I uploaded photos at Shutterfly Click here to view Shutterfly albums
and videos at YouTube Click here for YouTube videos
For trip tales, see entries in the blog below.
Blogs show last entry first. To read in chronological order, click on the earliest date, read the bottom entry, then hop up the page, entry by entry. I tried to reverse the order, but can't be done :(
Would love to read about your trips too, so send links and stories, interested in where you go and what you do!
Marilyn
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
HOME
August 29, 2010
We are home. Yesterday we didn't get as far as Davenport, stopped in Coralville, which is by Iowa City, about 60 miles before Davenport. Internet was down at the motel, they said it was down all over the city. Drove straight on home from there, across the rest of Iowa, across Illinois and across Indiana and got home about 7. Was about 95 degrees most of the afternoon.
Quite tired. Unpacked about half our stuff, left the rest for tomorrow. Was a great trip and we had lots of fun. We don't push as hard as we used to, this is "leisure travel" as we've now dubbed it, and we make side trips or stops whenever we want.
We've seen miles and miles of sunflowers, but more miles and miles of corn. For the last 3 days it seems all we've seen is one cornfield after another! We had clear blue skies all over the west through Mitchell SD, but then as we drove east from there, we noticed the haze get thicker and thicker. Once we crossed into Indiana, we knew we were almost home just by looking at the haze across the horizon.
Will upload pics and videos first chance I get, but not for several days as I need to unwind a bit. Driving/riding for 3 straight days is tiring, much more fun to stop and see what's there. Thanks for putting up with us, and will send info soon about pics.
We are home. Yesterday we didn't get as far as Davenport, stopped in Coralville, which is by Iowa City, about 60 miles before Davenport. Internet was down at the motel, they said it was down all over the city. Drove straight on home from there, across the rest of Iowa, across Illinois and across Indiana and got home about 7. Was about 95 degrees most of the afternoon.
Quite tired. Unpacked about half our stuff, left the rest for tomorrow. Was a great trip and we had lots of fun. We don't push as hard as we used to, this is "leisure travel" as we've now dubbed it, and we make side trips or stops whenever we want.
We've seen miles and miles of sunflowers, but more miles and miles of corn. For the last 3 days it seems all we've seen is one cornfield after another! We had clear blue skies all over the west through Mitchell SD, but then as we drove east from there, we noticed the haze get thicker and thicker. Once we crossed into Indiana, we knew we were almost home just by looking at the haze across the horizon.
Will upload pics and videos first chance I get, but not for several days as I need to unwind a bit. Driving/riding for 3 straight days is tiring, much more fun to stop and see what's there. Thanks for putting up with us, and will send info soon about pics.
in Mitchell SD
August 27, 2010
When we left Canmore we camped in Jasper and Banff Parks for 8 days, in several different campgrounds, went on several hikes.. THEN we drove from Jasper to Golden, and then through the Okanagan Valley, etc.
We spent 2 nights in Deadwood SD, toured the Mining Museum and toured a simulated mine tour of the Homestake Gold Mine, which was the largest gold mine in the world until 2001 when they closed the mine, not because the gold is gone, but because it was costing more to remove it than they were getting. Now they are using the deep mine as a special science lab.
This morning we left Deadwood driving east on I-90. Stopped at Wall Drug (in Wall, SD), the hokey tourist stop, then drove along a non-main highway to Pierre to see the capitol building, Saw miles and miles of sunflowers, hundreds of acres of them, also a lot of milo and hay. Just rolling hills covered with short grasses and very very few trees. Rode miles with very few houses or towns.
Got very hot and was extremely windy. Our van has a temp gauge for the outside temperature and it hit 109 for awhile in the early afternoon, was over 100 for most of the day. AC worked hard and we stayed comfortable, but when we stepped out it was a blast of oven air that almost blew you over... but as they say it was a dry heat, so not muggy at all.
Hoped to get to Sioux Falls, but didn't make it. We're in Mitchell SD about 60 miles before Sioux Falls. Crossed the time line so lost an hour, we are now in Central Time. We had hoped to get to Davenport (Quad Cities) tomorrow night, then Louisville and home by Sunday night, but not sure we can make tracks that fast. We might find something to stop and see and take an extra day.
No time to upload photos or videos now, but will upload them when I get home.
When we left Canmore we camped in Jasper and Banff Parks for 8 days, in several different campgrounds, went on several hikes.. THEN we drove from Jasper to Golden, and then through the Okanagan Valley, etc.
We spent 2 nights in Deadwood SD, toured the Mining Museum and toured a simulated mine tour of the Homestake Gold Mine, which was the largest gold mine in the world until 2001 when they closed the mine, not because the gold is gone, but because it was costing more to remove it than they were getting. Now they are using the deep mine as a special science lab.
This morning we left Deadwood driving east on I-90. Stopped at Wall Drug (in Wall, SD), the hokey tourist stop, then drove along a non-main highway to Pierre to see the capitol building, Saw miles and miles of sunflowers, hundreds of acres of them, also a lot of milo and hay. Just rolling hills covered with short grasses and very very few trees. Rode miles with very few houses or towns.
Got very hot and was extremely windy. Our van has a temp gauge for the outside temperature and it hit 109 for awhile in the early afternoon, was over 100 for most of the day. AC worked hard and we stayed comfortable, but when we stepped out it was a blast of oven air that almost blew you over... but as they say it was a dry heat, so not muggy at all.
Hoped to get to Sioux Falls, but didn't make it. We're in Mitchell SD about 60 miles before Sioux Falls. Crossed the time line so lost an hour, we are now in Central Time. We had hoped to get to Davenport (Quad Cities) tomorrow night, then Louisville and home by Sunday night, but not sure we can make tracks that fast. We might find something to stop and see and take an extra day.
