Leslie: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
We traveled from Billings, MT to Shelby, MT. We decided to travel via a secondary road over a mountain pass. The road was good but remote. As we climbed the amount of snow continued to get deeper. There wasn’t any snow on the roads but there was serious snow (maybe 2 feet) in the grassy areas. The atlas reported this was a scenic drive and it didn't disappoint.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/295054709_WHzg7-M.jpg
Montana has huge areas of undeveloped ranch-land. There are remote homes located very far from anything else. I always wonder where the children who live here go to school as we traveled over 100 miles without coming across a single town (or even road crossing of more than three buildings).
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/295054620_qFEZk-M.jpg
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/295054650_ozWAM-M.jpg
As we dropped into a valley after the pass I looked down and saw a very large black bear hovering over a carcass. We were moving took fast for me to capture a picture, but that sighting goes on record as our first black bear sighting.
Shelby, MT is 25 miles from the Canadian border. A gale force wind blows from the west. Although we are well insulated, our rig does rock in the wind. We had considered grilling lamb chops for dinner but the wind convinced us that it was a beef stew night. We were glad that we had packed a pressure cooker that enabled us to make a quick stew.
We had considered pushing on into Canada tonight but ultimately decided that we want to cross the border when we’re sure the tourist information centers will be open. We’ve heard that the road north from Lake Louise to Jasper may not be open yet (for the season). In case we need to go the long way around, we’d like to get information from Canadian Information Services. The road we'd like to take runs up the Canadian Rockies and is supposed to be beautiful so we really hope to be able to travel it. (We’ll catch Edmonton on our way south next fall.)
We’re not sure what kind of internet access we’ll have in Canada. We have a cell aircard from Verizon. I’ve spoken to four different representatives from Verizon about how the aircard will work in Canada. I have received a different answer each time! Basically it comes down to a matter of price. Our usage in the US is unlimited (where available). I can’t get a straight, consistent answer from Verizon what usage will cost in Canada. Because it may be astronomical, we may just look for WIFI sites (meaning that our postings will be less frequent). We will board the ferry at Prince Rupert, British Columbia in two weeks on May 29th. Later that day we get off at Ketichikan, Alaska – i.e., back in the US. So if you don’t hear much in the meantime, we’ll be back in touch then.
Diesel price: $4.299 gal.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Robert, Tuesday, May 13
Today was a travel day. We left Billings with the thought that we might cross into Canada today. Well, it got to be around 6:00 pm and we were just north of Great Falls, Montana. We decided to stop at a campground just 30 miles south of the border. While we were driving, it was obvious that there was a strong cross breeze out of the west. When we stopped at the campground and opened the door, it about blew us away. I’m guessing that the wind was 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph. We just parked the trailer and I drove into town, Shelby, Montana, to get fuel while Leslie started dinner. We had talked about grilling something outside but with the wind, that idea got nixed. We used our little pressure cooker for the first time and made stew. Tomorrow we will cross into Canada. Our posting may get a little sporatic as the high cost of internet service with our broadband cell phone modem while we are in Canada is prohibitive. We may also have to change our planned route. We planned to go west from Calgary and then northwest through Banf. At the campground tonight, we were told that the road that way has been closed because of snow. We will try to get more information as we get closer but towing the trailer on snowy or icy roads is not in the cards.
Today was a travel day. We left Billings with the thought that we might cross into Canada today. Well, it got to be around 6:00 pm and we were just north of Great Falls, Montana. We decided to stop at a campground just 30 miles south of the border. While we were driving, it was obvious that there was a strong cross breeze out of the west. When we stopped at the campground and opened the door, it about blew us away. I’m guessing that the wind was 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph. We just parked the trailer and I drove into town, Shelby, Montana, to get fuel while Leslie started dinner. We had talked about grilling something outside but with the wind, that idea got nixed. We used our little pressure cooker for the first time and made stew. Tomorrow we will cross into Canada. Our posting may get a little sporatic as the high cost of internet service with our broadband cell phone modem while we are in Canada is prohibitive. We may also have to change our planned route. We planned to go west from Calgary and then northwest through Banf. At the campground tonight, we were told that the road that way has been closed because of snow. We will try to get more information as we get closer but towing the trailer on snowy or icy roads is not in the cards.
Billings, Montana
Leslie: Monday, May 12, 2008
We’re in Billings, MT on the banks of the Yellowstone River. We’re staying at another KOA, not because we strongly prefer them but because they are entirely predictable. This one has a unique feature – a porch swing at each site. It’s quite early in the season so campgrounds are largely empty Because the sites are quite close together, we wouldn’t like it very much if the sites were all full.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274505_U85w2-M.jpg
This was another organization day. I spent many hours trying to get this blog on-line. We apologize for the mixed order of postings; it was a challenge to get the pictures in a format that you could view. We'll get better!
diesel price: $4.20 gal.
We’re in Billings, MT on the banks of the Yellowstone River. We’re staying at another KOA, not because we strongly prefer them but because they are entirely predictable. This one has a unique feature – a porch swing at each site. It’s quite early in the season so campgrounds are largely empty Because the sites are quite close together, we wouldn’t like it very much if the sites were all full.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274505_U85w2-M.jpg
This was another organization day. I spent many hours trying to get this blog on-line. We apologize for the mixed order of postings; it was a challenge to get the pictures in a format that you could view. We'll get better!
diesel price: $4.20 gal.
