Monday June 30, 2008 Hardin, Montana

June 30, 2008  Monday - Hardin, Montana

Today we had a long 230 mile drive, entering Montana from the grasslands of North Dakota. Our navigator decided to take a jaunt southwest which would put us at the site of Custer’s last stand at the Little Big Horn…should we decide to tour it.

We’re getting the picture that the description of campgrounds and RV parks in the Trailer Life catalog (our bible for the road) are not necessarily true. We chose this one because of its location, but also because it described having an Olympic size pool. After setting up camp and turning on the A/C to cool down the 90 degree trailer, Bruce and I left with towels in hand to walk over to the pool…Stopping by the office to inquire as to where we might find the large pool, we were told, “It’s a public pool, across the road and down a ways.” The clerk added as we headed for the door to return to the trailer, “It’s only one dollar for senior citizens!!!” H-e-l-l-o??? Has this road trip aged us or what? We’ve got a few more years before qualifying for such discounts…but then again it could work in our favor at a gas pump!?? Ha!

At 7:30 pm each evening the campground hosted an ice cream social. We were told to bring our own bowls, spoons and $1.50 each. Bruce was more then happy to participate and even more pleased with the huge portions! It was a nice time to cool off and meet other campers. One nice couple about our age had retired from New Mexico and had been on the road for two years. They’ve been traveling in a north/south direction through each state, hoping to eventually make it to the Atlantic. Their pace is obviously very slow since they’ve only made it to Montana. They never know what they’ll be doing or where they’ll be going from day to day. Total immersion into local communities and back road bike riding has kept them busy.

With good Wi-Fi service we were able to check email, pay bills and find out that Bruce has a conference call with his Microsoft consulting tomorrow at 2 pm. With that fact we have decided to skip the sites at Little Big Horn. Had we been here last weekend for the reenactment memorial festivities, we would have made it a higher priority.

A video chat with daughter, Kimberly!

Sun. June 29, 2008 Medora, North Dakota

June 29, 2008  Sunday - Medora, North Dakota

The winds died down as predicted, so we hit the road early and headed up to Medora, where the southern entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands of North Dakota is located. After setting up camp and changing into cooler clothing (it was in the high 90’s), we unhitched the trailer to make the 37 mile loop around the park.

Before entering the driving tour of the park we were invited to stop at the visitor’s center for an orientation. I was interested in Teddy Roosevelt’s life and his cabin that has been preserved on site. It was fascinating to learn how he had traveled from his home state of New York to go on a buffalo hunt in what is now called the Badlands. Upon arrival, he fell in love with the area and wanted to preserve it for everyone’s enjoyment. He became a conservationist and environmentalist and because of him, this area is what it is today.

The southern loop that we drove was filled with unique geological formations and outcroppings, clearly showing the various ages of time. The colorful striations ranged from lavender to raw umber and charcoal. Petrified logs stuck out in angular contrast to the vertical lines of water erosion. The hues of blue-green sage dotted the grassy landscape along with flowering spiky century plants and scrubby short pines.

Wildlife included herds of bison and wild horses. Most entertaining were prairie dogs which popped up out of their dirt mounds to snack or chase one another like mischievous kids.

There were few people in the park which allowed us to drive slowly and take pictures. As I looked out in the quiet, vast landscape I tried to imagine it being the floor of the ocean filled with fish and marine life…a stark contrast to today’s visit.

The campground that we stayed at was nestled up against a rocky crag and was the site of a large family reunion. The friendly group actually invited us to join them for dinner! Complimentary nightly western music was preformed by an older local couple, dressed in matching red and silver western garb.

The small town situated along the Little Missouri River had quite a colorful history. It’s rustic, frontier architecture remains with its claim to fame being the national cowboy museum as well as the park. Buildings had been preserved with wooden sidewalks and old western facades. Seeing cowboy hats and boots made me feel like we were re-entering the Wild West...competing with tour buses instead of covered wagons, for parking spaces.

June 27-28, 2008 Bismarck, North Dakota

June 27-28, 2008  Bismark, North Dakota



The beautiful weather turned to rain on the morning of our Minnesota departure. Luckily we had help in getting our things packed and on our way into North Dakota. Although we hit no rain driving west, we had pretty tough head winds to fight. I kept the truck to 50mph in hopes of getting slowing the gas guzzling

.
After a long drive, we pulled into the aptly named, “Prairie Breeze Campground” just outside of Bismarck…the State Capitol. We intended on spending one night, but after going next door to a seed supply office where we could pick up internet connections and weather report…we decided to spend another night. Winds were gusting to 50mph with a travel advisory for trailers! Instead we drove our truck into town to visit a state heritage museum and gain a better understanding of the Dakota history.

June 24-26, 2008 Detroit Lake, MN

June 24-26, 2008 Detroit Lake, MN

Monday was a very busy day of laundry, shopping, cooking and packing after my red-eye flight back from Vancouver, WA….I literally hit the ground running when Bruce picked me up at the airport around 5am.

Leaving Big Lake, MN was bitter sweet. Although we were excited to move on and explore more of God’s wonders, we have grown to love and enjoy the company of Vicki and Randy Swift.

Vicki is Bruce’s cousin whom he was introduced to in 1995. Her Mother was a half sister of Bruce’s Mom and part of the family that no one even knew existed. Like me, Vicki loves the challenge of a mystery and tracked down Bruce’s family to California. They share the same Grandmother.

Although as cousins they grew up in different families and different states, it’s amazing how similar they are. Between interests, mannerisms and beautiful blue eyes, they share a faith, values and a quick wit. All four of us knew that we had been blessed with an extraordinary three weeks together.

