Sun. Aug. 29
After breakfast at Wheat Montana, we drove around Three Forks, where the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers come together to form the Missouri River. Lots of Lewis & Clark history. Met a couple from WI there! Too late for the Three Forks Museum with 571 kinds of barbed wire! Aw shucks! Rain, thunderstorms & hail so we tried "grilling " pesto chicken in the convection oven - not bad.
Mon. Aug 30
Had leftover sticky buns from Wheat Montana with poached eggs for breakfast. Spent most of the day catching up on computer, USServas and arranging Spokane visit. Left for Missoula about 4PM Drove through Butte - one monster open pit mine - what an eyesore! Arrived at Jellystone Campground about 8PM.Went to Ice Cream Social for huckleberry ice cream and saved it for dessert. Boiled huge prawns 4-6 per lb. for dinner.
Tues. Aug 31
Up at 8AM oatmeal and fresh peaches for breakfast. David on computer and phone about USServas, Ellen to shower and office to arrange another day here. Research next month of journey; 1st to Spokane to see Tim and Tracy for Labor Day. Had steak and baked potato for dinner and watched Obama's speech marking the end of combat phase of Iraq war.
Wed. Sept 1
Left Jellystone about 12:30 after several calls and emails and many shopping stops in Missoula - Home Depot for door catch bolt, Napa for light bulbs, USPO to mail stuff to Mark, AAA for Canada maps & tour books and Rosauers grocery store with a "Huckleberries" in it. Drove 35 mi to Lolo Hot Springs where Lewis & Clark crossed the Lolo Pass and camped at Travelers Rest. Hot Springs are 105! Had sole meueniere for dinner with red potatoes and carrots.
Thurs. Sept. 2
Cold, gray morning. David went for a walk to check out the facility. Spent morning on the computer - out of cell phone range. Weather cleared in PM, turned into a nice sunny day. Went to the pool, did water aerobics in the "cool pool" then vegged out in the hot pool. Bought a Lewis & Clark DVD at the office. Walked back across road to RV park and met "new Neighbors with a twin to our RV. Shared ideas on improvements they had made and we had made.
Fri. Sept 3
On the road by 10AM. First stop Lolo Pass visitor center. More Lewis & Clark info. On to Lewiston, ID over winding mountain roads with a log truck following closely. Saw video at Lewis & Clark Discovery Center. Continue to Liberty Lake, arrived about 8:30 - gained an hour. Tim showed us where to park the RV and we slept under a real roof!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Bozeman MT
Thur. Aug 26
Ellen returned to Bozeman about 3:30PM and we stayed at Gallatin County Fairgrounds.
Fri. Aug. 27
Relaxing at home day. David washed the RV and Ellen caught up on the computer, email and finances. Peter webcamed in the evening with Charlie going to bed and a tour of their house; lots of work done and yet to do! All of them have colds; so do I.
Sat. Aug. 28
Woke up to lots of trucks & cars filling the fairgrounds parking lot for the Sat. Farmers Market. So we decided to join them! Had crepes for breakfast! Yummy! Bought some veggies but didn't see any berries or peaches. Drove to laundromat - very crowded on Sat with MSU students. David to WalMart with shopping list. Lunch in laudromat parking lot and on to Three Forks, MT Raining most of the day on the newly washed RV!
Ellen returned to Bozeman about 3:30PM and we stayed at Gallatin County Fairgrounds.
Fri. Aug. 27
Relaxing at home day. David washed the RV and Ellen caught up on the computer, email and finances. Peter webcamed in the evening with Charlie going to bed and a tour of their house; lots of work done and yet to do! All of them have colds; so do I.
Sat. Aug. 28
Woke up to lots of trucks & cars filling the fairgrounds parking lot for the Sat. Farmers Market. So we decided to join them! Had crepes for breakfast! Yummy! Bought some veggies but didn't see any berries or peaches. Drove to laundromat - very crowded on Sat with MSU students. David to WalMart with shopping list. Lunch in laudromat parking lot and on to Three Forks, MT Raining most of the day on the newly washed RV!
Grand Tetons National Park
Thurs. Aug 19Up about 7:15 Heater fan not working without generator, probably because battery run down from CPAP machine going all night. 58˚inside 48˚outside! Dave worked on the computer after breakfast while i read "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Drove out to "Slide Lake" site of the largest landslide in the US in 1925? Grilled Korean chicken for dinner.
Fri. Aug 20
Outside temp. 45˚, inside 55˚, turned on heater and generator to warm up. Left Gros Ventre about 10AM to Moose Jct, Teton Park Road, Teton Glacier viewpoint, Jenny Lake Rd and to Coulter Bay for 1:30 boat tour on Jackson Lake. Young woman ranger was tour guide, she is a 7th grade science teacher from Brooklyn, NY. She had us introduce ourselves saying where we were from; the couple behind us were from Madison NJ and live right around the corner from where Peter & Kath have moved! She discussed the geology of the park, different types of rocks, earthquakes, glaciers, and therole of fire (lodgepole pine cones are so stuck together with resin that it takes a fire to open them and re-seed the forest) . She pointed out a bald eagle and its nest, and 2 mule deer lounging by the lake. Took long hot showers and picked up some groceries. Fixed chili for dinner.
