2020 July MT, ID, WA

   4^th of July 2020 weekend, post COVID-19 we are still in the Yellowstone Grand Tetons area spending some time fishing and relaxing, small day trips into town of West Yellowstone or to Bozeman Mt and Yellowstone National Park to review some of the places we saw that we enjoyed, I’m having a good time.

Scheduled to meet my brother here this evening and anticipate a few days seeing Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, along with him is sister Barbara, mother Camille. We anticipate having a great time, we're going to stay together at the National Forest campground where we have based ourselves and it will be good to see family again.

Wow, 3 days we spent together and no pics! Chatting constantly, catching up, dinners together around the campsite, all in all a very good relaxing time together.

Bob, Tanya and I would go fishing each day, Mom and Barbara would go sightseeing in the Yellowstone Park or sometimes just in the shops of West Yellowstone.

Bob would always out fish me of course – he has truly engaged fly fishing and it’s his number one passion.  Me I dabble at it and enjoy being on the water, same as I feel about kayaking.  As always, I truly enjoy time on the water with my brother.  Tanya would sit on the bank with her feet in the water or sit in the RV working or reading.  She did enjoy the quiet time and relaxing atmosphere.

After a few days together Bob, Mom, Barbara head out to see the Grand Tetons and onward to Wisconsin to see family.  It was not in the cards that we all meet in Wisconsin, so it was awesome that we had a few days together along the way.

So, after 3 weeks in Tetons and Yellowstone Tanya and I departed to drop Tanya off at the airport to go back to MD for some daughter time, me I go on for other fishing opportunities in Montana.

Boulder Creek, MT not good fishing but a great campsite along the river. Puttered around during the day fixing this and that and realizing that traveling alone is not the same as when you have someone to share things with. It’s going to be a long 10 days apart!

Tonight, I’m on the Madison River and did not realize that another weekend is here. Boy, got to watch that for campsites are booked for weekends. Fortunately, I scored so booked through the weekend at a National Park campsite.  There are people floating the river in all kinds of crafts, watching them is the only other thing to do for there is no TV reception, no cell service.  Just fish, read, cook and eat. Hmmm sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?

Nothing much about tourism to write about. Tanya had a great time with daughter, I had a great time fishing several of Montana’s famous and not so famous rivers. Madison, Jefferson, Big Hole, Boulder rivers. Found that Montana has a great interactive map by Trout Unlimited to find access points at most rivers. Some of these access points also allowed camping right on the river! My fishing improved somewhat although I will never be as good as my brother.

I had dinner with Mother Brother and Sister when they stopped off on their way back from Wisconsin. They enjoyed the family time and Uncle Jerry’s birthday and are glad to be going home again.

It seems Covid19 has taken a turn for the worse and Montana has pushed additional restrictions. It is really hopeful to see more people wearing masks as they go about their business. This type of traveling you do not interact with people very much unless you seek it out. It is easy to maintain privacy in your own home (RV), just as others in a stick and bricks house you feel the need for social interaction at times. Keeping distance between you is easy enough and of course masks! So, we continue our travels for we seldom use formal campgrounds and dispersed camping is so easy to find in the western states. As a matter of fact, we have not used a formal campground yet! This is the type of traveling we prefer, dispersed camping on public lands in beautiful remote areas, enjoying nature and each other as we travel. Tanya is committed to full timing now and we continue on our way.

Tanya returned from DC, and we head off to travel once again. Arriving in Idaho and on the way to Craters of the Moon National Monument we find an out of the way camping spot alongside a small creek. We have a light dinner and Tanya shows me an app that Maria shared with her for music. We played our old favorites and danced outside of the RV. Oh so fun to feel free and easy to enjoy time with each other in such a beautiful place.

A moose come close by our RV! Wow, this is the first Moose I have seen up close with full antlers. He was not in any hurry to move on, simply hanging around for a while – seems he enjoyed the music and dancing we were playing! I thought about why a moose would be here? This is arid desert; one small stream cannot give him what he needs? I don’t know an awful lot about moose, they are famous in Maine and are pictured in swampy areas feeding on water-based plants. Hmm something to check

Arco, ID the first town in the world to be powered by atomic energy.  Having breakfast at Pickles Place, home of the atomic burger!

