Home Sweet Home

Hey everyone! We made it home in one piece and all has been a whirlwind since! The children have been having lots of play dates and sleepovers to catch up with friends and Sully and I are busy getting our lives back in order. We had such a great trip and will have wonderful memories of our "Wild West Road Trip" but we (and our pets) are happy to be home!

From White Castle to the Nile, Nile, Nile or at least Dayton

Well, here we are at a KOA campground outside of Dayton, Ohio. Very nice setting but noisy interstate traffic and a few creepy people. I think that we will all be very glad to be home tomorrow. Had a very nice visit with Sully's brother Jeff, wife Missy and children Rylee and Howie. Took a great walk around their beautiful community, enjoyed a yummy dinner and some cards. Got up early this am and hit the road. Took the scenic route to Milwaukee to see Lake Michigan. That completed our tally of all 5 great lakes. Headed down towards Chicago and ran into horrible traffic. I thought Sully, who was driving, was going to blow a gasket! Made it through okay. Stopped off at a White Castle for some sliders and rolled into Dayton around 7pm. Hoping to make it home tomorrow. It has been a great trip and we have enjoyed it immensely, but it is time to sleep in our own beds.

The Plains

470 miles today, nuf said.

Took a short little stroll in the Badlands and then hit the road. It is so beautiful there and our campground was superb. Definitely calls for a return visit. Except this time, we’re flying. Man, is this a big country! We

are

about 1/3 of the way across Minnesota in a place called Albert Lea, right near the town of Alden. The kids are becoming real pro's at traveling. We've decided that our days of "Are we there yet?" are over.

The Mount Rushmore Doh-See-Doh

Wow, what a day. Let me begin by saying that I am not a very good tourist. I hate tourist traps, large crowds and chintzy gift shops. However...when in Rome... After leaving Devil’s Tower we headed south into the Black Hills. We “did” Jewel Cave, which was very cool, 250 feet down and super chilly. The cave system is a series of tunnels and rooms stretching over 145 miles but within a 3 square mile area on the surface. Researchers predict that Jewel Cave will one day be discovered to be larger than Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the current world record holder.

From there we travelled to the Crazy Horse Monument in Crazy Horse, South Dakota. What an amazing undertaking. It is HUGE! Back in 1940’s this polish fellow, Korczak Ziokowski, who had been working on Mt. Rushmore, was asked by Lakota Elders to create a stone mountain monument celebrating the bravery of Crazy Horse. The project is still underway, directed by the original sculpter’s children. An amazing story and an amazing monument.

From there we zoomed over to Mt. Rushmore to take a peek.

OMG What a nightmare. It is Sturgis Bike Week here in this part

of the world and there are millions of hogs driving for Jesus.

And when I say millions, I am not joking.

There were bikers everywhere we went.

And when we got to the entrance to Mt. Rushmore

we had had enough. We ended up doing 3 U-turns

to get a good look and then parked illegally and

snuck in the back gate to take some pics.

Booked it out of there and found a great KOA Campground with Hot Showers!!!! a Pool!!!! and a laundromat!!! So now we are refreshed, fed, toileted (ha ha) and ready for a quiet evening of star gazing.

Checking out the Badlands in the am and then heading EAST!

Montana is HUGE!

In need of a clean windshield and a shower we are headed south to Jewel Cave and Mt. Rushmore. Did 440 miles yesterday through the Crow and Cheyenne Indian Reservations across Montana to Devil’s Tower. Stopped along the way in Broadus, Mt at the Powder River Stockman’s Club for a yummy dinner and a cold beer. The place was packed as their county fair and rodeo was getting underway the next day. What a place! The true “middle of nowhere”, very cool.

Arrived at Devil’s Tower in the dark. Could not see the tower even though we knew it was out there somewhere. Laid out under the milky way watching shooting stars until we could not hold our eyes open anymore. Woke up in the morning to discover that we were right at the foot of the tower...what a sight to behold. It is made even more amazing because it is the only thing like it for miles around. Took a short hike around the tower catching a glimpse here and there of the climbing nuts 100’s of feet above the ground!

Headed southeast today, to take in the sights of the badlands.

Heading East

So we made it to Yellowstone and spent the afternoon taking in the sights, sounds and sulfur smells. Saw a family of Elk snoozing in a meadow and a bunch of Bison. Had an extremely chilly night camping on the banks of the Gallitin River. Woke up this morning 43 degrees....brrr! Ate a quick breakfast and headed down to Montana White Water for a rafting trip down the river. What fun! The kids loved it and we all got soaked. We are in Bozeman now at a bookstore before a serious haul across Montana. Hoping to make it Devil’s Tower by nightfall. We could really use a laundromat and some hot showers!

