Archive for ‘October, 2014’

Casper, WY to Ft. Collins, CO: a tough day ???

I don’t quite get it. It was a short drive day at about 240 miles, but I ended up arriving 1.5 hours later than anticipated and it was warm and I was beat by 5:00 p.m.!

There was no problem with wind.

I had a glitch with my phone email and some mixed info about my destination RV park which delayed departure by an hour.

An unfortunate gas stop at a “middle of nowhere” spot with EXCESSIVE price per gallon meant I only put in what I needed to get to a backup gas spot, but that was 2 gas stops.

A bit of construction…

Temps that were warm enough to get me running sweat when getting situated.

I ended up, as mentioned above beat and hot and no work got done.

Tomorrow is another day. I will stay tomorrow and work and hopefully early to bed, early to rise for Friday.

From the road:

Chugwater, WY rock formations…

… cont’d.

After Chugwater.

Into Colorado!

Parked.

Bear at his post and an across the “road” dog.

Bear and I have been working with our clicker training on barking at dogs minding their own business. He is doing VERY well – I am so happy with the progress!

Auggie takes a look at the same dog.

Sunset out my work area window.

Day is done.

Wonderful Windy Wednesday in Wyoming

Sometime in the night…late Tuesday or early Wednesday, the wind came up. Not unusual for Wyoming, but given that it was calm (relatively) when I arrived and no forecast for a windy Wednesday, I was surprised.

Even early Wednesday morning, it was very windy. The revised forecast did not hold out any hope for an abatement of the wind until late Wednesday.

I paid for a 2nd night at Ft. Caspar…did laundry, worked, walked with Bear and took a Jeep ride to a natural food grocery for a few items.

It was a wonderful, windy, Wednesday in Wyoming!

Scenic photos on Instagram.

After the laundry, the working, the ride and the walks…a nap!

Pizza Wednesday in progress.

Pizza success and the capper…game 7 of the World Series which I can watch as I have cable TV here!

At 8:15, in the top of the 6th inning: Giants 3, Royals 2

So far, a great game with the best double play I’ve ever seen in the 2nd. Yowza, I love baseball and this is so much fun. A great capper to this wonderful Wednesday.

Billings to Casper: into Wyoming

The morning started cold…the first morning below freezing this trip. No problem for Wild Thing and we left the RV Park at 7:45. 5 miles down the road, I stopped for fuel and also added 3 cans of bg44K to the tank for cleaning.

Then, down the road we went…

…and into Wyoming.

Wyoming scenery.

Lake de Smet. I remember the name, but did not remember seeing so much of the lake…and such blue water. A surprise in arid, dusty Wyoming.

Just a bit of tech info: 3 years ago when I drove this route, I had a brief exposure to 4gLTE in the Denver area. This trip, I’ve had 4gLTE the entire way! I’ve noticed cell towers all along the way and this one – kind of in the middle of nowhere – just an example.

Fort Caspar Campground. Yes, the spelling is correct. It is Fort Caspar in Casper, Wyoming. I don’t know what happened ???

There is a walk in the scrub all around the perimeter of the campground. I didn’t take the camera. There are a LOT of rabbits and I’ve never felt comfortable making sure I control Bear (or Karl) amid the wild-ish critters. So these photos of the campground from inside the motorhome.

More campground.

Around the perimeter of the campground are long term persons – working in the area. The “middle” is mostly overnighter’s like me. But today/tonight, we have a lot of room.

Stuffed shells, roast cauliflower and some toasted rolls for supper.

A good travel day with the least amount of wind I’ve ever experienced into Casper. It was a 276 mild day and we have an even shorter hop tomorrow to Fort Collins.

It was a togetherness kind of travel day. Auggie rode under my chair today. Bear always rides on the engine “hump” with his nose next to my left leg.

I’m looking forward to getting to Fort Collins tomorrow as we will sit there until Saturday.

Billings Day 2: a work day

We started early this Monday morning.

Auggie is more comfortable every day. For the first time, he slept with me as normal. Prior, he would come and snuggle briefly and then go out under the recliner and repeat. And the last 2 mornings, he’s napped in the recliner after getting up. I’m very happy with how he is doing on his way to being an RV cat!

Coffee!

After sunrise, a morning walk with Bear and then breakfast for all, before both Bear and Auggie took up watch from the dash.

The morning meeting, scheduled for 1 hour went 3 1/2 hours. Blech!

After, Bear and I took a Jeep ride to the absolute worst WalMart Super Center I’ve ever been to. Dirty, not well stocked – a mess! I got the few things I wanted and we came home. I’m not a fan of Billings which doesn’t seem to have much going for it “in town”. The surrounding rural countryside is beautiful, though.

Late afternoon, a fresh batch of ginger syrup for my ginger soda was made.

Bear and I went for a walk to the river on the park’s nature trail (see Instagram photos).

A bit more work and then as the sun started down…

…the low sun lit the gold hued trees.

Spectacular light!

We sit in a very pretty spot.

David Lebovitz’s Fresh Corn Soup for supper.

The plan for tomorrow is to roll by 8:00 a.m. latest for Casper, WY. I’ll try to get going a bit earlier as I need to stop for gas fairly soon and it has been very windy between Billings and Casper (typical), but it is supposed to be not too bad tomorrow. At any rate, the earlier we get going and get to Casper, the better. Hopefully arrival is 1:30-2:00 p.m. and I will work in the afternoon.