This makes the third time I have been to Craters of the Moon National Monument and the absolutely best visit. It truly appears that having no time constraints I approach life totally differently.  As I mentioned I am now Semi-Retired and when arriving at a scenic area I no longer look for the highlights to capture as quickly as possible what is the top thing of interest to see. That was before when running in the rat race. Now I look at all the available sights regardless of how much time it would take and set out to find the whole experience.  I had no idea this is how I have been approaching things. This attitude has changed my experience and expectations allot.

 We took the time to walk several trails and the interactive signs allowed us to learn so much more of this unique landscape. The way that volcanoes normally function and how this location was totally different.  You must try this different approach and you will be happy you did.

One of the spatter holes had snow inside it! With this high heat and low humidity, I was very surprised. 

Unique formation of lava flows

Tonight, we parked in a Walmart parking lot for the first time in several weeks, so different than dispersed camping. Fortunately, it was quiet, and we rested very well.

Shoshone Falls, last time I visited was in the fall and waterfalls were very minimal.  Now in midsummer its quite breathtaking. Notice the rainbow on the left side!

Balancing Rock, wow quite impressive, looking through binoculars and see several cracks and the base looks like its thin slabs. Don’t understand how it does not fall!

Along the route we stopped at a little park for lunch, a display for sheep ranching and how it developed. This is the shepherded home on the range.

This Princess Rialta celebrated 100,000 miles today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an outstanding 23 year old machine that takes us to so many great adventures. Happy Birthday Princess! (Tanya named the Rialta Princess for she is always needing TLC from me 😊)

One of the things about full timing is that you follow the weather to enjoy more adventures. We were monitoring the weather each day and observed that the next week will have very hot temperatures, scanning ahead we decided to push on to the coast of Washington to beat the heat. Pushing a lot of miles for 2 days gets us to Tacoma, WA. Stopping along the way to visit my sister Pattie in Yakima, WA just as I have done each time I traveled west. She has had a lot of changes in her life, and I was really happy to see her so happy. Since I saw her last, she has lost one husband to illness and is now engaged to another. Living among people that give her a purpose and feeling helpful. So happy for her. We met at a restaurant and Covid has resurged so no indoor eating, so we set out the lawn chairs in the parking lot, eat, chat and catch up with each other.

A very short backtrack to Toppenish, WA to tour the city of murals. Most were about the history of the town. Quite impressive, we enjoyed RT66 for the same reason of a lot of things to see along the way.

Nearly everywhere we go now Covid has created increased precautions. Masks are required anytime in public, cannot enter any store without masks. Of course, we had always carried alcohol in a spray bottle also as additional precautions. Tanya surprised me one time by handing the spray bottle after pumping gas, I did not think of that one!

Over the mountain and arrive at Tacoma, WA we decided to bypass Seattle even for a drive through, seems a lot of disturbance here as well as Portland so why risk problems. Boy I love the opportunities RV travel provides to go where you want to when you want to.

We plan on spending time around Olympic National Forest before heading toward Portland, OR area where my brother lives. I have ordered some parts for the RV and will be able to use his repair shop to install.

Camped in Tacoma, WA and caught up on laundry before heading into the wilderness.  Knowing there will not be cell service and the apps I use for finding camping and interesting things to see I must copy gps coordinates into the dash gps for dispersed camping in the National Forest.  Now were ready to go! Plan on 3 days which will allow the heat wave to pass by while we stay on the pacific coast where its cooler.

Olympic National Park

Whew a 17-mile steady rise from sea level to 5200 feet. 5-7% grades the whole way. Princess Rialta handled it so fine!

This is definitely worth the drive, views of the inner mountains of this park are amazing, signs explaining the glacier actions, erosion and views on short hiking trails of the Straights of Juan De Fuca.

Pullovers on the drive back down the hill are possible now, on the way up I felt I did not want to lose the momentum and so stops on the way back down are in order. Not as great views as from the top but definitely nice.