Leaving Hills

Well, we spent our last day in Hills hanging out at the cabin playing scrabble and enjoying some summer rain showers. In the afternoon we made a quick trip into New Denver for some dinner fixin’s and one last dip in the lake. I just cannot say enough about how incredible Slocan Lake is! You can tread water and see your feet! Granted it is a bit cold for my taste but by the end of the week it truly felt good.

We left Hills Monday morning to lots of hugs and tears. It really bites that those guys live soooo far away. Ronato hitched a ride with us down the valley and after we left him (boo hoo again, he’s a keeper!) we cruised across the border and into Washington. The border patrol lady was super snarky and she confiscated Aunt Bay’s beautiful garlic braid (they let us keep the garlic though) but we made it through and back into the good ol’ U. S. of A.

Spent the night last night in a little campground on the banks of a beautiful river in Cataldo, Idaho. We are headed to Montana today, hoping to do some white water rafting in Gardener, Montana near Yellowstone. Looking forward to getting further south, it was 53 degrees this am, brrrr.

Hangin' in Hills

We've had a great couple of days visiting with our cousins. We've made a couple of trips to Slocan Lake which is absolutely pristine and gorgeous. Yesterday, we went down into New Denver for the weekly market. Alden and Pippin set up a table and sold friendship bracelets. The rest of us tooled around munching raspberry tarts and yummy cinnamon buns.

Spent the afternoon napping on the porch during a wonderful rain storm.

The pictures are of Bay and John's house in the woods, the cabin down the hill where we are camped out and the cutsy cousins.

Well, we made it to Hills. As we got closer we thought every driveway was their road. We brought a much needed rain shower with us. Apparently, they had not had a good shower in over a month. We caught up with Bay, John and Nancy (John’s sister) at the house. Skye, Ronato, Kai and Pippin showed up after the rain and the cousins had an exciting time meeting each other. Pippin and Alden are about the same age. They have hit it off. Kai and Tilghman are pretty far apart in age, but Tilghman is studying his older cousin closely.

Every time I huff and puff up the hill to Bay and John’s house I’m astounded at their levels of fitness. Bay’s garden is straight out of a magazine. Laura is positively salivating to get in there and give Bay a hand. John is busy making a screen for his sister’s window in true John style. He was explaining how he got this drill press at Canadian Tire 75% off, but it was giving him fits because it was designed so poorly. I just smiled. Good old John.

Bay & John have a gorgeous little cabin down the hill from their house where Skye & Ronato stay. We have joined them down here and picked up where we left off over ten years ago. Yesterday was hot and sunny, so we headed down to New Denver to a rocky beach on the Slocan Lake. The water is clear and very “refreshing.” We spent the day in a cycle of baking in the sun and cooling off in the lake. We are busy eating pancakes at the moment with similar plans for today.

Emerald Lake @ Yoho

Spent the day in Yoho National Park in Beautiful British Columbia. Sully went for an alpine climb while the children and I enjoyed canoeing on Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is the most extraordinary color; a milky turquoise that is caused by sediment created by the glaciers. We learned that this sediment called “rock flour” is made as the glacier slowly grinds the rock to dust. In the spring when the glacier begins to melt, the rock flour is swept along into the rivers and eventually to the lakes, where it reflects the light to create it’s unique color. Unfortunately, as the glaciers recede, due to climate change, one day they will be no more, and as a result there will be no more rock flour in the lake to create it’s amazing color.

Sully hiked up beside one of the creeks that feeds the lake. It was wonderful to stretch my legs on a healthy incline. The trail had some great views down to the creek below. It ended in a natural basin with twin waterfalls. The scale of the mountains out here is just awesome and the waterfalls shoot out of fissures in the rocks all over the place. Walking along the floodplain I imagined how incredible it must be at the height of spring thaw.

At camp we were entertained by some Columbian Ground Squirrels. They are some cheeky little devils, sneaking around camp, searching for handouts. The kids enjoyed following them around but I was thinking about a ni

ce Ground Squirrel Stew, as they were into everything!

Left early this am on the last leg of our westward journey to Sully’s Aunt Bay’s house about 4 hours away. Alden and Tilghman are extremely antsy this morning as they anticipate meeting their cousins and actually getting to spend some quality time outside!!

Oh the wind and the rain....

