Jackson and the Tetons

In the morning when we woke up in Livingston, Montana we were excited to see if we had caught the intruder that was living in our van. We rushed out to the car like children on Christmas morning. As I slowly opened the back door Kristen peered inside...nothing. All of the bait had been taken, but none of the traps had gone off. This was a blow to our already floundering spirit. Without taking too much time to think on it we hit the local market for supplies and headed on down the road.

We drove I90 across to Bozeman, Montana and then headed south towards the west entrance of Yellowstone and the Tetons. The drive was spectacular again. We went through some short passes and some high plains. We drove by Big Sky ski resort, my buddy Matt's old stomping grounds. We entered Idaho for a short time and then we turned east and headed towards the Teton pass. As we approached the signs for the pass Kristen commented on the one that displayed a 10% grade symbol. At this point I had her pull over and I took the wheel. We hadn't been down anything steep since Rushmore, and even though the brakes were deemed fine I didn't want to find out the hard way.

We went up and up and up, the van was in second gear most of the way. Although laboring heavily it didn't miss a beat and got us all the way to the top without worry. As we eased into the downhill it felt like we were starting down the tracks on a roller coaster. Even in third gear (which is about 25 mph in the van) it was apparent that we were going to be out of control. The brakes had already returned to their noise making, although not nearly as much vibration was coming from them. I eased the van into second and slowed even more, the brakes moaned in protest. As we were coming to the first turn out I swung off the road and could barely get the rig stopped. This was obviously a bad idea coming this way but at this point it was either up or down, and down eventually. So with no other options I put the van in first gear and drove down the next 3 miles at 5 mph. The brakes were effective at this speed, thank god, and we got down safely into the town of Jackson, Wyoming. That, unfortunately, will be the last big pass we see on the trip. I believe the van's brakes are not adequate to tow a load down this kind of grade, even the small load we have. So from now on we will find our way around the high passes.

Jackson is a busling little western town with a good vibe and endless things to do. Sitting on the edge of the Tetons and at the bottom of the local ski resort, it has everything that two adventure seekers could want. We quickly found the Jackson Hole Lodge with room rates of $55 / night. Parking the van and heading in we found our room to be small, comfortable and very cozy. Kristen grabbed onto the bed and told me that she wasn't leaving...ever. After unpacking we once again set the traps in the van. With some luck we would be able to sleep there again in the future. We walked from our room, into town and down to the local brewery. Probably my favorite meal since we got on the road and the beer was excellent and plentiful. After the brewery we were a five minute walk back to the hotel room.

The next morning I could not contain my excitement. I wanted to know if the mouse was taken care of, or if we needed to seek another method of removal. I had to wait for Kristen to get out of bed, make coffee and go through her morning routine. I was practically jumping to get out of the room. We had decided to stay a second night in Jackson because we like it so much and Kris went around to pay. I backed the trailer into a spot where we would leave it for the day while we explored the Tetons. After I dropped the trailer I pulled forward to open the rear hatch. Kris and I stood there not knowing what to expect. I slowly lifted the rear hatch and saw Kristen's face twist in disgust, that must be a good sign. Opening the hatch fully I noticed the object of my hatred for the past three days. He was a tiny white mouse, and he had eaten through two of the baits, but on the third trap he got what he deserved. Don't get me wrong, I hate killing things, but the van isn't big enough to share with a mouse. I quickly disposed of the body and we celebrated our victory with a cup of coffee.

We headed down the road and got some pics of the elk antler arches that can be found throughout Jackson. Then we headed towards the towering cliffs that were the Grand Tetons. About five miles down the road we stopped into visitors center. The place must have been brand new and was by far the nicest of its kind I've ever seen. The beams and supports were hewn from gigantic logs and connected by huge steel bolts. The wood and steel seemed to form a union of sorts that made the eye think they were created as one. One entire wall of the building was giant glass panes that looked out on the Tetons. In the far corner of the building was a display dedicated to the history of mounaineering in the Tetons. It displayed climbing artifacts from the late 1800s. One of my favorites were the K2 skis used on the first descent of one of the Tetons in 1979 along with the "ultralight" poles.

Kristen got some info on the road closures from the local ranger and we headed out. It would not be an adventurous trip. Everything in the Tetons was either covered in snow and ice or covered in mud. The ranger told us that if we wanted to hike we were SOL unless we wanted to deal with the snow and I wasn't about to go up high in the Tetons without knowing the area at all. These mountains are serious, and we would be crazy to think it a good idea to be in them while the snow is still in. We settled for driving what roads were open this early in the year and we did get to take a small walk down a dirt road which lead to the river. On the drive we did see a moose, an average size cow, but a moose. Mostly the drive was dominated by views of the Tetons.

After driving everything that was open we headed back into town and went for a bike ride around town. I can't say enough that this town is really a great little place and I think that it would be a great place to visit for pretty much anyone. After the bike ride we had a soak in the hot tub. We headed out to have some mexican for dinner and then we came back to the room and rested up for the remainder of the journey.

Three nights in hotels has me ready to get back out there, especially now that the van is clear of rodents.

It is Tuesday morning at 9:15 and Kristen has just crawled out of bed. We are heading to Idaho city and possibly to the Craters of the Moon National Monument today. After that we don't know, but I'll keep you guys posted.

Hope all is well. BTW I haven't been able to find my phone for a few days, so that is why I'm not answering. It is in the van somewhere, I'll find it today.

Yellowstone Day 2

After spending the night freezing and awake listening to the mouse we were both in fairly sour moods. We hit the road on the way south to Old Faithful early on. Wildlife still filled both sides of the road. We pulled into the western entrance to drop the trailer and came across a massive buffalo sitting practically on the road. The thing didn't even move when we stoppped to snap these pictures of it.

Before we hit Old Faithful we had a chance to check out the rest of the hot springs in the area. They were really great. The colors of the water ranged from emerald to turqoise and the areas around the hot springs were cyan, yellow and green. These colors were being formed by millions of organisms that form clusters around the hot springs. The environment was once thought to be too inhospitable for living things, but recently it has been discovered that a variety of life calls this area home.

Back in the van and on down to Old Faithful. We pulled into the visitors center about 15 minutes before the next scheduled eruption. Besides having to sit next to the D&D club of Iowa it was a good experience. That group was playing the card game asshole, but calling it scum. I swear if they only had a couple of dice and a map they wouldn't have been any stranger. After listening to them for a few minutes we decided to get up and walk around the other side to where some normal looking people were sitting. Shortly thereafter the massive cloud of steam and water shot into the air. It lasted only around 30 seconds, but it was something to behold.

