The 2007 October Vacation diaries and then some.
Monday October 8th we left at about 3:30pm it was about 92 degrees, Gary drove to St Ignace in the UP, we passed the Crash site of our earlier try of this vacation it at about mile marker 285 on I-75
We had dinner at the? Restaurant in St Ignace around 8PM. We had white fish and mashed potatoes and a salad bar, good stuff!
Tom took over driving for the rest of the evening; we drove up route 123 in the rain to route 28 and ended up at the comfort inn in Newberry. What a place it was still warm in the low 70s when we went to bed.
Free wi-fi! Continental breakfast.
Tuesday October 9th we woke up early (7:30ish) Showered and went down to breakfast in the hotel, Tom had a waffle he made, I had a hard boiled egg and some raisin bran, and we both had coffee’s.
We left and got gas ($3.09 a gallon) and we the trip odometer to 00000.
We know we had already driven 360 miles the day before.
We drove to Munising and stopped and got coffee and a donut and the best pasties ever! The pasties had rutabaga in it... yea! After that it started to rain and got colder. right now its 41 degrees. We stopped at the Uppers Tourist Trap in Ishpeming and spent some money and bought some fine gifts... We passed the Iron museum that I would have liked to stopped at, and we also passed the largest man made ski jump... that would have been cool to see... maybe next time.
On to lunch at U.P., Chucks a fine establishment in Kenton Michigan. Tom had a perch sandwich and I had slumgullion soup and a hot dog that sat with us for the rest of the day and then some!!! We drove and drove through the rest of Michigan and into Wisconsin, Our only stop in Wisconsin was to get coffee. Off to Duluth Minnesota where we crossed the bridge at about 4pm CST. We got gas in Duluth before heading out on route 2 towards Grand Rapids, called my dad and lost cell service. Drove to Grand Rapids in about an hour and 20 min, we were going to stop for the evening but decided to push on to Bemidji Minnesota. Most of the next 2 hours was in the national forest, it rained and was cold. We arrived in Bemidji about 7PM; found a wonderful 75 dollar a night hotel (Ameri suites)
Free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast! Dinner was at Perkins restaurant, nothing fancy. We drove 520 miles on Tuesday.
Wednesday October 10th we got up had breakfast and did some internet work at the university (Tom read the paper) we headed out about 9AM stopped at the caribou house for coffee and got on the wrong road! Headed down the wrong road for about 5 miles before we turned around and got back on track. Un-eventful ride to Grand Forks North Dakota. Nice 2 lane road all the way, ran about 70 mph all the way. Once in North Dakota things started getting sparse, less trees and more prairies, drove to Lakota for fuel and a lunch stop (see picture). Made sandwiches of chicken salad and blue chips along with carrot sticks and Chocolate from Margaret, it was cold, 39 degrees cold and windy. (What the hell are we doing up here) Tom loves it! We are headed to Devils Lake and then on to Minot the geographical center of North America! Yea!
Well it’s not Minot that is the geographical center it is Rugby North Dakota.
So we roll into town and talked to the visitor center man on duty. He gave us lots of miscellaneous unimportant information. The best bit of data was that they had to move the center marker several feet when the road, US-2, was increased to four lanes. Many of the townspeople were very mad about the move, but in fifty years it will not make any difference.
On to Minot where they were having a festival for the Finns. This is a great Finnish area and also many Germans. Our man at the visitor’s center was Polish. Gary was thrilled.
We continued on to spend the night at Wellston, but all four motels were full, hunters and people from the Minot Celebration. We drove south and back east to finally find a place in Watford City, The Roosevelt Inn. Nice place and it is near the entrance to the Roosevelt Park. Gary has plans going on a big hiking trip tomorrow. Stay tuned. Dinner was at the Dakota, kind of family restaurant for the North Dakota folks. Interesting, but good. Tom went for his first walk of the trip, through downtown Watford City, four blocks of bars and cafes.
Thursday October 11th woke up early, breakfast at the Roosevelt inn. The hotel was amazing; it had more memorabilia of Theodore Roosevelt than any place on the planet. I took video of lots of it, We headed out and got gas, then drove around Watford looking for information on the park and such, ended up at the information center got some maps then back to the gas station for some gloves and we were off to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park ( the badlands of North Dakota).
