Earlier I blogged about the "cattle guards" that we saw in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Here is a photo I snapped as we left the Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Cattle Guards
Earlier I blogged about the "cattle guards" that we saw in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Here is a photo I snapped as we left the Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Miles City to Fargo, ND - August 12, 2010
We had breakfast at the motel, The Best Western War Bonnet, with some of the motorcycle riders and other travelers. The tour was only going about 300 miles for the day, not too bad. On the other hand we had 465 miles to go.
Along Interstate I-94 we stopped to get these photos.
Later on we stopped at Teddy Roosevelt National Park which is in the North Dakota Badlands.
Along Interstate I-94 we stopped to get these photos.
Later on we stopped at Teddy Roosevelt National Park which is in the North Dakota Badlands.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Back in the USA - August 11, 2010
Now for the good news: We made it back into the USA at 10 AM. The bad news: none. We did have a 45 minute wait at the border but by the time we got to the customs the officer asked us the usual questions. "Where do you live?" How long were you out of the country?" Are you bringing back any animal hides, pelts, meat; vegetables or grains?"
He had a sense of humor because I got away with saying, "Only the bugs on the front of the car."
The two fugitives that have been at large since late July were thought to be trying to get across into Canada. We heard that sightings have been in St. Mary and Babb, Montana, just outside of Glacier National Park, where we were in late June on our way to Alaska.
In the US the speed limit on the interstate is 75 mph, 70 on the state highways. Traveling south on I-15 to Great Falls, MT, we then went east on US 87 through Grassrange where the route turned south to Roundup. Great names, huh.
At Roundup we got on US 12 to the east through Musselshell, Ingomar and Forsythe. There we joined I-94 to Miles City.
The drive across Montana was awesome, both for the scenery and the isolation. We passed many areas of eroded bluffs and interesting rock formations. Very few homes and almost none of them near the road. Many miles of grazing range land with only a few cattle that we could see from the road.
Here are some scenes that we saw. The rolled bales were roadside cuttings. We saw then all along the Interstates and other highways. Talk about utilizing everything.
Once on the interstate I-94 the scenery remained much the same, except we were further from the shoulder of the road and didn't "splat" as many grasshoppers.
Before we reached the Miles City exit a group of nine motorcycle riders came on and sandwiched us for a few minutes until they all moved ahead and out of view.
When we reached our exit and found the motel we saw a parking lot full, almost, of motorcycles. Their riders had brought out chairs from the rooms to sit in a circle in the parking lot and were busy visiting among themselves. There was at least 30 motorcyles. It turned out it was a group of middle to senior aged men on a tour, complete with a trailer following along.
He had a sense of humor because I got away with saying, "Only the bugs on the front of the car."
The two fugitives that have been at large since late July were thought to be trying to get across into Canada. We heard that sightings have been in St. Mary and Babb, Montana, just outside of Glacier National Park, where we were in late June on our way to Alaska.
In the US the speed limit on the interstate is 75 mph, 70 on the state highways. Traveling south on I-15 to Great Falls, MT, we then went east on US 87 through Grassrange where the route turned south to Roundup. Great names, huh.
At Roundup we got on US 12 to the east through Musselshell, Ingomar and Forsythe. There we joined I-94 to Miles City.
The drive across Montana was awesome, both for the scenery and the isolation. We passed many areas of eroded bluffs and interesting rock formations. Very few homes and almost none of them near the road. Many miles of grazing range land with only a few cattle that we could see from the road.
Here are some scenes that we saw. The rolled bales were roadside cuttings. We saw then all along the Interstates and other highways. Talk about utilizing everything.
Once on the interstate I-94 the scenery remained much the same, except we were further from the shoulder of the road and didn't "splat" as many grasshoppers.
Before we reached the Miles City exit a group of nine motorcycle riders came on and sandwiched us for a few minutes until they all moved ahead and out of view.
When we reached our exit and found the motel we saw a parking lot full, almost, of motorcycles. Their riders had brought out chairs from the rooms to sit in a circle in the parking lot and were busy visiting among themselves. There was at least 30 motorcyles. It turned out it was a group of middle to senior aged men on a tour, complete with a trailer following along.
Lethbridge to Miles City, Montana - August 11, 2010
In Lethbridge we had to go into the "city centre" as they quaintly phrase it. Again, more trouble following the signs. Two major highways converge, AB 4 and AB 5, and follow along the city streets. Just before the corner where they turn to the right, the sign, small, is up on a pole partially hidden by a tree branch. I pity anyone who is driving alone or can't pay attention to the signs because of the traffic. Then at the corner the turn lane and right lane were blocked off for paving. Donna had to make the right turn from the left hand lane. Good thing the Canadians are polite, no one honked or yelled.
