Alaska Next Year...This year we traverse the USA August 14-24 GLACIER NATIONAL PARK and so much more!
Where we've been since August 14? We've been around the block and back. . .
So, part of the reason I've not been blogging is because service has been extremely spotty.
My preoccupation with plan changes has not been bad, I've just needed to spend a bit more time figuring out next steps. It's mid August and we hadn't even gotten to Canada. I figured it was another 1400+ miles from Montana to the Alaskan border and then another long haul through Alaska which we were willing to do, however, it's heading into the rainy season in Alaska, it's getting colder there AND there are wildfires raging throughout the State. Yes, wildfires LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
That said, Ginger and I decided to stay in the USA and travel through places here that we've always wanted to visit so that's just what we've been doing.
Right now, August 24 I am catching up the blog. . . We are in Mountain time zone so it's about 8pm. I'm sitting outside the RV looking at a scene that I thought only existed in movies or books. This has happened so much during this trip. Anyway, read on to catch up on the natural wonders (and they are truly wonders) of the USA. I'm going to work forward from August 15 to tonight, August 24.
August 15 - Sunny 60-90 degrees --- Headed out of Yellowstone and Wyoming and into the Town of West Yellowstone where we stayed one night at the Rainbow Point Campground in the Custer Gallatan National Forest. A nice site but we didn't stay long enough to really enjoy. This was the very first campsite where bugs (mosquitoes in particular) were a problem. First time dealing with bugs! Quite place on a lake.
August 16 - Sunny 75-91 degrees--- We made our way north through hills and lakes and landed at Black Sandy State Park in Montana. Camped next door to a lovely family from Montana. Travis grew up in Alaska (great conversations) and his wife, Stephanie grew up in Presque Isle Maine! She now works with the Montana fish and wildlife and was a wealth of information.
That night Ginger and I spent our first night actually BOONDOCKING (Living off-grid). We stayed overnight in the parking lot of a Super 1 supermarket. The cost of campsites was waaay too much for us to bite so the woman at one of the campsites told me about this parking lot where she'd seen other campers/RVs parked. I asked the manager of the store and we had a very nice night in a shady and grassy part of the lot. A big shout out and many thanks to Super 1 Foods in Columbia Falls, MT!
Hey, Boondocking is a great way to travel. Only problem is that Ginger really likes to have electricity . . . so, we compromise. Some days we have luxury and others we live without. Personally, I prefer the without, but Ginge is opposite. We're working it out as we go along!
August 17 - sunny 70 - 90 degrees After a night of boondocking along with a wealth of information from our camping neighbors at Black Sandy Point we were off to pick up Jodie who was flying in from Boston to join us for a couple of weeks beginning in Glacier National Park and moving on from there.
Jodie arrived at Glacier National Airport on time and off we went! First, we rented a car. And this is why:
We learned two things before actually arriving at Glacier National Park: 1.) Vehicles over 21 feet cannot drive through the park. Mine is 25 feet. . . yikes. The roads are too steep and narrow, and have rocks that jut out if the vehicle is too high which mine is. Knowing this prior to arrival allowed us to pick up a rental car for a couple of days and leave the RV at the campground while we drove the 50 miles across and back through this amazing geological wonder.
2.) You need a reservation to pass through the park. This is new due to road construction and the numbers of people wanting to visit. We lucked out. We entered the park after it closed at 4pm. We stayed in a National Park Campground (Saint Mary Campground on the East side of the Park) and we met the campground host who provided us with a park pass!
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - This is a link to all photos of Glacier National Park. Beyond Staggering.
This is Bob. Met him in a launder mat in Columbia Falls. He is from the Glacier area of Montana and gave me so great tips about driving and places to camp. I'd already settled on Saint Mary - but it was one of the places he suggested! Great guy. Recently lost his wife and had a little mutt with him. Great smile and hugs.
August 18 - 20 I cannot say enough about Glacier National Park (Photos). I'd heard that this was one of the most gorgeous places in the USA and I can now attest to that being the truth. Take a look at the photos/Google Glacier National Park and visit there someday. I'm sure you will agree!
August 20 - Brother Jim's Birthday!!! Leaving Glacier and heading back to Yellowstone. It's a HUGE park with pull-off vistas everywhere. Ginge and I took the farthest west road when we headed north - going through Craig Pass (8262 ft elevation) and Old Faithful and many other geysers. We left the park at the West Entrance/Exit due to closures at the Northern Exit caused by "UNPRECEDENTED" Flooding and Landslides.
Heading south and re-entering Yellowstone we took a different route toward the West Thumb and The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Simply UnBelievable... Yellowstone PHOTOS
Stayed that night at a nice lakeside State Park in Montana called Seely Lake State Campground. Jodie and I swam in crystal clear water. That night an incredible thunder and lightning storm lit the skies and shook the ground for a few hours. It was really fun watching it from the tent. . . for some. . . Holly is a nervous wreck during such storms and kept Ginger awake all night. Anyway, Seely Lake was a hit too!
August 21 - Lewis & Clark Cavern and Campground - Whitehall MT. We set up camp with tent and had the most incredible light show ever. . . heat lightning over the distant mountains. Additionally, the BIG SKIES of Montana really showed their stuff that night. . . 5 shooting stars and the Milky Way like I've never seen it. Glorious.
Later that night were awakened by the Sheriff or Ranger that there was a BEAR in the campground and that we needed to move out of the tent! We honestly didn't know that we could run so quickly. We did NOT run into the bear! We left camp and went up the road for a tour through the Lewis & Clark Caverns. Amazing. The photo colors are distorted (purple) - an amazing tour! Cavern Photos.
August 22 - Bakers Hole Campground, West Yellowstone, MT. Every now and then we found ourselves tired and just ready to retire. This is a State Park Campground that was less than beautiful, but it offered us a place to sleep. The camp host was unlike every other - he was full of himself and not helpful at all. This was not our best experience. Tomorrow is another day!
August 23 - After another long day of driving (7-8 hours) through Wyoming, the GRAND TETONS (see photos) into Idaho and back into Wyoming heading south we found a GEM of a State Campground with the nicest of hosts (Andrea). The East Table Campground site was alongside a roaring river. It certainly made up for the night before. We looked out of the tent to see an eagle's nest. Crystal clear water with class 5 rapids.
And. . . August 24 - Heading south toward Salt Lake City and find another AMAZING State Park. This time, in Utah.
Big Creek Campground on Bear Lake The lake has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color, which is due to the refraction of calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits suspended in the lake.