We visited the gift shop so Kristen could buy some postcards and as we were leaving we noticed this. Attached to the delivery truck was a pull behind camper. I can't figure out why someone would be driving that rig in five inch heels, but each to his/her own eh?

On the way back up through the park it was obvious that Kris and I didn't get enough sleep the night before. We were debating heading south into the Tetons, but a call to the local ranger station would not go through. Foreseeing another cold night out with the mouse was too much for us to handle. We decided to make for Chico hot springs and stay the night there. Chico is a hotel that has access to water from the hot springs. They fill pools and hot tubs with the water and also have rooms available...most of the time. After driving back the way we came for around an hour we pulled into Chico and noticed that for the first time during the trip there were actually people everywhere. Tired and bleary eyed Kristen went inside to procure a room, I tried to catch a few winks in the drivers seat. Ten minutes later Kris came back telling me there were no more rooms and we would have to look elsewhere. I drank a 5 hour evergy and fired up the rig.

We got as far as Livingston that night and paid for a room in a Super 8. Not exactly what we had in mind, but it would do. Before we left the van we set up four mouse traps with peanut butter, hoping to catch the vermin. Not knowing anything about town we decided to walk down to the "historic" district for dinner. I let Kris do the planning on this one and soon she had a place all picked out. We started walking and it started to rain. Around ten minutes into the walk I asked Kris how far were we walking, she replied that she didn't know. So here we were in Livingston, Montana walking blindly in the rain. Two miles later we entered the downtown area and began searching for the steakhouse. The food turned out to be fairly decent, beers on tap were good and the folks were friendly enough. The rain picked up again, harder this time, as we left downtown and headed home. By the time we were back at the hotel we were wet, cold and tired. I hit the bed and immediately fell asleep.

Lets talk about campgrounds

Since the time I was little, I have been "camping"...that fun event done in a wilderness setting alongside a river or tucked away in woods. An activity where a shower consisted of dunking your head in a 45 degree stream or lake and a pit toilet was considered a luxury. Since the beginning of this trip however, my idea of camping have shifted slightly and have come to learn how the other half lives. I thought this morning, while I hide in a hotel room from the mouse in our van, that I would share with you a few of the things that I have learned/come to appreciate over the past week and a half.

1. DO NOT be fooled by names like Paradise, Oasis or Haven - In fact, these should be thought of as huge red flags that this particular establishment has dashing views of the interstate and you could perhaps become high on diesel fumes by the time the night is thru!

2. Prices are always negotiable - After paying the listed $29 night number one, we have since become much stingier and more aggressive in our bargaining for cheaper rates. In addition to a AAA discount (thanks Nan and Pop) virtually everywhere, also a sweet smile and promise not to hook up to said electrical sockets can go a long way. Often perplexed that we have no tent, convincing them that the Bullet Train certainly does not qualify for an RV has proved possible time and time again. Especially if its Miss Montana behind the counter!

3. All showers are not created equal - Ranging from beautiful tiled creations with solid closing doors and private dressing rooms to nasty plastic wall showers with mold covered curtains and the infamous Push Button water feature...come on people, have you ever tried showering in one of your own push button jobs? Push the button and by the time you turn and reach for the soap the water goes off again...drop the soap while trying to reach for the button again, now shivering because the water has been off for a good 10 seconds. Not to mention, these do not have a hot/cold control, therefore leaving you either scalded or freezing if heaven for bid someone in the men's room should flush the toilet. Again, all showers are not created equal!

4. Golf Carts - What can I say, the main mode transportation around campgrounds by those maintaining the grounds. No license or age limit required! And in fact, throughout parts of Wyoming and Montana, the golf cart or four wheeler as it may be are often seen and accepted on local roadways. Just nod your head and smile when pulling up beside one at a red light or gas pump!

5. Most folks frequenting RV parks are of retirement age - As you all know, I have nothing against this population and in fact have felt a certain connection with them my entire life. Now, immersed in their culture on a day to day basis I am quite enjoying it. Go to bed early...or stay up late...sleep till 10, drink your coffee, sit on the patio or walk around the park. Decide at your leisure where to head next. Those who think retired folks must be bored and not know what to do with themselves...I can assure (now from experience) this is not the case!

6. Laundry room encounters can be awkward - While folding laundry or waiting for the infamous machine to stop spinning the common courtesy is to make small talk with those around you, speaking of your travels, home towns, etc. However, when the conversation turns to "I think that other man there might have your sock in his dryer"...now things get a little strange. Especially when said man is the bud light drinking, long haired character just coming in to check his dryer. When politely questioned about the state of my sock (would not have bothered if it was not a new $14 sock!) he responds, "oh, is that yours? I had myself some company last night at the local motel and thought maybe I had just picked up one of hers!" Really dude, just give me my stinking sock...and I ran!!!

7. Bathroom encounters...even worse than laundry - Sharing a public bathroom for days on end can prove to be interesting at times. While most people politely do their thing and leave, there are others that feel the need to explain themselves. While doing my hair, being forced to listen to others "private duties" are bad enough. Worse however, is when they exit and feel the need to state "these new fangled space ship things...they must be water savers or something, it takes at least four flushes to make anything go down!" Ok lady, I quickly mumble something about that one maybe not working right and exit...fast!

Ok, so there you have it. My thoughts on the joys of campground existence, more to come I'm sure!

Yellowstone Day 1

We had to go all the way up route 78 back to I90 and then down 89 to get into Yellowstone proper. The drive wasn't all that bad though. The views of the mountains and surrounding farm land were stunning. Once we got off I90 in Livingston it was only about an hour to the gate of Yellowstone.

We had barely made it through the Roosevelt Arch when we had our first wildlife encounter. A small herd of elk stood alongside the road, watching the cars go by. They were manky and mangy, but it was neat to see them. We continued up the road to the visitors center where we made plans for the rest of the day. We would drive to the far eastern corner of the park. There we would stop the car at the gate where the road was closed and walk in to Tower Falls. The walk would be two and a half miles both ways, but the sun was out and it was only one in the afternoon.