We went to the visitor’s center and it was cold, 36 degrees cold, talk to the lady about our thoughts for the day and she thought a hike was a good idea to see the park. Once out side the center we saw our first Bison, they were big and rough looking.
We drove thorough the park stopping at all the look outs and taking pictures and video. We decided on a 3 mile hike called the coolie captop trail, good choice. We had a great hike we actually did over 5 miles, we saw things we didn’t expect to see vistas, rock formations, plants and bald’s, saddles, and walked on a few knifes edges. Amazing place. We decide to take the back side of the trail back to the car instead of the road, another great hike!
We were tired when we got back, had lunch at a CCC shelter on a look out. Drove through the rest of the park taking pictures.
Headed out of the park to an YCC horse camp, nice place over the river from the park.
We then headed down to I-94 to the southern park, took one side road to whitetail camp in the national grasslands, wow its amazing out there. Its hunting season this weekend and guys are getting ready.
We ended up in Manora ND. at the Ameri suits, nice hotel but if the town was still open there would be some great places to stay ( maybe next time). It was mentioned about this place to eat up the road about 10 miles or so at exit 18 the Buffalo gap ranch. It was great, had to find and a little scary getting there, but once there I was great! A real ranch. Out in the middle of no-where in the grasslands. A must if you’re in the neighborhood.
Friday October 12 Woke up late and had breakfast at the hotel and planed the day loosely to say the least. I did a bit of work in the hotel room, Skype was giving me trouble, needed my skype head set, but made it work.
We left the motel and headed into the Southern section of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Stopped at the visitor’s center Tom showed his Senior National park pass and we were in for Free again… I like that! As we drove we saw Wild horses, and some different looking terrain than in the northern part of the park, saw some bison and came to the camp ground, yea I want to stay there, nice campground, see the pictures.
We came to a Prairie Dog Town.. Wow, never seen one before It was big and there were hundreds of them if not thousands of them, they were in the road and every where you looked, they would bark and make noise. I recorded what I could, we took lots of pictures. As we drove the day got warmer, I think when we left it was about 42 degrees, and by noon it was 59 and rising. We drove and stopped all along the loop road in the park, took pictures and walked. We had lunch at a nice lookout at the east end of the park called Buck Hill. After lunch we went to coal vein and took a walk and narrated the nature trail on tape, it was about a mile long and very interesting for sure. After that we headed out and saw deer and bison and horses and more prairie dogs. Once back in Menora we got gas and some snacks and headed out on 94 west to Montana. We got off the highway about 14 miles over the border in Glendive and headed north west on 200s to circle, at circle we went north on rout 13 to Wolf Point on route 2, we stopped and had some crackers and cheese and the continued waits on 2 until we got to Glasgow. In Glasgow was stayed at the Cottonwood inn, RV Park and casino. Another must if you’re in the neighborhood.
Had dinner in the motels restaurant, not bad the pie was great! Back up in the room we started searching for places to stay in Glacier; well we will see what happens tomorrow...
Saturday October 13th We got up early and packed up and headed out for gas and coffee, and found both, back on the road we drove for about 50 miles to Saco where we found BDs café and had breakfast, I think the biscuits and gravy will be with me for many days. We ended up at the Dancing Bears Motel. We tried another place but they were filled up. These were the only two motels open in town that were open. The place was OK, clean and right in the middle of town. It’s only a four block town.
Sunday October 14th: Breakfast at the two medicine restaurant in East Glacier.
Went hiking in Glacier national Park and went about 7.5 miles to 8 miles around Two Medicines Lake. What a hike! Great scenery!, Started out on the south shore of the lake at the end of the camp ground, ( nice campground). We hiked for about 2 hours till we cam to the Twin Falls. We had lunch at twin falls 3.8 miles in. After lunch we headed back on the south shore of the lake, the elevation changed much more than the north side of the lake. There was one spot where we had to ford the river or cross a cable bridge that was unfinished, we chose the fording of the river and got our feet soaked, but no one fell in! Wow we are dead to the world. Went to Browning to find AA meeting. No luck
Monday October 15th, still in east Glacier, headed to St Mary for the day after breakfast at the 2 Medicine Grill. Did a bit of WSU work but not much remember it vacation time, only to do what is needed. On the way to St Mary, we had t take rout 48, the road was closed, but the locals said just go ahead as long as the weather is good. (And we know why, it was one hell of a road, and it was falling apart to boot, it was easier going over than coming back) Once on the other side of the rout 48 we got on to route 89, we cut off on cut bank road, to go to the cut bank camp ground. Well it was 4 miles down a dirt road with cows and great views along a river, we got there and the park service had closed it for the season, but it looked like a great place to camp, maybe next time.