Sat. Aug 21 Our 45th Wedding Anniversary
Another cold morning; we are only going to stay at places with electric plug ins from now on when it is so cold! Left Coulter Bay about 11AM On the road back through Yellowstone. Got to Old Faithful Lodge about 1:10 in time to see 1:20 eruption. Spectacular even from a distance. Fixed lunch and took it to the Mezzanine of the rustic Old Faithful Inn and waited for the next eruption at 3:40 right as Tom calledto confirm arrangements for an Frarncisco. We drove on to West Yellowstone and Grizzly RV Park - the nicest one we have stayed in, but huge & crowded. Shopping for Yellowstone agate - David didn't get any when he was here in 1958 and now it is no longer available. Went to Sydney's Mountain Bistro for Anniversary dinner and split the elk tenderloin - terrific! Had a Jamaican waiter so many "no problems" & Soon come" later we left to go back to the RV park.
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Fri. Aug 20
Outside temp. 45˚, inside 55˚, turned on heater and generator to warm up. Left Gros Ventre about 10AM to Moose Jct, Teton Park Road, Teton Glacier viewpoint, Jenny Lake Rd and to Coulter Bay for 1:30 boat tour on Jackson Lake. Young woman ranger was tour guide, she is a 7th grade science teacher from Brooklyn, NY. She had us introduce ourselves saying where we were from; the couple behind us were from Madison NJ and live right around the corner from where Peter & Kath have moved! She discussed the geology of the park, different types of rocks, earthquakes, glaciers, and therole of fire (lodgepole pine cones are so stuck together with resin that it takes a fire to open them and re-seed the forest) . She pointed out a bald eagle and its nest, and 2 mule deer lounging by the lake. Took long hot showers and picked up some groceries. Fixed chili for dinner.
Sat. Aug 21 Our 45th Wedding Anniversary
Another cold morning; we are only going to stay at places with electric plug ins from now on when it is so cold! Left Coulter Bay about 11AM On the road back through Yellowstone. Got to Old Faithful Lodge about 1:10 in time to see 1:20 eruption. Spectacular even from a distance. Fixed lunch and took it to the Mezzanine of the rustic Old Faithful Inn and waited for the next eruption at 3:40 right as Tom calledto confirm arrangements for an Frarncisco. We drove on to West Yellowstone and Grizzly RV Park - the nicest one we have stayed in, but huge & crowded. Shopping for Yellowstone agate - David didn't get any when he was here in 1958 and now it is no longer available. Went to Sydney's Mountain Bistro for Anniversary dinner and split the elk tenderloin - terrific! Had a Jamaican waiter so many "no problems" & Soon come" later we left to go back to the RV park.
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Yellowstone National Park
Fri. Aug 13:
At Rock Canyon, alongside Yellowstone River. David got fishing license; cleaned fridge & floors. Cleared bunk for Tim. To Albertson’s for a few groceries. Rained most of the day so we couldn’t grill pork loin – cooked it in convection oven with squash. Tim arrived about 8:30 as we were sitting down to dinner. Good laughs & conversation.
Sat. Aug 14:
After breakfast, Tim & David went fishing til noon, David caught a small trout but threw it back, so we gave him a hard time about “fish stories”. Packed up to leave after lunch, drove along Yellowstone River to Yellowstone NP. I rode with Tim. Entered Park thru Teddy Roosevelt gate. Several clots of cars were stopped to watch black bear & buffalo. Buffalo ambling down road, holding up traffic. Tim stopped for gas and salsa for chicken dish for dinner. Finally to Fishing Bridge RV park. Today was “Free NP” day so very crowded. Got info on tours & fishing at registration desk. Tim made pollo con arroz in dutch oven; rice, water, 3 chicken breasts, salsa and cheddar cheese. Delicious. Put charcoal on top of Dutch oven & set oven on top of grill. Played cribbage; Tim won by 2 points.
Sun Aug 15:
Very cold! 38˚ outside when we got up. (Later the USA Today reported Yellowstone was the coldest place in the nation at 31˚) Breakfast with Tim at Yellowstone; he left about 10AM Dave worked on ICAI while I “putzed”. Drove to registration where Dave took a shower for $3.25! While I made reservation for “Circle of Fire tour” on Tues. Made an appointment for an oil change on the RV while we are on the tour. Drove to Yellowstone Lake Hotel for hotel tour. Originally built in 1891 with 80 rooms, Expanded in 1903 to 210. Wicker furniture in lobby in 1920’s with lobby/sunroom restaurant. Etched glass doors & windows and tile fireplace. Owned by No Pacific RR as rail travel destination to Livingston and stage coach to Lake. Back to RV for dinner of Halibut Veronique. Family from KS gave us fresh peaches they had picked.