Around the first corner outside of the visitors center we noticed a few buffalo off in the distance. I wanted to stop and check them out, but Kristen advised me that we would be seeing a lot more of them. She was right. Around the next bend was a herd of about fifteen or so crossing the road slowly. They were right there, not ten feet away from the van. Their giant heads swaying back and forth, keeping an eye on the park guests while grazing. It was amazing to me that they cared so little about the cars and people in the park. They just go about their business. We pulled off and about a mile down the road we stopped behind a line of cars. Looking to our right we noticed that a black bear was swimming across a nearby pond. Dozens of spectators had thousand dollar cameras pointed in that direction, clicking away randomly. The bear floundered for something in the water for a few minutes then began coming towards us. He crossed the pond, came ashore and started running directly at the would be paparazzi. Some scattered, some tensed but did not move and some just continued taking pictures as if they didn't notice. The bear came to within thirty feet of our van, ran down the bank until it was in front of the rest of the cars and then crossed the road. If that bear had wanted a quick meal it would have done well to take down any of the people on the road. It could have eaten any one of the numerous idiots that just stood there with their cameras. Instead it crossed the road and disappeared into the grasslands.

We parked the van and began our walk into Tower Falls. Kris and I were a little more aware after the bear sighting so we passed the time yelling "hey bear" and clapping. I yelled my "hey bears" in my best french canadian accent. Knowing that everybody hates the french canadians I figured the bear would avoid us at all costs (We love you Justine!). We came around a bend in the road that skirted a small pond and noticed a larger than normal boulder on the other side. The boulder was a strange brown and black color. Just as Kris was questioning wether it was a boulder it started to move. A huge buffalo stood up and swaggered a couple of steps, obviously still half asleep. The beast took us in with one huge eye from across the small pond and began sauntering in our general direction. As he came around one side of the pond we made our way around the other, keeping our distance. It's one thing to see them while your in your car, but another to see them on foot with nobody around for miles. We quickened our pace and soon we were making our way down into the base of the falls. I can't say enough about the falls. They were amazing, and the pics don't do them justice. I'm glad we went when we did to avoid the crowds. We had them all to ourselves.

On the walk back from the falls we were heading downhill and notice the same huge buffalo standing alongside the road. There was no avoiding him this time. The right side of the road was a steep hill and the left side a swamp. We were going to have to walk right by him. As we approached he noticed us and started walking up onto the road. We stopped and allowed him as much room as possible. When he crossed in front of us we was no more than twenty feet away. We could hear his breathing and see his eyes clearly. Once on the other side of the road he stopped and we skirted around his backside. The few times his head came up and his eyes were on us caused us to stop in our tracks. What was he thinking? I still wonder about that. We made it around him with no troubles and got back to the van in one piece.

After a quick bite at the campground we decided it was time to check out the "hot springs". Just down the road a bit was a natural area where a super heated stream drops into a river. Where the water meets it mixes to form natural hot springs that are supposed to be as warm as a hot tub. Perhaps they are that warm, but not in April. Standing directly under the heated water was your only chance of staying warm enough to avoid hypothermia. If you sat down in the water you quickly found out that the cold water rushes in under you and chills you to the bone. It was a neat experience, and I'm glad we did it, but I wouldn't go back in unless it was summer. Plus the walk in was a little under a mile, which when your trying to get back to your car and your chilled to the bone seems like ten.

Back at the campground we made a little fire, had some drinks and called it a night. Sometime in the night the scuttling began anew. The same as before but even more often. Up and down, back and forth, all night long. I tried finding the little bastard. I was on guard half the night. Right around dawn I awoke and I knew the wee beasty was behind us, down in the kitchen wares. I peered over the edge with my head lamp and saw a tail quickly disappear our of sight. Immediately I jumped up and out of the van. Still in my long underwear I opened the back hatch and began tearing items out of the hold. My search was in vain though, the bastard had gone back to hiding.

After my anger subsided I noticed how cold it was. Checking the temps I found it was 27 degrees and the overnight low was even colder. I tried to start the stove but it was too cold for that. Muttering I awoke Kristen and told that we needed to get a jump if we were going to make it down to Old Faithful before the traffic.

Yellowstone or bust

Kris and I packed up the train a few days ago and headed for the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We dropped south of Billings into a little town called Red Lodge, Montana. Beyond the town is the Custer National Forest and the entry to Yellowstone. Driving up through Custer on 212 finally gave us the feeling that we had reached the West. The massive mountains on either side of the road, jutting into the skyline, dominated our views. In the distance you could see into the pass which still held onto winter with an icy grip. The road was a steep climb from 5500 feet up to around 7500 where we noticed something peculiar. That something was a metal gate, which was closed, along with the road. Seems funny that the Northeast entrance to Yellowstone is open, but the road to get into that entrance is not... Having no other option, and not knowing where to go, we headed back into Red Lodge.

We stopped at the local tourism building to get an idea of any hikes to do just outside of town and where to eat, etc. The ladies behind the counter were very nice, and super excited to see outsiders at this time of the year. They did mention that the route over to Yellowstone on 212 doesn't usually open until around Memorial Day. We would have to find another way around, but not today. After going through an extensive amount of information we decided on a 8 mile hike in Custer for the afternoon would suffice. After that we would just stay in the campsites in the national forest and head out in the morning.

We arrived at the trailhead around 1pm and suited up. This time we actually dug out our hiking gear and brought the essentials. I figured since we weren't familiar with the territory, and there would likely be snow at elevation, we should be prepared for the worst. The wind was howling (as usual) when we left the parking lot and we quickly ascended through the trees up to the first switchbacks. Higher and higher we climbed, gaining more views of the surrounding landscape along the way. We eventually climbed to an elevation that still held snow and began picking our way up the trail. After post holing for 45 minutes we came to a great ledge that overlooks the entire valley and allows you to see deeper into the pass. I decided this was a good place to turn around because we were definetely not on the trail we were supposed to be on. We snapped some pics and headed back to the van.

Once down we dropped into the nearest campsite and set up to cook dinner. Kristen had just mixed everything she needed for supper when to the South we heard the distinct sound of thunder. Coming over the mountain was a wall of black clouds and we could already see bolts of energy flashing in the distance. As the first few drops landed, large and cold, we decided it was best to pack up and head into town. Just as I was closing the door to the trailer bolts of lightning flashed inside the park and the downpour started. As we descended the access road the lightning was flashing all around us. Sometimes so close you could almost feel the energy. As we dropped to the final miles of the access road it began to hail. The balls of ice weren't large, but they were coming with a ferocity I've never seen before. Within a minute the road was covered with two inches of ice and water. The highway became a treacherous mess and we slowed to a crawl. As we came into town the ice had turned back to rain, but it still came hard and fast. We pulled into the local brewery just in time.

