Where in the World is Norman?

Well, it had to happen...we DID forget something. We forgot Norman's passport! Thankfully we discovered this before we tried to cross over the border into Canada. We hoped that we could talk our way through it, but Norman was so frightened that he'd be deported (I turned him over and saw that he was 'made in China') he was so upset that we didn't want to take the chance. So....we are NOT going to Alaska.

But seriously folks...

Jim woke up Sunday morning, looked at me and said, "I'm getting tired of driving."

Huh?

I informed him that he still had 2500 miles ONE WAY to Fairbanks (we'd already driven over 3,000) and that he'd better think this one out quick. So we decided to go on toward the border (we were just south of Helena at this point) and make our decision later in the day. Our do or die point was Great Falls, Mt.

Apparently, the last few days he'd been having doubts. When we first decided to do this trip gasoline was selling for about $1.49/gallon. The last few days we've been watching it climb steadily to about $2.49+/gallon, predicted to go higher, and of course it's more in Canada and Alaska. Secondly we were going to be in more remote places than we've ever been before. He was a little apprehensive wondering about our health and if one of us got sick, or had a major breakdown...

But I think it was it was the $2.50 per dog charge at the campground in Canada I called, that tipped him over the edge. The campground was much higher than we were used to anyway. But when the guy on the phone said '...and an extra $2.50 per dog', is when Jim started screaming, "WHAT!" Then he wanted me to ask the guy at the campground if the price included them picking up the dog shit... I cancelled the reservation and got off the phone promptly. Jim's next sentence was, "How bad do YOU want to go to Alaska?" I told him that *I* had not wanted to go that far, I wanted to go to the Colorado Plateau, the four corners area, but every time I mentioned that Alaska was too far, he wouldn't hear it. Ultimately, it was a combination of road weariness, budget and intimidation.

So that, folks, is 'the rest of the story'. I put off writing this post, not wanting to disappoint everyone. Not to mention, the NAME of the blog is so wrong now...

I can't change the name of the blog, but will be making some modifications.

Day 21 West Glacier MT to Deer Lodge MT 238 Miles

Okay, now on with the trip...we are not going home yet! We have been trying for the last two days to decide where we want to go from here. Also, we're hoping see new places that we have had to miss in past trips due to time constraints or because something was too far off the beaten path. Plans are still being kicked around somewhat, but we have a pretty good idea of the next few weeks....almost.

When we woke up today we were treated to record breaking warmth and gorgeous weather in West Glacier. We headed up to the park and were informed that we could only go 15 miles in due to avalanche damage on the mountain. Apparently, it's pretty bad and they can't even get the equipment in to fix it until the snow melts. The fifteen miles we got to see were all the lower elevations on the river and Lake McDonald. Very, very beautiful lake, river and waterfalls but sure would have loved to do the whole 48 miles over to the other side like we did in our 1991 RV trip.

We got back from the park before noon, so we packed up headed SOUTH! Route 93, through Kallispell (neat town!) and following the west banks of the Flathead Lake is one of the prettiest rides in the country. The lake is a brilliant shade of blue and BIG. Even though, it was curvy and hilly and narrow in spots, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Later, we hit some MAJOR road construction on our way back to I90. We were rocking, rolling and getting covered in dust. Finally, we made it to the interstate and had scenic ride until we stopped at a roadside campground in a small town called Deer Lodge. I kept getting whiffs of cow manure and later realized that there was cattle grazing on the other side of the trees abutting the property. No wonder!

Made sure we had cable so we could watch American Idol...thank goodness it's over so I don't have to keep doing that!

Tomorrow headed east on I90 to Butte, then south on I15 through Idaho to Utah. High winds forecasted, a RV driver's nightmare...

Big Sky

Sunday May 17, 2009

Day 20 Townsend MT to West Glacier MT 324 Miles

Northern Montana is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with temps in the 80’s. We so like that!
We drove up I15 through Helena and Great Falls, then turned on a state road, US89, which was a joy. The highway traveled through huge cattle ranches, wheat fields and some of the quaintest towns and also through part of the Blackfoot Indian Nation.

Along the way, Norman found an interesting friend, a wood carving in a teeny, tiny town named Choteau.

We chose the West Glacier KOA, mostly because of the reliable WIFI. For the past two years, it has been the best. Until now, I could NOT get connected, even though I have a good signal. Other than that it’s a wonderful looking place, tall pines, an open field (that we’re in) quiet and clean.

It’s so early in the season up here that some places aren’t open yet. Including the ‘Going to the Sun Road, the highlight of Glacier NP. We can only go 15 miles of the 48 before we will have to turn back. I’m starting to see a pattern here….

Jim was freaking over the Jeep being filthy from being towed, so we drove 15 miles to the nearest car wash. On a small strip of land beside the car wash was a tulip garden, all in bloom. There must have been over a hundred feet of tulips of every color type. I wondered who planted it and noticed across the street there was a tiny single-wide trailer home on a postage stamp size lot with a beautiful flower garden loaded with tulips. The kitchen window faced across the small street to the car wash and the tulips. I guessed the gardner who loved there had planted them to for all to enjoy. How nice! Turning a narrow swath of uncared for land into something beautiful.

On the way back to the campground we drove up to see Hungry Horse Dam. It’s down a winding road on the side of a mountain….steep drops, but hidden with trees, which is good! Hungry Horse Dam


Tomorrow we will drive as far as we are allowed in Glacier NP