Tuesday - June 30

A very rainy overnight and morning as we were leaving West Glacier and only 54 chilly degrees.  The rain lasted 2 hours and then just cloudy and finally made it to 64.

We left at 7:55 and traveled 277 miles thru Montana, Idaho (70 miles) now settled at the North Spokane RV and Campground.   We left Bloomington 16 days ago and have covered 1,985 miles.    And today, Big Red turned over 50,000 miles.   Tonight is the 1st campground we've had where the sites are all paved.     We've had some nicely paved roads, but gravel sites.    Last time we had a nice pavement for Flo was at Michael's on Lake James!     We gained another hour and now in the Pacific time zone.

   

Along the way, the scenery was magnificent, but unfortunately, a lot of it was in the rain and clouds covering the mountain tops for the first 2 hours.   Passed many casinos, DQ's, supermarkets (Super 1), and tiny coffee shops (at least 2 dozen).  Shopco stores are everywhere, but unfortunately, all empty!   Stopped in Libby, MT for a short break and enjoyed coffees from Hav-A-Java.

Scenery first part of trip

And then the sun came out a bit..

Some pretty scenes but hard to get good pics when driving

So we are about 5 miles north of Spokane - not planning to check out this city or do any touristy stuff.   Staying here 3 nights.   Haircuts are in order and maybe some other pampering (mani-pedi)? 

After seeing so many little bitty coffee shops in ND, MT and ID, now that we're in Washington, it's all about Starbucks....

We drove around the area and scouted out some places - post office, hair and nail salons, and Panera (curbside pick up for supper).    Tomorrow is to be a rainy (morning) and cool day.....bring on the pampering and a barber shop for Mark!

Luke and Maeve in some hot wheels "down on the farm"!

I went for a "short" walk after supper wearing jeans and fleece jacket - chilly and windy!   I wimped out, but maybe tomorrow, we can get some exercise after riding most of today!

Bye bye June........welcome July!!!

Monday - June 29

While it's so hot and humid in the Midwest, we were chilly here today in West Glacier with temps barely getting to 60, very dreary and occasional rain.

Cleaned some on Flo, did 5 loads of laundry, read and took a nap after lunch.   Good day to just hunker down.

Mark had a busy morning of working on reservations for upcoming travels - some challenges getting spots on the weekends - lots of travelers staying in campgrounds and RV parks.    Add to that, some are closed (private and national park campgrounds), makes for fewer spots.    But I think we are good to go thru our Pacific Coast trip and then we'll be trucking back east to IL.      

Mark loaded the bikes on back of Flo and did a few other odds and ends preparing for tomorrow's "back on the road".   We went for a final walk into Glacier Village and in the park - felt good to get some exercise and then the sprinkles were back.

Liam and Connor are back home tonight after a fun outing "down on the farm" with their NC cousins!

Nice gentle rain coming down now....nighty night!

Connor, Luke, Liam, Maeve

Sunday - June 28

Happy 51st Anniversary to us....!   

So blessed to share life and all our adventures with this guy!  

 And extra special to spend it in this beautiful setting

It rained during the night with some big-time thunder, but then a sunny Sunday morning.

  Breakfast (ham/cheese omelets, fruit and bagels) and then to Mass with Father Frank Silva in Boston.  The last time Mark and I were at Mass in church was March 8th at St. Francis Xavier in Fort Myers.    Wow, that's going on 4 months!    So thankful we can "attend" via the internet every week.    It was always a neat experience (and sometimes challenging) when we were traveling to find a church and convenient mass time.    Miss that and especially not being able to receive communion.  

 We drove to Apgar Village and did a little shopping (long-sleeved T-shirt for Mark and some post cards).     Drove outside the park for 10 miles and found Carolyn's Cafe in Hungry Horse, MT.    I went inside with mask and got 2 pieces of huckleberry pie to go.   Huckleberry is big up here - pancakes, muffins, ice cream, etc.    Tastes similar to blueberry!    

Delicious warmed up with a little scoop of ice cream!

    The clouds returned big time in the afternoon along with windy and much cooler temps!    We read our books, chatted with our kids and then took a short bike ride.

Did Zoom with all 12 Chamberlain siblings - today is also sister, Joan's birthday! 

