Day 8...
We left and got on the road by 707 this morning. We had 2 passes to go through and I didn't want a repeat of Sundays overheating especially since the temps were supposed to get close to 100. Once we got over the passes successfully, Montana (to me) gets kind of ugly. Very flat and not a whole lot to look at. We decided today would be a long day since we are trying to get home for a Pease picnic on Saturday night that we were invited to. It should be fun as we haven't seen these cousins in almost 15 years! We logged 864 miles today! I am sure tired of sitting in the same position. I looked at the tarp on the truck tonight and saw that it was coming apart. At least we got this one to last a little longer - we bought it in Prince George Canada. Im not sure if we are going to get another one tomorrow, we will have to see what the weather holds for us. We stopped in Bismark ND and only have 1700 miles left to get home. Seems like a lot but compared to how many miles we've come this is the easy part. Well its been a long day and getting up early and going to try to do another long day tomorrow! Miss you all:)
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday July 1
Day 7
Monday - July 1...
We decided to take a break from the boring driving and stayed in Montana at Shellee's house for an extra night. We got to sleep in then met Shellee for lunch at a great place we used to eat at when I worked with her at the Bulldog Saloon. The minute we got there Shellee asked Hunter if he had to use the restroom. When he replied no, she said "YES YOU DO." We both knew what was in the restroom. This is a family small restaurant in Whitefish, kind of a small sports bar and in the restrooms, both men's and women's, there's one stall that has pics to look at. When he came out of the restroom we were of course both staring at him. He had a grin from ear to ear and wouldn't make eye contact with me or her. Bingo - he went into the right stall. Very funny. We visited where we used to live in Hungry Horse and then I took Hunter to hit a bucket of balls. In the sun it was 120+. Too dang hot. We went back home and rested in the A/C, talked and enjoyed doing nothing for the day! Thanks Shellee for putting up with us and the dog.
Monday - July 1...
We decided to take a break from the boring driving and stayed in Montana at Shellee's house for an extra night. We got to sleep in then met Shellee for lunch at a great place we used to eat at when I worked with her at the Bulldog Saloon. The minute we got there Shellee asked Hunter if he had to use the restroom. When he replied no, she said "YES YOU DO." We both knew what was in the restroom. This is a family small restaurant in Whitefish, kind of a small sports bar and in the restrooms, both men's and women's, there's one stall that has pics to look at. When he came out of the restroom we were of course both staring at him. He had a grin from ear to ear and wouldn't make eye contact with me or her. Bingo - he went into the right stall. Very funny. We visited where we used to live in Hungry Horse and then I took Hunter to hit a bucket of balls. In the sun it was 120+. Too dang hot. We went back home and rested in the A/C, talked and enjoyed doing nothing for the day! Thanks Shellee for putting up with us and the dog.
Monday, July 1, 2013
DAy 6
Day 6
Well we got an early start because we wanted to be in Kalispell Mt at my friends house early enough so we could visit. Drive was great until we were stopped because of blasting on the road. Thankfully we only waited 20 minutes - they had said on signs that the wait could be up to 75 minutes. Its amazing what people do while they are stopped on the road - we saw people petting other peoples horses - one guy climbed the jersey barrier and layed down on the road = and 2 women, not from the US, walked about 20 feet to the right of us and hunkered down to go to the bathroom. We were both shocked!! can you say YUCK!! Finally got through that and then moved onto Idaho. Truck was doing great until Lookout Pass. Holy cow, I have never seen such a long windy straight up hill road in all of my life. Remember I just came from Alaska through Canada and this hill made those look like ant hills. Well I heard a noise ( I always hear noises) and asked Hunter if he had heard it - of course he didnt. Then 10 seconds later my dash said check gauges and that quickly we overheated. Fortunately there was a trucker turn out so we pulled in. It was about 100 in this turnout. Called my mechanic quick with a question (yes I have him on speed dial). Could barely open the hood it was so hot to touch, added coolant, walked the dog, waited and then got on our way. I keep asking Hunter to take pictures because it is hard to take good pics when you are driving and doing 70 so he has taken about 100 pics of the dog, me, and random things. My right shoulder is bruised from seeing so many VW and banana boats that we have stopped playing that game for a bit. We made it to my friends in good time - have decided to rest today and stay here with her and leave early tomorrow morning. Thinking on taking Hunter to a lake to go swimming or something. Not sure yet!
Well we got an early start because we wanted to be in Kalispell Mt at my friends house early enough so we could visit. Drive was great until we were stopped because of blasting on the road. Thankfully we only waited 20 minutes - they had said on signs that the wait could be up to 75 minutes. Its amazing what people do while they are stopped on the road - we saw people petting other peoples horses - one guy climbed the jersey barrier and layed down on the road = and 2 women, not from the US, walked about 20 feet to the right of us and hunkered down to go to the bathroom. We were both shocked!! can you say YUCK!! Finally got through that and then moved onto Idaho. Truck was doing great until Lookout Pass. Holy cow, I have never seen such a long windy straight up hill road in all of my life. Remember I just came from Alaska through Canada and this hill made those look like ant hills. Well I heard a noise ( I always hear noises) and asked Hunter if he had heard it - of course he didnt. Then 10 seconds later my dash said check gauges and that quickly we overheated. Fortunately there was a trucker turn out so we pulled in. It was about 100 in this turnout. Called my mechanic quick with a question (yes I have him on speed dial). Could barely open the hood it was so hot to touch, added coolant, walked the dog, waited and then got on our way. I keep asking Hunter to take pictures because it is hard to take good pics when you are driving and doing 70 so he has taken about 100 pics of the dog, me, and random things. My right shoulder is bruised from seeing so many VW and banana boats that we have stopped playing that game for a bit. We made it to my friends in good time - have decided to rest today and stay here with her and leave early tomorrow morning. Thinking on taking Hunter to a lake to go swimming or something. Not sure yet!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Day 5...