Once inside the brew pub I noticed something strange. Everyone was staring at us. We were just coming in, wet and cold, shaking off our coats and all eyes were on us. We spotted two empty seats at the bar and sat down, thankful to be inside. Scanning the list of beers revealed a decent selection and we ordered a couple. The bartender, if that is what you could call her, was not exactly quick. What she was exactly was annoying as all get out and I quickly found myself trying to tune her out. Easier said than done though. She quirped to locals about variuos things, cracked jokes that weren't funny and basically just would not shut up. She also had one of those voices that no matter what is being said makes your skin crawl. Imagine my chagrine when that voice announced to us that the pub did not serve dinner past 7pm. 7pm? I guess nobody in Red Lodge, Montana needs to eat after 7pm. Locals don't get hungry after 7pm. Maybe they are like magwa? If they eat after 7pm they turn into gremlins. Of course I thought this was BS. So we decided to finish our beers and get to someplace that bought into basic societal traditions. As I turned towards the brew operation and looked through the window I noticed that the guy working inside was puffing a cigarette. Now I don't know what the state of Montana holds near and dear but I think it should be considered wrong to be smoking while working in an establishment that serves food. And with that the Red Lodge Brewery in Red Lodge, Montana earned my frown of disapproval. Shame on you Red Lodge Brewery. We did finally find someplace to eat down town. I had my second Bison burger in my life, and it was even more delicious than the first.

We pulled back into the national forest to spend the night and it was still raining. No matter, the van is impervious to attacks from above. We would spend the night snug and warm inside our metal beast. Sleep came quickly but just as quickly I was awake again. Something was on the roof, something small, moving a lot. Mice, Marmots, Aliens? I couldn't figure it out. As the scuttling moved directly above our heads I pounded the ceiling once and the intruder quickly dropped down the back window and off the roof. That was not the end of it though. The entire night the scuttling continued. Up and down onto the roof, back and forth across it. Whenever sleep came it was soon interrupted by those noisey feet. I had paranoid dreams about mice chewing at the wires and hoses in the van. As the sun peaked over the mountains we were bleary eyed and tired. The scuttling had not stopped and I had it. Without letting Kristen get out of bed I fired up the van and headed down the road. I eventually stopped so we could get our stuff together for the drive.

The scuttling had stopped, but that saga has not ended...

To Be Continued...

Rushmore and Devil's Tower

Awoke in the town of Wall, South Dakota on Monday morning (I think). Laid around reading for a while and finally decided to get on the road. The next stop was Rapid City and Mount Rushmore.

It wasn't long before we were nearing Rapid City. We pulled in for gas and decided to go over to the local specialty outfitter. The store is named Scheels I believe. I've heard of it but never been to one, so I wanted to check it out. Nothing special. It is like a Dick's Sporting Goods but with more outdoor clothing and a smattering of everything. I did notice they carry disc golf discs and was excited by the amount they carried. This can only mean that out here it's actually popular. If the local sporting goods store has over 100 discs in stock then your doing well. I used to have to special order my discs from online vendors. Anyway I was excited. I ended up only buying a knife sharpener for my pocket knife, but it was neat to see another store like the KTP.

In the parking lot I decided it was high time to call our slouch of a real estate agent and see what she was doing for us. Turns out nothing is the answer. I did get in touch with her though, for a change. "Oh, yeah, maybe we should drop the price. We haven't had anybody show interest in a couple of weeks.", was her answer to my line of questioning. Finally got her to fax us a change of price agreement to the local Coldwell Banker and ran over to get that taken care of. After this we were heading to Rushmore!

The route from Rapid City to Rushmore is extremely steep going both ways. At first this was fine as we were in two lane highways doing 60. It soon became a problem though when I was forced to slow the van from 55 to 25 coming down a 7% gradient. Our braking problem from earlier had returned. Coming down the last hills before climbing to the monument I thought we might loose the entire rig. Kristen was white knuckled, holding onto whatever she could find. The van made wide sweeping turns down the hill, which was all I could get out of her. Thank God the light at the bottom of the hill (in town) was green. I rolled through the town without taking my eyes off the road. Just as quickly as we descended we began to climb again. Winding our way up to the monument, higher and higher. Kris and I had to think about the real possibility that the brakes would not hold us on our trip back down. As we parked at Rushmore I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomache. I tried to put it in the back of my mind so that I could enjoy the monument.

Everyone told me I would not be satisfied with the monument but I think I really was. I mean someone carved four giant heads into a mountain. That takes some effort. Anything that someone spends that much time and energy on has to be admired. I did wonder why Teddy R. was facing another direction, but I figured it was because he forgot his glasses and couldn't see what the others were looking at. Anyway the entire grounds is cool, the monument is really neat and the bathrooms were clean.

Back in the van I decided there was no better time than the present to go down. I had about 2.5 miles to get back to the small town at the bottom before we were out of the woods. I inched along the two lane road in second gear at most times to keep the brakes from having to do any work. Even in this gear the front right caliper wheezed in protest. Kristen said it was like someone banging a hammer against the wheel. I thought it sounded like someone drove sandpaper into my brakes. It seemed like it took forever to get down, but we did eventually come into town slowly. Through it all the van ran well, but we knew it was time get her into the shop.

We drove back into town and looked up the nearest reliable VW pro in the area. It turned out he was in the next town down, about a 25 mile drive. The van had been impeccable on the interstate, so we drove slowly and made it in about 40 minutes. The GPS located the garage for us and before we knew it we were outside a dusty old building surrounded by VWs that were in all states of dis-repair. Numerous old beatles, a bright green Rabbit with racing stripes, and a sweet old Rabbit pickup were all sitting outside. This must be the place! I walked in the front garage door and found a man, obviously the mechanic and owner, tapping his teeth with his pen and looking over the rolling chassis of some old bug. It was in the middle of a frame off restoration but the running gear, suspension and all the major parts were there, just no body. I told the mechanic of my symptoms and he looked at me wearily. "Not many people know a Eurovan in these parts, and I'm backed up for over a month", he stated. After my numerous questions he agreed to come take a look at the brakes from underneath the van. Even with the aid of his trusty light and mirror he could not see any problems. I did get him to give me the number to a few other wrenches in town.

After the second call to a local mechanic I hung up the phone. Nobody could get the van in until Thursday. South Dakota is the last place I wanted to stay for three days straight, Kristen agreed on that point. Kristen had the idea first. Call ahead to somewhere down the road and make an appointment for an upcoming day. I called Dana Motors in Billings, Montana and sure enough they could see the van on Wednesday. That meant we could still hit Devil's Tower and be there in time. Sweet!

We left immediately for the tower and made the highway exit in about an hour. Finally in Wyoming my urges to keep moving were settled, for the moment. The rolling hills of grass with copses of pines were gorgeous. I've seen anything that made me feel like I was in the west before. That was it. We hit the KOA right at the base of the giant monolith that night and it was the first time since the trip began that it rained. Just enough to clean the dust off the van and then it was over.