Mon Aug 16:
So cold in AM, we stayed in bed until 8AM when we could turn on the generator and the heater! Had blueberry muffins for breakfast. Left about 10AM to do north circle tour on our own, starting with Mammoth Hot Springs. Steam vents and mud pots and bright blue hot pools – lots of buffalo holding up traffic – too late for lunch at the Hotel but ate at the grill. Mailed package to Tracy and got some sandwich makings. Back to Fishing Bridge via Canyon, several waterfalls & more buffalo. Returned to RV site after 8PM so no generator. Potato soup for dinner and the rest of the peaches.
Tues. Aug 17
Cool AM. To Registration Center by 8:45 to catch Circle of Fire Tour around the caldera of an ancient volcano which blew off the entire mountain range - north of here Rocky Mountains and Glacier NP, south of here Rocky Mountains and Grand Teton NP, here at Yellowstone mud pots & geysers! Fell on a boardwalk at West Thumb and got a sliver under my right thumbnail, appropriate! Spent most of the 90 min. stop at Old Faithful at the clinic getting it out! Saw the Old Faithful eruption from a distance. Stopped at other steam vents, mud pots and rainbow colored ponds. The bus driver pointed out a skraggly looking tree on a rock in the middle of the Firehole River and called it "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree" He and the other bus drivers decorate it every Dec 25 and Aug 25 (more tourists to see it then!) Held up by bison in the road between Norris & Canyon. Finally the bus driver pulled into the oncoming lane and drove right up to the bison in the road, explaining that they don't like the deisel smell and sound and sure enough the animal hurried right off the road and we pulled in ahead of all the stopped traffic! Back to Fishing Bridge about 6:30 and out to Mary Bay to make phone call for book study. Went to the Lake Hotel for dinner; earliest table at 9:30 so had a drink watched the moon rise over the lake and played cribbage!
Wed. Aug. 18
Up at 8:15; turned on generator & heater. It was 41˚ inside! After breakfast we packed up to do laundry and check out. Took the RV for service - oil change & new truck battery - lunch at FB deli. Finally left Yellowstone about 3PM headed for Jackson Hole. Trunk odometer went over 100,000 on road to Jackson Hole where we got groceries. Campground at Coulter Marina full; ended up at Gros Ventre - no hook ups but nice and quiet; generator allowed from 8AMto 8PM. Had dinner at 10PM.
At Rock Canyon, alongside Yellowstone River. David got fishing license; cleaned fridge & floors. Cleared bunk for Tim. To Albertson’s for a few groceries. Rained most of the day so we couldn’t grill pork loin – cooked it in convection oven with squash. Tim arrived about 8:30 as we were sitting down to dinner. Good laughs & conversation.
Sat. Aug 14:
After breakfast, Tim & David went fishing til noon, David caught a small trout but threw it back, so we gave him a hard time about “fish stories”. Packed up to leave after lunch, drove along Yellowstone River to Yellowstone NP. I rode with Tim. Entered Park thru Teddy Roosevelt gate. Several clots of cars were stopped to watch black bear & buffalo. Buffalo ambling down road, holding up traffic. Tim stopped for gas and salsa for chicken dish for dinner. Finally to Fishing Bridge RV park. Today was “Free NP” day so very crowded. Got info on tours & fishing at registration desk. Tim made pollo con arroz in dutch oven; rice, water, 3 chicken breasts, salsa and cheddar cheese. Delicious. Put charcoal on top of Dutch oven & set oven on top of grill. Played cribbage; Tim won by 2 points.
Sun Aug 15:
Very cold! 38˚ outside when we got up. (Later the USA Today reported Yellowstone was the coldest place in the nation at 31˚) Breakfast with Tim at Yellowstone; he left about 10AM Dave worked on ICAI while I “putzed”. Drove to registration where Dave took a shower for $3.25! While I made reservation for “Circle of Fire tour” on Tues. Made an appointment for an oil change on the RV while we are on the tour. Drove to Yellowstone Lake Hotel for hotel tour. Originally built in 1891 with 80 rooms, Expanded in 1903 to 210. Wicker furniture in lobby in 1920’s with lobby/sunroom restaurant. Etched glass doors & windows and tile fireplace. Owned by No Pacific RR as rail travel destination to Livingston and stage coach to Lake. Back to RV for dinner of Halibut Veronique. Family from KS gave us fresh peaches they had picked.
Mon Aug 16:
So cold in AM, we stayed in bed until 8AM when we could turn on the generator and the heater! Had blueberry muffins for breakfast. Left about 10AM to do north circle tour on our own, starting with Mammoth Hot Springs. Steam vents and mud pots and bright blue hot pools – lots of buffalo holding up traffic – too late for lunch at the Hotel but ate at the grill. Mailed package to Tracy and got some sandwich makings. Back to Fishing Bridge via Canyon, several waterfalls & more buffalo. Returned to RV site after 8PM so no generator. Potato soup for dinner and the rest of the peaches.