Had a great day - drive was at least a lot less windy, and was more populated. Didn't have to worry about running out of fuel before the next gas station. Got to the border at Sumas Washington not realizing that the border actually closes at 5pm. We got into line to go through at 4:52. Boy were we cutting that close. I probably should have looked at that before we started traveling today:) Oh well it was good, made it through in 5 minutes!!! Drove through and was going to stay in Seattle but the traffic was scary, whizzing past me at 80 and I was at least doing the speed limit at 60. Stopped for fuel and met a guy who states that he has been to Alaska numerous times and was originally an Easterner - from NH! What a small world. Completely discouraged we drove to Bellevue and after 40 minutes finally found a hotel! Well we are doing great - I have only gotten on Hunters nerves a few times where he has bleeped out a few expletives especially when I turn off the A/C and radio and ask " Did you hear that?" I actually pulled over 2x today hearing noises that didn't exist in Bessie (the truck) but was actually coming from the electric lines and my new cd. I should be insane by the time we get to Mass. He just doesn't understand that after all I have been through and fixed on Bessie - I'm in hyper mode hearing things. Going to Montana to see a friend that I haven't seen in 9 years tomorrow, cant wait. The dog is doing ok - looks like he's aged 10 years since we left. He gets way over excited when he sees animals on the side of the road and Hunter has to antagonize him about the animals even when they aren't there. Hope everyone is doing good. Take care, miss you all.
Had a great day - drive was at least a lot less windy, and was more populated. Didn't have to worry about running out of fuel before the next gas station. Got to the border at Sumas Washington not realizing that the border actually closes at 5pm. We got into line to go through at 4:52. Boy were we cutting that close. I probably should have looked at that before we started traveling today:) Oh well it was good, made it through in 5 minutes!!! Drove through and was going to stay in Seattle but the traffic was scary, whizzing past me at 80 and I was at least doing the speed limit at 60. Stopped for fuel and met a guy who states that he has been to Alaska numerous times and was originally an Easterner - from NH! What a small world. Completely discouraged we drove to Bellevue and after 40 minutes finally found a hotel! Well we are doing great - I have only gotten on Hunters nerves a few times where he has bleeped out a few expletives especially when I turn off the A/C and radio and ask " Did you hear that?" I actually pulled over 2x today hearing noises that didn't exist in Bessie (the truck) but was actually coming from the electric lines and my new cd. I should be insane by the time we get to Mass. He just doesn't understand that after all I have been through and fixed on Bessie - I'm in hyper mode hearing things. Going to Montana to see a friend that I haven't seen in 9 years tomorrow, cant wait. The dog is doing ok - looks like he's aged 10 years since we left. He gets way over excited when he sees animals on the side of the road and Hunter has to antagonize him about the animals even when they aren't there. Hope everyone is doing good. Take care, miss you all.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Day 4
Well we got a later start than expected - we have spent our share of money on tarps, ratchet straps, duct tape. Even bought military strength tape that states will "withstand 200 mph. Well I know for certain that I was NOT going 200 mph. We didn't get through the border today like I had planned but will be there tomorrow afternoon. At least the fuel prices have gone down!!! Finding hotel was challenging though because its a holiday weekend but found a good one. Looked at the top of the original tarp and because of the winds and speed, was torn so off to the hardware store to get yet another tarp! Tomorrow is another day and so far Hunter hasn't killed me. On a positive note - while at Walmart this morning I bought a cd!!! Thank goodness. Miss you all in Alaska!!
Well we got a later start than expected - we have spent our share of money on tarps, ratchet straps, duct tape. Even bought military strength tape that states will "withstand 200 mph. Well I know for certain that I was NOT going 200 mph. We didn't get through the border today like I had planned but will be there tomorrow afternoon. At least the fuel prices have gone down!!! Finding hotel was challenging though because its a holiday weekend but found a good one. Looked at the top of the original tarp and because of the winds and speed, was torn so off to the hardware store to get yet another tarp! Tomorrow is another day and so far Hunter hasn't killed me. On a positive note - while at Walmart this morning I bought a cd!!! Thank goodness. Miss you all in Alaska!!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Day 3...
Well the trip has been going great! We only made it to a very small dot on the map last night - without sleep the night before, I couldn't go as far as I wanted so we stopped in Teslin. A tiny town with a long bridge and 2 hotels. Yup that's it. We were very grateful to have found the room, nicely redone in the last 2 months. I fell asleep after we ate dinner around 11. Then awoke to a DV going on outside our window. Great - a DV in the middle of nowhere - wonder how long RCMP could get there before someone gets hurt??? Oh well to say the least we took turns sleeping til they quieted down. Got up early and got on the road. The weather was great til right after Fort Nelson - then it was like the gods awoke and were very angry - lightening, heavy rains, high winds, OMG guess we cant do 70 mph as they say we can. Drove to Fort St. John - almost 700 miles today - not too bad considering the long, curvy, mile long drop offs with jersey barriers that are shorter than my tires. We figured that if something went wrong and I hit one it would catapult us over the wall - never damaging the wall - and leave us flying for about 3-4 miles down - til we hit the bottom. Needless to say I drove in the middle of the road as much as possible. We saw lots of wildlife today - bison, moose, deer, 3 brown bears playing, a few black bears, rabbits. The poor dog almost jumped out of the window trying to get the bison. Well off to sleep, gotta get another tarp - those winds tore through the one on the truck. Guess we are truly Alaskan - we are trying to see how many tarps we can get on the truck before we pull into my Moms. Kinda reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies!!! Miss everyone!!
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