In the morning we awoke, ate and had coffee and it was off to the tower. The first thing you see are the prarie dog fields and by coincidence we parked there to enter the trailheads. If you haven't seen prairie dogs do yourself a favor and go see them. They are ridiculously cute, super annoying and funny to boot. They do this yelp thing and at the same time they wave their arms in front of them...very cool. The trail leading up to the tower was much nicer than the road we guessed and so we walked up the 1.5 miles to the base. The pictures don't do it justice obviously, but it was beautiful. The tower is over 800 feet tall and made from columns of rock. The word is that a volcano erupted but did not make it past the cone. The magma cooled inside the cone and produced the shape. Then over millions of years the soil and debris eroded away and what is left is the tower. Very cool, go see it.

We headed down to the car at around noon to get a jump on the 300 miles to Billings. The drive was luckily uneventful, and the weather was sunny and clear. We hit Billings around 6pm and scouted out the market and where we had to drop the van off on Wed. We found a nice little KOA in Billings on a dead end road overlooking some cliffs. Besides the fact that it is the windiest place on Earth (could give Mt. Washington a run) it is very nice. It was so windy in fact that I tried to start a fire last night and it blew out twice. The only reason I actually acttempted a third time was to prove to myself that I could. Once going the fire was a flame thrower and I had to douse it before I burned down the campsite.

This morning we dropped the van off at Dana and hopped on the bikes to go downtown. We got coffee, visited a local outdoor sporting goods store and then went into town for lunch at the Montana Brewery. Beers were good, prices were good, things were good. I called the mechanic around lunch time to find out about the van. They had found nothing of any concern in the front brakes, and just to be sure they pulled the rear as well and also found everything ok. The right rotor had some marks like there was something caught inside it, but they didn't find the object. Their advice was to run it, things were A OK. I only owed them $46 and she had a clean bill of health. Good news, I hope it's accurate.

As I write this we're back at the campground in Billings for another night. Free wi-fi, showers and electric sounded good for another night. On to Yellowstone tomorrow and then we'll see from there. We also pulled the trailer apart and re-organized everything so that the bikes will be accessible without moving other stuff. Came out pretty well, nearly perfect I would say.

This is the first time you guys are actually caught up to the moment by me...don't get used to it! Talk to you all soon. Don't forget to write.

Wow, I lost you for a minute.

Sorry guys, was caught up in trying to forget what Illinois was like and got caught up in South Dakota. South Dakota by the way, for all its parks and grasslands, isn't all that interesting. Especially not when you know that Devil's Tower and beyond are waiting for you. Anyway read on.

Yesterday I woke to find that we had the misfurtone to happen upon Al's Oasis Campground. This was in the middle of "The Oasis" which consisted of Al's resteraunt, Al's grocery and other of Al's things that I probably don't know about. Al owned the entire 5 acre tract of land that was its own super rest stop. I was sleeping in a van approximately 50 yards from I90. The highway where '88 Chevy pickups with no exhaust came careening through at 85mph during the night. I finally had the, "what the hell were we thinking?" moment.

Things could only go up from there right. I used my anxst to write the blog about the Bullet Train and, when Kristen volunteered to drive, threw myself at my book. Hours later Kristen announced that we were nearing the point in the trip we had both been waiting for. The Badlands.

After endless grasslands, which I have to admit were pretty cool, we rolled into the gate. A dull but smiling ranger told us that today was one of the days during National Parks Week. This would allow us free admittance into the park. Kristen was elated. I actually think she would have been fulfilled just turning around after hearing that rather than entering the park boudaries. But enter we did. Around the first corner brought stunning panoramics of jagged cliffs painted in lines of taupe, cyan and deeper reds. In some places the topography soared above our heads and in others it was like the land fell away into a mirror opposite of those high places. Moving even at 30mph was too quick for me, I had to get out. The first pull out offered an amazing glimpse of what lie ahead.

After taking an extended drive through to the visitors center and watching the 20 minute movie on the park and its history (also dull, like the ranger) we parked at the entrance that gives access to multiple trailheads. Our intention was to do a vigorous hike through the Badlands. The options were two handicapped accessible .5 mile trails, and a more strenuous 1 mile trail that involved climbing up a ladder. What fun! Due to this signs warnings we put on our stoutest shoes and headed for the hills. I noticed a sign proclaiming that we should be wary of rattlesnacks and thought that I would like to see one before I die. Hopefully not just moments before mind you.

As we rounded the first corner of the trail we noticed five small mule dear eating their way across the grass lands. Their path would eventually take them right across ours. We stopped and I mocked them as I always do with woodland creatures. They took it better than the raccoons... The trail wound itself through some of the smaller mounds at first and Kristen and I noticed something funny. The Badlands aren't made of rock, or shale, or peanut butter, they are in fact made of dirt. That's right, dirt. Dirt that is eroding at around an inch a year. And in 500,000 years the badlands will have eroded so much that it won't resemble what it is now, so says the ranger in the film. Glad he told me that. Smart guy that one. Anyway the Badlands are made of dirt and I didn't know this going in. Somehow this deteriorated from the grandure of the place. As we walked the rest of the trail I was impressed at how chaotic the masses are, but from up close you don't have the ability to see the colors or the shadows of the earth. After we returned from our short trip the weather was getting cooler, the wind picked up and it began to rain slightly. Taking this all into consideration we decided it would be a good idea to take a 6 mile hike. If that were'nt enough we decided to do it with no water, phone or map. Will and Kris the ever experienced hikers and campers...lucky they didn't find us face down in the muck. The trail was flat, wound all over creation and at points I was wondering if it would ever bring us back to the van. We did catch a good glimpse of a young photographer from Ohio wearing a funny hat (think it was a cab drivers hat) during his musings. We finally found our way out of that grassland and back to the car. After a celebratory beer we headed for the campground in the park to put down our stakes.

The campground consisted of a picnic table, a dirt area to park and no water (bathrooms included). It didn't take us long to decide that the best course of action would be to drive the loop road out of the badlands and seek shelter elsewhere. I was disappointed about this because I expected the Badlands to be more awe inspiring. Just as we were climbing the first hills on the road and my spirit was at a near all time low the corner staightened and I got to see what all the fuss is about. Spires five times as tall as any previous loomed in front of the van. They shot to the sky like castles built of sand but to real scale. The colors on this side of the park showed vivid purples, deepers tans and browns. The areas that fell away from the side of the road were like small canyons that ran into the distance for as far as the eye could follow their twists and turns. The van crept up those hills slower than normal due to our want to see all the sights. As we approached the highest points in the park we were surprised to come across three distinct groups of big horn sheep. Some wearing radio collars stood next to the road and the big males were laying around eyeing us. It is something I never expected to see in all my life, but I did. Made me feel like god darned Marty Stauffer I tell ya.

