Started the day like this, at Rocky Point State Park, near Belle Fourche. Yesterday’s stormy weather was nowhere to be seen as I hitched up and headed out. Lovely blue skies, no headwinds or crosswinds, so happy driving for a while through eastern Wyoming. I started over Route 16 through Bighorn National Forest and saw amazing vistas. And then came the bad weather… But only for a while… All worth it, to get to Cody, ready for a couple of nights in Yellowstone! Today’s quotation Trip stats Miles Driven: 361 (2540 overall) MPG: 16.2 (14.9 overall) Side trips: Route 16 through Bighorn…
Westward Ho: Day 9
South Dakota seems like a normal-sized state until you decide to drive across it. In one day. And with either headwinds or crosswinds tormenting you the entire time. I mostly set the cruise control to 55 mph and watched the scenery go by. And amazing scenery it was. No picture I took really gets across how BIG the sky is here, how far you can see, and how wide open everything is. I’m not saying drive across the state, but at least visit it sometime, it’s got some beautiful landscapes. And it has the Missouri River. One reason I wanted to…
Westward Ho: Day 8
Started the day on the western edge of central Wisconsin, where I have family to visit, including three great nieces, and ended the day on the eastern edge of South Dakota, at a place called Pelican Lake. Before I got too far into the drive, I met up with a spacetweep friend on his home turf (last time we met up was in the Amsterdam airport a few months ago). He had excellent taste in local eateries. If you’re ever in the area, check it out, the bacon cheeseburger was perfect. Thanks, Danny! All across the width of Minnesota were…
Westward Ho: Day 7 (MI to WI)
Quick update because (1) lots of driving with not a lot of photos and (2) I am being kept busy by three great-nieces here in rural Wisconsin! Driving down from the Keweenaw Peninsula was pretty smooth sailing: very little traffic and mostly sunny weather. Six hours or so of me and SiriusXM saved my sanity more than a few times. Going 55 is less stressful and better gas mileage but it can make for longer drives. The drive was so worth it though! Breeze and I had our first overnight guest, my great-niece, Eden, who is 8 years and the…
Westward Ho: Days 5 and 6
Day 5 was basically me singing “Back in the USA…” about a thousand times because it meant I was back on my US data plan and I cannot express how happy this made me. Free google mapping!!! Except for that construction going through some town about 10 minutes before the campsite, where Map Lady and I got confused and I ended up seeing a very, ah, unused set of roads to get to my destination. Before that, though, all smooth sailing. I decided to challenge myself to slow down and savor the journey, so I went 55 mph or less…