The final day of travel led us onward and upward, north through Riverton to the small town of Dubois, Wyoming. The day was a bit gray and drizzly, but our excitement grew as we tried to take in the scenery that would be ours for the next few months. The Red Rocks in the Indian Reservation, the Wind River, the snow-capped mountains, all ready for us to explore. » Continue Reading

As we headed toward Casper, Wyoming we were traveling through the Crow Indian Reservation. Rangeland for livestock seems to dominate the terrain here. The Casper KOA is actually in the small town of Bar Nunn, and is built on the site of an abandoned airport. We went to the local Wal-Mart to have a prescription filled, and then Ed fixed a nourishing dinner of chicken stew.

We paralleled the Yellowstone River today, on the way to Billings, Montana. It was interesting to imagine Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery making their own discoveries along this route.  A rest stop at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park gave us a good view of bison. After we settled ourselves at the Billings KOA, we were in the car again. We had to check out something called Pompey’s Pillar National Monument. » Continue Reading

The drive to Dickinson, North Dakota was lovely. There was a lot of snow on the ground in South Dakota, and then suddenly in North Dakota all snow was gone. Out the windows were rolling range, crop lands, oil fields and even some scenic badlands. We checked in to the North Park RV Park and went out geocaching and exploring. Just in case you haven’t noticed, we detoured north in order to add all the western states to our map. We slept in the trailer in 49 states; now, we are working on a new map for the fifth wheel.

On the edge of town we discovered a local rodeo grounds where young folks were doing competitive team calf-roping. We climbed up in the bleachers and enjoyed the action. Then, back at the RV park we watched a mother (or maybe father) fox and two kits scrambling about their den just 50 yards away from us. We’re glad we made it to North Dakota, and will have good memories of the state.

Here it was: time to hook up the fifth-wheel and get on the road again. The plan was to drive 225 miles to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming and stay at a small municipal park for one night. Have you heard the saying, “Man makes plans, and God laughs.”? Well, He was planning a doozy of a joke on us! » Continue Reading

We chose to drive off the Interstate, on old Lincoln Highway, Route 30, for most of the morning. With almost no traffic and the smallest of towns it was more interesting that way. The one rest area we did stop at on I-76, entering Colorado, was unique. Inside the visitor center we climbed a tower to view the surrounding area from “on high.” The outside had tepees and buffalo sculptures to admire. » Continue Reading

The morning was clear and sunny but windy. Carol went to the nearby Curves to exercise before starting out. We drove across the Nebraska prairies wondering just what it’s like with the fierce winds during winter blizzards. No wonder we met so many Nebraska folks in Arizona! Along the way, what should appear across the highway in front of us, but the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. » Continue Reading

The KOA in West Omaha, Nebraska is another good place to stay. They make pizza like the Point South, SC KOA does and will deliver it to your rig. The owners, Carol and Eric know our new bosses in Dubois…small world. Ed is always happy for an excuse to go to a Cabela’s Outdoor Store so he was thrilled that Carol wanted to purchase some lightweight, ankle-protecting, hiking boots today. We found the perfect pair.

We aren’t used to mornings in the 30’s! It was cold and cloudy most of the day as we drove to Iowa. The low-lying areas near the Mississippi River are flooded, although the river itself doesn’t look like it’s over its banks. Ed, especially, was excited to be West of the Mississippi again. We seem to like the West more and more. This night we spent in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Coralville (near Iowa City), Iowa. We read that the Mormons gathered here to begin walking to Salt Lake City.

A cloudy, cool, drizzly day. It was a fairly short, uninteresting drive to Springfield, Illinois. The Springfield KOA is another nice little campground. Linda and Stan Roller are the owners. They lived in Anne Arundel County, Maryland for a long time so we had a lot in common. Also staying in the campground was a couple who spend their summers in Dubois, Wyoming…where we are headed. They think we’ll be happy there.

Springfield is Abraham Lincoln’s town. We visited his home and his law office and heard stories about his life in Illinois. It’s always good to review some of the history that we think we know, but might have forgotten. A lesser known “historical” site is the Cozy Dog Drive In on old Rte 66. Billed as the home of the Cozy Dog, or corn dog on a stick, it’s quaint and quirky and the Cozies really are pretty tasty!