Reeling from the ups and downs of the day already we left the Badlands on our way towards the town of Wall. You may know of the Wall Drug signs, the ones that start in Illinois. We were finally here after 800 or so miles. The town was a shrine dedicated to the store so it didn't take us long to find it. I needed batteries for the second camera so we parked and went in. I don't want to say anything good about this place so please don't get that impression. It was a tourist trap in the worst way. Figurines of charging indians lined the shelves. Postcards, many of which made no sense at all in this area, were taking up square feet of merchandising space. The girl behind the counter looked like she was waiting for someone to come in and take her away from that place, and that was in Kristen's words... I did find the batteries. 4 of them for only $6.50. I figured with batteries slightly edging out gold by cost I would skip that provision for the time being.

After a quick run into the local grocer (still haven't found good beer west of NY) it was on to the local campground. Kris was happy because they provided wi-fi, showers and laundry. I was happy just to be out of the dreaded Wall Drug.

To Be Continued...

Bullet Train in the Badlands

Sunday morning and we are headed another 150 miles West to Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Arrival at the gate brings a pleasant surprise when the woman announces it is National Park Week and that all admissions fees to all parks are waived for the week! Wahoo, nothing makes a great day even better =) Driving along the main loop road into the park you are immediately struck by a beautiful display of massive, striped rock structures. A quick stop at the visitors center for a map and 20 minute video on the history of the Indians and buffalo who once roamed the great plains.

The deserted parking lot is a good sign and we head off for a quick juant up the Notch trail, eyes peeled for wildlife including rabbits, rattlers, deer, big horned sheep, prarie dogs and a variety of birds. We werent disappointed, deer around the first bend. We were amazed at how soft the rock itself was. More like hardened clay that crumbled under your feet. Areas of mud and other areas that looked like they hadn't seen water for a decade. Cool temps and a neverending wind made hiking comfortable. We later decided a longer 6 mile loop was in order, 3 hours later and only one other person on the trail. Unbelievable!

After deeming the campground windy and waterless, we decide to continue up the loop road and hit a campground in the town of Wall for the night. The loop road was spectacular, with endless views of the vast praries and rock formations. We hit a few photo points and kept our eyes peeled for wildlife. Prarie dogs were numerous and we even got the opportunity to see some big horned sheep! Despite the steep grades and winding roads, the Bullet Train performed beautifully and got us safely to the far side of the park.

How we do things

We've been getting many questions about living out of the van so I thought I should post some descriptions of our rig. You asked for it and here you have it.

The Bullet Train (AKA The Magic Bus)

Comprised of a '93 VW Eurovan and a '94 5X8 Wells Cargo trailer the bullet train is the vessel of choice for parties of two. The bullet train has all the modern accessories that one could hope for in a vehicle of this kind. The train is outfitted with a spacious sleeping quarters, a kitchen/pantry and two captains chairs. We also have on board phone, internet and a large list of mp3 music to sample. Beer and wine is available at request, but please make sure to take into consideration that not all states make these luxuries available at local convenience stores. Please plan accordingly.

Although the vehicle will only obtain max speeds of around 60mph please keep you hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. The Bullett Train is not equiped with lavatories of any kind, but just let your captain know and the train will be pulled into the next available rest area.

There you have it. Our transportation for the foreseeable future. The bed is always made, the coffee is always ready to brew (french press or drip) and the beers, when we can find them, are always cold. We keep our kitchen accessories and most of our food items in the shelves in the back of the van. Under the bed is storage for the bins of clothing that we have. Behind the driver's seat is where we keep our everyday clothing, toiletries and the laptop. Read on for descriptions of the crew members.

Will: Captain, Chief Engineer, Head Dishwasher, All Around Awesome Guy.

Your captain would like you to know that he has nothing but your safety in mind. Please sit back and enjoy your trip, if you need anything please let your captain know. Your captain does enjoy rocking out occassionally and if he seems a little low energy please offer him a 5 hour energy shot. Also keep in mind that your captain's mood fluctuates greatly and it is in your best interest to keep your distance at times. Otherwise have a great trip and enjoy it.




Kris: Co-Captain, Head Chef, Wine Buyer, All Around Gorgeous Woman.

Not only does your co-captain know her way around the cockpit of the Bullet Train, she can also prepare an amazing meal on the go. The menu includes pan seared steak, vegetable quesidillas and spaghetti with meat sauce. Your co-captain can also give you advice on which wine to accompany your meal. While nearly always in a good mood please be aware that if temperatures go beyond 80 degrees please be wary of your co-captain.




The Billiken: Good Luck Charm, Navigator, Most Photographed.

A small carved figure given to Kristen's father by a local Inuit in Alaska. The Billiken has been known to bring luck, take wonderful pictures and smile a lot. I mean look at him, happy all the time. Good type of dude to have around when things are going a little sour. I affectionately call him Bili the Billiken.

Day 4 (Not too much to report)

Didn't write much about yesterday in the journal so there isn't much to say. Woke up in Indiana, had a little run, had some coffee and then it started raining. Hit the showers then hit the road. Ran out South of Chicago on I80, then turned North on 39 to connect back up to I90 going West.

We did get to cross the mighty Mississippi on our way into Minnesota, which was pretty cool. Shortly after we had the longest sustained hill climb to date. The van drove steadily at about 42 mph. Found a little state park just inside the border that overlooks the river and slept there for the night.

The camping area reminded me very much of Maine. The weather was similiar, the trees were about the same, the water was frigan freezing. Got some pics of the Mississippi in the morning.

Catching Up!

Ok, so I may have reached an all time sketchy low as I sit here writing this in a Minnesota truck stop parked beside a fuel pump with the laptop plugged into the outlet attached to the pump. Haha, oh the things you do when you're on the road. We have quickly passed through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois since I last wrote. The van survived the oil change and while Will paced I chatted with a nice old lady about seeing the country and where to buy cheap paperbacks! 80+ degrees in the van according to the wireless thermometer. A second attachment lets us know the roof box is a balmy 76, at least we know the skis are comfortable! This portion of the drive required sunscreen in the drivers seat as I worked up the start of quite a little sunburn! Talked to Mom on the border of Ohio, Indiana at which point we both decided that sounded "far away" Out of our comfort zone and into new territory for sure!