Tues. Aug 17
Cool AM. To Registration Center by 8:45 to catch Circle of Fire Tour around the caldera of an ancient volcano which blew off the entire mountain range - north of here Rocky Mountains and Glacier NP, south of here Rocky Mountains and Grand Teton NP, here at Yellowstone mud pots & geysers! Fell on a boardwalk at West Thumb and got a sliver under my right thumbnail, appropriate! Spent most of the 90 min. stop at Old Faithful at the clinic getting it out! Saw the Old Faithful eruption from a distance. Stopped at other steam vents, mud pots and rainbow colored ponds. The bus driver pointed out a skraggly looking tree on a rock in the middle of the Firehole River and called it "Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree" He and the other bus drivers decorate it every Dec 25 and Aug 25 (more tourists to see it then!) Held up by bison in the road between Norris & Canyon. Finally the bus driver pulled into the oncoming lane and drove right up to the bison in the road, explaining that they don't like the deisel smell and sound and sure enough the animal hurried right off the road and we pulled in ahead of all the stopped traffic! Back to Fishing Bridge about 6:30 and out to Mary Bay to make phone call for book study. Went to the Lake Hotel for dinner; earliest table at 9:30 so had a drink watched the moon rise over the lake and played cribbage!
Wed. Aug. 18
Up at 8:15; turned on generator & heater. It was 41˚ inside! After breakfast we packed up to do laundry and check out. Took the RV for service - oil change & new truck battery - lunch at FB deli. Finally left Yellowstone about 3PM headed for Jackson Hole. Trunk odometer went over 100,000 on road to Jackson Hole where we got groceries. Campground at Coulter Marina full; ended up at Gros Ventre - no hook ups but nice and quiet; generator allowed from 8AMto 8PM. Had dinner at 10PM.
Great Falla MT
Tues. Aug 10: Left St. Marys for Great Falls, after dump & got gas & groceries . Arrive at Dick’s RV park about 6PM. Off to Sheels for fishing gear & Albertson’s for groceries. David tried to contact Dick West for Springboard book study.
Wed. Aug 11: At Home Day laundry & computer catch up. Following news of escaped convicts in area of Yellowstone & Glacier NPs, One caught near St Mary, where we were yesterday! Yipes! They are the new Bonnie & Clyde. Talked with Peter on webcam/Skype.
Th Aug 12: Left Dick’ RV Park about 10AM after propane fill. To PO to mail postcards to YCH kids; to Home Depot and on to Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls. Diorama of portaging the “great falls” and Ken Burns film. After lunch about 3PM left for Livingston. Got a call from Tim, he is coming for the weekend to go fishing. Yeah! Got to Rock Canyon RV park about 8PM. Had view of Yellowstone River out back window!
Wed. Aug 11: At Home Day laundry & computer catch up. Following news of escaped convicts in area of Yellowstone & Glacier NPs, One caught near St Mary, where we were yesterday! Yipes! They are the new Bonnie & Clyde. Talked with Peter on webcam/Skype.
Th Aug 12: Left Dick’ RV Park about 10AM after propane fill. To PO to mail postcards to YCH kids; to Home Depot and on to Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls. Diorama of portaging the “great falls” and Ken Burns film. After lunch about 3PM left for Livingston. Got a call from Tim, he is coming for the weekend to go fishing. Yeah! Got to Rock Canyon RV park about 8PM. Had view of Yellowstone River out back window!
Glacier National Park
Sat Aug 7:
Mark over at 8:30 ready to go. Fasten down & head to gas station by 9:15 and dump. On road by 10AM. Long drive, stopped at Wheat Montana bakery & deli for sweet rolls for breakfast and hamburger buns. Lunch stop at rest stop. Arrived at St Mary’s Campground in Glacier NP about 8PM. Hamburgers for supper and campfire with s’mores & smoke in our eyes! Shared YCH book & plaque with Mark, watched sunset over flat top rock.
Sun Aug 8:
Overcast AM, filled water, Mark took a walk. Walnut sticky buns & cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Off to St Mary Visitor Center to get park shuttle bus to Logan Pass/Continental Divide. At Logan Pass came out of rest room to see Mark talking with 3 cute girls; didn’t recognize them until Nancy Lanphear came up behind me. She & Bruce & the girls, Rachel, Martha & Ella were staying with friends from Rochester in Columbia Falls. What a surprise! It was cold & rainy and the girls were in shorts but they went hiking anyway – to warm up! Took shuttle back to Rising Sun for lunch, decided against boat tour. Return to St Mary – many construction delays to get RV& warm dry clothes, gas & some groceries. Drove Many Glacier Rd. Took tour of Many Glacier Hotel – a Swiss style chalet with a 95 yr old moose head over the lobby and open fireplace. Drove road 2 times looking for wildlife. Mark & I saw a grizzly bear – a female according to the rangers who had tagged her and were monitoring her to see if she might be pregnant. Mark & Dave also saw a black bear with cubs and some deer. Back to campsite for grilled salmon. Dave & Mark to visitor center for astronomy talk but it had been cancelled. And the Big Dipper was right outside our back door.
Mon. Aug 9:
Cold overnight but lovely sunny morning. Left by 9:30 for East Glacier to get Mark rental car, 38 mi in 2 ½ hrs on windy narrow roads (restricted to vehicles less than 21 ft.!) Back to St Mary VC, left RV and rode with Mark to Logan Pass, with stop at Jackson Glacier overlook. Mark went on back to Bozeman and plane to DC on Tues. We had a long wait for the shuttle bus due to road construction left at 4PM arrive St. Mary at 5PM. Stopped at store for a few items and got chicken noodle casserole ready to put into oven just as ranger came at 7 to tell us to turn off the generator! So cooked casserole over boiling water in saucepan. Dinner outside. – cool evening. Watched “Under the Tuscan Sun” .
