Wild West Day 6 September 26

Really, another beautiful sunrise. The campsites are in a circle and all face out into the hills and cliffs, so it's such a beautiful place.

We headed out early towards Rapid City, taking the scenic Highway 44 through the Badlands and Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

The rock formations were more in the distance, and the cattle fields were in view. Interesting how you'd first see an expanse of grasses then evidence of water then trees. We imagined that this is where the original and long abandoned homesteads once were.

Great shot of an Angus cow (#937) on a cliff. Silly cow.

Outside the town called Scenic, all of a sudden, the flats and rocks became trees and rivers. Amazing.

Best shopping mall so far contained a Casino, Hair Salon, and a Cash 'N Go.

We stocked up and decided, though we'd already been there years ago, we'd head to Mount Rushmore. We stopped at the Forestry Services Visitor Centre and got info on a biking rail trail and cheap camping.

Rushmore, though still magnificent, was spoiled from before by the addition of an $11.00 parking lot/garage. There were quite a few tourists there AND we think we saw ancient grafitti on Washington's shoulder (David thinks it says “Wanda”).

I was drawn to Teddy Roosevelt's glasses. I also felt George Washington need a nose job to fix his septum and we were amazed at how the eyes were so 3 dimensional with how they were carved out of the stone.

We stayed in Oreville Park, $10 for a beautiful campsite (Ontario has so much to learn). 

We met Gerry, an 80 year old, from Wyoming who shared good information about his home state (including a coffee shop/bakery we MUST try). We seem to attract lovely 80 year olds on this trip.

Here's today's view from my chair:

Wild West Day 5 September 25

Last night's sunset and starry sky were amazing. The Milky Way was so clear. Beautiful. The beauty was matched by today's sunrise. We were up early and it was such a wonderful start to the day. AND I heard coyotes and the church bells ringing at 9:00 a.m.

Neighbours Richard and Susan are from Toronto, and we enjoyed their company. They're in his father's 1979 truck camper, and she has tricked it out quite nicely, though she did drool when she saw our MH!

Time for the Badlands Loop Road. First stop we saw the first of many “Watch for Rattlesnakes” sign. The only rattler we ended up seeing was a dead one, squashed on the road. Some of you (Ann and Heather) might say that's the best kind of rattlesnake.

Highlights were the bus of Aussies we met (New York to L.A. In 24 days) and the many, many Little Dogs on the Prairie.

The Homestead overlook gave a sense of the original 100's of homesteaders' tar shacks and sod huts every 1/4 section on the land. Today, only two large “ranches” remain.

After lunch, we spotted a our first Bighorns.

Later, at the Hay Butte Overlook, two buffalo in the distance. We would have loved to camp near there, but the 12 mile road was gravel and washboard and we didn't want the risk. 

We headed back to the original campground. On the was, we spotted a family of Bighorns (Dad, Mom and kids...one who nursed-painfully for the Mom it appeared) for the camera. 

Next were about a dozen Pronghorns as well.

I took a short bike ride and saw a Magpie. After another glorious sunset, we spotted a skunk and a black cat (?). An animal-filled day.

Here's today's view from my chair!

Wild West Day 4 September 24

A beautiful morning in our parking lot spot. Met the woman next to us who had paid $27 for the site (Passport America was worth it!).

Started the count of Wall Drug billboards (this IS the billboard state of America) as soon as we hit I90 and stopped counting at 50!

Stopped at Mitchell Wal Mart for supplies and were delayed by Cal, an 81 year old cattle farmer who was fixin' to retire and wanted to see the MH. He was a talker but very sweet.

Besides the many, many billboards, there were some cute and noteworthy things:

• a Rest Stop with a mini chapel (then another one just down the highway!)
• the first cattle in the fields after mostly corn
• crops of millet, soy beans, sunflowers (miles of them; our first sighting of so many), wheat
• a sky full of crisscrossing jet streams (two crossed in mid air!)
• a sign for Walleye and Buffalo Burgers (mixed???)
• a “No Hunting” sign on the way in to a Tourist Rest Area (hmmmm)
• signs for “Firehouse Brewery”: Great Beer...Families Welcome

It was a great drive; beautiful, sunny Saturday with good roads and few people. Crossed the wide Missouri and David finally pulled out his camera for some pics.

Pulled into the road to the Badlands National Park and stopped for gas and a viewing of albino Prairie Dogs. Too cute.

FINALLY the Badlands and the amazing rocky formations everywhere. Free park entry day and and a short drive to the campground ($15...$28 for electric; no way!). It was 80 degrees when we set up. Enjoyed the view, the Western Bluebirds (for their looks and singing), a good dinner, a visit with neighbours, and the REAL start of the holiday.

