Tuesday September 4, 2012
We left our campsite on Monday September 3, 2012, Labor Day and said goodbye to our daughter and 3 grandsons who are heading back to the Cape. It was a GREAT way to end our vacation! The weather cooperated for the better part of the week and Grandpa got to hike and bike and swim with his grandsons. It doesn't get better then that.
Our house in Eastham is still rented until Tuesday morning so we head to visit Ed's mom, Anita, in Medfield.
Traffic was really heavy on Rt 16 thru most of New Hampshire on Labor Day so the trip took a little longer then we liked. We arrived in mid afternoon and had the chance to sit and talk for awhile with Mom. Something we don't do often enough.
It's overcast on Tuesday morning as we leave Medfield, but nothing can dampen our enthusiasm for where we are headed.
We have been on the road:
* 73 Days
* 8,000 miles
* Stayed in or drove thru 10 states and 2 Canadian Provinces
And now we are home. The sweetest place to be!
I don't know where we are headed next summer, but our house is already rented for 6 weeks so I guess we better start planning our trip.......maybe next week:)!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Heading out to our last 'set up'--Covered Bridge, Conway, NH
Wednesday August 22, 2012
While Voyageurs was a nice enough Provincial Park, it didn't have any hills for hiking and Ed is really itching to continue hiking.
I'm finding that although we both love the summer of traveling around the country, we are both getting home sick sooner each year. It's hard knowing there is just 2 weeks before we can get back in our own bed!
We decided to take our chances and head out to Covered Bridge campground on the Kankamangus Hwy near Conway, NH today. We have already reserved a spot starting on Friday. Our daughter Pam and her boys, Keleb, Logan and Rylan will join us for a week of vacation starting on Sunday. If we can get the same campsite when we arrive we will not have to take down and set up ever again this summer!
The day is a long one. Travel wasen't bad, though, with only a little construction. The Streets program had us doing smaller roads in Canada and entering the USA in New York at a really REMOTE entrance. We went thru Quebec Province and entered New York while using PR 203. I think the customs was at Covey Hill on Cannon Corners Road. It's open from 8 am till 4 pm! The guys there didn't look like they got a lot of visitors! They even said, "So what made you come thru this entrance?" We apparently were randomly picked for a more through search of our car and camper (probably because we were their only customers today!) but after chatting a few minutes and petting Monty, they did a cursory search of the camper through an outside door. They were particularly interested in my hard cover books....don't know why. But after a short while, they gave Monty some treats and we were off.
Our path took us through New York, then Vermont and then New Hampshire. We traveled on Rt 11 thru Mooers Fork, NY, and then onto familiar Rt 2. We probably could have made better time by ignoring the program and using the bigger Rt 89 or 91, though.
Once we got back into Massachusetts I could almost hear a sigh of relief from Ed. I know he feels like he's almost home!
Ed loves coming back to the White Mountains. It's where he's done his most hiking and he knows the trails by heart! He's happy to be here a few days early to get in some extra hiking time.
We arrive at Covered Bridge about 3 pm and gratefully find the site we have reserved for Friday currently open! Yeah! We set up now for the last time this summer!
The site is nice and flat and plenty big enough. Monty even likes it!
While Voyageurs was a nice enough Provincial Park, it didn't have any hills for hiking and Ed is really itching to continue hiking.
I'm finding that although we both love the summer of traveling around the country, we are both getting home sick sooner each year. It's hard knowing there is just 2 weeks before we can get back in our own bed!
We decided to take our chances and head out to Covered Bridge campground on the Kankamangus Hwy near Conway, NH today. We have already reserved a spot starting on Friday. Our daughter Pam and her boys, Keleb, Logan and Rylan will join us for a week of vacation starting on Sunday. If we can get the same campsite when we arrive we will not have to take down and set up ever again this summer!
The day is a long one. Travel wasen't bad, though, with only a little construction. The Streets program had us doing smaller roads in Canada and entering the USA in New York at a really REMOTE entrance. We went thru Quebec Province and entered New York while using PR 203. I think the customs was at Covey Hill on Cannon Corners Road. It's open from 8 am till 4 pm! The guys there didn't look like they got a lot of visitors! They even said, "So what made you come thru this entrance?" We apparently were randomly picked for a more through search of our car and camper (probably because we were their only customers today!) but after chatting a few minutes and petting Monty, they did a cursory search of the camper through an outside door. They were particularly interested in my hard cover books....don't know why. But after a short while, they gave Monty some treats and we were off.
Our path took us through New York, then Vermont and then New Hampshire. We traveled on Rt 11 thru Mooers Fork, NY, and then onto familiar Rt 2. We probably could have made better time by ignoring the program and using the bigger Rt 89 or 91, though.
Once we got back into Massachusetts I could almost hear a sigh of relief from Ed. I know he feels like he's almost home!
Ed loves coming back to the White Mountains. It's where he's done his most hiking and he knows the trails by heart! He's happy to be here a few days early to get in some extra hiking time.
The site is nice and flat and plenty big enough. Monty even likes it!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Did we stay or did we go????
Tuesday August 21, 2012
Well, Monty wakes us up really early today and we're not going back to sleep so we decided to go! The ride today is scheduled to last about 6 1/2 hours. It's another Provincial Park we've never been to--Voyaguers. I wonder if we'll stay one day or more? We'll see.
We ride on Provincial Hwy 17. Its a 2 lane road that goes on for MILES. Well maintained. It's an easy ride.
Well, the car GPS and the Streets program diverged in directions and I told Ed to follow the Streets directions. Wrong move.
For awhile it looked like it would be ok, but then we got into city driving--we were in Ottawa! Beautiful old brick and stone buildings, but not easy driving. Actually, probably like getting lost in Boston! Tension! Everything is also in French (I should have paid more attention in Frenchy's HS class!).
Then the navigator (me) decided to diverge from the Streets program and got us turned around for awhile. It wasen't a pretty scene! But surprisingly, it looked like we were still going to get to Voyageur PP in the time the program origionally suggested it would. I just wonder how it would have done if we didn't go thru Ottawa! Another adventure!
Voyageur Provincial Park gets its name from the fur traders or Voyageurs who
had to portage their heavy loads as well as thier canoes around the dangerous
rapids (the river has since been damed to light houses in the area). There are a number
of interesting historic sites in the area which relate to the colourful history
of the fur tradeIt is in East Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada .
Well, Monty wakes us up really early today and we're not going back to sleep so we decided to go! The ride today is scheduled to last about 6 1/2 hours. It's another Provincial Park we've never been to--Voyaguers. I wonder if we'll stay one day or more? We'll see.
We ride on Provincial Hwy 17. Its a 2 lane road that goes on for MILES. Well maintained. It's an easy ride.
Well, the car GPS and the Streets program diverged in directions and I told Ed to follow the Streets directions. Wrong move.
Then the navigator (me) decided to diverge from the Streets program and got us turned around for awhile. It wasen't a pretty scene! But surprisingly, it looked like we were still going to get to Voyageur PP in the time the program origionally suggested it would. I just wonder how it would have done if we didn't go thru Ottawa! Another adventure!
Voyageur Provincial Park gets its name from the fur traders or Voyageurs who
had to portage their heavy loads as well as thier canoes around the dangerous
rapids (the river has since been damed to light houses in the area). There are a number
of interesting historic sites in the area which relate to the colourful history
of the fur tradeIt is in East Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada .Sunday, August 26, 2012
Samual DeChamplain Provincial Park, ON, Canada
Sunday August 19, 2012
We got on the road at 9:45. We thought, however, that it was 8:45. We didn't realize we were back on EDT for the last couple of days! I thought the sun was up late today!
We are traveling on Provincial Highway 17 for most of the day and we arrived at Samual De Champlain PP in Arnstein, Ontario, Canada in the late afternoon. Ed thought we stayed there before but when we arrived realized we had not.
This is a very large campground but there is no one here! We pretty much have our loop to ourselves.
PP are really nice....but expensive. $37.25 for the night and this one does not have electricity or water. This park has a river and a couple lakes so there would be lots of Kayak opportunities.
Ed only paid for one night, though, which means he's getting anxious to get back to New England. Later on, he thinks maybe we could stay another day to explore.
Here we go again. Should we stay or should we go? I decided to wait till the morning to find out:)
We got on the road at 9:45. We thought, however, that it was 8:45. We didn't realize we were back on EDT for the last couple of days! I thought the sun was up late today!
We are traveling on Provincial Highway 17 for most of the day and we arrived at Samual De Champlain PP in Arnstein, Ontario, Canada in the late afternoon. Ed thought we stayed there before but when we arrived realized we had not.
This is a very large campground but there is no one here! We pretty much have our loop to ourselves.
PP are really nice....but expensive. $37.25 for the night and this one does not have electricity or water. This park has a river and a couple lakes so there would be lots of Kayak opportunities.
Ed only paid for one night, though, which means he's getting anxious to get back to New England. Later on, he thinks maybe we could stay another day to explore.
Here we go again. Should we stay or should we go? I decided to wait till the morning to find out:)
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Chutes Provincial Park (again this summer), Ontario, Canada
Friday August 16, 2012--thru Sunday August 18, 2012
We had an early morning wake up call from Monty again today. He's keeping us on schedule! The wind has picked up, it's cloudy and looks like rain is coming. Good that we're leaving:) It's a great campsite for sunny days but no sense hanging around if
it's not nice.
We are heading today to Chutes Provincial Park in Ontario Canada. As the only provincial park on Highway 17 between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Chutes is an excellent stopover for travellers and a base to explore the North Channel of Lake Huron. Situated on the Aux Sables River near Massey, Ontario, the park gets its name from a chute that once diverted logs around the waterfall.
It will be about 7 hours today but the road starts on Rt 2 which has been
an easy drive for us (easy for me to say since Ed is the one driving). We're planning to stay thru the weekend so we don't have trouble finding a campsite.
We got a call from Ed's broother, Doug, while driving to let us know their Uncle Paul died--'in his rose garden'. Uncle Paul was a very sweet man who's wife died last summer. Ed started to reminisce about Uncle Paul: Ed says Uncle Paul was his introduction to fishing. He and Ed's dad would take Ed deep sea fishing for flounder. Uncle Paul had a little row boat, too, that Ed says Uncle Paul would scare him by walking around the boat and making it seem tippy.
Ed remembered Uncle Paul's infectious laugh and his great party spirit.
He would dance away at weddings and be dripping with sweat! I remember his laugh as well and how really sweet he and Aunt Ellen were.
They will be missed.
We find a great WalMart in Saute Saint Marie in MI before going over the border and load up on goodies and reading material for me. I have broken my Kindle Fire during this trip. Amazon.com is replacing it for free (love that company)! I broke one last year too while camping.
We get back on the road refreshed with a sandwich from SubWay...yum! Then we had a short wait, but easy entrance to Cananda before it started to rain hard. We have another almost 3 hours to go but Ed says if it's raining he's driving on. We shall see.
The rain is torential in many points on this section of driving on Canada Route 17. Theres a motorcycle couple in front of us that is hard not to feel really bad for. They must be miserable!
When we got there the weather has cleared somewhat. We decided to stay at Chutes for the long weekend. We were afraid the next stop we went to would be full.
This is our second stop here this summer. The girl at the registration desk even remembered Ed. "I always remember the happy ones" she told him. Nice compliment. I guess not everyone is happy camping? What's with that!?
We arrived on Thursday and we're leaving on a Sunday in hopes of getting a good site at Samual DeChamplain. Our intention is to stay 2 or 3 days and then the
remaining couple of days at Voyageur. These are both Provincial Parks in Canada. Provincial Parks are expensive at $37.25 a night. The good news is they have electricity, water, showers, laundramats and bathrooms. I guess you get what you pay for! Also, they seem to have wider more grassy sites which I like.