Mark over at 8:30 ready to go. Fasten down & head to gas station by 9:15 and dump. On road by 10AM. Long drive, stopped at Wheat Montana bakery & deli for sweet rolls for breakfast and hamburger buns. Lunch stop at rest stop. Arrived at St Mary’s Campground in Glacier NP about 8PM. Hamburgers for supper and campfire with s’mores & smoke in our eyes! Shared YCH book & plaque with Mark, watched sunset over flat top rock.
Sun Aug 8:
Overcast AM, filled water, Mark took a walk. Walnut sticky buns & cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Off to St Mary Visitor Center to get park shuttle bus to Logan Pass/Continental Divide. At Logan Pass came out of rest room to see Mark talking with 3 cute girls; didn’t recognize them until Nancy Lanphear came up behind me. She & Bruce & the girls, Rachel, Martha & Ella were staying with friends from Rochester in Columbia Falls. What a surprise! It was cold & rainy and the girls were in shorts but they went hiking anyway – to warm up! Took shuttle back to Rising Sun for lunch, decided against boat tour. Return to St Mary – many construction delays to get RV& warm dry clothes, gas & some groceries. Drove Many Glacier Rd. Took tour of Many Glacier Hotel – a Swiss style chalet with a 95 yr old moose head over the lobby and open fireplace. Drove road 2 times looking for wildlife. Mark & I saw a grizzly bear – a female according to the rangers who had tagged her and were monitoring her to see if she might be pregnant. Mark & Dave also saw a black bear with cubs and some deer. Back to campsite for grilled salmon. Dave & Mark to visitor center for astronomy talk but it had been cancelled. And the Big Dipper was right outside our back door.
Mon. Aug 9:
Cold overnight but lovely sunny morning. Left by 9:30 for East Glacier to get Mark rental car, 38 mi in 2 ½ hrs on windy narrow roads (restricted to vehicles less than 21 ft.!) Back to St Mary VC, left RV and rode with Mark to Logan Pass, with stop at Jackson Glacier overlook. Mark went on back to Bozeman and plane to DC on Tues. We had a long wait for the shuttle bus due to road construction left at 4PM arrive St. Mary at 5PM. Stopped at store for a few items and got chicken noodle casserole ready to put into oven just as ranger came at 7 to tell us to turn off the generator! So cooked casserole over boiling water in saucepan. Dinner outside. – cool evening. Watched “Under the Tuscan Sun” .
Bozeman, MT
Wed Aug 4:
Packed up & moved out of 7th Ranch to Little Big Horn National Monument. Great tour by Indian girl from Little Big Horn College. She described battle position of Custer, Reno & Beneen and all of the Indian tribes – Sioux, Crow & Cherokee – 250 US vs 5000 Indian. Got a new perspective! Drove to Livingston MT, 40 mi east of Bozeman. Stayed at Rock Canyon RV Park – small shady and right on the Yellowstone River. Dave took fishing rod up to outfitter but they didn’t have the tip he needed. Said they outfitted Pres. Obama when he visited. RV park owner talked with Dave about where to fish and gave us 3 trout a previous camper had caught, cleaned & ready to cook for dinner. Better than the hamburgers I had planned. Cleaned house and reorganized so Mark can sleep over cab.
Thurs. Aug 5: Drove 40 Mi to Bozeman arrived about 11AM, met Mark. Had lunch with NCIV at Holiday Inn – huge portions of meatloaf. Talks by Pres. of Montana State University – “Go Cats” and MT Gov. Schweitzer, who runs the state like a ranch, “put money in the bank during the good years to save for the bad years”. David to PM session. I read book; drove to Gallatin Co. Fairgrounds campground to make arrangement to stay the night. OK for tonight but not tomorrow – family reunion & rodeo. Mark to local host dinner, we went to John Bozeman Bistro for steak dinner. Back to GCF, had water & electric service but noisy with trains.
Fri Aug 6: To Holiday Inn by 9AM for breakfast session with woman from CAI, Greg Mortenson's Foundation, – up to 150 schools in Pakistan & Afghanistan. AM session on separation of church & state. Lunch BBQ chicken ; award to HS teacher from WA for teaching students about citizen diplomacy. Speaker Kevin Connelly, 24 yr old world traveler born without legs; travels by wheelchair or skate board! Skipped PM sessions; Dave worked on computer in Mark’s room & I did laundry. Closing session brainstorm vision for NCIV for next 50 yrs. Mark led it. Mark to NCIV Board dinner; we went on bus tour to Museum of the Rockies: DiVinci machines and dinosaur fossils. Got take out dinner of salad & buffalo chicken wrap from hotel & ate in Mark’s room. Mark returned with board members Al, Al & Pete. Talked about tomorrow departure. Spent night in Holiday Inn parking lot.