End of the day puts us in Indiana, along the Southern tip of Lake Michigan. A beautiful state Park where we got to walk along some white sand beaches, get a little exercise while running up about a million stairs to the highest bluff to catch the sunset. The "comfort stations" as they called their bathrooms, were much appreciated and utilized twice before sending off!

A quick stop at the grocery to load up on food began day #4 on the road, priding ourselves on having cooked all of our own food thus far! Which local beer to try being the toughest choice, we continue westward fully stocked and ready for the day. Will's musings about corn pretty much summed up Illinois...Michigan proved to be much nicer, with a little more diveristy in the landscape to block the wind and make for a better drive. Feeling closer than ever to Brett Favre, I pushed on in the drivers seat with my eye on the prize (and peeled for him)!

Dinner at a state park, boasting a lake that I could throw a stone across. Quick quesidillas on the coleman and then we pushed on to the Mississippi River. Another state park on the western bank was home for the night, pitch black upon our arrival (after what seemed like forever down a dirt road), we were hopeful for some good views of the mighty river in the am!

Will's thoughts on corn...

Since I'm driving through Illinois right now and have nothing better to do I thought I would share some of my thoughts about the current state of corn.

Did you know that corn is incredibly boring to look at? Even more so when it isn't currently alive. This dead corn is so boring in fact that it has proven to me that Illinois is a useless state that needs not be part of the union...

Also did you know that corn is one of the contributing factors to American obesity? During the industrial revolution corn became the cheapest and easiest food product to manufacture. Not only that but the cheapest way to manufacture corn is to break down the kernel. This leads to a food product that isn't necessarily nutritious but it sure doesn't cost much. If you don't believe me please read the book In Defense Of Food by Michael Pollan. I'm sure you will find that many of the facts written by me aren't true, but he also hates corn.

Did you know that my brothers favorite vegetable is corn? He has been eating it since he was a child. Before meals he would always get the say as to which veggie my mother prepared. He would always choose corn...I wanted peas. Peas are a delightful and wholesome choice, corn is the devil. This leads me to ask the question, is my brother a bad person?

All thoughts written in this article are the sole opinions of the author. None of this is true, but in the authors mind it somehow makes sense. Mom and Dad if you're reading this I'm just kidding.

Kristens Turn!

Hey, finally I get ahold of the laptop! Settling in nicely to life on the road, we've quickly moved through NY which brought back some great memories and I spent most of the drive waving to exits and reminding Will of who lived where and when I had been there at some point during my IC days. Niagra proved to be...so, so. I big body of water for sure, but much less natural than I had somehow pictured it despite what everyone tried to tell me! Sound familiar...I am one of those don't believe it till you see it kinda girls. Remember Nome, Alaska Dad? What I was expecting to be dogsleds and miles of natural beauty was actually a little shit town with not much more than bars and the Bering Sea. The one thing that did come out of Nome, Alaska was a little ivory carving...known as a Billiken and given to my Dad and I as a good luck charm. An acient belief from way back, being passed on to us then and now traveling along now as a constant companion, good luck charm and photo centerpiece as it may turn out.

Western NY wine country was more a thing of beauty as far as I was concerned. Local vineyards and cool folks where the centerpiece of our afternoon. Drinking and chatting both happen to be strong points of mine, coupled with one woman who insisted on difference type of chocolate to be paired with each taste. HEAVEN! Hot dogs around the camp fire and a sweet push button shower rounded out the evening quite nicely. Though not the nicest campsite, we were happy to be safe and settled for the night.

Going to have to save tomorrows day for my next post, the most epic so far in my mind...with a little less emphasis on the oil change and little bit more on the amazing natural beauty that we found nestled in Porter, Indiana =)

Oh, not to mention...that was the day that I officially entered the "5 Speed Drivers of America Club" A long time coming I know!

Day 3 (PA, Ohio and Indiana)

Well the day started off fine. Awoke to all the "camper" hooking up their fifth wheels and hitting the road. It's funny to me how much beige clothing any one tourist can wear. Maybe they are trying to blend in with the dead grass fields of Ohio. Made up our coffee and hit the road looking for a post office and someplace to get the oil in the van changed.

Post office was easy and right down the street, as luck would have it so was a Valvoline quick lube. Now I'm very picky about who touches the van, but I figured an oil change wouldn't require much thought or skill. We pulled in and I dropped the trailer to make it easier on the two guys working. One of them came out and told me that he would drive the van in to the bay and get going on it...first thing I didn't like. Once inside I gave the other guy my info and sat down. As I was sitting I noticed that they were talking an awful lot about something so I sauntered over to the door and did a little eavesdropping.

They had never seen a Eurovan before and one said to the other, "have you ever done one of these before? I'm a little lost down here." To which the other replied, "no". At this point they started cursing and bantering back and forth and I started to get a little nervous about the goings on inside the bay. I was getting so worked up that I had to go and stand outside against the building because I thought I was going to puke. All I could think of was they were going to get something screwed up and I would be sitting in middle of nowhere PA for a week while the local VW dealer bent me over for thousands of $$$.

After what seemed like, and was, an eternity the shop owner came to the window and told me everything was all set. They had dropped the oil cap down into the engine bay and couldn't get their hands on it. Then they were in the process of taking the skid plate off the van when the noticed there are conveniently little tabs that allow it to swing out of the way to expose the oil filter. In any case they got the oil back into the van and got us on our way. For the amount of anguish they caused me they did a good job and I appreciate their effort.

It wasn't long before we were in Ohio, in the middle of farm country, and it was around 90 degress. Now the van doesn't have AC and my wife, as you all know, hates to be hot. She literally was getting a sun burn from being in the drivers seat so we pulled into the next rest area.

This area was the most beautiful I've ever seen. The lawns were manicured, the building was clean and new and the parking lot was immense. As far as I'm concerned it was our best view of Ohio by far. I'll tell you that after that it was all down hill. The road was beat to hell, the traffic was thick, and the radio stations weren't that great. You would expect good stations from Cleveland since they claim to "rock".

We were soon through Ohio and into Indiana with very little to report except more bad roads. Towards the end of the day we passed South Bend and on a whim continued driving. As I was nearing the outer limits of Chicago we noticed a sign for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and decided to check it out. After a 5 mile drive down a long broken road (noticing a theme here?) we came out into a parking lot and got out of the car. What we happened upon was pretty amazing. The beach we were standing on looked like it should have been in California. The sands were white, the water was gorgeous and it was warm and breezy. If it hadn't been for the steel mills dominating the western skyline I would have sworn I was someplace other than Indiana.




