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Leavenworth, Washington – A Pleasant Surprise
When I last left you, readers, I was cranky because I woke up in Steamboat Rock State Park believing I would end the day in Seattle. I was tired of cold food (due to the campfire restrictions caused by the wildfires) and ready for a couple days of no driving. But instead, I needed to…
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September 5, Part 2; The Most Extreme Grilled Cheese
After spending an hour amongst the Buddhas, I continued west to my first real taste of mountain driving in the tiny stretch of Idaho between Montana and Washington. I suppose I’d been meandering up in elevation without too much thought, but as soon as the “Welcome to Idaho” sign appeared, it was straight downhill along…
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September 5 – Part 1; Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
September 5th was a long day. I wasn’t going to leave the area without going to the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas, an hour north of Missoula. I found my breakfast spot through some research, Paul’s Pancake Parlor in Tremper’s Shopping Center in Missoula. The decor amused me, all decked out in Jamaican colors. If…
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Missoula, Montana
Before leaving the Towsend / Canyon Ferry Lake KOA, my new friend recommended I stop at the Avon Family Cafe on my way to Missoula. She said they took good care of her, and the food was delicious. A warm home-cooked breakfast seemed like just the right thing since this is what I woke up…
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Yellowstone on Labor Day Weekend
I woke up the morning of September 3rd to my first chilly morning. It was 50 degrees when I woke up, and I was delighted to have packed warm sleepwear. On the day’s agenda was a drive back through the Grand Tetons into Yellowstone to see Old Faithful. When you’ve been on the road for…
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Thermopolis, Wyoming and Hot Springs State Park
When I initially planned The Great Roadtrip, Thermopolis, WY was not on the list of destinations. As a matter of fact, I expected to drive down from South Dakota to Colorado and Utah. However, once I got to Iowa, I knew I needed to make some changes to my route. On that first leg of the…
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Jo-Bawb’s and Bighorns
August 30th was a relatively uneventful day. Thermopolis was a two-day drive, so I set out from the Blue Bell Campground to make my way into Wyoming. I stopped at a Walmart in Gillette, WY to buy a 14″ charcoal grill to replace the propane grill I’d all but given up on. Thanks to my…
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Black Hills National Forest, Presidents and Lakota
I could have stayed in the Badlands, exploring, for days, but on the morning of August 29th I set out on the scenic route to the Black Hills National Forest, home to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wind Cave. Two hours later I arrived at my first stop. Mount Rushmore was put on the agenda…
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Welcome to South Dakota
On August 27th I crossed into South Dakota. I made it through what people described as the most tedious part of my drive. Iowa is very flat, and the roads are very straight. After excessively exceeding the speed limit a couple times, I learned how to use my cruise control in Iowa. My first stop…
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If You Build It, They Will Come
On August 25th, I crossed the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. It was such a milestone for me as a new driver, and someone on a road trip, I fired up the dashboard camera and captured a video of me driving across. My first stop for the day was the Field of Dreams Movie Site…