Packed up & moved out of 7th Ranch to Little Big Horn National Monument. Great tour by Indian girl from Little Big Horn College. She described battle position of Custer, Reno & Beneen and all of the Indian tribes – Sioux, Crow & Cherokee – 250 US vs 5000 Indian. Got a new perspective! Drove to Livingston MT, 40 mi east of Bozeman. Stayed at Rock Canyon RV Park – small shady and right on the Yellowstone River. Dave took fishing rod up to outfitter but they didn’t have the tip he needed. Said they outfitted Pres. Obama when he visited. RV park owner talked with Dave about where to fish and gave us 3 trout a previous camper had caught, cleaned & ready to cook for dinner. Better than the hamburgers I had planned. Cleaned house and reorganized so Mark can sleep over cab.
Thurs. Aug 5: Drove 40 Mi to Bozeman arrived about 11AM, met Mark. Had lunch with NCIV at Holiday Inn – huge portions of meatloaf. Talks by Pres. of Montana State University – “Go Cats” and MT Gov. Schweitzer, who runs the state like a ranch, “put money in the bank during the good years to save for the bad years”. David to PM session. I read book; drove to Gallatin Co. Fairgrounds campground to make arrangement to stay the night. OK for tonight but not tomorrow – family reunion & rodeo. Mark to local host dinner, we went to John Bozeman Bistro for steak dinner. Back to GCF, had water & electric service but noisy with trains.
Fri Aug 6: To Holiday Inn by 9AM for breakfast session with woman from CAI, Greg Mortenson's Foundation, – up to 150 schools in Pakistan & Afghanistan. AM session on separation of church & state. Lunch BBQ chicken ; award to HS teacher from WA for teaching students about citizen diplomacy. Speaker Kevin Connelly, 24 yr old world traveler born without legs; travels by wheelchair or skate board! Skipped PM sessions; Dave worked on computer in Mark’s room & I did laundry. Closing session brainstorm vision for NCIV for next 50 yrs. Mark led it. Mark to NCIV Board dinner; we went on bus tour to Museum of the Rockies: DiVinci machines and dinosaur fossils. Got take out dinner of salad & buffalo chicken wrap from hotel & ate in Mark’s room. Mark returned with board members Al, Al & Pete. Talked about tomorrow departure. Spent night in Holiday Inn parking lot.
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands & Devils Tower
Wed. July 28 Stops at Registry Wall where travelers on the Oregon Trail carved their names in the rock and Oregon Trail wheel ruts cut 3 -4 ft deep in the rock, and Ft. Laramie and on to Rushmore Shadows RV Park 9PM arrival
Th. July 29: Ellen did laundry & David took RV to Rapid City to get finger xrayed – not broken. Big thunder storm with golf ball sized hail at RV park so good thing RV wasn’t there! Chinese take out for dinner.
Fri. July 30 Went to Ft Hayes – set for “Dances with Wolves” – authentic even to the bullet hole in the major’s office window where he shot himself! Bought tickets for Mt Rushmore/Crazy Horse Memorial/ Custer State Park & Needles Highway tour tomorrow. Drove to Wall, SD to have lunch at Wall Drug- handing out “free ice water” since 1937 – what a tourist trap so kitschy it was fun! Drove back thru the Badlands – looked like huge sand castles, Flat grassy high plains interrupted by crevasses & valleys of jagged rocks and ridges. South to Hot Springs and the Mammoth Site: 58 different mammoths all young males, fell into a sinkhole so skeletons were preserved in silt. Excavations continue. Had left over Chinese food for dinner in parking lot and headed back to Rushmore Shadows. 10:45 arrival, good thing they provided a gate code!
Sat. July 31: Picked up by the tour bus at 9AM 1st stop – Mt Rushmore; very impressive with an avenue of state flags framing the walk up to the viewing area. Four presidents selected for their unique contributions to the nation: Washington for stabilizing the new nation, Jefferson for expansion and the Louisiana Purchase, Lincoln for preservation of the nation and Theodore Roosevelt for establishment of the National Parks. Next on to Custer State Park, through herds of buffalo to State Game Lodge for lunch – buffalo stew, of course! The Needles Highway had narrow tunnels each framing a view of Mt Rushmore and almost scraping the side mirrors on the bus. The Crazy Horse Memorial is bigger than Mt Rushmore and carved by one man & his family. Back to campground about 5:30 for Taco Bar dinner & talk & Demo of raptors birds. Soak in the hot tub and spend evening writing and getting organized .
Sun Aug 1:
Spent morning doing RV cleaning and maintenance tasks. Left Camp about 1:30 drove through Deadwood, Saw Wild Bill Hickock get killed for the 4th time that day. Had a drink in saloon #10. Drove on through Sundance to Devil’s Tower campground. Arrive at sunset with aspen trees “quaking and rattling in the wind.