Oh yes, here's the start of a new feature: The view from my chair. It's what I see from our campsites. I didn't bother with Day 1 (back of an RV), Day 2 (back of Gloyd, he of "Escort Service fame) or Day 3 (back of a motel), but here's Day 4:

Wild West Day 3 September 23

Good sleep and early start for another marathon driving day full of interesting sights and signs:

• “Comfort Inn” signs on the back of a flatbed truck in a “Rest Area”
• “Kum and Go” truck stops (sorry, still makes me whince)
• “Ox Yoke” Restaurant (yum!); in business since 1940
• “What Cheer”, Iowa
• Three arms of a wind turbine on three flatbeds (those things are BIG and we saw more later)
• “Madison County” (but didn't see any bridges)
• sign for “Casey Antique Country Dr.”; was he an “old” doctor or was did she “fix” old things? Okay, town and street sign, but...
• Sign for “Danish Windmill” (built in 1848) as we also passed acres of new Wind Turbines
• if you can believe it, sign for “Antique CITY Dr.” for Walnut, Iowa (funny at so many levels)
• terraced corn field; never saw that before
• sign for “Scenic View” but “Closed 4 PM to 8 AM” (how do you close a view???)
• Blue Diamond Kosher Tank Wash (took a while to figure it out; have you?)

The drive was good; in fact, we'd driven 1150 miles before a 5 minute or so traffic slow down near Sioux City, Iowa. We followed the Missouri River (an old paddlewheeler converted to a Casino!) and hit Cassie's state number 16, South Dakota. We also started to see the “Wall Drug Store” signs (if you've ever been here, you'll relate) and decided to stop counting at eight!

Via Passport America, we're in the Westwind Motel and RV Park ($13.50 for water, electric, sewer and cable) which is really the back parking lot of a motel, but it's quiet and we're tired and we're heading to the Badlands tomorrow for some nature and much less driving!. 

Wild West Day 2 September 22

Another day of driving (there are a lot of the states to cover on our way west!).

David saw a sign that HE thought read, “Do Not Pick Up Hijackers” (like we would). Really said “Hitch Hikers”, because of the THUMB Correctional Facility. Was funny at the time.

We noticed the maples turning red. But it was warm and sunny.

Just as David asked where Ottumwa, Iowa (our next state) was, we passed Potterville, Michigan. You M*A*S*H watchers should get that one.

Next town was Paw Paw with the “Two Paws” car lot. I thought that was funny and made sure that I “clapped” the cat's paws every time I saw a town sign. Small things amuse...

How about “Pure, Honest, Homegrown”...Insurance or what we informed the OPP about in our back field last October?

We drove over a bridge which crossed a HUGE quarry under the highway. Very unusual and surreal.

Michigan was very much like Ontario with lots of deciduous trees along the highways. As we headed though Illinois and in to Iowas, we noticed how things changed to be much flatter and full of corn. The corn wasn't harvested (late) and we wondered if there had been a lot of rain. Then we began to see very large granaries and wondered if the “food” corn crops had now become “ethanol” corn crops. Sad.

Noticed the beginning of a lot of signs for casinos, including “100 Looser Slots” that we read as “Loser”!

We crossed the Mississippi River just in to Iowa (cat's 15^th state), and found the Passport America Lakeside RV Park. VERY interesting: trailer park for sure. Our neighbour drove a truck (“Gloyd's Escort Service”-yep...you figure it out), but we got water, electric, sewer and WIFI for $10!.

Wild West Day 1 September 21

First Fall Retirement trip!

We thought we might be towing a motorcycle and trailer, but not this time. After two days packing and sorting, we left ON TIME at 8:00. We stopped at MH dealer (Sicards) to show them the broken door latch and meet David's contact, John. We had an easy drive through Sarnia, another easy border crossing and stopped in Lapeer, Michigan for the night. $25 at the Watertower park. Nice Park Host; just a parking lot of RVs, but good place to stop en route after our WalMart supply trip. Great to be on the road again.

Maine and New Brunswick - July 25 to August 8

Days 1 and 2 


FINALLY MH fixed and we're ready to go. Decided on two weeks in Maine. Left early in the morning (delayed by a 45 minute thunderstorm) and enjoyed the daytime drive (cat seemed to adjust better). Fairly uneventful day. Crossed to Ogdensburg, NY and enjoyed a secondary highway with little traffic.

First sign we were in the great US of A, a “Country Store, Music Oasis, Gun City” (their sign...really). Got to a Wal Mart and stocked up.

Thought of my friend Susan a lot: her birthday was July 25 and I saw a lot of “brown eyed” susans on the road.

Next funny sign: a Taxidermy business right beside the Mooers (really) cemetery.

Quickly in to Vermont. Highway sign: “Winds-Ice-Falling Rocks-Moose” and it was raining. What more could go wrong?

