that, I planned my course syllabus so that I would conduct one required practice and three required conference calls where students would give presentations live. Well, as you might guess, the reservations and the check-in people lied. They tried to backtrack and tell me it was good at the marina and I could go over there, or I could get internet at the laundry or the café!! (Like I want to spend several hours every night at the laundry!) I tried at the café last night for the practice session where a few students test their equipment, and even with talking very loudly, my students could not hear me, nor could I hear them. It was not an appropriate place, even for a testing practice session.

So I checked out this morning and got a refund, then drove to Jackson and had lunch with Sheila. I called this place back in Yellowstone and got my old exact spot back for four nights!! Yea! It is level, has good cell service so I can get internet, and just feels right. Hopefully, tomorrow and Monday the oral presentations will go well and I won't have to spend time in the laundry room online. It was a very long drive today, but I enjoyed the scenery in Sheila's part of the country.

The worst part is that I actually had adjusted my syllabus schedule last June to make sure I would have good internet access for these things. If I can make it through this week, the rest of the semester will be fine because I don't have this live requirement again. Guess I will also need to ask more questions in the future of exactly what they mean by "good cell service." These were employees of one of the commercial companies that manages campgrounds in national parks, by the way, not rangers.

Oh, and I think I am developing something called "trigger finger" on my left hand. My mother had it, and surgery was easy, but I am going to try aspirin and a sturdy wrap tonight. The second joint of my middle finger keeps sticking and then releasing suddenly. Doesn't hurt much but feels funny.

[VickieP]

Judy, can't you go to the Verizon website & look at their coverage maps? That way you wouldn't have to wonder if you are being given correct information.

[Bethers]

Judy, can't you go to the Verizon website & look at their coverage maps? That way you wouldn't have to wonder if you are being given correct information.

The maps don't work in spotty coverage areas - you really need someone to give correct info. When I had Verizon I had them tell me I'd have coverage where I knew I wouldn't, so couldn't trust them in that regard, either. And another problem with spotty coverage - it might be good for phone service, or maybe to check emails, but not to do what Judy needs.

[JudyJB]

Actually, I even called Verizon last week to make sure. They asked for the address of the campground, and I gave it to them, but things are so spread out around that area, that they go by zip codes, and a zip code may cover a very large area. Even Verizon said I would probably have 3G coverage, but three or four miles can make a big difference.

I told Verizon that those maps were not very helpful because they do not have the names of cities on them. You have to guess based on things like bodies of water.

Next time I will call the actual rangers in the visitor center. When I went there, they were much more realistic and at least gave me the location of a pull-over three miles down the road that had cell service.

Guess I always need a Plan B. My fault for relying so heavily on them. Most weeks, I can work offline and then once a day or so do uploading and downloading, but not this week.

[dayspring39]

Hi Judy, I totally agree with Beth... I had verizon but in my mobile home I was between two towers... I was in the dead zone where the signals met... it was maddening... they would not cancel my contract for my internet but my cell phone they did cancel after many many frustrating calls... glad you wrote so interesting to get pieces of friends lives...
Have a great day
Kathleen

[JoanE]

When I arrived in T or C, NM I found that my ATT internet did not work on my phone or tablet. ATT gave me three months credit so far on my bill but glad I had not cancelled my Verizon mifi.

[snowball]

Because Judy was having to go clear back to West Yellowstone we didn't get the chance to visit long but she treated me
to a lovely lunch so glad that we had the time that we did have and she might be in Q for awhile in Jan...looking forward to it
thanks again for lunch
sheila