Mon. Aug 2:
First to Devils Tower. Passed a guy who had parked his motorcycle there are lots of them around for the annual Sturgis Harley Davidson Rally) he was standing there playing the bagpipes! Astounding! Indian Myth: Seven maidens were fleeing a bear when they climbed on a magic stump which grew as tall as the heavens and flung them into the sky to become the Plieides. The angry bear clawed all around the stump trying to reach them and crated the deep grooves in the rock. Left about 11:30 for Moorcroft stop for groceries & had lunch and on to Ft. Phil Kearney, a fort with one horse! Got to 7th Ranch Campground about 8:45PM
Tues. Aug, 3: An “at home day” David worked on USServas finances & accounting audit. Catching up on Email and reorganizing storage for Mark’s visit. Ellen did laundry and read “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Washed the lower part of the RV and cleaned the tape off the window. Grilled the best pesto chicken ever for dinner, watched a spectacular sunset. Went to sleep to the sound of trains passing every 15 min. from 8 PM to 11PM. Good to turn off hearing aids!
Th. July 29: Ellen did laundry & David took RV to Rapid City to get finger xrayed – not broken. Big thunder storm with golf ball sized hail at RV park so good thing RV wasn’t there! Chinese take out for dinner.
Fri. July 30 Went to Ft Hayes – set for “Dances with Wolves” – authentic even to the bullet hole in the major’s office window where he shot himself! Bought tickets for Mt Rushmore/Crazy Horse Memorial/ Custer State Park & Needles Highway tour tomorrow. Drove to Wall, SD to have lunch at Wall Drug- handing out “free ice water” since 1937 – what a tourist trap so kitschy it was fun! Drove back thru the Badlands – looked like huge sand castles, Flat grassy high plains interrupted by crevasses & valleys of jagged rocks and ridges. South to Hot Springs and the Mammoth Site: 58 different mammoths all young males, fell into a sinkhole so skeletons were preserved in silt. Excavations continue. Had left over Chinese food for dinner in parking lot and headed back to Rushmore Shadows. 10:45 arrival, good thing they provided a gate code!
Sat. July 31: Picked up by the tour bus at 9AM 1st stop – Mt Rushmore; very impressive with an avenue of state flags framing the walk up to the viewing area. Four presidents selected for their unique contributions to the nation: Washington for stabilizing the new nation, Jefferson for expansion and the Louisiana Purchase, Lincoln for preservation of the nation and Theodore Roosevelt for establishment of the National Parks. Next on to Custer State Park, through herds of buffalo to State Game Lodge for lunch – buffalo stew, of course! The Needles Highway had narrow tunnels each framing a view of Mt Rushmore and almost scraping the side mirrors on the bus. The Crazy Horse Memorial is bigger than Mt Rushmore and carved by one man & his family. Back to campground about 5:30 for Taco Bar dinner & talk & Demo of raptors birds. Soak in the hot tub and spend evening writing and getting organized .
Sun Aug 1:
Spent morning doing RV cleaning and maintenance tasks. Left Camp about 1:30 drove through Deadwood, Saw Wild Bill Hickock get killed for the 4th time that day. Had a drink in saloon #10. Drove on through Sundance to Devil’s Tower campground. Arrive at sunset with aspen trees “quaking and rattling in the wind.
Mon. Aug 2:
First to Devils Tower. Passed a guy who had parked his motorcycle there are lots of them around for the annual Sturgis Harley Davidson Rally) he was standing there playing the bagpipes! Astounding! Indian Myth: Seven maidens were fleeing a bear when they climbed on a magic stump which grew as tall as the heavens and flung them into the sky to become the Plieides. The angry bear clawed all around the stump trying to reach them and crated the deep grooves in the rock. Left about 11:30 for Moorcroft stop for groceries & had lunch and on to Ft. Phil Kearney, a fort with one horse! Got to 7th Ranch Campground about 8:45PM
Tues. Aug, 3: An “at home day” David worked on USServas finances & accounting audit. Catching up on Email and reorganizing storage for Mark’s visit. Ellen did laundry and read “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Washed the lower part of the RV and cleaned the tape off the window. Grilled the best pesto chicken ever for dinner, watched a spectacular sunset. Went to sleep to the sound of trains passing every 15 min. from 8 PM to 11PM. Good to turn off hearing aids!
Rocky Mountain National Park
Sat. July 24: Drove up to Takawuneeche Visitor Center, saw ranger talk on animal skins and horns/antlers. Watched “The Bucket List”. Sort of like our journey ,a once in a lifetime experience!
Sun. July 25: Left about noon and drove over Trail Ridge Rd. under construction but no workers on Sun. To Estes Park for gas & groceries. Saw a moose in the trees and an elk ambling down the boulevard in Estes Park! To Glacier Basin Campground about 5:30. Filled water from tap without connection. Parked with assist from neighbors. Took a walk & played cribbage.
Mon. July 26: Took a shuttle bus from campground into Estes Park. Sat in a coffee shop with WiFi access for the morning, paid bills, checked email, etc. had lunch at Ed's .Cantina and walked over to the urgent care to get David’s finger checked. Probably broken, but no xray machine available. Applied splint and coban bandage. Walked back to Visitor Center; there was one ticket left for the Trail Ridge tour so we signed up for the Tundra tour instead. Back to the campground, bought firewood for campfire & s'mores but family we invited to join us was unable to come.