We had an early morning wake up call from Monty again today. He's keeping us on schedule! The wind has picked up, it's cloudy and looks like rain is coming. Good that we're leaving:) It's a great campsite for sunny days but no sense hanging around if
it's not nice.
We are heading today to Chutes Provincial Park in Ontario Canada. As the only provincial park on Highway 17 between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Chutes is an excellent stopover for travellers and a base to explore the North Channel of Lake Huron. Situated on the Aux Sables River near Massey, Ontario, the park gets its name from a chute that once diverted logs around the waterfall.
It will be about 7 hours today but the road starts on Rt 2 which has been
an easy drive for us (easy for me to say since Ed is the one driving). We're planning to stay thru the weekend so we don't have trouble finding a campsite.
We got a call from Ed's broother, Doug, while driving to let us know their Uncle Paul died--'in his rose garden'. Uncle Paul was a very sweet man who's wife died last summer. Ed started to reminisce about Uncle Paul: Ed says Uncle Paul was his introduction to fishing. He and Ed's dad would take Ed deep sea fishing for flounder. Uncle Paul had a little row boat, too, that Ed says Uncle Paul would scare him by walking around the boat and making it seem tippy.
Ed remembered Uncle Paul's infectious laugh and his great party spirit.
He would dance away at weddings and be dripping with sweat! I remember his laugh as well and how really sweet he and Aunt Ellen were.
They will be missed.
We find a great WalMart in Saute Saint Marie in MI before going over the border and load up on goodies and reading material for me. I have broken my Kindle Fire during this trip. Amazon.com is replacing it for free (love that company)! I broke one last year too while camping.
We get back on the road refreshed with a sandwich from SubWay...yum! Then we had a short wait, but easy entrance to Cananda before it started to rain hard. We have another almost 3 hours to go but Ed says if it's raining he's driving on. We shall see.
The rain is torential in many points on this section of driving on Canada Route 17. Theres a motorcycle couple in front of us that is hard not to feel really bad for. They must be miserable!
When we got there the weather has cleared somewhat. We decided to stay at Chutes for the long weekend. We were afraid the next stop we went to would be full.
This is our second stop here this summer. The girl at the registration desk even remembered Ed. "I always remember the happy ones" she told him. Nice compliment. I guess not everyone is happy camping? What's with that!?
We arrived on Thursday and we're leaving on a Sunday in hopes of getting a good site at Samual DeChamplain. Our intention is to stay 2 or 3 days and then the
remaining couple of days at Voyageur. These are both Provincial Parks in Canada. Provincial Parks are expensive at $37.25 a night. The good news is they have electricity, water, showers, laundramats and bathrooms. I guess you get what you pay for! Also, they seem to have wider more grassy sites which I like.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Heading East!
Wednesday August 15, 2012
We leave early this morning. Monty's body clock has recentered itself and he's back to waking at 6 am pretty consistantly.
The weather has been really beautiful. Warm but not hot with cool nights. We'll drive for a pretty long day today and find a one night stay.
It's later in the day as I write this. We ended up driving a little too long today. We skipped where we planned to go and ended up at Indian Lake State Park in the Up of Michigan in the town of Manistique. Indian Lake State Park is located on Indian Lake, the fourth largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula with an area of 8,400 acres. It is six miles long and three miles wide. The lake was once called M'O'Nistique Lake. According to 1850 surveyor records, Native Americans lived in log cabins near the outlet of the lake. The park is composed of two units which are three miles apart and separated by the waters of Indian Lake. Amenities include camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, beach and beach house, picnic area, boat access site/launch and metal detecting area.
It was expensive: $22.00 a night (plus $8.00 entrance fee to the park) but each site was really nice: grassy and flat, each had electricity (which we don't use much of) and beautiful views of Indian Lake! Bathroom fascilities and showers were really nice. Another camper told us about another state park in Michigan that was even nicer, so it seems that it's just Massachusetts that has crappy state parks!
We leave early this morning. Monty's body clock has recentered itself and he's back to waking at 6 am pretty consistantly.
The weather has been really beautiful. Warm but not hot with cool nights. We'll drive for a pretty long day today and find a one night stay.
It's later in the day as I write this. We ended up driving a little too long today. We skipped where we planned to go and ended up at Indian Lake State Park in the Up of Michigan in the town of Manistique. Indian Lake State Park is located on Indian Lake, the fourth largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula with an area of 8,400 acres. It is six miles long and three miles wide. The lake was once called M'O'Nistique Lake. According to 1850 surveyor records, Native Americans lived in log cabins near the outlet of the lake. The park is composed of two units which are three miles apart and separated by the waters of Indian Lake. Amenities include camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, beach and beach house, picnic area, boat access site/launch and metal detecting area.It was expensive: $22.00 a night (plus $8.00 entrance fee to the park) but each site was really nice: grassy and flat, each had electricity (which we don't use much of) and beautiful views of Indian Lake! Bathroom fascilities and showers were really nice. Another camper told us about another state park in Michigan that was even nicer, so it seems that it's just Massachusetts that has crappy state parks!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Moose Lake State Park, MN
Monday Aug 13, 2012 & Tuesday Aug 14, 2012
We are driving along on Monday morning now and will probably do the same thing as yesterday--find lunner (combo of lunch and dinner), drive about 7 hours and find a
city park to stay overnight in. Hopefully these City Parks will continue! They're great....and free!
As we're driving east on Route 200 we come to Cooperstown, ND--a rather large community. There's even a country club. What's different is that there were grain silos and wind mills scattered on this golf course. It reminded Ed of a putt-putt ! Surprisingly, though, about 10 miles later there's another golf course....it's good to be a farmer!
As we were driving thru North Dakota, we ended up in Fargo--although it's a city, it has a small town feel. Lots of the side streets are tree lined with neat little houses all along. Then we come to a bridge and a toll!!! Believe it or not, this bridge takes you from ND to MN and there was a $ .75 toll!~ Very quaint! It was just a 2 lane bridge with a toll both and a toll taker in the middle. He even had his own Bouse House next to it!
It's certainly apparent that we've left the mountains, however. The scenery is pretty flat as far as you can see. Can you say Iowa??
Monty has assumed his sleeping position. He's amazing. Now, I've only had experience with traveling with three dogs: Our son Ed's dog, Jack, would gladly climb in the back seat, sit on the bench and put his paw on the arm rest and happily watch the world go by. Our dog Buddy would stress the minute he got in the car: He either wanted to be consoled by you (basically sitting under your arm) or whining. Monty, however, gets in the back of the truck with no trouble now and 'assumes the position'. He goes right to sleep on his side and he sleeps for however long you travel--whether it's 20 minutes or 4 hours!
Not a peep out of him. Amazing!
We stayed tonight at Moose Lake State Park in Willow River, MN. The free City Park in Moose Lake (with free WIFI no less!) was closed! We decided to stay for 2 nights. That will give me time to do some long overdue laundry. The campsite is nice enough, they have a nice picnic and beach area, a nice library and grocery store. We played Scrabble near the beach while Monty slept. The weather was beautiful.
We are driving along on Monday morning now and will probably do the same thing as yesterday--find lunner (combo of lunch and dinner), drive about 7 hours and find a
city park to stay overnight in. Hopefully these City Parks will continue! They're great....and free!
As we're driving east on Route 200 we come to Cooperstown, ND--a rather large community. There's even a country club. What's different is that there were grain silos and wind mills scattered on this golf course. It reminded Ed of a putt-putt ! Surprisingly, though, about 10 miles later there's another golf course....it's good to be a farmer!
As we were driving thru North Dakota, we ended up in Fargo--although it's a city, it has a small town feel. Lots of the side streets are tree lined with neat little houses all along. Then we come to a bridge and a toll!!! Believe it or not, this bridge takes you from ND to MN and there was a $ .75 toll!~ Very quaint! It was just a 2 lane bridge with a toll both and a toll taker in the middle. He even had his own Bouse House next to it!
It's certainly apparent that we've left the mountains, however. The scenery is pretty flat as far as you can see. Can you say Iowa??
Monty has assumed his sleeping position. He's amazing. Now, I've only had experience with traveling with three dogs: Our son Ed's dog, Jack, would gladly climb in the back seat, sit on the bench and put his paw on the arm rest and happily watch the world go by. Our dog Buddy would stress the minute he got in the car: He either wanted to be consoled by you (basically sitting under your arm) or whining. Monty, however, gets in the back of the truck with no trouble now and 'assumes the position'. He goes right to sleep on his side and he sleeps for however long you travel--whether it's 20 minutes or 4 hours!
Not a peep out of him. Amazing!
We stayed tonight at Moose Lake State Park in Willow River, MN. The free City Park in Moose Lake (with free WIFI no less!) was closed! We decided to stay for 2 nights. That will give me time to do some long overdue laundry. The campsite is nice enough, they have a nice picnic and beach area, a nice library and grocery store. We played Scrabble near the beach while Monty slept. The weather was beautiful.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Glenfield North Dakota City Park
Sunday August 12, 2012
The ride today starts out to be more difficult then we expected. Routes US 52 and SR 200 are pretty straight, flat two lane roads that look like they will be pleasant enough.
However, about 20 miles into it, there is construction and there are a surprising number of trucks on the road today.
Even going thru the Indian Reservations there are oil rigs scattered all over the horizon. I sure hope the oil companies have paid them for this upheaval!
We are off to Martin City , ND today. Looks like there is a city park to camp in.
We get to Martin City in pretty good time despite all of the construction we've been thru so we decide to continue to drive, planning on another 50 miles or so. We stop for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's which was delicious! We were able to get Internet there, so it was a valuable stop.
The land in this part of the country is really flat. We are on Rt 52 for quite awhile. It's a straight 2 lane road with fields of grains, corn or sunflowers. Every once in awhile a 'town' shows up on the map: Fessenden, Manfred, Keaton etc.
The ride today starts out to be more difficult then we expected. Routes US 52 and SR 200 are pretty straight, flat two lane roads that look like they will be pleasant enough.
However, about 20 miles into it, there is construction and there are a surprising number of trucks on the road today.
 |
| Oil Rig |
We are off to Martin City , ND today. Looks like there is a city park to camp in.
We get to Martin City in pretty good time despite all of the construction we've been thru so we decide to continue to drive, planning on another 50 miles or so. We stop for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's which was delicious! We were able to get Internet there, so it was a valuable stop.
The land in this part of the country is really flat. We are on Rt 52 for quite awhile. It's a straight 2 lane road with fields of grains, corn or sunflowers. Every once in awhile a 'town' shows up on the map: Fessenden, Manfred, Keaton etc.
We decide to finally stop and look at another City Park. This one is in Glenfield, ND. What a gem! We had gone about 7 hours of traveling and it was time to stop. Weather was good but we were getting tired, so we were looking to see if there were any camping sites. We don't like private campgrounds and had an OK experience with the City Park in Chester, so we looked on our map for a City Park.
What a delight! It was a fully grassy, heavily treed, well established park. It had a little kids playground, covered picnic tables, lots of other picnic tables and spaces for campers or tents. It even had electrical hookups (that weren't live, but still)!. They also had a water supply if you needed it and flush toilets.
We set up, keeping the camper attached to the truck and B.I.T.C.Hed. This was going to be OK.
Now, the city park was right on the highway (which is a relative term since Rt 200 is 2 lanes.) The park was right at the intersection of Rt 20 and Rt 200 at the start of a community of streets. After awhile we took a walk around the neighborhood.
There was a railroad track that was pretty active (we could see it from the park). There was a train going by about every half hour until the evening. Then it started again at 7 am. But there was also a Ball Field, Post Office, Community Center, and bar along with about a 6 square block of houses--that was it! Very sweet. I felt at home. It actually reminded me of Spring Lake Heights, NJ.