 And the highlight of our day was Zoom with our kids and grandkids tonight - all 16 for the 1st time live from NC, IL and MT.

 Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve are with her parents this week in Princeton.    They stopped in Bloomington to pick up Liam and Connor who are also spending the night out in the country at the "White House"!

 

Gibson is getting so big - LIam sent this!

Celebrating Covid style....

Cheers for a healthy week ahead!   

Saturday - June 27

Today started out cleaning up our little slide-out pantry,.   I had a tub of margarita salt on its side (duh) and with our bumping along these rough roads, the lid came a little loose and  white coarse salt was all over the place (inside the pantry)   Mark was able to take all the shelves out so I could get to it.   All good and clean now!    Salt is in a new spot sitting right-side up and lid tightened down!

Other than that, it was a fun day in West Glacier......some rain during the night and a few sprinkles late morning, but otherwise a little sun but mostly cloudy in the low 70's.    We had French Toast, ham and sausage and then loaded the bikes in Big Red and drove to a biking/walking trail that went thru the Apgar Forest - nice paved, flat road and oh so pretty!

Many ferns in the forest

McDonald Lake

Pretty view from the bridge at West Glacier Village

Another view from bridge 

We stopped in Apgar Village and had coffee at Cedar Tree,- people were kayaking, enjoying ice cream, lunch, shopping, etc.,    They closed down the kayak rental as it became really windy and too dangerous.   Winds were over 20 mph.

Connor wearing his "home" team uniform and patch in memory of Patrick on his sleeve.

Shoulder update:    still really hurts, but know I CANNOT lift, pull, open anything, reach forward or behind, so using my left arm as little as possible and trying to "baby" it.    It's good to keep it moving though, so walking and swinging arm while getting my steps in feels good.    Doing my exercises every other day, but just not making any good progress.    

Rode my bike around the park - we are surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and nice wide grassy areas between sites.    Roads are all paved and flat.   the sites are on gravel of a unique color?

Like this color variation versus plain ole grey/white?

Also nice cabins in few different sizes.

Each cabin has pretty buckets of flowers out front

Lots of wildflowers - daisies and this pink something or other which is everywhere and smells

really nice!

I rode my bike up and down all the roads.   Always interesting to see where folks are from....

NY, MA, VT, TX, FL, GA, OH, IL.WI, MN and states close by, WA, CA, ID, ND, SD, MT.   

Connor played 3 games today - won 7-3 and 11-2, but then lost 9-0, so that ends their tournament with a 2-2 record for the Raptors.

We are loving our stay here at West Glacier - the RV park was just completed in 2019 and is conveniently located, with a beautiful setting, all drive-thru sites and plenty of amenities making us happy campers!

Friday - June 26

Beautiful morning in Shelby and after breakfast sandwiches and fresh fruit and a good chat with our neighbors, Billy and Joy, we were on our way.   

Joy and Billy from Texas - really nice folks we could've sat and visited with on and on!

Some sights along the way today...

Cute coffee shop in Browning, Montana

Oh my....love those snow-capped mountains

Gorgeous

Spectacular views

So lush and green against that deep blue sky

  This was a white knuckle drive for Mark as we headed to West Glacier - the last 50 miles were winding and twisty roads high up up and away!    The scenery was breathtaking!!!!

But we arrived safe 'n sound at noon and are in the Flathead National Forest at the West Glacier RV Park and Cabins    Our site wasn't ready yet - had to mow, so we had a nice paved parking lot to park Flo and Big Red and then walked into West Glacier Village.    Some people were having lunch, others ice cream, shopping, and just enjoying the pretty day.    We enjoyed delicious chocolate milk shakes and then walked back on the nice paved trail thru the woods to the campground.   Got settled in our spot and enjoyed a relaxing rest of the afternoon.     Around 4ish we took the bikes and rode on the nice trail and ended up in the Village hoping it would keep going.   Nope.....so we stopped at Freda's Bar and enjoyed some cold beverages outside with nobody around us!

Glad to see many of the visitors and all the staff are wearing masks.

Connor and Liam are oh-so-ready to be back on the ballfield.    Connor had his first game tonight in Morton.   #10 for the Raptors!!!

Let's PLAY BALL!!!