Had our first night in a Wal Mart parking lot in Berlin, NH (or was it Barre-and that's pronounced “Barry”).

Up early and off. Drove through White Mountain National Forest all the way through to Freeport, Maine. Avoided the craziness of that town (maybe on return trip) and found a so-so and expensive campground. Rode the bikes and got some sleep.


By the way, these were states 11, 12, 13 and 14 for Cassie the cat. Amazing.

Day 3

Decided to try some of the “peninsulas” into the ocean. After two different routes and some bad roads and no views or, when we needed to stop, campsites available, we were very unhappy and were wondering about the decision. BUT we did see a Bald Eagle.

Decided against another peninsula and went to Camden Hills State Park. Got a site for two nights and felt way more at home.

Met a couple who had a cool kayak rack on top of a MH similar to ours, so David got the details (they were also Ontarians with a Sicards MH-hope they get better service).

Across from them, saw a guy with a cat on a leash. Nice couple from Galveston area who came here to avoid the heat, but got 100 degree temps. We are definitely State Park people.

Day 4

Good sleep and were going to ride up Mount Battie for the views. Got started and abandoned the fully uphill route in favour of a “moderate” hike to the Ocean View Point.

Well, THAT was a hike. Said 1 mile; felt like 100. Almost straight up in places to about 1300 feet. But we made it to a beautiful view (and a gorgeous young woman who had just RUN up-that's how you get abs of steel; oh well).

Two guys were walking their CAT up as well. Cassie said no thanks.

Slipped and slid back down to a well-deserved beer. David said never again, but we did the Shoreline trail (short) before dinner!

Got some good info on Acadia National Park. A good day.

Day 5

Packed up, left and got some supplies on way to Acadia. Saw another Bald Eagle on the way. Alas, no sites available so headed to Lamoine State Park nearby. Got THE last site and set up. Walked to the fishing pier (actually town of Lamoine’s Official Harbor) and saw that we are here on a Wooden Sailing Boat Regatta weekend. Loads of action and lots of people (much like our Kayak Rendezvous weekends).

Park is small and nice. We walked the one beach, talked to lots of nice people and will stay another night and ride to a beach nearby tomorrow.

Really felt like this trip was going to be a bust, but nice small things keep happening.

Day 6

A wonderful day. Chatted with Connecticut neighbour in the morning. Then headed to the harbour. Though we missed the departure of the wooden boats, we did meet “Dave”, a Lobster fisherman/Harbour Master and his daughter (she came back home four years ago and joined her Dad on the lobster boat).

Rode to the beach for lunch. It was beautiful.

We returned and went to watch the boats come in. It was very elegant. Also, these beautiful boats were mooring next to working lobster boats, and we watched a couple unload their catch of the day then saw Dave and daughter come in as well.

  


We chatted with the Camp Host and learned that the many South Dakota license plates you may see on RVs are likely for the full-timers who get a South Dakota mailing address since they’re on the road 100% of the time. Who knew?

We ended the day with the “entertainment” of the wooden boaters walking up and down to comfort station and harbour past our campsite. A great day

Day 7

We decided not to go back to Acadia but head up north to Campobello. We so enjoyed Lamoine and couldn’t face all the people expected at Bar Harbor, etc. So now, we had a plan.

In honour of Nancy and Marilyn, Texas pals, who both had food memories from Maine, we stopped in Machias for blueberry pie. Yum. One with fresh berries and real whipped cream; the other cooked and delicious.

It was a nice drive north. We had hoped to stay on Cutler Public Reserve Land (primitive sites on the ocean???) but that was a bust (walk in sites only). So we found Cobscook State Park.

We got a beautiful, quiet site though not on water. We took a bike ride and scoped great sites for future.

Day 8

It was a gorgeous, sunny day, so we took a long bike ride to the day use area. It was amazing, so we decided to get the MH and return for the lunch and the afternoon. We enjoyed views and watching the tide come in. At one point, David snoozed on the rocks and woke up with water VERY close to his feet.

ANOTHER Bald Eagle.


  

That night was a really BAD thunderstorm. I must admit, I was scared, but we survived. Talked to some campers who were on great waterfront sites in tents who had a really bad night!

Day 9

Time to leave, so an early start for Campobello. Another Bald Eagle on the trip.

We went over the bridge to Herring Cove Provincial Park, and it was as remembered! We picked site 78, no electricity or water but on the ocean (we had stayed on this site the first time we were there.


  

We spoke with a couple from North Bay (he’s Texan, she’s Swiss, and they met on Lake Simcoe) and walked a bit on the beach.

Other neighbours were a couple who I thought were Polish then Russian (my people!).