Spring Lake is where my Grandma Butterwei lived and when I would go visit on the weekend, the trains would always go by the back of her yard, too. I guess it just stirred some fond childhood memories for me!
 |
| Glenfield, ND, City Park |
What a delight! It was a fully grassy, heavily treed, well established park. It had a little kids playground, covered picnic tables, lots of other picnic tables and spaces for campers or tents. It even had electrical hookups (that weren't live, but still)!. They also had a water supply if you needed it and flush toilets.
We set up, keeping the camper attached to the truck and B.I.T.C.Hed. This was going to be OK.
Now, the city park was right on the highway (which is a relative term since Rt 200 is 2 lanes.) The park was right at the intersection of Rt 20 and Rt 200 at the start of a community of streets. After awhile we took a walk around the neighborhood.
There was a railroad track that was pretty active (we could see it from the park). There was a train going by about every half hour until the evening. Then it started again at 7 am. But there was also a Ball Field, Post Office, Community Center, and bar along with about a 6 square block of houses--that was it! Very sweet. I felt at home. It actually reminded me of Spring Lake Heights, NJ.
Spring Lake is where my Grandma Butterwei lived and when I would go visit on the weekend, the trains would always go by the back of her yard, too. I guess it just stirred some fond childhood memories for me!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Hiking didn't work out in the North Unit
Friday Aug 10 & Saturday Aug 11, 2012
The campsites at Juniper are beautiful. Roomy, spaced nicely between campsites and great views and grassy spots. We are on the Little Missouri River, but it's more like the Little Missouri PUDDLE. Very little water.
In the evening on Friday we decided to go for our sunset cruise. It was disappointing since the road deeper into the park was closed about a mile beyond the campsite for repairs so we had a shorter 'sunset cruise' then the other night. We did get to see more bison and long horn cattle, though.
The hiking on Saturday didn't work out so well for Ed. It rained all day Saturday with lots of wind. Instead, we decided to go to Wilton (the town 15 miles away) in search of ice, internet and perhaps 'lunner'. The town reminds me of a GOlD RUSH Town. The Western part of North Dakota has been under an oil rush for the last 3 years or so because of the Bakken Oil Reserve.
The Bakken reserve of oil was found 2-3 miles under ground in parts of Montana and North Dakota, so the oil companies have been harvesting it thru the process of 'fracking'. It's controversial since they are not sure what this process actually does to the earth and the water supplies. Regardless, it has made this town come alive--and not necessarily in a good way. Driving into town there are hundreds and hundreds of trailer communities all with signs that say cheap housing. It reminds me of a city of tenaments. Almost sad.
The campsites at Juniper are beautiful. Roomy, spaced nicely between campsites and great views and grassy spots. We are on the Little Missouri River, but it's more like the Little Missouri PUDDLE. Very little water.
In the evening on Friday we decided to go for our sunset cruise. It was disappointing since the road deeper into the park was closed about a mile beyond the campsite for repairs so we had a shorter 'sunset cruise' then the other night. We did get to see more bison and long horn cattle, though. The hiking on Saturday didn't work out so well for Ed. It rained all day Saturday with lots of wind. Instead, we decided to go to Wilton (the town 15 miles away) in search of ice, internet and perhaps 'lunner'. The town reminds me of a GOlD RUSH Town. The Western part of North Dakota has been under an oil rush for the last 3 years or so because of the Bakken Oil Reserve.
The Bakken reserve of oil was found 2-3 miles under ground in parts of Montana and North Dakota, so the oil companies have been harvesting it thru the process of 'fracking'. It's controversial since they are not sure what this process actually does to the earth and the water supplies. Regardless, it has made this town come alive--and not necessarily in a good way. Driving into town there are hundreds and hundreds of trailer communities all with signs that say cheap housing. It reminds me of a city of tenaments. Almost sad.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit
Friday August 10, 2012
We are leaving Makoshika State Park after three nights and heading to the North campground of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We've not been to this campground before as we always went to the southern campground so we'll get the chance to
see if it is any different.
It is in North Dakota so this was our only long stop before getting back to New England on the 24th. We'll be doing one night stands after this.
The weather for our drive to Juniper Campground is pleasant enough. Weather is clear, air conditioning works well and traffic is not bad.
We stopped for gas when we had about 60 miles left to go and realized that our green rug (9 x 12) that was UNDER Ed's Kayak blew away! How in the world does that happen? Neither of us heard any sound at all! Darn! And I wonder where it
went---did it hit another car, plop right in the middle of the road or blow to the side of the road??? It was pretty heavy!
It was great to have that rug for our screen house right in front of our entry door to the camper. It kept the camper a little cleaner when each of the campsites were pretty dusty.
Juniper Campground sits beside the Little Missouri River in an especially scenic area of the badlands. This unit of the park is more distant from the interstate (5 miles in from the entrance) and receives fewer visitors. We arrive at the campground about 10:30 am. The scenery looks a lot like Makosheka. The hills are all delineated with different shades. Interesting. We forgot to get ice, though, before we arrived and when we asked if they had any, we were told that it was in the next town--15 miles north of the entrance! Looks like we will have to make do until tomorrow. Bummer. I LOVE ice!
When we arrived at the campground there was a herd of Bison waiting for us. All different sizes: huge males, smaller females and calves. Very cool! In fact, we have to wait to fill up the camper with drinking water until they move on!
There are lots of camping sites to choose from in this park. We choose one a little protected (winds have been strong lately) but with a lovely view of the mountains and field where more Bison may roam later! After we set up and B.I.T.C.H., we see a flock of Wild Turkeys walking down the path.
It's Friday. We thought it would be more crowded then this so we were pleasantly surprised. We are planning to stay 2 nights so we will move on Sunday. That will give Ed a day to hike the area since this is the first visit we've had to this part of the park.
We are leaving Makoshika State Park after three nights and heading to the North campground of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We've not been to this campground before as we always went to the southern campground so we'll get the chance to
see if it is any different.
It is in North Dakota so this was our only long stop before getting back to New England on the 24th. We'll be doing one night stands after this.
The weather for our drive to Juniper Campground is pleasant enough. Weather is clear, air conditioning works well and traffic is not bad.
We stopped for gas when we had about 60 miles left to go and realized that our green rug (9 x 12) that was UNDER Ed's Kayak blew away! How in the world does that happen? Neither of us heard any sound at all! Darn! And I wonder where it
went---did it hit another car, plop right in the middle of the road or blow to the side of the road??? It was pretty heavy!
It was great to have that rug for our screen house right in front of our entry door to the camper. It kept the camper a little cleaner when each of the campsites were pretty dusty.
Juniper Campground sits beside the Little Missouri River in an especially scenic area of the badlands. This unit of the park is more distant from the interstate (5 miles in from the entrance) and receives fewer visitors. We arrive at the campground about 10:30 am. The scenery looks a lot like Makosheka. The hills are all delineated with different shades. Interesting. We forgot to get ice, though, before we arrived and when we asked if they had any, we were told that it was in the next town--15 miles north of the entrance! Looks like we will have to make do until tomorrow. Bummer. I LOVE ice!
When we arrived at the campground there was a herd of Bison waiting for us. All different sizes: huge males, smaller females and calves. Very cool! In fact, we have to wait to fill up the camper with drinking water until they move on!There are lots of camping sites to choose from in this park. We choose one a little protected (winds have been strong lately) but with a lovely view of the mountains and field where more Bison may roam later! After we set up and B.I.T.C.H., we see a flock of Wild Turkeys walking down the path.
It's Friday. We thought it would be more crowded then this so we were pleasantly surprised. We are planning to stay 2 nights so we will move on Sunday. That will give Ed a day to hike the area since this is the first visit we've had to this part of the park.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Makoshika State Park, Glendive, MT
Tuesday August 7-Friday August 10, 2012
Makoshika State Park is an odd but very interesting area. We had been there on our first trip out west and it's a really WEIRD place. It's right at the edge of this little town called Glendive, MT. You have to make a series of right and left turns to get to the park so you go from a little community environment and turn into the state park road and see all of these weird looking mountains!
Makoshika State Park is located in the rugged badlands of
eastern Montana in Glendive. The name Makoshika (Ma-ko'-shi-ka) is a variant of
a Lakota phrase meaning land of bad spirits or "badlands". Although the area
resembles the badlands of the Dakotas, these badlands expose older rock layers.
Makoshika is the largest state park in Montana, covering over 11,400 acres.
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| Our camp site is one of those specs! |
The campground has no water or electricity on each site. There are about 10 sites in one part of the park and then remote ones scattered thru to park itself. It's not well populated, although for one night it was almost full! Go figure.
The morning temperatures are wonderful. A light breeze and moderate temps. We even needed a comforter during the night.
However, during the day it is really oppressive and incredibly windy. Temps in the high 90's with no shade on the campsite. The wind was so strong last night that I was wondering if we should tie down the camper. Ed assured me we were good 'anchors' on one side of the camper and that it wasn't going any where.
We took a sunset cruise one night to take a look at the changing colors of the mountains. The park itself goes in about 8-10 miles so there are lots of windy roads to travel that lead to little trails that can be hiked. There were a few washed out sections of the road that we had to cross. It was a good thing the weather was so dry since there were signs telling you that the roads were not passable if it was raining or wet (Flashbacks of our adventure in July!!!)
The town of Glendive was great. They had a wonderful, active library and an excellent Albertsons grocery store! (little things make me happy!).
Thursday, August 9, 2012
We're off to Rosebud FAS
Tuesday August 7, 2012
The sun (and Monty) wake us up at 5:45 today. That and the sound of cows. Did we tell you this free state park looks like it's part of a farm?
As we leave we take a look at the end of that road we chose not to take yesterday (see picture). It would have been another adventure!! Streets has lost all credibility with us!
We are on the road by 7 am and off to Rosebud FAS. We'll see what that means! We think it means Fishing Access Site but are not sure.
Route 87 is really easy. A few trucks but not a lot of traffic for the first two hours. We're listening to NPR and the news came on. They are talking about the fires in Rosebud.....and that's where we are heading! Wish we had gotten NPR earlier since we never saw this mentioned either in the newspapers in Glacier or on the lame stations we were able to get while camping up to this point.
Then we turn onto Route 12 which we are supposed to be on for another hour. There are NOOOOOOO cars on this road. It is the width of Herringbrook road--two lanes and it has culverts on either side so if we wanted to turn around we probably couldn't.
We're within 40 minutes of where we are heading and still no sign of forest fires....actually still no sign of forests! Just loads of rolling hills with grasslands on either side and free range cattle here or there..
While on this road, there were 2 cars coming from the other direction---on over 100 miles. Then we come across a road repair project. Can you say 'make work project'? Amazing! I guess the bridge (over the dry creek) really was rotted. But who would know? There must be a minimum number of cars per month on a road before a project should be considered!
As we travel a little longer there are more road repairs. We come upon a stop sign and a person holding that sign that told us we would have a wait of about 15 minutes, so we turn off the car and let Monty out for a little stretch. Within a couple of minutes he brings us a HUGH deer bone! That little bugger can find bones in an instant! GROSS!
The sun (and Monty) wake us up at 5:45 today. That and the sound of cows. Did we tell you this free state park looks like it's part of a farm?
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| We can't trust that program! |
As we leave we take a look at the end of that road we chose not to take yesterday (see picture). It would have been another adventure!! Streets has lost all credibility with us!
We are on the road by 7 am and off to Rosebud FAS. We'll see what that means! We think it means Fishing Access Site but are not sure.