We met another class B driver in Walmart camping area, she is a ranger at Grand Canyon on hiatus. We chatted over several things camping related, shared apps to help with travels, pretty cool lady, she is definitely into hiking!

We followed the road around the park stopping and camping in the rain forest 2 nights. Definitely a very different habitat than anywhere else we camped. I expected as a rain forest it would be hot and muggy, not so the cool air from the Pacific Ocean kept the rain forest very cool. Moss grows over much of the trees, extremely tall trees!

Time to follow the coast to the point when the time to cut inland and visit Mom. We are finding it harder to find free camping along the coast. Understandable for it is popular and perhaps the homeless gravitate this way too. We have been diligent and only one night so far, we have paid $10 to park at a boat launch.

Next blog will be visits with family in Oregon.

2018 October Yellowstone, Fishing MT

 Yellowstone NP

Yellowstone national park.

It was untimely for us that many of the campgrounds were closing for the season.  Several nights in a row were spent searching for a campsite.  This did not allow us the leisure we had wanted to stop and spend more time at each location.  We did get through most of the things to see in Yellowstone and had a great time.  I had visited here around 13 years ago but it was still different and enjoyable I am glad we came. 

 

Mary seeing this for the first time truly loved everything.  Did not see bears but many, antelope and bison.

 

The trees were in first bloom of fall colors.  I learned that the grasses change colors too, soft yellows and reeds are the predominant colors on grasses.

 

Watching many different geysers of different colors and activity is so cool.  Once more the feeling of mankind is so small in the universe.

 

 

 

Parking in a campsite one night I was seeing up the camp chairs and heard a hissing noise.  The rear tire had seemed to separate from the rim, this concerned me for we were 8 miles from West Yellowstone.  We broke camp and went to town right away.  There was plenty of places to get air as we looked for a tire shop.  It was a Saturday, and everyone was closed.  Stopping at a NAPA auto store they knew of a place that had opened that Monday and was open on Saturdays.

 

This place was so great, they put the spare on, found a trailer tire that would work and helped me order 2 tires. Feeling uncomfortable with the old spare on, we limited ourselves in our travels. 

Sunday, we toured the west Yellowstone Museum while waiting to meet brother Bob. We met up with brother Bob, Mom and Bob's family also Patton and his wife (Bob's fishing buddy)

 

 

 Lunch and catching up we were all smiles.  Caravanning to Big Sky, MT where Bob had rented a large house, this is the first time in a month I have slept inside a house.  Kind of nice waking up warm and toasty.

 

 

Three days of guided fishing with w different guides we were able to fish the Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone rivers.  Beautiful country, colors in the landscape,  snowcapped mountains in the distance, oh so nice!

 

 

 

The drive to each river had wonderful views and the conversation of fishing and countryside is an experience I will remember.

 

The guide would take 2 people in his right boat and 2 people would use brother Bob's raft. I was able to convince brother Bob to let me row the raft to let him get some fishing time in. I actually enjoyed rowing for it allowed me to look around at the landscape more than when you're fishing.  You tend to watch and read the water for your casting and forget to look around at the beautiful countryside. 

 Knowing you are on some of the world's most famous trout streams that are also available to common people is exciting. Famous fly fishermen from all over the world have finished the same waters.  Of course, you need to catch fish as well, no problem we all caught fish and had a great time.

 While the fishermen were out fishing Mary, Mom, Jan, Cheryl toured Yellowstone, so Mary was able to enjoy the park more and spend time with Mom.

Last day of guided fishing and my personal best for this trip of 7 fish.

 

Tomorrow we all leave the area, Bob and Mom to Sacramento, Patton and Cheryl home in Oregon, Jan takes a detour home to Oregon, Mary and I to Oregon and Bob's house for a rest while I fly east for a quick business. See you on the road!

2002 July West Coast to East Coast

 Sea to Shining Sea West to East

The route from Benton City, WA to Yellowstone, National Park.  Along the way we took two-lane Highways through western Washington and eastern Idaho, single lane roads through small towns with an agricultural base.  Interesting how the harvest of alfalfa the farmers would harvest in sections creating designs in their fields.