Robert, Monday, May 12
We spent the day running errands in Billings. Nothing too important but just a lot of the little things that needed to be taken care of before we hit Canada. For example, one of our big purchases was one foot of Romex cable (the kind of wire that is used in the walls to provide electric service in homes). I need a piece of wire to provide a short jumper wire so that we can use our generators. All in all, not an exciting day.
We spent the day running errands in Billings. Nothing too important but just a lot of the little things that needed to be taken care of before we hit Canada. For example, one of our big purchases was one foot of Romex cable (the kind of wire that is used in the walls to provide electric service in homes). I need a piece of wire to provide a short jumper wire so that we can use our generators. All in all, not an exciting day.
Robert, Sunday, May 11
Travel days are often boring and today was no different. The routine is that I do the outside things like disconnecting water, electric, sewer, and cable while Leslie packs the inside. About the time I finish outside, she finishes inside. We then hook-up and hit the road.
On our first travel day, the cats quieted down after about an hour of mew, mew (that’s Molly) and MEEOOW (that’s Cody and it is said with a bit of a rasp). Today they both said the same thing but for hours. We left the campground around 10:00 am and they didn’t let up until at least 2:00 pm! One thing we discovered is that if we turn the radio off, they yell less.
The weather was beautiful with temps in the upper 60s and partly cloudy skies. We saw a lot of pronghorn antelope and tried to get pictures out the window while moving but with little success. We arrived in Billings, Montana around 5:00 and didn’t do much except set-up and fix dinner.
Like I said, travel days are pretty boring.
Travel days are often boring and today was no different. The routine is that I do the outside things like disconnecting water, electric, sewer, and cable while Leslie packs the inside. About the time I finish outside, she finishes inside. We then hook-up and hit the road.
On our first travel day, the cats quieted down after about an hour of mew, mew (that’s Molly) and MEEOOW (that’s Cody and it is said with a bit of a rasp). Today they both said the same thing but for hours. We left the campground around 10:00 am and they didn’t let up until at least 2:00 pm! One thing we discovered is that if we turn the radio off, they yell less.
The weather was beautiful with temps in the upper 60s and partly cloudy skies. We saw a lot of pronghorn antelope and tried to get pictures out the window while moving but with little success. We arrived in Billings, Montana around 5:00 and didn’t do much except set-up and fix dinner.
Like I said, travel days are pretty boring.
Robert, Saturday, May 10
So what kind of weather do you expect this time in May, maybe 34 degrees and snow? If this is the case you would not be disappointed. While it didn’t snow much, it was cold and raw. I drove into town to get groceries and fuel while Leslie tried to find a home for all of the stuff we are carrying. After our trip last year when we came home to no power and a disgusting mess in the freezer and refrigerator, we brought almost everything that requires refrigeration or freezing. We also almost emptied the pantry. While we may have to throw some of it away when we enter Canada, we probably would have thrown it away when we got home anyway. All of the blogs we read on the internet say that the real problem taking food across a border is when entering the US. We expect to enter Canada in two or three days and the we will reenter the US on May 29 on the ferry.
So what kind of weather do you expect this time in May, maybe 34 degrees and snow? If this is the case you would not be disappointed. While it didn’t snow much, it was cold and raw. I drove into town to get groceries and fuel while Leslie tried to find a home for all of the stuff we are carrying. After our trip last year when we came home to no power and a disgusting mess in the freezer and refrigerator, we brought almost everything that requires refrigeration or freezing. We also almost emptied the pantry. While we may have to throw some of it away when we enter Canada, we probably would have thrown it away when we got home anyway. All of the blogs we read on the internet say that the real problem taking food across a border is when entering the US. We expect to enter Canada in two or three days and the we will reenter the US on May 29 on the ferry.
To Billings, Mountana
Leslie : Sunday, May 11, 2008
We moved on from Wyoming to Montana. Traveling across Wyoming and Montana you really get to appreciate the grand open skies of the west.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294273362_X5cea-M.jpg
We saw many herds of antelope. (See those small white tails, they are the antelopes.)
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274077_zCqii-M.jpg
Cody Cat objected strongly for most of the day – and he can yell very loudly! Once we got set up in Billings, Molly cat enjoyed a sunshine nap.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294271803_JzfUh-M.jpg
We will again stay two evenings as we really prefer to not move every day. We’ve set up our laptops on the dining room table giving us the opportunity to get this blog underway.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274977_eZmZ9-M.jpg
We moved on from Wyoming to Montana. Traveling across Wyoming and Montana you really get to appreciate the grand open skies of the west.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294273362_X5cea-M.jpg
We saw many herds of antelope. (See those small white tails, they are the antelopes.)
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274077_zCqii-M.jpg
Cody Cat objected strongly for most of the day – and he can yell very loudly! Once we got set up in Billings, Molly cat enjoyed a sunshine nap.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294271803_JzfUh-M.jpg
We will again stay two evenings as we really prefer to not move every day. We’ve set up our laptops on the dining room table giving us the opportunity to get this blog underway.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/294274977_eZmZ9-M.jpg
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