Route 87 is really easy. A few trucks but not a lot of traffic for the first two hours. We're listening to NPR and the news came on. They are talking about the fires in Rosebud.....and that's where we are heading! Wish we had gotten NPR earlier since we never saw this mentioned either in the newspapers in Glacier or on the lame stations we were able to get while camping up to this point.
Then we turn onto Route 12 which we are supposed to be on for another hour. There are NOOOOOOO cars on this road. It is the width of Herringbrook road--two lanes and it has culverts on either side so if we wanted to turn around we probably couldn't.
We're within 40 minutes of where we are heading and still no sign of forest fires....actually still no sign of forests! Just loads of rolling hills with grasslands on either side and free range cattle here or there..
While on this road, there were 2 cars coming from the other direction---on over 100 miles. Then we come across a road repair project. Can you say 'make work project'? Amazing! I guess the bridge (over the dry creek) really was rotted. But who would know? There must be a minimum number of cars per month on a road before a project should be considered!
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| Can I keep this one, Dad? |
We start back up the car and get to Rosebud, MT in pretty good time. The history of the town is interesting. This area was explored by fur trappers and traders, with nearby
Rosebud Creek (after which the town of Rosebud takes its name) especially popular
for beaver. On July 28, 1806 William Clark & Company passed this area. Buffalo Hunters took over 40,000 robes from this area alone during the 1860's
and '70's shipping them out by river boat. The slaughter disrupted eastern
Montana's Indian culture and precipitated several years of bloody confrontation,
culminating in the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17, 1876, and the Battle of the
Little Bighorn eight days later.
Rosebud FAS turns out out to be a pretty nice campground right in the middle of the city. There were about 15 sites and they were all empty. We would have had the place to ourselves! However, it was 95 degrees and it was only 11:30 am, so we decided to take a gamble and move on the Devil's Tower...another 5 hours away. Air conditioning was a big draw for us at that time.
We start following the map program and after about 45 minutes we come along to a large (hundreds!) encampment of tents on the side of the road that were filled with firemen fighting the forest fires (that we still haven't seen!). We decide it was prudent to stop and ask if there were any road closures ahead due to the fire. We were assured that there were no closures today and that we should be able to drive thru without a problem.
That was fine for another 20 minutes or so. Then the pavement ended and the road got more narrow. He forgot to tell us that!
We have already had more adventures then we need, so we decide to go to the Devil's Tower another way. We turn around and go back to the highway, consult the other GPS and try again.
We go down the highway a few more exits, turn on what looks like a more utilized road and continue. The GPS said it would be another 65 miles on this road. After traveling another 10 miles or so with no businesses around, Ed realizes that we won't make it since we are low on gas. So we turn around for a second time in this attempt and head back to the highway intersection where we know there is gas. It's 2 pm so we decide to have a fast food lunch. It's not possible to leave Monty in the car while we go to a restaurant since the temps are in the high 90's, so we keep the car running while Ed runs in to McDonald's to get lunch.
As we're eating, I suggest that the powers that be are trying to tell us something. I suggest we skip Devil's Tower and head right to Makoshika State Park in Glendive, MT. I'm disappointed. I really did want to see "the number 1 National Park campground in the country" but I'm really frustrated with constantly making changes....and who knows how many more times we would have to turn around!
So we head to Makoshia State Park instead. We've been here before. It's a really odd, eerie type of park and we'll probably be able to stay a few days to explore before moving on.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Where are we going now?
Monday August 6, 2012
We end our stay at Rising Sun on a good note. Ed had a really good 15 mile +- hike yesterday. The weather could not have been better while we've been here. Crystal clear, comfortable temps. We pack up what we can on Sunday night so we can leave early tomorrow.
We wake up on Monday to continued beautiful weather. I love that. Great to travel when there are no weather issues!
We are driving today to Ackley Lake State Park near Hobson, MT. We are ultimately heading to Devil's Monument but it's 15 hours from Rising Sun so we'll drive about 5 hours for each of the next 3 days to get there. Looks like that part of MT is going to be really hot so the AC in the truck will be very welcomed.
Looks like our path is to take US 89 FOREVER! It's a real windy road but beautiful scenery. It's mostly thru the Blackfeet Indian Reservation so there are no houses or businesses around for much of the ride. It's also 'free range' county. And those cattle feel pretty comfortable---one was on the side of the road when we went by and started to make a beeline for our camper as we rode by!
Literally...Ed had to speed up or he would have gotten us.How do you explain that to an Insurance Agent???
Monty has assumed his sleeping position. Boy is he a great traveler!! Never a peep out of him.
We're about 4 hours into the trip and decide to stop for lunch. Route 89 was a 2 lane road for most of the way until we've come to Great Falls, MT. This is a major city with all the traffic that this entails. But that lets us get a restaurant that has Internet
service. After a good lunch as we drive along, we spot a Toyota dealership. Since we will not see another one for quite some time Ed decides it's a good time to have them check the wiggle in the front tires when we go over 60MPH. They can take us right away so we're here for a little while I guess. CNN, Internet, air conditioning and free coffee! What's not to like?
After about an hour, we were back on the road. Monty was really good inside the Dealership. There were a couple kids there that liked petting him.
Now onto Ackley Lake State Park. It's another hour of driving through towns called Stanford, Windham and Hobson. They are all along Rt 87 which is flat, edged by fields of grain on either side and mountains in the distance. Ed's sure Ackley Lake State Park going to be 'other swimming'. When Ed went cross country with our kids in 1985, they would call 'other swimming' any water hole that was small and more muddy then water. But it's just for 1 night so how bad can it be?!
We ignore one of our GPS's that tells us to turn onto a dirt/gravel road. We've been there and done that! Hopefully, we can't be fooled twice!
We go a little longer and the other GPS gives us directions that are on real roads. AND there is a sign to Ackley Lake State Park so we are pretty confident
it's going to be alright.
We arrive and the sign says the sites are free and you can stay for 30 days at a time. Great place if you're homeless I guess (oh, yeah...that's us) but we're here for just one night passing through. There are no real trees here and it is REALLY windy coming off the fields of grass....but it's just for one night (my mantra!)
Monty goes running down to the lake and jumps right in. He really likes to swim and catch the Frisbee and ball...all things Buddy didn't really like to do.
Boy are the winds strong here. It reminds me of the time we were in Makoshika State Park (where we are stopping on the way home). It was so windy there one night
we had to tie down the camper thinking it was going to tip us over!
Ackley Lake is a great place for Monty! Even though the sign says dogs should be on a leash, we are not really near anyone, so Ed tosses the Frisbee to him for awhile! He's very excited!
We'll just have a light supper and play cards and go to bed. We are off tomorrow to our next one night stop at Rosebud East FAS (We are still not sure what that stands for! Stay tuned!)
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| Aren't I getting big? |
We wake up on Monday to continued beautiful weather. I love that. Great to travel when there are no weather issues!
We are driving today to Ackley Lake State Park near Hobson, MT. We are ultimately heading to Devil's Monument but it's 15 hours from Rising Sun so we'll drive about 5 hours for each of the next 3 days to get there. Looks like that part of MT is going to be really hot so the AC in the truck will be very welcomed.
Looks like our path is to take US 89 FOREVER! It's a real windy road but beautiful scenery. It's mostly thru the Blackfeet Indian Reservation so there are no houses or businesses around for much of the ride. It's also 'free range' county. And those cattle feel pretty comfortable---one was on the side of the road when we went by and started to make a beeline for our camper as we rode by!
Literally...Ed had to speed up or he would have gotten us.How do you explain that to an Insurance Agent???
Monty has assumed his sleeping position. Boy is he a great traveler!! Never a peep out of him.
We're about 4 hours into the trip and decide to stop for lunch. Route 89 was a 2 lane road for most of the way until we've come to Great Falls, MT. This is a major city with all the traffic that this entails. But that lets us get a restaurant that has Internet
service. After a good lunch as we drive along, we spot a Toyota dealership. Since we will not see another one for quite some time Ed decides it's a good time to have them check the wiggle in the front tires when we go over 60MPH. They can take us right away so we're here for a little while I guess. CNN, Internet, air conditioning and free coffee! What's not to like?
After about an hour, we were back on the road. Monty was really good inside the Dealership. There were a couple kids there that liked petting him.
Now onto Ackley Lake State Park. It's another hour of driving through towns called Stanford, Windham and Hobson. They are all along Rt 87 which is flat, edged by fields of grain on either side and mountains in the distance. Ed's sure Ackley Lake State Park going to be 'other swimming'. When Ed went cross country with our kids in 1985, they would call 'other swimming' any water hole that was small and more muddy then water. But it's just for 1 night so how bad can it be?!
Ackley Lake, named after an early settler and frontiersman, offers diverse water sports opportunities. Stocked with rainbow trout, the lake is often good angling for 10 to 15 inch fish. The elevation of the park is 4,336 feet and is 160 acres in size. This park has been designated as ‘Primitive' so there are no fees to use the site. There are 23 sites with vault toilets, picnic tables, grills/firerings, group use area, drinking water (5/1 - 9/30) and pets are allowed, but must be on leash.
We ignore one of our GPS's that tells us to turn onto a dirt/gravel road. We've been there and done that! Hopefully, we can't be fooled twice!
We go a little longer and the other GPS gives us directions that are on real roads. AND there is a sign to Ackley Lake State Park so we are pretty confident
it's going to be alright.
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| Ackley Lake FREE campsite |
Monty goes running down to the lake and jumps right in. He really likes to swim and catch the Frisbee and ball...all things Buddy didn't really like to do.
Boy are the winds strong here. It reminds me of the time we were in Makoshika State Park (where we are stopping on the way home). It was so windy there one night
we had to tie down the camper thinking it was going to tip us over!
Ackley Lake is a great place for Monty! Even though the sign says dogs should be on a leash, we are not really near anyone, so Ed tosses the Frisbee to him for awhile! He's very excited!
We'll just have a light supper and play cards and go to bed. We are off tomorrow to our next one night stop at Rosebud East FAS (We are still not sure what that stands for! Stay tuned!)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Babb, MT--my Internet destination!
Sunday August 5, 2012
This is our last night at Rising Sun. We've been here 6 days and it's been wonderful! Weather has been spectacular (except for one night of an interesting thunderstorm). Ed has had many good hikes. And we even got to eat a trout he caught! Life is good!
My quest for Internet during this week has taken me to Babb, Montana. The only Internet I could find in the town of St. Mary, MT, is $2.50 for a half hour and it stayed on for maybe 10 minutes of that. It comes from satellite and is really bad.....so I went on a driving quest to find free Internet. I have found very few Libraries on this trip. Montana is almost like Canada in that way--no libraries. I guess it's a factor of our being in Indian Country most of this trip which must not have government funds to establish Libraries. A real shame.
Babb, MT is a small unincorporated community in Glacier County, Montana, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation located on US Rt 89 about 10 miles north of St Mary and was named after C. C. Babb, district engineer of the Saint Mary's Irrigation Project. The first post office was established in 1905 with Cicero Bristol as postmaster. In 1912, it became the headquarters for the Reclamation Service Project which diverted water from the Saint Mary's River (which drains into the Hudson Bay) across the Hudson Bay Divide to the Milk River. Today the town consists of tourist cabins, a few houses, a general store, a post office, and one school, a K-6 elementary school which had 36 students as of 2005.
I pulled into the parking lot for Babb Elementary school thinking perhaps there would be Internet access there. The school was next to an unidentified beige building, the fire department and an EMS office. I found a signal in front of the unidentified building so I have spent 2 hours a day sitting in an idling car. I'm shocked I haven't been picked up by the police for loitering!