Tues. July 27: Up at 6:30 to get to Tundra tour on time. Left at 9:30 from Estes Park Visitor Center. First up Old Fall River Rd. past an alluvial fan from a flood to Alpine Visitor Center over Milner Pass at the Continental Divide where we had spiced tea and ginger cookies and back down Trail Ridge Rd. with a stop at Rainbow Curve for elk & bison sausage. Peter called at Rainbow Curve! Left RMNP and spent night at a rest stop near Ft. Collins, CO. Met Al & Yogi M from FL.
Sun. July 25: Left about noon and drove over Trail Ridge Rd. under construction but no workers on Sun. To Estes Park for gas & groceries. Saw a moose in the trees and an elk ambling down the boulevard in Estes Park! To Glacier Basin Campground about 5:30. Filled water from tap without connection. Parked with assist from neighbors. Took a walk & played cribbage.
Mon. July 26: Took a shuttle bus from campground into Estes Park. Sat in a coffee shop with WiFi access for the morning, paid bills, checked email, etc. had lunch at Ed's .Cantina and walked over to the urgent care to get David’s finger checked. Probably broken, but no xray machine available. Applied splint and coban bandage. Walked back to Visitor Center; there was one ticket left for the Trail Ridge tour so we signed up for the Tundra tour instead. Back to the campground, bought firewood for campfire & s'mores but family we invited to join us was unable to come.
Tues. July 27: Up at 6:30 to get to Tundra tour on time. Left at 9:30 from Estes Park Visitor Center. First up Old Fall River Rd. past an alluvial fan from a flood to Alpine Visitor Center over Milner Pass at the Continental Divide where we had spiced tea and ginger cookies and back down Trail Ridge Rd. with a stop at Rainbow Curve for elk & bison sausage. Peter called at Rainbow Curve! Left RMNP and spent night at a rest stop near Ft. Collins, CO. Met Al & Yogi M from FL.
Vernal UT Dinosaurs
Fri. July 23: Drove out to Dinosaur National Monument but fossils in Museum in Vernal! Back to Vernal – good displays and explanation of eras & layers of rock. Long drive to Grand Lake CO at SW entry to Rocky Mountain National Park. GPS took “shortest route” thru woods to Golf Course. RV park at other end of “Golf Course Dr.” Arrived about 10:30 and parked at entrance with electric hook up.
Golden Spike National Historic Site
Tues. July 20: Winnemucca to Salt Lake City. Long tiring day. Stopped at Lane Bryant to buy swimsuit but didn’t have any. Check in at KoA SLC, had pool with water aerobics at 9AM and sold swim suits in my size for $30.00!
Wed. July 21: 9Am to water aerobics, then ready to move. Headed for Golden Spike campground in Brigham City, UT. At Golden Spike Nat’l Historic Site saw Jupiter & old 119 engines meet and saw replica of golden spike. Got National Parks passport and whistle for Charlie. Got to Golden Spike Campground too late to eat or sleep near busy highway.
Thurs. July 22: Leave Brigham City for Vernal, UT after visit to County Court House to get David a Passport and express mail application from Post Office.
Wed. July 21: 9Am to water aerobics, then ready to move. Headed for Golden Spike campground in Brigham City, UT. At Golden Spike Nat’l Historic Site saw Jupiter & old 119 engines meet and saw replica of golden spike. Got National Parks passport and whistle for Charlie. Got to Golden Spike Campground too late to eat or sleep near busy highway.
Thurs. July 22: Leave Brigham City for Vernal, UT after visit to County Court House to get David a Passport and express mail application from Post Office.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Starting out
Wed July 14: We are off. First stop Best Buy to replace the stuff we think went into storage; the WiFi card & the GPS. Very late getting out of Santa Rosa and too late for Delta Shores, for which we had the wrong address anyway. Late night driving & U-turns on a narrow “dike” road. Spent the night at a Lodi I5 truck stop. Noisy & hot.
Thurs. July 15: Found the stuff we thought was in storage, so took the new purchases back to Best Buy in Sacramento. Had to go to Sprint to get refund on Sprint contract. Very late again & unable to find way to Doan/Freewater cabin in the dark. Spent night in Truckee RV park.
Fri July 16: Finally made it to cabin, met Richard & Jane, friends of Frances & Lee, staying in cabin. Frances & Lee in hut nearer lake. Dinner & campfire; David & I drew animal cards from deck of Indian totems; David drew squirrel – “gatherer” I got skunk “ respect”!
Sat July 17: Frances & I painted stone houses while David & others went for a hike. David fell & hurt/broke/sprained left little finger. I finished “produce shop” & almost finished “alpine chalet”. We made chicken pesto dinner with brandied peaches for dessert. Another campfire conversation, select Indian names David – Dancing Bear, Ellen - Serene River.
Sun. July 18: Richard & Jane leave in AM, work on RV, organize food & dishes & clothes, install cable hook up,
Mon July 19: Lees leads us out, dump closed. RV to Barry’s for shocks, Ellen to laundry. After dinner at Panda Express, leave for Winnemucca about 6PM, very late arrival.
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