We had such an incredibly wonderful time with Vicki and Randy that we hated to have it end.  So they decided to escort us out of their home state. We left their Mississippi River front home and headed north west to Detroit Lakes knowing that they would be joining us for a couple of days of camping…thus avoiding a “good-bye!”

Long Lake was our destination. The easy drive through farmlands and Garrison Keeler’s Lake Woebegone territory took about five hours. Billboard’s along I-94 were advertising for an upcoming trucker’s café that served buffalo burgers. Bruce was curious about the flavor, so we stopped and made that dinner. The flavor was similar to beef, but very lean.

A quick visit into the town of Detroit Lake for gas opened up a link to Bruce’s family history. In missing a turn, I was put onto Rossman St. and passed by Rossman School. Rossman is Bruce’s Grandmother’s maiden name. She grew up in Stearns County which is one county away from where we were. The next day Vicki and I visited the historical museum to see who the man was. We are convinced that he is a relative of some kind, but the records were inconclusive.

Our time on Long Lake was relaxing. The guys were able to get some fishing in and Vicki and Randy were able to try out kayaking in our rigs.

 Wild life was plentiful and with good weather we were able to lower our garage ramp, pull down the large screen and lower the queen bed from the ceiling so that our guests could sleep in a mosquito free screened in porch. It was absolutely wonderful to listen to the loons calling their mates in the dark of the night on the lake outside the trailer. It was a real “On Golden Pond” experience!

Vancouver, WA June 17-22, 2008

 June 17-22, 2008  WA and MN

Attending the graduation of my two nieces from nursing school was an astounding privilege and joy. I was asked to take on the project of photographing the ceremony and was thrilled to oblige.
Although our girls were not able come for the ceremony, they were able to fly up to enjoy a weekend of celebrating. It was so good to see them and be able to begin making plans for when we set up house in late August. We have all miss each other over the past few years and look forward to living closer to one another.
Bruce and I will be leaving Big Lake on Tuesday and heading to Detroit Lake in Minnesota for four days of camping with his cousin. I will resume my writing at that time.

Returning to Vicki and Randy's house in Big Lake, we went on a drive to St Cloud, MN to meet Bruce's Mom's cousin (Anastassia's daughter), Ethel Rose and her husband Mike (Mike had been a Catholic Priest) in their home.  We had a nice mid-west casserole lunch together and exchanged historical facts and family stories.  Ethel Rose has become quite a water color artist in her retirement.  Lovely people.  SIDE NOTE: Since our visit, Ethel Rose was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died in 2010.

Bruce, Ethel Rose, Mike Boyle and Vicki Swift

On that same drive we were able to stop and visit with Janette and Frank Ferche who was a cousin to Severen Ferche, Bruce's Grandfather (Madeline's father).  They owned a woodwork company that specialized in wood moldings, stair spindles, etc.  The company still remains in the family.  Janette had prepared dessert and coffee for us.  We had such a nice afternoon spent with them.

Bruce's Great Grandfather Ferche

 

Big Lake, Minnesota June 2-??, 2008

Monday June 2-23 2008 Big Lake, Minnesota


With our handy GPS, we were easily able to drive through Minneapolis and make it to Big Lake, Minnesota where Bruce's relatives live. Vicki and Randy have graciously come to visit us twice over the past 15 years, so we were determined to make the trek north to spend some time with them. Their house sits on the bank of the Mississippi River and looks out to an Island much like our home in Camas, WA did along the Columbia River. The 3-acre lot has been beautifully landscaped with indigenous plantings and rocks from the area. It is shaded with numerous oak, maple, birch, hackberry, elm, ash and evergreen trees, which provide shelter for migrating birds.

One of the most interesting things for me has been to watch two great horned owl babies learn to hunt from their parents. They have taken up residency in their tree canopy and swoop down onto the lawn each evening around 6pm. The night before we arrived one of the adults actually took down a hawk in flight! I would have suspected that the hawk would have been the predator, but with the average adult being just shy of 5 feet tall, they are the aggressor. The second morning that we were here Bruce found a claw and plumes of a pheasant that they had dined on the night before. Once the babies accomplish their skills, the owls will leave for good.

This area of the US has been experiencing unusual weather patterns. Tornado sirens stand in fields nearby to warn of an impending storm. There was a hailstorm two nights before our arrival. Vicki pulled out one of the hailstones that she saved in the freezer for us to see. The stone was the size of a large egg! The damage from hail to cars and roofs is very apparent.

We are having a delightful time playing tennis in the mornings and staying up nightly to compare stories, notes and pictures of Bruce’s Mom’s side of the family. We met their grown kids and families yesterday at a ball game and hope to visit with other members in the coming week.

Bruce had several fishing outings to nearby lakes for catches of walleye, northern pike, and bass. On one trip he took a video of a mother loon with babies calling to her mate.

Croix River

Vicki's sister's farm house

The barn which is now used for Scandinavian socials

Vicki, Bruce, Mary and twin sister (seamstress/owner)

I will be flying out June 17-23 to see my two nieces graduate from nursing school in Vancouver, WA. We are hoping to plan a short camping trip north of here upon my return.

Lake City, Minnesota Sunday June 1, 2008

Sunday June 1, 2008 Lake City, Minnesota 

Breaking camp and crossing the mighty Mississippi River was our goal for today. We made our crossing at La Crosse, WI and immediately found a nice rest stop/welcome center on the Minnesota side. We have been planning to make this trip to visit relatives in the Big Lake/St Cloud area for a number of years, so we were excited to collect reading material to enhance the visit and understanding of the state.

The welcome center sat on the western bluff of the River and had an awesome view of what immediately reminded us of the Columbia Gorge…ancient rock formations carved by the force of the rolling water. We stopped and spent the night in Lake City, MN so that we would be fresh in the morning to drive through the bustle of Minneapolis and on north to Big Lake.