Our original plan after camping at Rising Sun, was to go next to Many Glacier campground in the Park, but I read an article the other day in USA Today that has changed our mind. The article mentioned the 10 Best National Park Campsites. The number one spot was Devils Tower National Monument: Belle Fourche Campground. We've been to a lot on the list but not this one! So we decide to make a detour for a new adventure! However, it is 15 hours away, so we are going to have to do a couple one nighters since 6 or 7 hours a day of driving is all we can handle.
We have to be at Covered Bridge Campground in New Hampshire on Aug 24, so we have to start making some 1 day stops. We'll see how it goes.
This is our last night at Rising Sun. We've been here 6 days and it's been wonderful! Weather has been spectacular (except for one night of an interesting thunderstorm). Ed has had many good hikes. And we even got to eat a trout he caught! Life is good!
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| View of Glacier from Babb, MT |
Babb, MT is a small unincorporated community in Glacier County, Montana, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation located on US Rt 89 about 10 miles north of St Mary and was named after C. C. Babb, district engineer of the Saint Mary's Irrigation Project. The first post office was established in 1905 with Cicero Bristol as postmaster. In 1912, it became the headquarters for the Reclamation Service Project which diverted water from the Saint Mary's River (which drains into the Hudson Bay) across the Hudson Bay Divide to the Milk River. Today the town consists of tourist cabins, a few houses, a general store, a post office, and one school, a K-6 elementary school which had 36 students as of 2005.
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| Cows while getting Internet |
Our original plan after camping at Rising Sun, was to go next to Many Glacier campground in the Park, but I read an article the other day in USA Today that has changed our mind. The article mentioned the 10 Best National Park Campsites. The number one spot was Devils Tower National Monument: Belle Fourche Campground. We've been to a lot on the list but not this one! So we decide to make a detour for a new adventure! However, it is 15 hours away, so we are going to have to do a couple one nighters since 6 or 7 hours a day of driving is all we can handle.
We have to be at Covered Bridge Campground in New Hampshire on Aug 24, so we have to start making some 1 day stops. We'll see how it goes.
Moving to Rising Sun Campground, Glacier National Park
Tuesday July 31, 2012
Today is moving day. We've had a nice stay at Avalanche Campground. The weather has been beautiful! And despite the fact that it felt like 'apartment living', it was one of the quietest sites we have been to all summer. The camp is pretty empty all day since most everyone hikes, and they must be pretty tired when they come back, because it certainly is not noisy in the evening!
When we talk about where to go next, we decide to go to Rising Sun Campground on the other side of the park (near St. Mary). We've been there before. If you remember from our stories of our original trip out here about 8 years ago, this is where the bear came thru the campsite early in the morning and Ed quietly got Buddy into the truck before he came to tell me I might want to move to safety!
It's also the spot I got chastised by a Ranger for leaving our dishwater out when I left the campground. (We're more careful now:)!)
Rising Sun Campground is less then an hour away by the Going-To-The-Sun road, but you can't bring campers on that road, so you have to go around, which is a 3 hour ride. Ed decides he wants to get a good site at Rising Sun, so we're going to go (without the camper) to the campground early in the morning and pick out a good site just as people are leaving. All of these campgrounds are full before noon. Now I am not thrilled at making what, to me, seems like a double trip, but we do it.
And he was right. Someone was just leaving from a really good site when we arrived. We were able to put out a couple of our chairs and pay for our spot and then go back to pickup our camper, drive over the long way, and not have to worry about whether we will be there in time for a site.
There is construction on the Going-To-The-Sun road, so the hour and a half round trip really turns into almost three extra hours. But it is a beautiful day, and that view can't be beat!
It looks like we'll be staying in Northern Montana for the rest of our trip before we start heading for home. Probably even Glacier National Park. Ed (and Monty) would prefer to go to the National Forests, but most are way far away from towns for groceries and Internet for me. Good thing he likes to hike in Glacier!
If Ed was doing these summer trips by himself, I guarantee you he would find the most remote sites he could find! But traveling for two requires some compromise. The hikes here are the best (says Ed) and the views can't be beat.
Today is moving day. We've had a nice stay at Avalanche Campground. The weather has been beautiful! And despite the fact that it felt like 'apartment living', it was one of the quietest sites we have been to all summer. The camp is pretty empty all day since most everyone hikes, and they must be pretty tired when they come back, because it certainly is not noisy in the evening!
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| Lake Saint Mary |
When we talk about where to go next, we decide to go to Rising Sun Campground on the other side of the park (near St. Mary). We've been there before. If you remember from our stories of our original trip out here about 8 years ago, this is where the bear came thru the campsite early in the morning and Ed quietly got Buddy into the truck before he came to tell me I might want to move to safety!
It's also the spot I got chastised by a Ranger for leaving our dishwater out when I left the campground. (We're more careful now:)!)
Rising Sun Campground is less then an hour away by the Going-To-The-Sun road, but you can't bring campers on that road, so you have to go around, which is a 3 hour ride. Ed decides he wants to get a good site at Rising Sun, so we're going to go (without the camper) to the campground early in the morning and pick out a good site just as people are leaving. All of these campgrounds are full before noon. Now I am not thrilled at making what, to me, seems like a double trip, but we do it.
And he was right. Someone was just leaving from a really good site when we arrived. We were able to put out a couple of our chairs and pay for our spot and then go back to pickup our camper, drive over the long way, and not have to worry about whether we will be there in time for a site.
There is construction on the Going-To-The-Sun road, so the hour and a half round trip really turns into almost three extra hours. But it is a beautiful day, and that view can't be beat!
It looks like we'll be staying in Northern Montana for the rest of our trip before we start heading for home. Probably even Glacier National Park. Ed (and Monty) would prefer to go to the National Forests, but most are way far away from towns for groceries and Internet for me. Good thing he likes to hike in Glacier!
If Ed was doing these summer trips by himself, I guarantee you he would find the most remote sites he could find! But traveling for two requires some compromise. The hikes here are the best (says Ed) and the views can't be beat.
Monday, July 30, 2012
National Parks Senior Pass
Sunday July 29, 2012
Are you at least 62 years old? Have you gotten your Senior Pass yet?
One of the perks of getting older is this $10 Lifetime Free Pass to all of our National Parks and National Forests. It entitles you to get into any National Park or Forest in the country as many times as you want for free. It doesn't get better then this!
If you are a camper, it reduces the cost of every campsite by 50%! We have spent many nights for only $10.00 for the night. Our least expensive campsite has been $5.50!
If you have not yet reached the 'golden years', you can got other passes as well.
Check out the National Park Service for more details.
Are you at least 62 years old? Have you gotten your Senior Pass yet?
One of the perks of getting older is this $10 Lifetime Free Pass to all of our National Parks and National Forests. It entitles you to get into any National Park or Forest in the country as many times as you want for free. It doesn't get better then this! If you are a camper, it reduces the cost of every campsite by 50%! We have spent many nights for only $10.00 for the night. Our least expensive campsite has been $5.50!
If you have not yet reached the 'golden years', you can got other passes as well.
Check out the National Park Service for more details.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Thursday July 26, 2012
I never get tired of this ride! This road has to be one of the most spectacular in the country! Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only road through the heart of Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. It was completed in 1932, and it is the only road that crosses the park, going over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. The mountain views keep me in awe with every corner we ride!
We make our sunset cruise one evening after dinner and are not disappointed. We start from our campground at Avalanche Campground and drive up to Logan Pass. Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road located along the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. It's evening, so the crowd of sightseers are gone. The highway crews who are repairing the roads are put away for the night and it's clear sailing for us.
The road is windy and hugs the jutting rocks on one side. The side by the 'fall aways' are made like the rock walls lining Acadia National Park in Maine. Not sure if they would prevent you from falling over the edge but they are pretty!
We are treated to seeing a deer up close as well as a long horned sheep and mountain goat. Not a lot of wildlife, but enough to know you are around Mother Nature and she is spectacular!
We make our sunset cruise one evening after dinner and are not disappointed. We start from our campground at Avalanche Campground and drive up to Logan Pass. Logan Pass is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road located along the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. It's evening, so the crowd of sightseers are gone. The highway crews who are repairing the roads are put away for the night and it's clear sailing for us. The road is windy and hugs the jutting rocks on one side. The side by the 'fall aways' are made like the rock walls lining Acadia National Park in Maine. Not sure if they would prevent you from falling over the edge but they are pretty!
We are treated to seeing a deer up close as well as a long horned sheep and mountain goat. Not a lot of wildlife, but enough to know you are around Mother Nature and she is spectacular!
Going-to-the-Sun Road, as well as the entire Glacier National Park should be on every one's Bucket List! Whether you see it while camping, touring, or hoteling does not matter. We are blessed to have one of the most spectacular areas in our country and you are truly missing it if you do not come see this! The trip is more then worth the effort!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Heading Back to Glacier National Park
Tuesday July 24, 2012
After two days, I want to move on. This disappoints Ed. I just feel really isolated here. I didn't take the trek on the dirt road into town for any of the services since it was a little scarey. If I ever had a flat tire, I was toast. No people, no cell phone, nothing. Every once in awhile I get skittish about where I go alone, and unfortunately, this was one of those times. And I was out of reading material on my Kindle!
We reluctantly pack up and head back to Glacier--the West side this time. West Glacier, MT (right at the entrance to Glacier National Park) seems to have everything I need so I think I will be fine here. We try Fish Creek Campground first, since that is the first one you come to on the Going to the Highway road, but it is not available for 5 nights (they take reservations which we did not know.)
Then we move on to Apgar camground and this seems really too busy and congested. It reminded me of Yosemite. There was like a little city right before the campground with restaurants, shops and hoards of people. Not for us.
We decided to go another 16 miles or so to Avalanche Campgroud--the farthist you can drive with a camper on Going To The Sun Road. We got there by about 11 am but there are surprisingly few campsites open. We drove around and found one that with a little jockying Ed could get into and set up.
Now this campsite is more like apartment living then a honeymoon suite for sure! You can look over and see your neighbor. A true disappointment after the Honeymoon suite, but I know I can get to laundry, shopping and internet in a half hour on well traveled roads.
I can live with this for however long. And I would imagine the hiking here must be good. The bad part for Monty is that we are back in the National Park again and he can't go hike with Ed. He has to hang out with me. As Ed leaves in the morning he looks a little sad and truth be told, resigned to a quiet day. Luckily he still gets up at 6 am and Ed plays ball and frisbee to tire him out a little
After two days, I want to move on. This disappoints Ed. I just feel really isolated here. I didn't take the trek on the dirt road into town for any of the services since it was a little scarey. If I ever had a flat tire, I was toast. No people, no cell phone, nothing. Every once in awhile I get skittish about where I go alone, and unfortunately, this was one of those times. And I was out of reading material on my Kindle!
We reluctantly pack up and head back to Glacier--the West side this time. West Glacier, MT (right at the entrance to Glacier National Park) seems to have everything I need so I think I will be fine here. We try Fish Creek Campground first, since that is the first one you come to on the Going to the Highway road, but it is not available for 5 nights (they take reservations which we did not know.) Then we move on to Apgar camground and this seems really too busy and congested. It reminded me of Yosemite. There was like a little city right before the campground with restaurants, shops and hoards of people. Not for us.
We decided to go another 16 miles or so to Avalanche Campgroud--the farthist you can drive with a camper on Going To The Sun Road. We got there by about 11 am but there are surprisingly few campsites open. We drove around and found one that with a little jockying Ed could get into and set up.
Now this campsite is more like apartment living then a honeymoon suite for sure! You can look over and see your neighbor. A true disappointment after the Honeymoon suite, but I know I can get to laundry, shopping and internet in a half hour on well traveled roads.