A funny moment.....I was trying to tell "Siri" to play some easy listening tunes and she was ignoring me.  Duh....finally realized I meant to ask "Alexa" and then "Siri" pipes up.... "Wow - awkward!!!"

Mark grilled out hot dogs and burgers - extras for future lunches/suppers!    Love seeing all the campers with their kayaks, bikes, and the trucks hauling the big inner tubes for rafting (great memories from Rainbow Trout Ranch last summer.)

Big change coming in our weather.....84 today, low 70's tomorrow and then 60's + rain!

All settled in for the next 4 nights!

Connor's team was losing 5-0 but score ended with a loss of 7-6.   He had a hit and was hit by a pitch!

Enjoy your weekend!    Stay safe and healthy!!!

Thursday - June 25

Hello from Shelby, Montana where we arrived around 3ish.    Left Glasgow at 8:30 after stopping at 3 Shots Espresso for a latte.    We are doing our part to help these small businesses keep going.    Little coffee shops are in abundance here in Montana.     

Stopped in Malta for a short break and talked to 2 motorcyclists who were heading to Glacier National Park.    They were from Washington and Wisconsin.    The guy from Washington has done over 330,000 miles on his cycle and been in 44 states.    Nice guys who we caught up with later as we were stopped for construction.

Just before we stopped in Malta we were truckin' down the road (practically no traffic) and came upon a biker on left side of road and something dark? just ahead?    Whoaaa....a BIG, BLACK BULL was just starting to cross the road - we slowed way down (like stopped) till he got out of the way.    We saw various cattle in the fields but this particular area had none in sight, so no clue where he came from.    I first thought it was a buffalo, but nope, just a big ole bull!!!    If he and Big Red had collided....not pretty!

Stopped in Havre for lunch stopping along a side street and eating in Flo (made sandwiches last night).

Mostly little towns today so Havre with 9000+ population, seemed like the big time.    We've seen so many casinos, DQ's, Sinclair gas station (a name from the past), and Cenex (most popular for gas).

We've left the oil drilling rigs behind yesterday and today, but now seeing signs for Indian reservations.

We remember from our trip out here in 2009 sooo many huge ranches but haven't come across those yet.    Last time we were coming up from the south. 

1st sighting of the mountains

A field of canola

Passed several "striped" fields of winter and spring wheat

Tiny coffee shop in Shelby

Nice to have the windows open this afternoon - about a 20 degree temperature change from

 yesterday's heat!     Before settling in this afternoon, we took Flo and Big Red thru a car wash - had more dusty roads with construction today.    Nice outside area and very powerful jet spray - we're nice 'n clean again....We are at the Lewis and Clark Campground (just like a few nights ago in North Dakota) in Shelby and remember staying here in 2009 with friends, John and Heather.    Gosh 11 years ago.....we were both enroute to Alaska!

Our campground tonight has only one other camper (Texas).    We are only 35 miles from the Canadian border and with it closed, they have had a very slow start to the season.    Sad.....

After supper (leftovers of chicken, pizza and some sides) we walked in the campground and met our Texas (between Houston and Dallas) neighbors, Billy and Joy.    Had a delightful visit standing outside on this lovely evening!

We like this plan of traveling one day (averaging 300 miles) and then taking an extra day off and give my chauffeur a rest.    But just one night in Shelby and tomorrow, off to West Glacier where we'll stay 4 nights!

Sweet siblings

     

Wednesday - June 24

It was a hot one in northern Montana today......hitting 91.   We took off before 8 (to beat the heat) and first stop was the Loaded Toad downtown for coffees and muffins (raspberry cherry and mango peach pecan) - all delicious!     Drove 21 miles to Fort Peck where we saw the 2nd largest (in the world) hydraulic dam (largest is in Pakistan).    Fort Peck (just over 200 folks) sits atop a high hill with a Veterans Memorial, hotel, theater, and a few other buildings.    The town overlooks Fort Peck Lake (huge).    We drove to the dam, and then the interpretive center (museum is closed cause of virus - had not planned on touring that anyway).    We are very much in the boonies.     Found the path off parking lot and away we went - nicely paved, past 2 campgrounds and a LOT of cottonwood trees.    All of that cotton was swirling to the ground along with some nasty gnats.   So, walking in certain areas was not all that pleasant, but most of the hike was really good.