Spent a soggy day in Yoho National Park in Beautiful British Columbia. Sully went for an alpine climb while the children and I enjoyed canoeing on Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake is the most extraordinary color; a milky turquoise that is caused by sediment created by the glaciers. We learned that this sediment called “rock flour” is made as the glacier slowly grinds the rock to dust. In the spring when the glacier begins to melt, the rock flour is swept along into the rivers and eventually to the lakes, where it reflects the light to create it’s unique color. Unfortunately, as the glaciers recede, due to climate change, one day they will be no more, and as a result there will be no more rock flour in the lake to create it’s amazing color.

Sully hiked up beside one of the streams that feeds the lake to a natural basin with twin waterfalls. The scale of the mountains out here is just awesome and the waterfalls shoot out of fissures in the rocks all over the place. I can’t imagine how incredible it must be at the height of spring thaw.

At camp we were entertained by some Columbian Ground Squirrels. They are some cheeky little devils, sneaking around camp, searching for handouts. The kids enjoyed following them around but I was thinking about a nice Ground Squirrel Stew, as they were into everything!

Left early this am on the last leg of our westward journey to Sully’s Aunt Bay’s house about 4 hours away. Alden and Tilghman are extremely antsy this morning as they anticipate meeting their cousins and actually getting to spend some quality time outside!!

Yoho ho and a bottle of beer

Well, we made it! We covered some miles yesterday, that’s for sure. All the way from our not so picturesque, little trailer park in Saskatchewan to the beautiful Canadian Rockies, about 450 miles all told. Passed fields and fields of Canola yesterday and the rolling grasslands that let us know that we were in the west at last! We kept looking for the Rockies, thinking that we would see them from at least a couple of hours out the way you do in Colorado. We didn’t actually get our first glimpse until Calgary, and then suddenly there they were big and beautiful. Alden and Tilghman were awestruck and finally began to enjoy the scenery after days of nothingness (no offense Saskatchewan and Alberta!). And, man, is it gorgeous here. Camping in Yoho National Park on the banks of the Yoho River. Planning on a day of hiking and taking in the sites then on to Bay and John’s on Tuesday. It was awfully nice this morning knowing that we didn’t have to pack up and get on the road. Looking forward to staying put for a day.

Watching the sun touch the peaks and travel down the rocky slopes as I charge up the computer at a little cafe in Fields, BC. Reminds me of my summer in Jackson Hole with all the tourists and the chilly mountain air. Speaking of which we were all a bit frosty last night and ended up all snuggled together for warmth. Very sweet to wake up with sleepy little children cozied up next to you.

We'll add pictures later.

Speeding across the flats

Did not quite make it to Alberta. Saskatchewan is huge and flat, prairie land and western grasslands. Saw some of the biggest combines that I have ever seen. The marshes that we passed were full of waterfowl, everything is green and pretty. We passed a huge salt mine outside of the capital, Regina. A mountain of white stuff that looked like snow. We made it as far as Swift Current, although we saw nothing “Swift” or “Current” about it. We needed ice for our cooler but none was to be had. I went in a hotel to beg and found out that it was a 3 day weekend and everyone was on holiday. All of the hotels, campgrounds and parks were at capacity and we had run out of steam for the day and needed somewhere to stay. The provincial park where we were planning to stay was full so we had to settle for a small bit of shadeless grass in a trailer park on the outskirts of town. It wasn’t too bad but I’m glad that we are out of there! Had a nice, hot breakfast, knowing that we had a few miles to go. Alden was particularly pleased with our breakfast of Canadian Bacon that we had picked up at the Canadian Super Store. On the road a little late but making good time on these supper straight roads. We are in big sky country now with the horizon stretching for miles. Hoping to make it to Yoho National Park today just over the border into British Columbia.

Day 6: R & R in Winnipeg

Stayed in a super swanky hotel last night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Went downtown to the Forks for dinner and met a local beekeeper. Came away with some yummy honey butter, clover honey and a new friend. The kids enjoyed the pool, Sully took advantage of the gym and I relaxed in the hot tub.

While staying a Pancake Bay a few days ago we had read about the wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald. Sully remembered the song by Gordon Lightfoot and made use of the hotel wifi to look up some history of the wreck. 29 sailors died in a November storm just NW of Whitefish Bay in the 70‘s. Being here really makes the history come alive and listening to the song this morning (thanks to itunes) was particularly haunting.

Had a late night and an early morning and now we are crossing the prairie. Lots of canola, wheat and sunflower fields and huge John Deere Tractors! Looking forward to a very straight and very flat drive today as we l

eave Manitoba, cross Saskatchewan and hopefully make Alberta by late afternoon.

Day 5, Enter the Prairie

Headed to Winnipeg, Manitoba after 4 straight days of driving we will finally be leaving Ontario! What a beautiful province though, mountains, meadows, canyons, farms, forests and heaps of lakes!