I can live with this for however long. And I would imagine the hiking here must be good. The bad part for Monty is that we are back in the National Park again and he can't go hike with Ed. He has to hang out with me. As Ed leaves in the morning he looks a little sad and truth be told, resigned to a quiet day. Luckily he still gets up at 6 am and Ed plays ball and frisbee to tire him out a little
Tally Lake Campground (north of Whitefish, MT)
Sunday July 22, 2012
We decide to leave Hungry Horse on Sunday. The campground had actually filled up during the week and now all 5 sites are taken.
One of the other campers came by on Saturday night asking when we were leaving and decided to put their lawn chair in our camp spot to stake it out so no one else took it before they did. Very smart.
We decide to head toward Kalispell and Whitefish. I hadn't really heard which campground was our goal, but was pleased with the direction. We had spent some time in Kalispell one winter with Tom and Louise. It seems like a really nice little town.
As we kept driving, however, I realized we were going THRU those towns, not staying in them. I guess they were too crowded for us. We head for Tally Lake. Tally Lake is a scenic, clear, low elevation mountain lake north west of Whitefish. Tally Lake is quite large at more than 1350 acres. Although it is not a huge lake, Tally Lake has the distinction of being the deepest natural lake in Montana, with a depth of 492 feet. And they have a Campground. It doesn't look too far on the map. I could probably drive into either of those towns for Internet.
As you may realize, maps can be deceiving. That 'not too far on the map' is actually about 5 miles north of Whitefish and then 18 miles on undeveloped road.
Apparently they are from Kalispell and said this spot was the worst kept secret around. They just didn't want to leave. We spent the time hanging out at the boat dock. The lake was packed with all kinds of boats: motor, kayak, pontoon, paddle boards etc. It was like Cochituate State Park in Natick, MA, on a Sunny August day! And it was hot!
We decide to put in for 2 nights and see what happens. The spot can't be beat. It's the best we probably will have this summer.
We decide to leave Hungry Horse on Sunday. The campground had actually filled up during the week and now all 5 sites are taken.
One of the other campers came by on Saturday night asking when we were leaving and decided to put their lawn chair in our camp spot to stake it out so no one else took it before they did. Very smart.
We decide to head toward Kalispell and Whitefish. I hadn't really heard which campground was our goal, but was pleased with the direction. We had spent some time in Kalispell one winter with Tom and Louise. It seems like a really nice little town.
As we kept driving, however, I realized we were going THRU those towns, not staying in them. I guess they were too crowded for us. We head for Tally Lake. Tally Lake is a scenic, clear, low elevation mountain lake north west of Whitefish. Tally Lake is quite large at more than 1350 acres. Although it is not a huge lake, Tally Lake has the distinction of being the deepest natural lake in Montana, with a depth of 492 feet. And they have a Campground. It doesn't look too far on the map. I could probably drive into either of those towns for Internet.
As you may realize, maps can be deceiving. That 'not too far on the map' is actually about 5 miles north of Whitefish and then 18 miles on undeveloped road.
We get there pretty early but apparently most campers don't leave here until 2 pm. The host suggests we take a look at site 34--the Honeymoon Suite it's called. As we drove by, he was right. This was the primo spot of the campground! It was by itself and it had it's own little beach. Monty could run along without a leash and would be thrilled.
We put dibs on it and had to wait till 3 pm for the current campers to vacate.
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| Our Honeymoon Suite view! |
We decide to put in for 2 nights and see what happens. The spot can't be beat. It's the best we probably will have this summer.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Books I've Read This Summer
A friend reminded me recently that I had not mentioned reading any books this summer. For some reason, last year I was able to use my Amazon account and post my experience easily thru Facebook. For some reason, it does not work like that this year. So, anyway, here are my books so far:
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein -- my favorite by far! Jane you have to read this!
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult -- Good but disturbing
Defending Jacob by William Landay -- Good; easy read
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain -- Interesting
Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin -- Didn't care for this; simplistic writing; maybe it was translated poorly
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton -- Very Good
Wild by Cheryl Strayed -- Very, Very Good
The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe -- Fair; I'm not into mysticism
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson -- Pretty clear portrait of a complex man
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown -- Good beach read
She also mentioned I had not written about scores for our games. They are:
Gin Rummy: Ed 10 Nancy 5
Scrabble Ed 2 Nancy 0
Now you know why I haven't mentioned them! Doesn't look like this is my trophy summer, does it?
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein -- my favorite by far! Jane you have to read this!
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult -- Good but disturbing
Defending Jacob by William Landay -- Good; easy read
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain -- Interesting
Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin -- Didn't care for this; simplistic writing; maybe it was translated poorly
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton -- Very Good
Wild by Cheryl Strayed -- Very, Very Good
The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe -- Fair; I'm not into mysticism
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson -- Pretty clear portrait of a complex man
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown -- Good beach read
She also mentioned I had not written about scores for our games. They are:
Gin Rummy: Ed 10 Nancy 5
Scrabble Ed 2 Nancy 0
Now you know why I haven't mentioned them! Doesn't look like this is my trophy summer, does it?
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Hungry Horse, MT
July 17 thru July 22 Lost Johnny Campground
Once I got over being afraid of being the dinner for the bears while we were here, I really liked this spot. We had deer come thru a couple of afternoons and the lake was beautiful. Certainly one of the best spots we have had so far this summer.
The town of Hungry Horse was named after two draft horses used for logging the area. They wandered off during the severe winter of 1900. The horses, Tex and Jerry, were found a month later, all scraggly and hungry but very much alive.
Today the town itself has a population of 900 and is a small community that is likely to be overlooked as visitors make their way onward to Glacier National Park, which lies just 10 miles to the east.
The town is about 10 miles from our campsite and there is a post office, laundry, grocery store, Internet and a couple restaurants. So it has everything I need:)
In town, the big deal is Huckleberries! Huckleberries are sold in all shapes and sizes: Huckleberry Taffy, ice cream (yummy), pies, syrup, body lotions, etc.! If you want to have some shipped to you, try the web site of this local store, The Huckleberry Patch.
We take a couple sunset cruises but don't see any wildlife at all. It seems strange because we really are out in the boonies! There are a couple more campgrounds along the way, but we certainly had the best spot by far.
The day before we left, Ed caught a Trout in the morning so he grilled it up and we had it for a mid morning snack. Delicious! I could eat those all summer.
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| Our campsite in Hungry Horse, MT |
Once I got over being afraid of being the dinner for the bears while we were here, I really liked this spot. We had deer come thru a couple of afternoons and the lake was beautiful. Certainly one of the best spots we have had so far this summer.
 |
| Lake view |
The town of Hungry Horse was named after two draft horses used for logging the area. They wandered off during the severe winter of 1900. The horses, Tex and Jerry, were found a month later, all scraggly and hungry but very much alive.
Today the town itself has a population of 900 and is a small community that is likely to be overlooked as visitors make their way onward to Glacier National Park, which lies just 10 miles to the east.
The town is about 10 miles from our campsite and there is a post office, laundry, grocery store, Internet and a couple restaurants. So it has everything I need:)
In town, the big deal is Huckleberries! Huckleberries are sold in all shapes and sizes: Huckleberry Taffy, ice cream (yummy), pies, syrup, body lotions, etc.! If you want to have some shipped to you, try the web site of this local store, The Huckleberry Patch.
We take a couple sunset cruises but don't see any wildlife at all. It seems strange because we really are out in the boonies! There are a couple more campgrounds along the way, but we certainly had the best spot by far.
The day before we left, Ed caught a Trout in the morning so he grilled it up and we had it for a mid morning snack. Delicious! I could eat those all summer.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
List Maker meet Mr. Spontaneity!
Wednesday July 18, 2012
I'm a list maker. I make a list of the lists I want to make. I like to know what is going to happen before it happens. When we're home, on Sundays I like to take a look at the week ahead to see where I will be, what I'm going to be doing and what I have to do to get ready for any of that. Apparently, I am married to a very spontaneous person, however!
Now we start talking about our summer plans the December before it happens. A full 6 to 7 months ahead. Where do we want to go etc. This meshes nicely with the list maker in me. Ed then takes it from there and plans the route. On some rainy days I'll sit in our loft with him while he's planning and he'll tell me what he's sketching out. Up until this summer, he has mapped out a very specific plan for our summer adventures. Many places would take reservations so we were able to know this week we'll go here, then move to such and such a place for 5 days etc. This year, however, since our goal was to spend the summer in Montana, Ed decided not to do that. In fairness, 99% of the places don't take reservations. If you want to get a good site, you just have to get to a campground on a good day and early in the day.
Now, I wasn't really keen on this, but since they don't take reservations and there are dozens of campgrounds all over the place, it seemed that it might be okay. The plan is to move on a Monday or Tuesday and get to a new place before noon.
This apparently pleases Ed. Now I know Ed doesn't like lists. In fact, if there is a list made, he will ignore it. He HATES lists!
That's our yin and yang. What I didn't realize is that he is an apparently a VERY spontaneous person. We've been married 43 years and I'm just learning this??
On Monday, while Ed was out hiking, I decided to take a look at our mapping program to see where we were moving to today.
We have 2 mapping programs. We have used the Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan our itinerary for the first ten years. This year, since Ed got a new DeLorme GPS to take on hikes, he decided to get a new mapping program since the GPS is not quite compatible with the Streets and Trips program. I checked both programs, however, to see where we're going. They each say different places...now I have no clue where I will be laying down my head tomorrow night and that makes me feel very unsettled. I have no problem living in a tin can for 70+ days, but I really want to know ahead of time WHERE that tin can will be parked!
Ed gets back from his hike and I ask where we're heading. "Well, we have a few options." Not the kind of answer I was looking for. He's all excited showing me "we can stop here, or here, and there are 3 more on this side of the reservoir." It's making me stressed. I thought all the planning was done, why are we still 'deciding' the night before we travel. STRESS! I'm trying to be good and not freak out. I'm along for the ride. I can do this.
No I can't. I'm going to bed and will let Ed finish the planning.
It rains about 5 am so everything will be wet to pack up. I've packed most of the inside stuff already, so my part of the packing can be finished in 20 minutes or so. It stopped raining after an hour or so, so at least we won't be packing up IN the rain. The outside stuff will just be wet.
So as we get in the car, I ask Ed, "So where are we heading today?" His answer: "That depends" UGGGH. "We have choices" he says happily.
I look at the map, and there is a campground he never even mentioned last night. Aah...spontaneity. Nope. I'm definitely not a spontaneous person!
We take off from Glacier National Park--near East Glacier, MT--and head past the town of West Glacier toward Hungry Horse and Columbia.
We've never been this way before. This part of Rt 2 is really a beautiful 2 lane road that meanders next to fast moving rivers and still with fantastic snow tipped mountain views. Looks like Vermont or New Hampshire driving. There is no traffic to speak of. It's a really nice ride. Speed limit is 70 mph which seems high for a 2 lane road, but since there is little traffic, it's not a problem.
We get into Hungry Horse (I love that name) and it seems like a nice little town. There are a couple gift type shops, a couple restaurants, a Laundromat, grocery store and post office. They even have Internet! Where we are heading to in the Flatlands National Forest is about 9 miles or so off the road. I can do this.
We grab a bite to eat and head in on the West side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir to pick out a campground. The 9 miles or so turns out to be on a well paved, really windy road along the side of a mountain without guardrails. This might be a little more of a challenge for me after all. I am somewhat challenged by heights!
The day gets to be overcast and it looks like it's going to rain. I nix the first campground we get to, and we move along to the next one. It's called Lost Johnny. The campground only has 5 sites on it and none of them are occupied. I'm not feeling real good about this place. But site 5 is open and it is RIGHT on the water. Ed is sold, so I really have no choice. We're staying. I still suggest we can go down the road to look at something else and surely no one else is coming along today to take this site from us, but Ed vetoes that. He's really keen on this and Monty seems to like the smells around here too.