Sunday: Missoula to Billings

The travel day went well.

We left the RV Park just after 8:30. Just down the road, before interstate, I stopped to get propane, gas and air in the tires. Then parked and cleaned myself up. I left the travel plaza just before 10:00 a.m. with 345 miles to Billings and hoping to beat the forecast heavy rain and possibly snow.

Some rain right away and wind and the look of the sky had me a bit anxious.

But it cleared, the road dried and although the sky still looked ominous and it was windy, the wind was off my rear quarter and manageable.

Montana’s Big Sky: just beautiful!

There were so many beautiful vistas: rivers, the gorgeous Fall colors…but I couldn’t always get the camera. There was more traffic than I expected for a Sunday in late October.

Coming off the steep grade (7%) of Homestake Pass.

A quick stop for a cup of coffee and an apple hand pie.

Montana.

Bozeman Pass was the challenge of the day. The road was very wet and the temperature was 37F with snow nearly down to the road. But aside from being very messy and slowing me down a bit, it didn’t get worse than a lot of water on the road.

I was parked at Yellowstone River RV Park in Billings by 5:15 p.m. and it was still light! I only come to this park in the “off” season. It is expensive and tight spots – I’d never come in the summer. But Fall/Winter/Spring, it is one of the only options and in the area for overnighters (vs live aboards) there is a lot of elbow room and great walking.

Auggie did much better today. He did ride under the recliner, but that was better than under the sleeper sofa. I can see him under the recliner. He meowed a bit at the start, but then quieted. After arrival, he came out after Bear and I had our before supper walk. I think he will continue to get more comfortable with the routine.

We are here for 2 nights so a quiet non-moving day tomorrow. Most of the other park residents are probably off to work tomorrow so we might try a harness and leash outing for Auggie. There is a nature trail walk to the river for Bear.

There are more “along the way” photos on my Instagram. Instagram makes it very easy to post a photo with a few words.

Moving: forward and backward

The original plan for today was to go to Billings, MT – 345 miles on easy Interstate with sun forecast the entire day.

We did move.

About 2 feet backward.

My original stop on the site was a bit too far forward for my water hose and electric without my extension hose/cords. The extra electric cord I dug out. The water, I decided was not necessary as I planned to be in a spot where I could top off water on Sunday.

But.

Typically, I have loaded the motorhome the late afternoon/evening before and then worked the morning of departure until the noon time I prefer to leave for my first day on the road. But, I am usually so ready to go that settling to work for a bit doesn’t work that well, so this time I decided to work a full day and then on departure day load and go when ready. It went well, but I had a meeting shortly after arrival and then Auggie to coax out and ultimately we were all “done” by early evening.

I slept well and both Auggie and Bear were more relaxed this morning, but my list of things forgotten grew and grew.

I thought, well, I will arrange a late check out, shop here in Missoula where I know where the shops are and head out early afternoon for Anaconda, just 107 miles down the road.

But.

I was dragging. Auggie and Bear were relaxed. I finally decided that it would be best for all of us to just stay here in Missoula another day. Bear and I went to town as is our norm on a Saturday, although on this day, it was a different town. We collected supplies, gassed up the Jeeper and returned “home”.

As we were staying a 2nd night, it put the need for water, etc. a bit further up and so I raised the leveling jacks and backed up about 2 feet …. WITH the slides out. All went well and I got water and sewer hooked up so we can leave in the morning with a full tank of water and the “unmentionable” tanks empty.

The now current plan (always subject to change!) is Billings tomorrow where we will spend 2 nights. I have a Monday morning meeting. The next stop, Casper, Wyoming is too far for a 1/2 day. The Billings RV park is along side of the Yellowstone River with nice walking for Bear and I. I might even get Auggie out on leash and harness if he’ll go.

Backed up to take advantage of full hookups.

And, oh…if Wild Thing and the Jeeper look unusually clean, they are! The drive was dry, but then after arrival and into the evening, it POURED! … and washed both of them. This state of clean is not likely to last.

The other frustration was that, especially in the kitchen and bath areas, it seemed like everything I touched was gritty-grimey-yucky. I also forgot white vinegar which mixed with water is my “cleaner for everything”. AND…a drawer with measuring cups and other utensils was a mess.

No toothbrush, but I have a cherry pitter, a plethora of chip clips (no chips), 2 corkscrews, 2 wine cutters, 2 quick read thermometers and a can opener (no cans that need this). Phooey.

I moved the cherry pitter and the extras to storage area that had room, leaving the utensil drawer a bit neater. The bench seats of the dinette open to storage areas. I stow items that I like to have along but do not need to get to too often.

Vinegar (and a toothbrush and all of the other forgotten items) was procured and I cleaned.

I feel much better!

After our outing to town and some nice walks and just practice, Bear is “on watch” but not barking at every person and every dog. I think he feels much better.

Hard to see, but Auggie has found a comfortable spot under the comforter overhang.

Think what you will, but last night as I said my bedtime thanks and prayers, I asked Bob to have a word with Auggie about the hidey space under the comforter overhang. It was Bob’s spot and I much prefer Auggie there than under the chair or sofa.

This morning, after spending the night between the bed with me and under the chair…Auggie has settled on the comforter overhang as a good spot.

Thank you Mr. Bob! I miss you but I do know you are here with us! (also Karl, Gus and Zack)

So a good second day on the road: backward for utilities and forward with Bear and Auggie.

***I’m opening comments while on the road.