We never expected Eastern Washington to be so incredible !

Yesterday we left West Glacier (which we dearly loved). We took a driving day along Route 2 through the panhandle of Idaho and then into Washington.

Having sprung a major leak over Ruthie's side window in our RV, we also scheduled a stop at R n R, a Winnebago dealer near Spokane.  Hats off to William who caulked up a hole by the roof gutter (which we probably did driving thru trees in a campground), checked and recaulked our awning clamp, and sent us on our way at no charge.  What a great western experience!  We were in and out in less than an hour.

We set up camp at Steamboat Rock State Park on Banks Lake.  All of this area was "created" by the building of the Grand Coulee Dam.  A nice campground with rock formations that reminded us of the Southwestern U.S.

Today we drove over to the Grand Coulee Dam and took the tour. The size of this dam and the power generated is hard to fathom.

Then on to Dry Falls, the LARGEST water falls in the world !!
(20 million years ago). Unfortunately, the Columbia River changed channels a few years ago, leaving this falls waterless.

Steamboat Rock

Dry Falls

Grand Coulee Dam

Triathalon - 32 miles biking, 6 miles hiking, 4 miles swimming....

Well almost....we were thinking about biking up to the Avalanche Creek hike, and then swimming across Lake McDonald.  Instead we biked up to the lodge along Going to the Sun Road, then drove the RV today to the trail head and hiked.  Too cold to swim in the glacier fed lake.  Two sunny and wonderful days here in West Glacier at Apgar Campground.

Tomorrow morning we leave Glacier NP and drive toward Camano Island (our next big destination!).  We will be packing up our bear spray for future use; although we did spot one black bear on the other side of the creek...stood up and gave us a smile.

Glacier Natonal Park -- Have been here for 5 days....Just Incredible !!

Blogging from Waterton Lakes, Alberta Canada... This is the first place since we arrived in the park where we have phone and modem contact.  Today it's 70 degrees with wind gusts to 55 mph!  We already moved from a lake frontage campsite to a site nearer to the mountains where the wind isn't so crazy.  Nice to have warmer temps, but we don't like the high winds.

We have absolutely fallen in love with these incredible mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and hiking trails.  We camped two nights at Two Medicine campground, then two nights at Many Glacier.  We took many hikes including a couple of 8+mile trails.  On all of these hikes, we experienced beautiful trails showing all of the Fall color.   Stops along the way including swinging bridges, magnificent waterfalls, and glacier fed lakes. 

The bears (both Grizzley and Black) knew we were coming as Ruthie would shout "Ahoy there mighty bear" and we would both attempt to sing songs but we realized we don't know enough of the words.  We did purchase and carry special bear repellant (pepper spray) as bear are a common occurrance.  Our only bear sighting was one evening while on a walk by the lake, we spotted a black bear across the river.  He stood up so we could take his picture, and we decided not to cross the bridge!

Tomorrow, we drive back to the U.S. and plan to camp at Apgar on the west side of Glacier NP.

Oh, and almost forgot....We're going out for dinner tonight.  Ruthie has been cooking just plain too good; but it's time for a night on the town.  All 5 shops and 3 restaurants.

From Glendive to Great Falls - 350 miles through Montana

Last night we camped at Makoshika State Park in Glendive.  The Sioux named this area, which means "land of bad spirits."  There were only 3 campsites taken including us, and we found this park to be a great place to take some hikes.


This morning we set out at 7am (new time zone, so easy to get up), and drove the 350 miles to Great Falls.  We followed Montana 200 for the entire drive, a 2 lane highway.  We encountered fog, wind, and complete rainbows! 

Once again, a strong wind gust unfurled our awning, while we were driving 55 mph.  This time two cowboys in their pickup (must have traded in their horses) came to our aid.  By standing on their pickup, we were able to retract the awning fabric.

When we arrived in Great Falls, our first stop was a Winnebago RV dealer, where we purchased a "collar" to stop future awning unfurlings.  The service man knew all about the high winds and the effect on the awnings.  Why hadn't someone told us !!

Warfare; Today's and 150 years ago

Sitting here all cozy in our RV at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  A great rustic campsite, but for us...lights, refrigerator, stove, and heat (good thing 38 degrees tonight).

Yesterday, we drove to Cooperstown, ND and toured a decommissioned minuteman command and control base, and a missle launch silo.  Tour was possible because of the 1997 START treaty where 500 of our 1,000 ICBMs were scrapped.  When you realize that there are still bases in operation, each with a nuclear weapon 300 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb, it brings to reality what man can do.      Touring Oscar-Zero command and control base and seeing the "red box" with the 2 keys required for a launch; realizing that this C&C is 50 feet underground in 5 ft hardened concrete.