We found the campground attached to the park and stopped in to the ranger station. The guy was super nice and after a long conversation (he was married in Bar Harbor, Maine) he offered to let us have a couple of bundles of woods. We gladly accepted and left him to go see the sunset over Lake Michigan.

We relaxed, drank some wine (although alcoholic beverages were strictly prohibited, so said the signs) and had a great little fire. All in all it was an epic night that we stumbled into. And get this, the town we were in was Porter Indiana... You have to think that someone was looking down on us and caused us to pull off there. Maybe some big, brown dog with a big, wet nose =o)

Almost forgot to mention this little tid bit. As we were relaxing around the fire Kristen noticed some russling over near the van. She was sort of talking to herself about squirrels and then all of a sudden cried out something about racoons. Approaching the open door of the van were two of the biggest and meanest looking coons I've seen in my life. They were almost into the van by the time I got away from the fire and started to chase them. The smaller of the two ran off in front of the van and was gone in the night, but the larger of the two ran behind the van and back around the trailer to where the picknic table was. I was hot on his heels and Kristen yelled that he had crawled onto the table. On my way around the table I grabbed the pot we used to make spaghetti in and charged the brazen coon in an attempt to ward off its attack. The coon stood its ground, glowering at me in the shadows. I ran at it banging the pot with my hand trying to scare it away, but all it did was saunter away slowly looking over its shoulder. Naturally this pissed me off, I wasn't about to be shown up by a lowly woodland creature. So I stood up to my full height, charged the coon one final time and screamed at the top of my lungs, banging the pot violently. The coon trotted off into the night. By the looks on his face he was thinking that I had indeed won the battle, but the jury would still be out on who won the war. I was on gaurd for the remainder of the night and I could see that damned things eyes just outside the fire light until we went to bed.

Day 2 (Niagara and the western wine country)

So Kristen finally got to see Niagara Falls. While we were pulling into the parking area she turned to me and said, "it's all just buildings and tourist crap." I reminded her that is what I said about it when she informed me of her plans to drag me to the retchid place.

I was actually surprised at how nice it was this time around. We walked along the river, looked at some incredible looking rapids, and then went around the point where the main falls is. Got some great pics of it all but I'm sitting in some BS campground near Erie, PA and my internet is being a bit bitchy. I'll put them up on this entry later on, hopefully when I find a spot where this damned thing actually gets a good connection. Ben (from the Verizon store in Newington) if your reading this I'm not what you would call a satisfied customer.

Anyway had a good couple of hours in Niagara along with Kristen and the Billiken. We then hit the road heading for the western NY wine country. This was astounding to me that there is a wine country as close as NY and nobody has ever told me about it. And to top it off it is in the middle of absolutely nowhere. It's like driving through the middle a cow pasture and then BOOM, wineries. Kris and I stopped by two along the way. The first was Sparkling Pond where a lady, whom reminded me very much of my mother, berated me and told me that if I wasn't quiet she would slap me. She was very knowledgeable about the many wines that she allowed us to taste and at the end I came out with a much better understanding of the 1100 meals you can pair with wine... We then headed over to Mazza Vineyards and entered the knock off stuccato (spelling?) building they built to pass as genuine. This must not have been the place to be as we were the only ones around but the young lady working behind the counter was very friendly, polite and put up with our endless shortcomings.

Back in the van with 3 fresh bottles of wine, a sherry included, we were just a quick hop back to our campsite on route 5. When we entered we noticed that the front door had a strange sign on it that said "closed". We couldn't understand why on Earth a campground would be closed on April 14th, but the proprieter explained that just about every campground is closed at this point and offered us a nice dirt parking lot down near the lake. He said that if we were there in the morning he would "settle up with us". Thank god we didn't take his word for it or we would have spend another night in a sketchy parking lot surrounded by truckers.

So as I write this I'm sitting near the fire, having a beer (Dead Guy ale) and Kris is reading a book. All in all not a bad place to be on a blue bird evening. Just about ready to cook up some beans and franks and settle in for the night.

Tomorrow we may try to get past Chicago. I think with some luck and some 5 hour energy shots we can push past "Chi Town".

Hope you're all well!

Day 2 (Kris takes the wheel)

I'm finally riding shot gun for the first time on the trip. Still doing 50mph, right now through construction. We're not making any new friends on I90 I'll tell you that.

Van seems to have "cured" itself for the time being. Haven't had any symptoms since yesterday afternoon. I remain skeptical, which of course is in my nature. We're going to try to leg it out for as long as the VW will hold up. You know what they say in Maine...F*ck it, run er.

Last night we tried to test the theory that anyone can sleep in a Bass Pro Shops parking lot whenever they want. We drove 20 miles out of our way off of 90 to a quiet little mall town where we finally found the parking lot in question. Upon entering Kristen immediately spotted Paul Blart mall cop on patrol and eyeing us from the Sears entrance. Kris convinced me that it would be better to drive the 20 miles back to the Days Inn that we had passed rather than getting all settled down and being asked to move. I begrudgingly agreed through a series of angry grunts.

Got back to the Days Inn, which was 2 miles off the interstate and pulled in next to some truckers to sleep. Things were going well until the oil rig next to us decided to crank up the engine and pull away around 4am in the morning. =o) I guess that is life on the open road.

We thought about straggling into the Days Inn for the free continental breakfast but decided better of it. We'll become more brash as the days go on. Baby steps for now.

As I type we are heading to Niagara which the GPS says we should hit around 11:25am. I've already asked Kris to stop the van once to check the trailer tire pressure, which turns out was right on. I'm that paranoid and haven't even hit the funky lettuce...yet.

Day 1 (A Beauty?)

Well here you have it, the first in many of our blogs. After what seemed like an eternity packing our possessions into the van and trailer that will carry us across The United States we have finally hit the road!

150 miles later finds our van clunking and scraping through Mass. Literally surrounded by the people who I find most revolting on I495. We pull into a rest area to take a break and get some 5 hour energy shots (thank you Adam) and out of nowhere the van shudders and sort of goes "thunk". Kristen asked me what the noise was, so as usual, I made something up about CV joints...

Stating that we had to take it easy for the remainder of the day we chug along through Mass and into New York state at a brisk 50mph. Any slower and trucks would actually be pushing me down the road.

Hoping to make it to Buffalo before the CV joint finally gives out. Right now we're sitting somewhere between Albany and Buffalo at a delightful little rest area. This is the first time I've set up a blog so please be patient, but I did want to get the site up and running.

Hope you're all doing well back home, and everywhere else. We'll keep you updated as things move along. Right now it looks like we'll be in Western NY for a couple of days while the van is being worked on.

Wish us luck!