We start to set up, but it starts to rain hard so we decide to wait in the car until it lets up. Wouldn't you know, another truck with a long 5th wheel attached comes along and parks in the lot right across from us and sits there. Then a woman comes along on an ATV vehicle and has her fist waving. She is clearly upset. Ed gets out to see whats up. They were at another campground and have been waiting for THIS site to open. It opened just this morning so they were moving right in. Whoops. Too late.
Ed was right. We would have lost the spot! Looks like we'll be the only restaurant in town for the local bears! Not sure how long we're here for. We'll see how the hiking and fishing are.
I'm a list maker. I make a list of the lists I want to make. I like to know what is going to happen before it happens. When we're home, on Sundays I like to take a look at the week ahead to see where I will be, what I'm going to be doing and what I have to do to get ready for any of that. Apparently, I am married to a very spontaneous person, however!
Now we start talking about our summer plans the December before it happens. A full 6 to 7 months ahead. Where do we want to go etc. This meshes nicely with the list maker in me. Ed then takes it from there and plans the route. On some rainy days I'll sit in our loft with him while he's planning and he'll tell me what he's sketching out. Up until this summer, he has mapped out a very specific plan for our summer adventures. Many places would take reservations so we were able to know this week we'll go here, then move to such and such a place for 5 days etc. This year, however, since our goal was to spend the summer in Montana, Ed decided not to do that. In fairness, 99% of the places don't take reservations. If you want to get a good site, you just have to get to a campground on a good day and early in the day.
Now, I wasn't really keen on this, but since they don't take reservations and there are dozens of campgrounds all over the place, it seemed that it might be okay. The plan is to move on a Monday or Tuesday and get to a new place before noon.
This apparently pleases Ed. Now I know Ed doesn't like lists. In fact, if there is a list made, he will ignore it. He HATES lists!
That's our yin and yang. What I didn't realize is that he is an apparently a VERY spontaneous person. We've been married 43 years and I'm just learning this??
On Monday, while Ed was out hiking, I decided to take a look at our mapping program to see where we were moving to today.
We have 2 mapping programs. We have used the Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan our itinerary for the first ten years. This year, since Ed got a new DeLorme GPS to take on hikes, he decided to get a new mapping program since the GPS is not quite compatible with the Streets and Trips program. I checked both programs, however, to see where we're going. They each say different places...now I have no clue where I will be laying down my head tomorrow night and that makes me feel very unsettled. I have no problem living in a tin can for 70+ days, but I really want to know ahead of time WHERE that tin can will be parked!
Ed gets back from his hike and I ask where we're heading. "Well, we have a few options." Not the kind of answer I was looking for. He's all excited showing me "we can stop here, or here, and there are 3 more on this side of the reservoir." It's making me stressed. I thought all the planning was done, why are we still 'deciding' the night before we travel. STRESS! I'm trying to be good and not freak out. I'm along for the ride. I can do this.
No I can't. I'm going to bed and will let Ed finish the planning.
It rains about 5 am so everything will be wet to pack up. I've packed most of the inside stuff already, so my part of the packing can be finished in 20 minutes or so. It stopped raining after an hour or so, so at least we won't be packing up IN the rain. The outside stuff will just be wet.
 |
| Fog lifting as we leave Two Medicine |
So as we get in the car, I ask Ed, "So where are we heading today?" His answer: "That depends" UGGGH. "We have choices" he says happily.
I look at the map, and there is a campground he never even mentioned last night. Aah...spontaneity. Nope. I'm definitely not a spontaneous person!
We take off from Glacier National Park--near East Glacier, MT--and head past the town of West Glacier toward Hungry Horse and Columbia.
We've never been this way before. This part of Rt 2 is really a beautiful 2 lane road that meanders next to fast moving rivers and still with fantastic snow tipped mountain views. Looks like Vermont or New Hampshire driving. There is no traffic to speak of. It's a really nice ride. Speed limit is 70 mph which seems high for a 2 lane road, but since there is little traffic, it's not a problem.
We get into Hungry Horse (I love that name) and it seems like a nice little town. There are a couple gift type shops, a couple restaurants, a Laundromat, grocery store and post office. They even have Internet! Where we are heading to in the Flatlands National Forest is about 9 miles or so off the road. I can do this.
We grab a bite to eat and head in on the West side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir to pick out a campground. The 9 miles or so turns out to be on a well paved, really windy road along the side of a mountain without guardrails. This might be a little more of a challenge for me after all. I am somewhat challenged by heights!
The day gets to be overcast and it looks like it's going to rain. I nix the first campground we get to, and we move along to the next one. It's called Lost Johnny. The campground only has 5 sites on it and none of them are occupied. I'm not feeling real good about this place. But site 5 is open and it is RIGHT on the water. Ed is sold, so I really have no choice. We're staying. I still suggest we can go down the road to look at something else and surely no one else is coming along today to take this site from us, but Ed vetoes that. He's really keen on this and Monty seems to like the smells around here too.
We start to set up, but it starts to rain hard so we decide to wait in the car until it lets up. Wouldn't you know, another truck with a long 5th wheel attached comes along and parks in the lot right across from us and sits there. Then a woman comes along on an ATV vehicle and has her fist waving. She is clearly upset. Ed gets out to see whats up. They were at another campground and have been waiting for THIS site to open. It opened just this morning so they were moving right in. Whoops. Too late.
Ed was right. We would have lost the spot! Looks like we'll be the only restaurant in town for the local bears! Not sure how long we're here for. We'll see how the hiking and fishing are.
Two Medicine Campground, East Glacier, MT
Tuesday July 17, 2012
We're on our last day here at Two Medicine. It's been a good week although I'm ready to move on. Any time there are no grocery stores within 25 miles and I have to drive for a half hour for intermittent Internet, I'm ready after about 5 days for a new spot. There are tons of mountains to climb for Ed so he's happy. Since his body feels good hiking, this is a good summer!
It rained the last 2 days, though and has been pretty damp and raw. Glad the sun came out today! I love the clear blue skies and puffy clouds. Ed hasn't told me yet where we're heading next, so I guess it will be a surprise:)
This is definitely bear country. There are bear boxes for your food at many of the sights and the Rangers are always coming around to remind everyone to put things away when we are not using them. Once a bear gets into a campers cooler, they are killed since they then become too dangerous to people, so the rangers are very concerned.
We're on our last day here at Two Medicine. It's been a good week although I'm ready to move on. Any time there are no grocery stores within 25 miles and I have to drive for a half hour for intermittent Internet, I'm ready after about 5 days for a new spot. There are tons of mountains to climb for Ed so he's happy. Since his body feels good hiking, this is a good summer!
It rained the last 2 days, though and has been pretty damp and raw. Glad the sun came out today! I love the clear blue skies and puffy clouds. Ed hasn't told me yet where we're heading next, so I guess it will be a surprise:)
Speaking of surprises, here's a picture of what showed up the other day near our campsite:
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| Bear in campground across from us in broad daylight! |
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Everything free comes with a cost!
Tuesday July 9, 2012
Yes, this park is very pretty and I really did get less concerned the longer we sat there. I'm not sure how the neighborhood houses handle having transients drop by this park all the time, but it's very quiet.
I went to bed about 9:30. It was still light out and Ed stayed up reading. A good night sleep was expected before we head to Glacier National Park in the morning.
Alas, it's not to be. I probably haven't mentioned the fact that we have seen tons of trains pulling dozens of freight cars each day in North Dakota and Montana. They aren't seen much on Cape Cod (!), but I guess transportation of goods by train is pretty standard still in the west.
We discovered that this Park is within a block of the railroad tracks and since they apparently transport more during the night then during the day, the train whistles blew at least 8 times during the night. Even my ear plugs didn't help keep out this noise. So even though the space was free for the night...sleep was not!
Monty makes his usual wake up call at 5:30 am. We are packed and leave our site by 8 am. The drive to Glacier National Park--East wing--seems to be a straight shot on US 2. It's really amazing how from the middle of Minnesota to the Rockies in Montana the land is totally flat as far as the eye can see.
In fact, as we travel, we see a HUGH field of Wind Mills in Cut Bank, MT! They really are majestic looking. Then all of a sudden, after passing Cut Bank, Montana,
you can see the mountains pop up! There is still snow on those mountains and the thermometer on the car indicates it's above 90 degrees. It will feel good to
be in cooler weather!
The heat is a killer for me--actually for both of us. Neither of us like it which is why
we don't travel in the South during the summer. Could that be worse then this heat has been?
Well, we're finally here! This is one of the major destinations Ed & I had on our wish list for this summer! Glacier National Park can't be beat!
After having traveled so much flat lands, these peaks are even more beautiful then I remember them. And, there is still snow on some of the mountains! Ed promises me that it won't be nearly as hot here as it has been so far on this trip!
We arrive at Two Medicine Campground before noon so we should get a good spot. Surprisingly, though, most of the primo spots (i.e. water or mountain peak views) are taken. We pick out one of the largest spots we find and settle in for a week. I prefer that even to the smaller spots with good views.
We had stopped at an Albertson's Grocery store to get some provisions for at least a week. Glad we did! This is in Indian country and there are NO stores around for many, many miles. Ice is about all we'll get at the camp store.
There is no internet or cell service here. I may take a long ride back to Cut Bank in a few days, but if not, we'll probably be here until Tuesday July 17, 2012.
Yes, this park is very pretty and I really did get less concerned the longer we sat there. I'm not sure how the neighborhood houses handle having transients drop by this park all the time, but it's very quiet.
I went to bed about 9:30. It was still light out and Ed stayed up reading. A good night sleep was expected before we head to Glacier National Park in the morning.
Alas, it's not to be. I probably haven't mentioned the fact that we have seen tons of trains pulling dozens of freight cars each day in North Dakota and Montana. They aren't seen much on Cape Cod (!), but I guess transportation of goods by train is pretty standard still in the west.
We discovered that this Park is within a block of the railroad tracks and since they apparently transport more during the night then during the day, the train whistles blew at least 8 times during the night. Even my ear plugs didn't help keep out this noise. So even though the space was free for the night...sleep was not!
Monty makes his usual wake up call at 5:30 am. We are packed and leave our site by 8 am. The drive to Glacier National Park--East wing--seems to be a straight shot on US 2. It's really amazing how from the middle of Minnesota to the Rockies in Montana the land is totally flat as far as the eye can see.
In fact, as we travel, we see a HUGH field of Wind Mills in Cut Bank, MT! They really are majestic looking. Then all of a sudden, after passing Cut Bank, Montana,
you can see the mountains pop up! There is still snow on those mountains and the thermometer on the car indicates it's above 90 degrees. It will feel good to
be in cooler weather!
The heat is a killer for me--actually for both of us. Neither of us like it which is why
we don't travel in the South during the summer. Could that be worse then this heat has been?
Well, we're finally here! This is one of the major destinations Ed & I had on our wish list for this summer! Glacier National Park can't be beat!
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| Lake at Two Medicine looking at Glacier National Park |
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| Two Medicine Campground--Site 15 |
We had stopped at an Albertson's Grocery store to get some provisions for at least a week. Glad we did! This is in Indian country and there are NO stores around for many, many miles. Ice is about all we'll get at the camp store.
There is no internet or cell service here. I may take a long ride back to Cut Bank in a few days, but if not, we'll probably be here until Tuesday July 17, 2012.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Best Laid Plans!!
Monday July 8, 2012
Boy were we glad to end that adventure! We spent the night at Downstream--Fort Peck campground. We had electricity and the site cost $8.00 with the Senior Pass.
We kept the camper attached to the truck since we were only spending the night...and
there is no place around anywhere to go out to dinner! We set up and relax for the afternoon. They have showers which feel wonderful! Too bad there isn't a shower for our truck and camper. They are both coated in muck!