Cotton along our path

One of the campgrounds had this outdoor theater....not sure it gets much use?   Mark is taking a break!

There were some RV's and campers but only 3 other people on the trail.    

Back to town and Mark went into Albertson's for a few groceries.    This was his 1st time to be inside grocery store since we left Florida.    Wore mask and followed arrows on floor - employees wore masks - not the customers.

When we entered Montana yesterday, we had 685 miles to the other side of the state!    Lots of area to cover and so much wide-open space in Big Sky Country.

Did Zoom with 2 of Mark's sisters this afternoon - Karen (Auntie) and Nancy who continues to hurt so much from severe osteoporosis.    Prayers ongoing....

Just gotta love Zoom....another session with Claire and Kathy late afternoon - From IL to TX to MT. there we were just chatting away!

We picked up supper from Eugene's......this place (known for pizza) but big menu originated in 1962 and is #1 in town according to Trip Advisor.    We were very happy with our choices (fried chicken for Mark and pizza - "Eugene's Special" for me).

So we know our IL grandsons will be going back to the classroom this fall - all details yet to be worked out?    Waiting to hear about the NC kiddos......so many things to think about keeping these kids and their environment safe!

2 gorgeous views of the sunset at Lake James tonight!

Thank you Michael!

Tuesday - June 23

Sunny warm day and we are now settled in Glasgow, Montana at the Cottonwood Inn and Suites with campground (22 sites) behind the hotel..   It was good to get the "rough" road behind us although had some other areas here and there.    For the most part, Route 2 has been a good highway.       When we were talking to our biker buddy, Gary yesterday, he said how awful it was for him riding thru that horrible dust on the roads and when trucks passed, getting pinged and dinged by little gravel pellets.    He said his helmet has lots of dents!  

 After getting Big Red washed last Thursday and then rain on Friday and all the dust and dirt past few days, both Flo and Big Red were dirty, dirty!!!!!     Luckily for us, Glasgow has a big car wash especially for RV's, trucks, etc. that you can pull thru (do-it-yourself), but for $17 Mark got 95% of the dirt off.    Lots of people in ND and MT have dirty vehicles especially pick ups.    Another Alaska memory

As we were driving thru Williston this morning we came upon "3-Bean Espresso" a teeny little coffee shop (so much like in Alaska where these are everywhere).    Parked our big rig on side street and walked over to get our coffee fix.     Later we saw a few more of these cute little coffee places along the way.

3-Bean Espresso with Mark, the customer

While traveling thru ND, we saw very few homesteads in the "middle of nowhere" and drove thru very few towns - just oil rig  after oil rig.    Today, in Montana, lots more homes, small towns and of course, many oil rigs.

Big oil drilling country

We took a little drive around town (pop.  3,328) .  Some places are still carry out or drive thru (McDonalds, Dairy Queen, etc.) but others are full dine in.    We were looking for some ice cream but McDonalds and DQ were only choices - long line at DQ, so decided we didn't need it.

It is HOT here - 91 after several days in the 60's and 70's.    We are now in the Mountain time zone, so gained another hour today.     Last night at our Lewis and Clark campground, it was still light at 10 and this morning, bright and early at 5 AM, the sun was shining!

Mark took a long nap and we just chilled in the cool AC.

Monday - June 22

Clouds and sun......Mark decided we needed to check out the town of Williston (17 miles away) and have a hearty breakfast.    While we both enjoy coffee shops, he had a craving for his favorite biscuits 'n gravy, hash browns, eggs, etc.....it was a wild, wooly and ROUGH trip into town.    Glad we didn't have Flo as the gravel roads were extremely rough and dusty.    We found "Meg-a-Latte"  a very nice new coffee house (3 locations in town) - very classy and I got my skinny vanilla latte.    Mark found "Dakota Farms Family Restaurant" and got his biscuits 'n gravy fix.   We were both happy campers!    

On our way back to Flo, we passed a biker pulling a little cart and admired him for traveling these rough roads and dealing with all the dust, dirt and big trucks from construction.   At times it was white-out conditions with all the dust.    They need rain very badly - big cracks in the ground, yellowish grass and the dirt is a very fine powder.    We took a different route home but still rough.    No good way to get in or out of this state park via Williston.    Tomorrow when we leave, we'll have Flo, so.....