 The areas with water available would have the most farming. When entering Idaho the route changes more to touristy, following the snake river alongside the Nez Pierce reservation was interesting, small shops in little towns all along the way and the views of tree covered hills following the river was nice.  Not making many miles because of the smaller roads we laid over. Fortunately that we did for our neighbor in the campground had come from the direction we were headed and said rain mixed with snow for her entire day.  Next day as we head out the clouds had diminished some and we had better going.  Following the Nez Pierce evacuation route through the mountains into Montana was beautiful, small streams overflowing with rain inside forest covered mountains were pretty.  At last reaching an interstate in Montana we expected to make some mileage but knowing we would not reach Yellowstone that day gave in to Nita to stop off at a fly-fishing shop. Turned out there was a samolnfly hatch in progress so Nita talked Tom into purchasing a new fly rod and some fly’s.  Now with a new rod and a hatch happening Tom could not pass up the opportunity to try his luck, so we stayed over that day and all of the next to try fishing.

What a fantastic experience, Tom had not fished for trout in over 20 years yet was able to land a 15” cutthroat trout!  The range looms loftily over Montanan’s river’s the peaks still traced with snow, but getting ready to burst into full summer color like the valley below.  This view is one of several along road beckon travelers to conclude they’re motoring through “Gods Country”. We all enjoyed our stay and will never forget the how the sun reflects brilliantly from a high mountain stream and nearby fireweed is illuminated during the last moments of a Montana Sunset.

 

Continuing toward Yellowstone we viewed the famous trout streams Madison, Gallatin, and Jefferson in Montana.  They all were overflowing with rainwater and snowmelt but it was interesting to actually be there where so much has been written about in fly-fishing circles.  Camping in a Passport America campground outside the park we made our base of operations.  A nice park 12 miles outside Yellowstone with very friendly people, two in particular we made friends with one a retired truck driver who enjoys fishing, another with a Rexhall Airbus who we exchanged information with and made plans to meet at the next location of Mount Rushmore.

 

Yellowstone, NP

Sitting astride the Continental Divide, high up in the northern Rockies at the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is one of the true wonders of the natural world.  A veritable greatest hits of Mother Nature, the park is packed full of burbling geysers, magnificent canyons, raging waterfalls, and still-wild wildlife.  The country’s and the worlds oldest national park, established in 1872, Yellowstone was first explored by frontiersman John Colter, who passed through in 1808: it’s also one of the largest parts of the Lower 48 states never to be farmed or fenced.

 

The first day we over did ourselves. Not only did we travel the southern loop of Yellowstone but drove through the Grand Teton, NP also. Covering 250 miles and numerous stops we exhausted ourselves.  Seeing Old Faithful was just as good as when seen on a nature film. And the Lodge at Old Faithful is truly magnificent: constructed throughout with whole logs with unique shapes yet put together in a pleasing manner. Three stories high your eyes are tasked to view all of it. Simply something you have to see for yourselves.

Numerous Buffalo, Elk, geysers, rivers, streams and hot springs throughout the park. Several times buffalo blocked the road as they crossed as a herd. All the traffic would stop and wait for the crossing; we would get out of the cars to take pictures as they took their time crossing. Several times during our stay buffaloes would be walking

down the road so close you thought they would rub the side of your car. The Grand Teton’s were spectacular the entire drive through the park you could see the mountains. We stopped at a lodge for lunch while enjoying the view of the mountains. Getting very tired we passed on seeing more of the Teton’s and finished our route up a 10% grade, glad we did not bring the motor home this was quite a pull even for the truck. Once over the grade it was another 60 miles to camp through farmland and ravines, passing farm trucks along the way.

We saw so very much and covered so many miles we were exhausted. Nita took the next day off to rest and Tom went fishing on the famous Madison River. Fishing that portion of the river inside the park is exciting!

Buffalo wandering by as you standing in the stream is a unique experience. Working the stream hard Tom caught 3 fish the first day one of which was 10” rainbow trout. Returning to camp we had a big meal and turned in early for we expected to tour more of the park the next day.