Back out to the main road route 89 we went for another 10 miles and got into a burn zone, the whole forest for miles as far as you could see was burnt, it must have been a hell of a fire. (I am going to ask the waitress tomorrow about the fire)
Once in St Mary, opps did we miss something? There was a grocery store a gas station and a hotel, all were closed but the grocery store. We headed into the park and went to the visitors center ( It was closed also) we went to the St Mary campground and checked it out, nice camp ground I would stay there.
We continued up the going to the sun road stopping all along the way taking pictures and video. We stopped to have lunch at going to the sun point, spectacular spot for lunch, we found a table out of the wind and just had a nice time, I hiked a bit and took video, Tom slept in the van. We went about another mile and the road was closed at little chief glacier. It was a great ride! We headed back down the road we came and just marvels at the scenery. Back in the town of St Mary, we stopped at the grocery store and got some hot coffee and some snacks for later trips.
The ride back was fine until we got back on rout 48. Man I was tripping out, the road was just something you read about, cliffs on one side and a wall of rock on the other, twisting and turning, and the cliffs were like 2000 ft or more down. Now I can drive some roads, but this one had me.
Back in East glacier, we took a bit of a nap then went for dinner but where else? The 2 Medicine Grill! Then back to the Dancing Bear Motel for a good night rest and planning for tomorrow adventure.
Tuesday October 16th:
Up at 8 AM and to breakfast at you know where. We found out from our table server and a friendly man across the room that the beautiful yellow leaf trees were aspen, not birch. We also found out that the burned out forest along route 89 near St Mary happened last year and it was not a controlled burn. Lots of forest burned down. They are now harvesting the remaining trees for whatever.
On to west Glacier on route 2 west.
West Glacier was about fifty five miles across the bottom of the park. At the base of the park on Route 2 was the Continental Divide. Of course we took pictures and walked back and forth. West Glacier is also a small town but there were places open we invaded the gift shop and went crazy, lots of gifts, mostly for us. The store is also the train station. Once a day a train stops for the east bound and one for the west bound passengers. I think that the lady said that it was 35 hours by train to Chicago. Gary thinks it would be a great trip for me now that I am going to have time on my hands. Tom is not so sure.
On to lunch at the end of the going to the sun highway, we traveled about 17 miles on the highway before we came to the barricade at avalanche pass. The road is being repaired at the upper part of the trail and we could only go part way on the east side and the west side. We did our best going 17 miles from both ends.
We came down the highway and did a walk through the forest at Johns Lake. It was a very dense forest and there was lots of moss along the sides of the trial. The trail was supposed to be 3 miles but there was a big bridge across large river that was in need of repair and unsafe to cross and we were not going to ford this one. Our boots {boot club boots} were still wet from two days before. Fortunately the bridge was just off the highway and we were able to walk back to the car along the road.
We returned to the entrance to the park and after a false ride down one of the side roads we headed back down route 2 to the east. We passed the continental divide again and faced east, west, north and south and kissed the ground {only kidding}. We ate dinner at a restaurant along route 2 called Firebrand, about two miles before East Glacier. Good meal. Back to the motel and of to bed.