Last night we spent the night at Kakabeca Falls Provincial Park.

Canadians take recreation seriously and as a result their parks

are beautiful. Lots to do and see and very clean. Went for a

swim in the Kaministiqua River and roasted weenies over

the campfire, to bed by 9. The crazy thing is, that it did not

really get dark until about 10:30pm. We will cross into central

time today so that will shorten up the days a bit but being

so far north really makes for a long day.

Saw two bucks on the side of the road this morning

with velvety antlers, still on the lookout for bears and

moose. A lady in Terrace Bay told us

that she sometimes sees bears in the berries on

the side of the road so we are hopeful that we will

get a glimpse. As for the moose, we

are hoping for a peek at a nice safe distance.

Day 3 & 4: On and Ontario

Arrived in South Baymouth without incident and got on the road. 276 miles of beautiful lake-studded countryside. The lakes are a gorgeous, blue-turquoise with lots of little coves with nice beaches. I can’t imagine how different it must be here in the winter, brrrrr! The roadsides are littered with Queen Anne’s Lace, Asters and a sweet little, yellow something but no trash. Six hours of driving and we saw one plastic bottle and one glass bottle. They have Adopt-A-Highway up here but I bet the volunteers are bored stiff because there is nothing to clean up. Arrived in Pancake Bay with enough time for a swim in Lake Superior. The beach was awesome, hot, sunny sand and frigid water! Much to chilly for Alden and me but Tilghman and Sully enjoyed a nice long dip. Tacos for dinner tent-side and to bed early, as it had been a long day.

Woke up this morning to the sound of Loons with pancakes in honor of our lovely campsite and on the road by 8. We are shooting for a bit west of Thunder Bay to a place called Kakabeka Falls (Acka-backa-soda cracker!). Had a guy stop by our site this am to tell us that is the place to go! Hilly, rocky, lakeside scenery today with a stop for a blanket, as it was 56 degrees this am and we expect it to get chillier as we head into the mountains by the week’s end. The children are doing better and better, the first two days were a bit edgy, as we got into the routine of sitting in the car for 8 hours a day, but by now they get it, and yesterday was scads better.

Hello and welcome to Day 2

Spent last night in a beautifully, clean and landscaped campground in Tobermory, Ontario. When we arrived the folks next door came over to tell us that a bear had ransacked our site the day before. Guess we will be keeping all the food in the car! We were introduced to “Lucky” the chipmunk, the camp critter, who had his cheeks full of peanuts, and went to sleep hoping the bear would not get an itch for a midnight snack.

Awoke around 4am to the sound of thunder and packed up quickly to avoid the rain the poured down before we made it to the main road. Got in the line-up for the ferry with a long wait ahead of us but luckily safe and dry.

Sully struck up a conversation with some local boys from around Owen Sound. They talked weather, fishing and beer, I guess some things are universal. We are now aboard the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry headed for South Baymouth across Lake Huron. The sun is peeking through the heavy clouds and the full moon is shining. We will be crossing the Fathom Five, a large Marine Park that is called the scuba diving capital of Canada due to a large number of shipwrecks. Heavy swells forced us out onto deck for most of the crossing but made it ashore for the next leg of our trip.

We stayed last night in Angola, NY at another state park right next to Lake Erie. It was a little stinky down at the nearby beach, but the views were great and the sound of the waves put us right to sleep.

So far we have seen three Great Lakes in one day: Erie, Ontario and Huron. We are soaking up the landscape and loving all accents up here, eh? We crossed over into Canada early this morning without any trouble and snaked our way to Niagara Falls. The views were great from the Canadian side and Tilghman described it well. He said, "it was like a slow motion explosion."

Laura counted more dairy farms in 2 miles than all of Orange County. She's ready to move into the stone house with matching barn. I don't think she's seen it in the winter. We stopped in Mt. Forest where Tilghman and I got haircuts in Jim's Barber Shop. Jim was a wealth of information about the area.

We are currently in Tobermorey, Ontario. It is beautiful and cool up here. The forest is so thick I'd almost have to crawl to get through it. We just had gorgeous fish and chips at Shipwreck Lee's, not to mention the Flying Monkeys beer (the local brew). We are set up at Lands End State Park. We are really excited because a bear came through the campsite where we are staying yesterday. We are keeping all our food put away just in case. Tomorrow we head out really early for the ferry across Lake Huron.

We are getting ready for our departure tomorrow. Everyone is excited, but the kids are sad to leave friends for 3 weeks. Will all this fit in our little car?