Having done the southern loop of Yellowstone we headed off to see the northern loop. The first part had road construction and fortunately the road workers were not working at the time we went through. The road was packed dirt but fairly smooth. A hot spring at the creeks edge was interesting for I know the water was cold enough for trout yet the hot water entering the stream had to make it much warmer.

Monmouth Springs looked better on the post card than it did up close. A side trip brought us to a hot spring that we could stand under!

Stopping off along the roadway to eat is always fun, either fortunately or unfortunately Yogi Bear did not come by to get the picnic basket. We did see Black Bears though a mother and two cubs far enough away to feel safe.

The remainder of the northern loop followed the Yellowstone River Canyon but never close enough to see it. This portion was disappointing to us, had a lot of hills and curves to drive but not that much in the way of scenery or animals. The route back went through the same road construction area and since we had seen it already just added to our disappointment.

Next day we camped inside the Yellowstone Park. Nita puttered around the campground and Tom went fishing on the Fire hole River inside the park. Much more productive fishing but much smaller fish. Tom seems to have relearned how to catch trout and is having a good time. Yo had wandered around a little and the camp host was a bit of a stuffed shirt and got very upset about Yo being outside. So outside on a harness and that is not Yo’s favorite thing.

Departure from Yellowstone is a mixture of feelings, we truly enjoyed our stay but the need to move on is strong too.  Along the way out we did see a grizzly bear, definitely far enough away to be safe. The exit out the east side of the park is narrow and winding, we have had enough of wining roads and are ready to make some miles. It took most of the morning to get out of the park and down to Cody, WY. A little shopping and push on down the road. The choices of Hwy 14 or 16 through the Bighorn Mountains looked about the same on the map. Traveling it though I am not so sure. We took Hwy 14 and it was very steep and windy until you reach the top then a large plateau for a nice ride the downside and then again very steep and winding. Extremely scenic though, beautiful colored canyon walls sharp ridges and some wildlife. Actually this could be a nice area to visit. Continuing on we ended up stopping in a high school parking lot for the night in Sundance, WY. Although occasional cars did come by into the school area it was relatively quiet and we rested quite well.

Next morning we attempted to meet up with some acquaintances in Sturgis, WY and missed them entirely, such is the life on the road, you never know that timing to meet others will work out or not. So we continued down to Custer State Park, SD to stay a few days. We had been told that there are more animals here than in Yellowstone. Apparently not at the time we were there. A little searching and we did see Pronghorn Antelope and some burros that would put their heads into the car to ask for a handout.

Nice campground and enjoyed meeting the people there had quite an afternoon visiting the camp host and our immediate neighbors who were from Tampa, FL. Mountain goats were along the road and buffalo walked through our campsite, Yo was not sure what to do with that big of an animal that close to us.

A short drive to see Mount Rushmore and off we go. Mt Rushmore is what you would expect of a stone figure, not very entertaining but definitely impressive in the enormous undertaking it required to make it. Most definitely a unique man made attraction.

South Dakota is a very long state with the western half not too populated. Signs along the interstate were plentiful for Walls Drug store in Wall, SD. We did stop there and were entertained by the exhibits and décor of the shops, definitely a tourist trap! Prices very reasonable though and a lot of people were there. Glad we did stop though and it made for a good break in a long flat boring drive.

Another couple of hundred miles along the road is Mitchell, SD home of the Corn Palace USA.  This building that local merchant started in 1908 to promote their town in the hopes of increased business and election as the state capitol.

Unfortunately, they never did become the capitol but did increase business. Every year with the exception of the world war years they would put up new designs on the walls of the building in different murals. The building had been rebuilt three times for various reasons and the latest one does not have the domes on it, they are attempting to raise money to install new domes on the current building to match the previous buildings.

A free tour (short but offering insight into history of the corn palace) we did shop in the flea market inside. Tom found a Pheasant cape that we put up in the motor home. A lot of color and the cats seem to like it too.