Wednesday October 17, 2007
We slept till after 8 AM since the previous night was not good sleeping, not sure why. After another great breakfast we packed up and headed east on US 2 to Browning. We got gas and a great cup of cappuccino at a TP coffee shop. We left US 2 and headed down route 89. We saw deer, antelope, lots of cows and even a hawk as we drove along the road. Just outside some town Gary spotted a Dinosaur Museum. We turned around and spent the next 45 minutes with the lady on duty. She gave us a great tour and had lots of good information on all of the dig areas and how the museum came to be. All of the money and work comes form volunteers, including a great building that has a big mortgage to pay on. She also suggested that we should take the route through the Lewis and Clark National Forest. This allowed us to continue on route 89 through the forest. As we approached the summit the temperature dropped below freezing and the snow flurries came at us. Were even in the clouds and could see very little. We made it safely down the mountain and stopped for lunch. The highest point in the park was about six thousand feet. Lunch was in Great falls at a place called Elmer’s and it was great. They had a senior lunch that I was able to enjoy very much, saved money.
On to Livingston just off the freeway, yes we were on a freeway for a short while. It was part of route 89. We stopped at the nice downtown hotel and found that the only room available was a suite. It was too much for our budget so we went on down the road to the Travelodge Motel. A Great place and a great price. Gary checked on weather at Yellowstone Park. It was way below freezing tonight and not even above freezing tomorrow. We now have to plan our next stop in the east.
We had dinner downtown in a Chinese Restaurant. Good food. We came back to the Motel and Gary found a meeting to go to. He is off to the 8 PM meeting and I am trying to bring this up to date.
The meeting was good address 449 Main street Livingston Montana!
Thursday October 18th, 2007
Woke up and had breakfast at the restaurant in front of the hotel, talked to the locals and found out that Yellowstone was doable and the roads were open.
So we went into Livingston’s Downtown area and walked around, got a hair cut and we shopped. Tom got me some boot soul inserts for my hiking boots, I got a few nice flannel shirts.
We found out that Livingston is a Drinking town with a fishing problem!
We bought Laurie and Marsha a nice door matt for there new porch.
We ended up at a great coffee shop a guy form the barber shop said was good, and he was right! We had lattes and cappuccinos and just enjoyed the afternoon we read each other trivia questions and just had fun. We left there and headed out of town south towards the Yellowstone area of Montana and Wyoming. We took 89 south to the Wyoming line, good ride. We got to the North entrance of Yellowstone and it was cold and starting to snow. We went to Mammoth Visitors area and found out what was open what was not and maybe what route we should take. Well all roads were open, but the west entrance is at about 8000 ft and could be closed if it was icy and snowy. Well that had no communication to the area to tell us if it was snowing there or not but said we could try it if we wanted, or we could go south thought the park or hang around the northeast edge and then head to Cody. Well you know Tom, mister conservative; he wanted to take the wimpy rout of the north east. It was getting on in the afternoon so I agreed and didn’t push it. So down the wimpy road we went route 212 east to cook city, nice easy drive, we saw the largest petrified tree, lots of bison, deer, some elk and a bear really far off in the distance along with some really nice views. So we get to the edge of the park and we hit about 8000 feet and there is some snow but not much, so much for the wimpy road in Yellowstone, nice ride and we did see some animals, but you know me, I wanted to see old faithful the hot springs and all the other places. That will have to wait till another time. You know we would not have been able to half of what we are doing if we had a trailer with us, one some places only allow 21 ft and others just to narrow or windy or steep an the going would have been really rough.
So on down rout 212 to route 296, now what a road, it was un-believable sights and the ride into Cody was spectacular and must drive, but I would not go into the park that way, the grade is 7% for about 20 miles.
We made it to Cody about 7pm checked into the Cody motor lodge and went to find something to eat, Cody is not a big town about 8000 residents big for this area by a long shot, but we did find a chop house and a Mexican restaurant, we ended up at the Mexican place due to the chop house was full. The food at the Mexican restaurant was really good and cheap. La- Comitia was the restaurant.
Well back at the hotel a few emails and the weather channel and we were off to sleep.
Friday October 19, 2007
We were up early for us, 7:45 AM and after Gary fixed the Wayne Server we were off to Grannies for breakfast. We headed south on route 296, passed across the continental divide twice as we drove through the basin area between the east and west divide. The day was windy and we did not get our noon picnic at some beautiful scenic byway. We made our destination to Walton via route 125 in Colorado on the west side of the Rockies, ready for the big trip across the mountains. All of the Motels, three, were filled with hunters. What a drag. We could start over the mountains, but it was getting dark and we did not know the road. We decided to continue south to Granby. That area included some ski mountains and we figured that there would be something available there. The route took us across the continental divide again. It was a very high area but it was dark and we were unable to see the sign.. Granby was the place to be. Lots of motels and rooms available. We picked the best one of course and checked into the Long Riders. Great place with two rooms and lots of furniture, a fifties motel. Gary’s birthday dinner at the Longhorn. The waitress brought Gary a free strudel and ice cream with candle for his birthday, but he did not want us to sing to him. It was fun.