After lunch, the sun came out and we enjoyed more beautiful views at this perfect place. THIS was what I was craving (along with blueberry pie!). Note the low tide (top) and high tide (bottom) on this fabulous beach:


   

Day 10

Forgot what a great rock hounding beach this was. So many beautiful rocks to add to my growing collection.

Since it was a nice day again, we decided to go for a bike ride. First stop was Welsh Wharf where the mackerel were jumping literally out of the water. I say mackerel with such assurance because the salmon farmer we asked gave us a great lesson in line fishing, scallop fishing, salmon farming, girls from Lubec and boys from Campobello, and life in a small, but very beautiful town.


  

Next stop was on the beach at the Deer Island ferry wharf since I remembered it for its beach glass. I wasn’t disappointed. I got a Ziploc full of glass and pottery shards.

On we rode to up to North Road Harbour and watched a young man catching a whole lot of mackerel (and one herring while we were there). His Dad was an island fisherman and his Mom lived in East Machias. He was there for the summer and was earning some money ($35 from the grocery store for 10 pounds of cleaned and filleted fish). He pointed out his Dad, who we also met.

It was a long and hilly ride but full of adventures.

Day 11

Time for another ride. We headed up the east side of the island, but got stopped by a really bad road. Along with some drizzle, we cut the biking short.

As usual, the sun came out later in the day. Sat on my bench on the beach and our Polish/Russian neighbours joined me. They were from Toronto and were, in fact, from Ukraine. They live in Long Branch and she attends the same church, Saint Demetrius, that my Aunty Dora goes to.

Too funny. In the evening, on the beach, we spoke with some people, including a young woman (with the cutest dog) who, after we were telling our story about the day before, was the sister of our mackerel fishing friend (thus daughter of the Dad AND a relative of the salmon farmer; yikes!).

It was a quiet day and it’s amazing how days fly when you’re not DOING very much, other than enjoying your surroundings and the people you meet. Ahhh….

Oh yeah, another Bald Eagle today!

Day 12

A beautiful, sunny morning. Just right for David’s proposed bike ride to Lubec. Really?

Yep, really and it was amazing. It was a hilly ride, but no need to walk (Gigi, are you reading this?). Fun to go through US Customs (waiting in line behind a bunch of cars; showing passports, etc.). The Border guy even gave us a map of Lubec.

We rode around and met a North Carolina family on the beach (well, actually mud flats since it was VERY low tide). They made some recommendations for lunch AND for must-see places in Southern Utah, likely our next destination.


  


Interesting Canadian/American border halfway down a rocky point. Lunch was yummy fish and chips on deck overlooking harbour (and harbour seals). 


  

Once back in Canada, we stopped at the Mulholland Point Lighthouse and watched the seals frolic some more. Interesting “tickle” (Newfoundland word http://www.heritage.nf.ca/dictionary/azindex/pages/5024.html for the ripples formed when tide going out meets tide coming in).


  

Got back and chatted with a cute couple from NB camping for the first time since they were teens. Very sweet.

A great day.

Day 13

Alas, we decided to leave today. It was a beautiful, sunny morning so I enjoyed a few last minutes on the bench on the beach).

Not much to see on our LONG drive across Maine.

Got to Moose Creek State Park in the mountains in New Hampshire late in the day and had to BEG for a spot in their “emergency” location. It was, in fact, an excellent, though buggy, location. Good place to stay in the future.

Day 14

Despite showers and fog, decided to drive through the mountains. We’d done this many years ago, and some things were familiar.

Like the Hassidic Jew we saw strolling in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. My research since says that this town is known for summer vacationers from the Hassidic community: http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/020927/findingside1.html

Also familiar were the egrets I happened to see in a swamp near Burlington, Vermont; familiar from our Texas trip but sort of out-of–place (to me, anyway) here. But they’re known!

Decided to drive on, so we tried the Highway 2 route through the Grand Isles of Vermont. Stayed at the Grand Isles State Park. Was happy to find a great site (100) and even had a fire (proof in the pictures). Another nice place to stay enroute East.

Day 15

Other than a long drive (and just barely avoiding a long delay on 401 after an accident because we got there just as police were arriving; lots of crushed metal, but didn’t look like anyone was hurt), an uneventful day.

It was nice to get home (and the freezer was fine!). Happy that the cat had another chance to travel (maybe more in the future? Who knows? As long as she’s okay, she’s going with us wherever!).

It was a good trip though we were disappointed with the first half or so in Maine. Thankfully we remembered, and enjoyed, Herring Cove Provincial Park on Campobello.

Now, where are we going next? WHEN are we going?

Here's the Maine and New Brunswick photo album: https://picasaweb.google.com/113390676240612869195/MaineCampobello?authkey=Gv1sRgCOXF7KXqxaKJYA&feat=email