Back to the park, changed clothes, put on our new hiking shoes, packed our backpack and we were off.   Stopped at the office and met Gary, the biker with the little cart we had seen earlier.    Mark mentioned we had passed him outside of Williston and then we got his story....

.Gary left Birmingham, Alabama 46 days ago and biked up the east coast into NY and then across the northern US.    His destination is Seattle and on down the coast, back across the middle part of the country and return to Birmingham.  He averages 100-120 miles per day (today only 40 and then staying here to rest for a few days)!    Gary does this every year raising $ for various causes.    This year it's about the animals and making sure people who adopt or purchase a lizard or snake, know how to properly take care of them.    Gary is originally from South Africa - neat accent and enjoyed talking to him.    His little cart holds his tent, clothes and food.    Reminded us of the guy we met in Medina, NY 2 years ago who was traveling on the Erie Canal in his kayak 

Gary

Lots of big grassy areas here and they cut a 5' swatch thru the tall grass for walking paths.    Mark (ole farm boy) recognized the various grasses/weeds, etc......Timothy, brome, alfalfa, milkweed and sweet clover.    We hiked 4.7 miles and enjoyed the views - hills, lake, and wild-open prairie.    Weather was ideal!    And never met another hiker!

Our walking path

Tunnel under the road

Lake Sakakawea

Lots of pine trees along the lake

Scenic spot

Although the Badlands National Park is in South Dakota (near where Jim, Mark's brother and Lydia) are currently vacationing, this Lewis and Clark State Park is also part of the Badlands.

Read our books in the afternoon, took a little nap and just enjoyed this pretty day!

Nachos for supper and then walked around the campground!   

  Tomorrow we are off to Montana.    Been checking any and all restrictions for the states we've visited regarding the coronavirus.     Definitely fewer cases in these parts and no one is wearing a mask - employees or customers.    We always have ours with us.

So strange to not have it get dark till after 10:00.    As I end this blog for the day, it is 8:40 and just as light as it can be!!!    Nighty night!

Father's Day - 2020

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Thinking of our dear Dads today.......along with Michael and Philip (thanking them for giving us 6 grandchildren).    And Patrick.......knowing he's looking down on his boys with great pride and love.    

  And so proud and thankful to have Mark at the helm of our family - what a great role model, mentor, fixer-upper, and all-around good guy our kids and grands are blessed to call "Dad" and "Grandpa". 

We left East Grand Forks at 8:20 and as we were truckin' across North Dakota, so much vastness and flatland for miles and miles and miles.  In 2009 when we were out here with Daisy enroute to Alaska, we stopped in Grand Forks and had lunch with our niece, Colleen and parents (Mark's sister, Janet and Mike).    Mike and Janet were helping Colleen settle in at the University of ND for graduate school.    Colleen is now a doctor of psychology in Chicago.

 Went to Mass in Boston (via I-pad) with a priest who was formerly married, lost his spouse, Mary and became a priest 5 years ago.    Father has 3 children and 4 grandchildren and was hoping they could be with him today, but stayed away cause of the virus.

Stopped in Minot for lunch on Flo at a Flying J truck stop and then for awhile, we had hilly country and then back to flat terrain.     We passed a cornfield that had not been harvested last fall, a deer that crossed our path (yikes) with her little baby coming up thru the ditch.    Drove past many oil fields and drove thru Michigan, ND.    Not a lot of towns along the way.     One thing for sure, any and all towns have a Dairy Queen!!!

We drove past Rugby, ND which claims to be the geographic center (east to west and north to south) of North America.     A sign coming into town and 2 billboards marked this unique spot!

Hello from the Lewis and Clark State Park near Williston, ND (17 miles away).    We traveled  a bit over our average of 300 miles today (330) but it was a good trip and happy to be settled for the next 2 nights.    Lewis and Clark stopped here back in their day.....and the Missouri River is the longest river in North America which flows east and south 2,341 miles.    The Missouri River is 200 miles longer than the Mississippi!    WOW....we learned alot today! 

Our park is situated on a very large lake (Sakakawea) which is a part of the Missouri River.    It is very hilly and pretty,    Should be great for hiking,

We took a walk late afternoon thru a grassy area with tall grass on either side.    There's lots of territory to cover here.     Lots of people in their RV's, tent camping and of course, many boaters and jet skies on the water this Father's Day weekend.