We decide to have cheese and crackers for dinner and play a game of scrabble. I was ahead for awhile but as usual...Ed wins.
Monty met a dog next to us at the campsite and had happy feet running around with her. It was like seeing him with his friend Toby. He misses having that fun play time, but boy is he being good on this trip!
Tuesday July 9, 2012
We head out early with the expectation of one more overnight stay before hitting Two Medicine campground in Glacier National Park in Montana. There are not a lot of options halfway to there following Rt 2 (no more dirt roads for us! We've made a change in the map program to try to avoid another yesterday!). It's Fresno Tailwater FAS (which we don't know what that means...but it looks like it's on a reservoir). It's right off Rt 2 near the town of Havre, MT. We even found a WalMart near there to get a few essentials.
When we arrive, it appears it is a free campground, on a pebble type driveway. You get what you pay for! There are no trees but there are about 10 campers already lined up like a parking lot, all with AC and generators. Not our style, so we decide to forge ahead.
The mapping program does not have a lot of choices for campgrounds of any type between Havre and Glacier. There is an interesting one listed about an hour or so away called Chester City Park. So that's where we head.
It's easy to find. When we get there...that's what we find. A city park. there was a flush bathroom facility, a covered area with lots of picnic tables, a three stall garage with more picnic tables (in case it rains?), a beautiful little garden maintained by the Chester Garden Club. There was someone there cleaning the bathrooms and he assured us, yes, you can camp here. I was a little apprehensive. We were the only campers. It's free. Leave a donation if you'd like. I'm still reticent. But like Ed said, this is better then the one we almost stayed at...at least there are no campers with generators near us!.
The temperature is in the 90's. We do our minimal set up and have lunch since we were able to find a decent grocery story on the way.
Monty loves the expanse of grass. I put out a blanket for him to lay on, and instead, he gathers it up into a ball and carries it to the shade of a big tree and settles in. I think he likes it here. We read under the trees for awhile, Ed goes for a short bike ride in the downtown area and I try to take a nap...didn't work. It's too hot. I have finished reading Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It was a fiction. Great book, Kathy, thanks for the suggestion!
Now I certainly would not have decided to stop here on my own, but the longer we sat here, the more it felt good.
There was even another camper that came along on his bike. He's originally from Vermont and is making a cross country bike ride from Washington State to
....He travels about 60 miles each day. There are crazier people out there then us!
We are off tomorrow to Two Medicine Campground off of route 2 near East Glacier, MT.
Boy were we glad to end that adventure! We spent the night at Downstream--Fort Peck campground. We had electricity and the site cost $8.00 with the Senior Pass.
We kept the camper attached to the truck since we were only spending the night...and
there is no place around anywhere to go out to dinner! We set up and relax for the afternoon. They have showers which feel wonderful! Too bad there isn't a shower for our truck and camper. They are both coated in muck!
We decide to have cheese and crackers for dinner and play a game of scrabble. I was ahead for awhile but as usual...Ed wins.
Monty met a dog next to us at the campsite and had happy feet running around with her. It was like seeing him with his friend Toby. He misses having that fun play time, but boy is he being good on this trip!
Tuesday July 9, 2012
We head out early with the expectation of one more overnight stay before hitting Two Medicine campground in Glacier National Park in Montana. There are not a lot of options halfway to there following Rt 2 (no more dirt roads for us! We've made a change in the map program to try to avoid another yesterday!). It's Fresno Tailwater FAS (which we don't know what that means...but it looks like it's on a reservoir). It's right off Rt 2 near the town of Havre, MT. We even found a WalMart near there to get a few essentials.
When we arrive, it appears it is a free campground, on a pebble type driveway. You get what you pay for! There are no trees but there are about 10 campers already lined up like a parking lot, all with AC and generators. Not our style, so we decide to forge ahead.
The mapping program does not have a lot of choices for campgrounds of any type between Havre and Glacier. There is an interesting one listed about an hour or so away called Chester City Park. So that's where we head.
 |
| City Park in Chester, MT. |
The temperature is in the 90's. We do our minimal set up and have lunch since we were able to find a decent grocery story on the way.
Monty loves the expanse of grass. I put out a blanket for him to lay on, and instead, he gathers it up into a ball and carries it to the shade of a big tree and settles in. I think he likes it here. We read under the trees for awhile, Ed goes for a short bike ride in the downtown area and I try to take a nap...didn't work. It's too hot. I have finished reading Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It was a fiction. Great book, Kathy, thanks for the suggestion!
Now I certainly would not have decided to stop here on my own, but the longer we sat here, the more it felt good.
There was even another camper that came along on his bike. He's originally from Vermont and is making a cross country bike ride from Washington State to
....He travels about 60 miles each day. There are crazier people out there then us!
We are off tomorrow to Two Medicine Campground off of route 2 near East Glacier, MT.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
It Doesn't Get Scarier Then This!!!!!
Sunday July 7, 2012
Happy Birthday, Jean!
We left Theodore Roosevelt National Park at 8 am this morning. We are getting good at packing up our gear. Like a well oiled machine. We originally planned to stop
at Makoshika State Park but since it's only an hour and a half away, I convinced Ed to go there on the way home instead. We still have about 13 hours of driving before we reach Two Medicine Campground at Glacier National Park. This is one of our main stops. Glacier is really beautiful!
About 10am or so we stop for breakfast at CC's Family Cafe. Great breakfast. We seem to find great local diners along the way.
We travel on Rt 94 for awhile and turn onto Route 200. Two lane quiet road. Maybe it's quiet because it's Sunday morning and everyone is at church.
This part of Montana is sparsely populated. Lots of farms with hay or something growing. Well spaced ranches with lots of cattle. Pretty flat, too.
We have 2 GPS's. One on the car and one that Ed uses for hiking and with our Trip program in the computer. Sometimes, however, they conflict with how to get where we are going. Today, however, they seem to be sending us the same way---but it's on a dirt road for what it says is 12 miles. Ed's map is calling it Highway 252. That liberty with the word Highway! Sure is an adventure!
We've been on here awhile. I think we are beyond the word adventure for this part of the trip. Now we have been on 16 miles of a one lane dirt road. Ed is freaking out. I'm trying to make lite of it and he's thinking about broken axles and not being able to turn around.
After awhile more, we come across 30 or 40 head of cattle...right in the middle of this dirt road wondering what the hell we are! I think it's funny. Ed does not see the humor in it.
We've gone another 5 miles or so and I am afraid I am joining Ed on freaking out. The road is getting more narrow and the ruts in the road are deeper. I don't know what we're going to do if we hit a patch we get stuck in. We don't have a shovel.
We went another mile, went to a dip in the roadway with lots of divots. They weren't all solid at that point but we didn't realize it. Ed plowed through...or tried to, anyway. You guessed it. The tires got stuck in almost a foot of muck....and it didn't smell good either. We were definitely in a pickle.
We got out and Ed assessed things. Then he tried to back up as far as he could but by then the camper was making a sharp turn so we had to stop. We had to take the camper off the truck, use 4W & 4L back and forth to move the truck beyond the muddy holes we made. The problem now is the camper is on one side of this muck and the truck is on the other.
Now we had to move the camper to face forward so we can try to reattach it to the truck. Given the weight of the tongue of the camper, that's not as easy as it sounds! Ed got the wheel on the tong of the camper and tried to move it. No go. Then we put a line of boards to one side of the wheel and he was able to push it along as I kept moving the boards. Once it was forward facing again, he had to find a drier side of the road to back the truck up to it.
I have never been so scared in my life. This was far more then an adventure. Ed was right to be freaking out. Once we were out of the mud, we still had 5 miles or so to go on this path with no idea if we were going to come across another problem. I'd like to tell you what town we were near during this adventure, but there are no town names on the map. There are no houses ANYWHERE to be seen.
Thank God!!! I think I have found religion!! We made it out to State Hwy 24. Now we need to travel another 30 miles or so to get to Fort Peck to camp. It's completely devoid of any signs of life. There are high tension wires along the ridge and wire fencing on either side of the road but NOTHING else. If we had gotten stuck a little more in that muck, I have no clue how we would have gotten out of there. It would have been at least 35 miles to go to get help! Walk??? Take the bike and leave back at the truck in the middle of no where??? And would AAA even consider coming out to get us??? Scary to even think about!
And by the way...there certainly was no cell service!
I'm ready to stop for the day and it's only 12:30!
Happy Birthday, Jean!
We left Theodore Roosevelt National Park at 8 am this morning. We are getting good at packing up our gear. Like a well oiled machine. We originally planned to stop
at Makoshika State Park but since it's only an hour and a half away, I convinced Ed to go there on the way home instead. We still have about 13 hours of driving before we reach Two Medicine Campground at Glacier National Park. This is one of our main stops. Glacier is really beautiful!
About 10am or so we stop for breakfast at CC's Family Cafe. Great breakfast. We seem to find great local diners along the way.
We travel on Rt 94 for awhile and turn onto Route 200. Two lane quiet road. Maybe it's quiet because it's Sunday morning and everyone is at church.
This part of Montana is sparsely populated. Lots of farms with hay or something growing. Well spaced ranches with lots of cattle. Pretty flat, too.
We have 2 GPS's. One on the car and one that Ed uses for hiking and with our Trip program in the computer. Sometimes, however, they conflict with how to get where we are going. Today, however, they seem to be sending us the same way---but it's on a dirt road for what it says is 12 miles. Ed's map is calling it Highway 252. That liberty with the word Highway! Sure is an adventure!
We've been on here awhile. I think we are beyond the word adventure for this part of the trip. Now we have been on 16 miles of a one lane dirt road. Ed is freaking out. I'm trying to make lite of it and he's thinking about broken axles and not being able to turn around.
We've gone another 5 miles or so and I am afraid I am joining Ed on freaking out. The road is getting more narrow and the ruts in the road are deeper. I don't know what we're going to do if we hit a patch we get stuck in. We don't have a shovel.
We went another mile, went to a dip in the roadway with lots of divots. They weren't all solid at that point but we didn't realize it. Ed plowed through...or tried to, anyway. You guessed it. The tires got stuck in almost a foot of muck....and it didn't smell good either. We were definitely in a pickle.
We got out and Ed assessed things. Then he tried to back up as far as he could but by then the camper was making a sharp turn so we had to stop. We had to take the camper off the truck, use 4W & 4L back and forth to move the truck beyond the muddy holes we made. The problem now is the camper is on one side of this muck and the truck is on the other.
Now we had to move the camper to face forward so we can try to reattach it to the truck. Given the weight of the tongue of the camper, that's not as easy as it sounds! Ed got the wheel on the tong of the camper and tried to move it. No go. Then we put a line of boards to one side of the wheel and he was able to push it along as I kept moving the boards. Once it was forward facing again, he had to find a drier side of the road to back the truck up to it.
I have never been so scared in my life. This was far more then an adventure. Ed was right to be freaking out. Once we were out of the mud, we still had 5 miles or so to go on this path with no idea if we were going to come across another problem. I'd like to tell you what town we were near during this adventure, but there are no town names on the map. There are no houses ANYWHERE to be seen.
Thank God!!! I think I have found religion!! We made it out to State Hwy 24. Now we need to travel another 30 miles or so to get to Fort Peck to camp. It's completely devoid of any signs of life. There are high tension wires along the ridge and wire fencing on either side of the road but NOTHING else. If we had gotten stuck a little more in that muck, I have no clue how we would have gotten out of there. It would have been at least 35 miles to go to get help! Walk??? Take the bike and leave back at the truck in the middle of no where??? And would AAA even consider coming out to get us??? Scary to even think about!
And by the way...there certainly was no cell service!
I'm ready to stop for the day and it's only 12:30!
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