Saturday October 20, 2007
We were up by 8 AM getting ready to drive across the mountains and stop in Estes Park. Before leaving the motel Gary called David Besemer on Skype in Boulder to see about a motel David reported that the city was filled with parents of University students. It was parent’s weekend. David will check on other accommodations and we will be in touch.
We ate a hardy breakfast at the Wagon Wheel, great waitress.
We started up route 34 to go through the National Park. About 25 miles up the road we were stopped at the ranger station at the entrance to the Park. She tells us that the road across the mountains was closed. They are expecting a big storm later in the day and so they closed the road. We returned to Granby and talked about two options. Go south to interstate 70 and cross or return to Waldon and go across via route 14. No freeways for us, back to Waldon. On the way back up route 125 Gary remembered a sign that directed us to Gould which is on route 14. We took the road, dusty and rough to Gould and then began our ride up the mountain via route 14. We passed through Colorado State Park, talked to the ranger and the road was OK. Gary paid a 5 dollar entrance fee and we were off again. We tried to find a lunch spot along the way but it was too windy and cold. We finally arrived at Fort Collins with cell phone service. We called David and he found us a room in Longmont. We proceeded to the Hampton Inn, nice place but above our tight budget. It was next to the direct route to Boulder. We called again and met them for dinner at the Kitchen in Boulder. The Besemer’s had birthday gifts for Gary and we made another spectacle about his special day. We also gave Ayla her belated birthday gifts. Back to Longmont for a good nights rest.
Sunday October 21, 2007
It was cold and snowing out the window of our hotel
We were invited to a pancake breakfast at the Besemer’s around 10 AM and we made it. We also stayed till after 1 PM having good conversation and to locate a place to stay tonight. The downtown Boulderado was their recommendation. We reserved, checked in and went for a four mile hike along the Boulder Creek, The snow had stopped and the sun was peaking through some clouds a good time to get some exercise and right from downtown. We went about 2 miles up and 2 miles back down the Bolder creek trail. We came back to the area and selected an Italian Café called Attica Roma. Back to the hotel.
Gary found an AA meeting just a few blocks away. He left and Tom brought the diary up to date. The hotel is an historic facility with prices way above our Motel 8 budget. One night only.
Monday October 22, 2007
Packed up and went to breakfast. We looked for an open spot to eat, ended up at the Kitchen, where we had dinner last night.
Went to the David Besemers and checked in for the rest of the day and the evening. We watched Ayla’s presentation opening for her presentation at the Monetary Bay Aquarium. It was a short presentation as Bobbie Oliver and his Nephew and girl friend were in for another birthday celebration. It was Bobbie’s Nephews 27 birthday. They left after the ice cream and cake and we went to bed.
Tuesday October 23 2007
Tom was up early and rode with Kathryn and Ayla to Ayla’s school. They gave me a tour and we were off to home. We had croissants, cheese omelets with fruit and good coffee. We packed up and were given directions to a liquor store and a Whole Foods Store. We picked up local cheeses and other local items. We headed out on the highway around noon, hoping to make as much time as possible We stayed off the Freeway as long as we could and finally picked up Interstate 80 East.
We ate lunch sandwiches along the way that Gary had made at the Besemers. We ate dinner at an Iron Skillet at a truck stop. Off to Council Bluffs Iowa for a good nights rest at the Western Inn.
Wednesday October 24, 2007
Breakfast in the Motel and then off to Interstate 80 East for the final leg of our trip
We finished up the sandwiches Gary made in Boulder. We got to the loop around Lake Michigan about 4:45 PM and were in the mix. Gary did a great job, but it was very fast and scary. We stopped in just inside Michigan at the Waffle House of America. It was not “our Waffle House” and was not the best.
We arrived home around midnight, very tired and glad to be home. The cats were happy to see us.