Mark asked for a BLT for supper - I had my shrimp pasta leftovers from last night.   He enjoyed phone calls, texts, and face time with his kids and some of the grandkids!

Enjoying all this daylight the past several nights - tonight's sunset is 9:59 PM.    Today is the official first full day of summer!!!

Zoom with the siblings (9).     Walked to take out our garbage - what a pretty evening and pinching myself that we are in such an awesome area.    Mark is batting "1000" so far in choosing campgrounds!    All have been something special for the area we were at!   

I mentioned that Davis shot a 73 at golf last week - today he shot a 72......wow!!!!   Awesome!

Here's to a great week for all.....stay safe, healthy and happy!

Saturday - June 20

The rain started around 4 AM and continued till 11ish.    We had lazy morning of sleeping in and then getting the laundry ready to tackle.    Mark helped me carry that in and get the loads going.    He went to Bully Brew for some breakfast bagel sandwiches.   McDonalds was across the street but they are back to serving breakfast now till just 10:30 instead of all day.    Got the laundry done, back to Flo and put away.

We read this afternoon and I did a little cleaning.  More rain later in the afternoon.   Only in the 60's today and very windy!   

Back in 1997, a very bad flood came thru East Grand Forks and Grand Forks with the Red River flooding and 50,000 people had to be evacuated.    The dykes broke and since that time, new tall stone flood walls were built for protection.    

Mark strolling along the high flood walls

This is the bridge as it is today and we've driven and walked over it - from MN to ND

This was the scene in 1997

Mark picked up dinner from The Toasted Frog (#1 in Grand Forks) - pizza for him and pasta for me + an order of fried cheesy pickles (sounded interesting)?    Everything was delicious and plenty of leftovers!

We wimped out from any walking or biking today - would've liked to walk around the park one last time, but the rain has started again, the winds are blowing and it''s only 63.    Some brave souls are walking around bundled up with their hooded sweatshirts!

And what's this?

Ahhh, our little "poser" amongst the pretty flowers!

Wishing all the Dads out there a very Happy Father's Day!

 

Friday - June 19

Sun and clouds and cool Friday.     We did our exercises (weights for Mark and bands for me for shoulder).     Mark worked on more logistics for upcoming stays in campgrounds/RV parks.     There are still some not open and with upcoming July 4th, could be a challenge to find a spot?

We drove to the Bully Brew Coffee House for coffee and treats (oatmeal for Mark and scone for me).  They had inside dining and we were the only customers (most were using drive-thru)  Crossed over to North Dakota and found a much-needed car wash for Big Red and vacuumed inside.    Last stop was ATM and on back to Flo.   

Mark spent more time (several hours) but we are good for lodging spots thru July 9th.   I left him to figure this out and rode my bike thru our Sherlock Campground.  This afternoon we took off on the Greenway Trail and did our 4 mile walk ending up in downtown Grand Forks, ND (crossed the river on a really nice pedestrian bridge).    At times we were chilly (whenever sun went behind the clouds) and then really warm - the wind was strong, too.  

Pedestrian bridge

North Dakota - here we come

The Blue Moose where we ate last night - deck on backside with lots of pretty flowers.

  Found the "Tea and Crepe" Place and what a treat - unique Thai ice cream rolls with many flavors and toppings or crepes with lots of gooey goodies.    Mark enjoyed a chocolate crepe and I had a delicious green/orange tea with bubbles or boba (tapioca balls) - excellent!

My yummy orange/green tea with "bubbles"

Walked back to Flo, got in Big Red and drove to WalMart for pick-up order.    After all the pick-ups Annette and Brooke did for us and then what we've done ourselves, here in Grand Forks, they added a goodie bag to our order (the young man who loaded up Big Red said it was a "thank you" gift),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,packets of Cap'n Crunch, Goldfish, can of LaCroix soda, can of Perrier water, juice box, Tide laundry detergent, fabric softener, and 3 Bic pens.    What a nice surprise!

Unpacked our stuff and enjoyed this pretty afternoon.    The wind died down, too.

Tacos for supper and then a bike ride thru the park.    Have a safe, healthy weekend!    Make it FUN!