Well the hotel was very nice, a nine story tower with eight rooms each on the 2nd to 9th floor, set around the central elevator and staircase. We were on the 7th floor with a view to the south, felt like a penthouse.
Tomorrow we get back to the USA, hoorah!
Well the hotel was very nice, a nine story tower with eight rooms each on the 2nd to 9th floor, set around the central elevator and staircase. We were on the 7th floor with a view to the south, felt like a penthouse.
Tomorrow we get back to the USA, hoorah!
Valley View to Lethbridge, BC, Canada - August 10, 2010
Today we had an even longer ride, 854 km = 530 miles. And we had to negotiate our way around Edmonton and Calgary to get to Lethbridge in southern Alberta. The good highway on this day helped us do the trip in 8 1/2 hours. The weather was sunny and warmer as we went south.
I have not been good at navigating some of the roads in Canada because the signage can be misleading or absent or not placed in a good spot.
Example: to find a rest area and visitor center, the sign was 2 km from the exit, then at the exit the road split for left and right turns. The sign for the visitor center was small with two other destinations on it and placed right where the road split. Good luck being in the correct lane. Following the arrow over the highway on a local road, the next sign directed us back on the main highway ramp going in the opposite direction for 2 km to the visitor center. If you do that you're going the way back and have to u-turn at the next exit, wherever that may be. We didn't bother.
When we first came into Canada back in June, the same thing happened at a different exit and Ernie had to get the 5th-wheel RV back around to get us going the right way and we never did find the rest area.
I have not been good at navigating some of the roads in Canada because the signage can be misleading or absent or not placed in a good spot.
Example: to find a rest area and visitor center, the sign was 2 km from the exit, then at the exit the road split for left and right turns. The sign for the visitor center was small with two other destinations on it and placed right where the road split. Good luck being in the correct lane. Following the arrow over the highway on a local road, the next sign directed us back on the main highway ramp going in the opposite direction for 2 km to the visitor center. If you do that you're going the way back and have to u-turn at the next exit, wherever that may be. We didn't bother.
When we first came into Canada back in June, the same thing happened at a different exit and Ernie had to get the 5th-wheel RV back around to get us going the right way and we never did find the rest area.
Valley View, Alberta - August 9, 2010
Our distance today was the longest so far on this trip. 694 km = 431 miles. Since we could keep up a good speed we got to Valley View in under 8 hours. On our way up to Alaska we had stopped here with the Griffins for lunch and gas. This time we stayed at a new motel, Western Valley Inn. After grabbing a sandwich for supper we went to a gas station for a fill-up. Full service, no extra charge.
Donna asked where we could find a carwash in town and the attendent directed us up a dirt street to an automatic, 24-hour carwash. OK, we drove up to the building, and the sign directed us around back where we used a credit card to pay for the $15.00 deluxe touchless wash and wax. Everything went all right but the van will need special attention when we get home to get the shine back.
Donna asked where we could find a carwash in town and the attendent directed us up a dirt street to an automatic, 24-hour carwash. OK, we drove up to the building, and the sign directed us around back where we used a credit card to pay for the $15.00 deluxe touchless wash and wax. Everything went all right but the van will need special attention when we get home to get the shine back.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dawson Creek, BC, Canada - August 9, 2010
The city of Dawson Creek is the beginning of the Alaska Highway, Mile 0(Zero). Originally the start was in Ft. Nelson because there was a rough trail to there from Dawson Creek. Again, like other cities in the Canadian Northwest, energy businesses are prominent. There are processing plants in the valley and lots of traffic with trucks of all kinds.
We made a short detour here to go back to the RV park where we stayed on the way up. I had left my shower shoes in the shower there. The woman at the office said that as far as she knew, nobody had turned any in. She also said that she had just been there since July and we were there in late June. Oh, well.
Soon after leaving Dawson Creek we crossed into Alberta and the highway improved. Four lanes, much of it divided and the speed limit up to 110 km/h, about 66 mph.
Beaverlodge is a small town with a big wooden beaver. Donna snapped this with two people in front to show the size of the monster.
We made a short detour here to go back to the RV park where we stayed on the way up. I had left my shower shoes in the shower there. The woman at the office said that as far as she knew, nobody had turned any in. She also said that she had just been there since July and we were there in late June. Oh, well.
Soon after leaving Dawson Creek we crossed into Alberta and the highway improved. Four lanes, much of it divided and the speed limit up to 110 km/h, about 66 mph.
Beaverlodge is a small town with a big wooden beaver. Donna snapped this with two people in front to show the size of the monster.
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