The photo to the left is November-11, one of 1,000 minuteman lauch silos in ND and Montana.  Just fits in the size of a regular house lot in the middle of the farmer's field.



From the Minuteman tour, we drove to Ft.Lincoln on the Missouri River, just south of Bismarck.  An near disaster happened on I-94 on the drive--It was 33 degrees, rain/snow/sleet, and winds up to 35 mph.  All of a sudden our RV, Blowin-in-the-Wind, started blowing in the wind!  The wind got under the closed awning and unreeled all of the fabric.  We immediately pulled off the road and in the cold and wind, we were able to open, reel in the fabric, and close the awning.  Ruthie & Morey were both shivering and exhausted; but successful.

At Ft Lincoln where we camped, we toured General Custers home.  He lead his last campaign from this fort which became his "last stand".  In addition to the reconstruction, there is also a Mandan indian village reconstructed.  Lewis and Clark wintered with the Mandan.

After a busy couple of days, we moved on to TRNP.

A rainy day, then a blue sky biking day...

Raining on our way to Bemidji State Park, what to do?  Let's stop at Judy Garland's birthplace!  Next to the Grand Rapids Home Depot (how come Morey never got to work a project here?), we checked out her 1920s era home and in the adjacent museum, a replica of her ruby slippers from Oz.


Spent two nights at Bemidji, on a lake made by Paul Bunyon's footprint.  Then went on a 35 mile bike ride on the Paul Bunyon Bike Trail (of course) and stopped  in town for an incredible fried Walleye fish dinner.  {David, you would have loved it.}

Which Native American statue do you think is the most magnificent?

Ok, here's your chance to vote....Which of these two fine statues do you feel is the largest and best?  First is our native american from Skowhegan, NH or our Hiawatha from Ironwood, MI.

From Lake Superior to 10,000 lakes of Minnesota

In Ironwood we stop to see the world famous Hiawatha, and then  we're back on US-2, after a long absense.  Camped at a municipal park in Washburn, Wisconsin--right on the lake for a sunset view.

The following morning we took two scenic drives. The first along the "northern" coast of Wisconsin including driving through the most northern town of Cornocopia.  Next we drove through Duluth and took scenic Rt61 along the Minnesota coast of Lake Superior.  A beautiful sunny day!!


Ended our day at Jay Cooke State Park, near Carlton Minnesota.  Biked 25 miles of the 132 mile Williard Mungar paved trail.  Some great water falls and ominous rocks.

From Mackinac Island to the shores of Gitchegumee

This has been a very busy couple of days.....

Took the boat to Mackinac Island with our bikes.  Rode the 8mile island road, then to the Grand Hotel.  Before heading back, Morey had chocolate fudge icecream, YUM !!

Next set off for Tahquamenon Falls, and camped at a lovely campsite.  In the rain, we rowed to the island between the two lower falls.  The next morning we hiked six miles to the upper falls with the intent of returning by foot.  With the mud, and our desire to move on, we befriended a couple who both turned out to be social work grads from U-M; and they drove us back.

Pictured Rocks this evening on the 6pm boat tour.  Absolutely spectacular in the late afternoon sunshine.

Back at Michigan....What a great 2 days!

WOW...We arrived at the home of our dear "old" friends, Ronnie & Stu, near Ann Arbor.  This followed  parking our RV by Michigan Stadium and walking the campus and KerryTown.  Then to an Erev Rosh Hashona dinner with many of our couples club members from college days!  All doing great.  So good to see all!

Ruthie, "These were two wonderful days of exploring old roots and rich enduring friendships."

Then today, we said good by to Ann Arbor and stopped at Ruthie's home town, Saginaw and saw our Maid of Honor from our wedding, Linda, and her husband.

Again, how wonderful.

And finally up to and across the Mackinaw Bridge.  Now camping in the U.P. with a 50 ft walk to the beach where we can see the Bridge.  Tomorrow we bike from Straits State Park to the ferry to Mackinaw Island.

Blowing in the wind !!

We arrived at Maumee Bay State Park (Ohio) with the wind blowing at over 40 mph, {and we were worried about the hurricane!).  Being used to high winds from the Jersey Shore, we removed our bikes from storage at the back of the RV, and  rode the nicely paved bike trail to Lake Erie.  Nice!    Ruthie put her toes in Lake Erie and will test other Great Lakes in the coming days. Her reaction was, “it’s not the Jersey Shore!”

On the way here, we found a great farm stand set in the middle of a peach orchard.  The best peaches ever...and truly great midwest tomatoes (unlike the alleged Jersey Fresh which just don't stack up). 

Camping near Jersey Shore (PA)

We just set out this afternoon on our journey, and couldn't quite cut the cord!  So we're camping tonight in middle of nowhere Pennsylvania, near Jersey Shore. 

Bald Eagle campground is a nice place to spend our first night on the road.