Also in Mitchell is a Cabellas store. Tom had mail ordered a lot of fishing equipment from this store in the past, so we went inside and browsed. The best part of all is they had free camping in the parking lot with water and dump station available. The weather that evening was cool enough to camp without the generator running and the other campers were nice to chat to. This felt very safe to stay at and we enjoyed the stop over.

Next stop is Basswood campground just north of Kansas City, MO. The campground was hosting the national Bar-B-Que Cook Off! We could not even sample the food due to health laws so we did wander around to see all the cooking set ups and watch some of the entertainment provided. Nita went back to rest and Tom was walking around and heard people clapping, so off he goes to see what’s going on. A group of Dodge Motor Homes 1950’s versions were having their National Rally. Naturally there were not too very many of these coaches. They were having an excellent time; there were four members of the camp group who were also a band. They sang folk songs and were very good. Their name is Spontaneous Combustion, from Kansas City, MO. Extremely good musicians and I shall have to look up their web site to learn more.

Next day tour Hallmark Cards home office. A very good film describing the efforts Hallmark places into developing the artists who make the pictures and sayings in the cards, a tour of past cards, mementoes, movies, person gifts. Also a demonstration of how to make the dies for the cards.

An attempt to see the Oregon Trail Museum in Independence, MO was a bust! It was not even there any more. The map and computer showed it and it was definitely not there.

Off to Branson, MO for some touristy fun.

Finding our campground easily we arrived late in the day, the owners had made themselves available to receive us (gated campground) and we got parked and settled in for the night. Next day we found a schedule of events and picked out what shows had an interest to both of us and went to a discount place to purchase tickets.

 

Mell Tills show is good; his family for the most part is involved with his show. His band is apparently the last band to stay with their performer for extended time. 23 years most of his band had been with him! Good show and a good time overall.

Based upon recommendations from people we chatted with we changed our tickets from Mickey Gilley to Pierce Arrow. What a mistake, as soon as the band started they were so loud Tom left! The manager did try to turn the volume down, earplugs and moving to the very back did not help either. We left and they did give us a one-year gift certificate to come back and try again.

There are a lot of restaurants in Branson, we tried a few and could not get the hang of other peoples recommendations. One place was highly recommended and people departing as we were arriving said it is very good – the worst meal we have had yet! Another received no recommendation at all, yet we enjoyed it very much. Go figure!!!

Onward to Memphis, TN, the route through the Ozarks is a pleasant drive some windy areas but rolling hills and small towns. In Memphis the Agricenter International has a large campground with a very small pond and a farmers market. No shade trees but very few people were there and we did park near a lady who made us feel very welcome.

Tour Memphis is interesting. Attractions such as a Pyramid, Southern Folklore, Beal Street (birthplace of the Blues) many historical homes to tour, Mud Island and of course the Mississippi River. Memphis is a nice town, hot yet not unbearably, many mature shade trees lining the streets of the residential areas. A Mexican restaurant that is a good competition to the one in New Mexico!

Touring the Pink Palace is not what was expected, very, very little of the mansion and no furnishings as advertised. Good Museum as an attachment to the Mansion covering civil war events, miniature circus and origin of Piggly Wiggly stores.

Driving through Memphis we were impressed with the numbers of mature trees in the neighborhoods, revealing cool shaded lawns. Clean town with potential, traffic a bit heavy though.

Knoxville, TN and the Blount Mansion! Are we some sort of royalty? Not even to be expected. There may be an important figure in our past though. William Blount signer of the Constitution, land developer, primary individual to making Tennessee a state.

A mansion in its time, a clapboard two story house with windows! Very well kept and the tour is excellent. Taking home some documents to investigate if we are any relation or not.

Over the mountain to a campground with an herbal farm. Turns out also has a trout stream alongside. Tom did catch a few and Yo, Simba, Nita got some rest.

Homeward bound, we have mixed feelings about getting back, some part of us wants to continue on down the road and parts want to stay put awhile. Lets give it a few days before we decide.

 

 

 

 

Overall Trip Statistics:

 

Mileage                8,000

Pictures                1,700

Time Span            6 Weeks