No time to upload photos or videos now, but will upload them when I get home.
in Deadwood SD
August 25, 2010
After leaving Jasper, then Golden, we spent a couple of nights in motels as we traveled through the Okanagan Valley in southern BC, and then stopped to view Dry Falls in Washington and stayed in Kinnewick WA and then on to Boise ID. Visited our friends Jim and Judy there and also visited the capitol.
Then we spent the next night in Idaho Falls and then to the Tetons and Yellowstone for 7 nights of camping, not even a phone signal in most areas. Met Cathy and Larry there and spent 3 days with them, went on a couple of hikes and out to the Lamar Valley to view the herds of buffalo.
Yesterday we left the Fishing Bridge area (in Yellowstone) and drove out the east entrance to Cody, a spectacular scenic drive, then continued east through the Bighorn Mountains to Sheridan WY where we spent last night. the road from Greybull to Sheridan was about a 30mph road, twisting and winding up and up and through the mountains, one of the most awesome scenic drives anywhere. Stopped at the viewpoint at Shell Creek to view the waterfalls. Surprised to see a couple of hummingbird feeders and about a dozen hummingbirds there, watched those for about 20 minutes.
This morning we left Sheridan on I-90 driving east to Gillette where we spent about 3 hours, wanted to go on a coal mine tour but they stopped tours Aug 20, so we went to an overlook and watched the big, I mean big, trucks hauling dirt out, I suppose for the beginning of a new strip mine. Tires on the trucks are 16 ft diameter. Then went to the Rockpile Museum, so named because it's next to a huge rockpile. Had all sorts of memorabilia, rifles, pistols, coal mine history etc, old wagons from wagon trains, a caboose we could go in and look around, fossils, and much more. Had some natural "cannonballs" formed by water, were about 20 inch diameter. Ate lunch and continued on to Deadwood where we are tonight. We are in a Hampton Inn and 4 Aces Casino. Walked up and down the old western town. An old car show is coming in to start tomorrow and many of the old cars are already in town and were interesting to see. Tomorrow we plan to tour a few things in the area, maybe go on a gold mine tour.
Tomorrow... don't know where or how far we'll get.... but we are back to travels and motels, don't plan to do any more camping.
After leaving Jasper, then Golden, we spent a couple of nights in motels as we traveled through the Okanagan Valley in southern BC, and then stopped to view Dry Falls in Washington and stayed in Kinnewick WA and then on to Boise ID. Visited our friends Jim and Judy there and also visited the capitol.
Then we spent the next night in Idaho Falls and then to the Tetons and Yellowstone for 7 nights of camping, not even a phone signal in most areas. Met Cathy and Larry there and spent 3 days with them, went on a couple of hikes and out to the Lamar Valley to view the herds of buffalo.
Yesterday we left the Fishing Bridge area (in Yellowstone) and drove out the east entrance to Cody, a spectacular scenic drive, then continued east through the Bighorn Mountains to Sheridan WY where we spent last night. the road from Greybull to Sheridan was about a 30mph road, twisting and winding up and up and through the mountains, one of the most awesome scenic drives anywhere. Stopped at the viewpoint at Shell Creek to view the waterfalls. Surprised to see a couple of hummingbird feeders and about a dozen hummingbirds there, watched those for about 20 minutes.
This morning we left Sheridan on I-90 driving east to Gillette where we spent about 3 hours, wanted to go on a coal mine tour but they stopped tours Aug 20, so we went to an overlook and watched the big, I mean big, trucks hauling dirt out, I suppose for the beginning of a new strip mine. Tires on the trucks are 16 ft diameter. Then went to the Rockpile Museum, so named because it's next to a huge rockpile. Had all sorts of memorabilia, rifles, pistols, coal mine history etc, old wagons from wagon trains, a caboose we could go in and look around, fossils, and much more. Had some natural "cannonballs" formed by water, were about 20 inch diameter. Ate lunch and continued on to Deadwood where we are tonight. We are in a Hampton Inn and 4 Aces Casino. Walked up and down the old western town. An old car show is coming in to start tomorrow and many of the old cars are already in town and were interesting to see. Tomorrow we plan to tour a few things in the area, maybe go on a gold mine tour.
Tomorrow... don't know where or how far we'll get.... but we are back to travels and motels, don't plan to do any more camping.
back in the good ole US of A
August 13, 2010
left Vernon BC this morning, drove south through the Okanagan Valley... found out this is the "Florida" of Canada, or rather, is the warmest area of Canada, has a very Mediterranean climate, many apples, cherries, peaches, wineries...crossed the border about noon today, drove all the way across Washington, stopped to see Dry Falls near Coulee..., staying tonight in Kennewick WA near the Oregon state line. not sure, but we think we'll be going to Boise tomorrow.
just wanted to let you know we're back in the states. will send more details later. still have lots to go see before heading home. we're doing fine and enjoying the route, but do get tired on the long drives.
left Vernon BC this morning, drove south through the Okanagan Valley... found out this is the "Florida" of Canada, or rather, is the warmest area of Canada, has a very Mediterranean climate, many apples, cherries, peaches, wineries...crossed the border about noon today, drove all the way across Washington, stopped to see Dry Falls near Coulee..., staying tonight in Kennewick WA near the Oregon state line. not sure, but we think we'll be going to Boise tomorrow.
just wanted to let you know we're back in the states. will send more details later. still have lots to go see before heading home. we're doing fine and enjoying the route, but do get tired on the long drives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)