Toronto-West KOA!
Seriously, the showers frighten me. I was wondering yesterday whether taking a shower would leave me dirtier than I was before. Just ew. Hair, dirt, bugs, clogged drains, just awful.
The other thing about this campground is, they have firepits that, if the campground is full, burn about five feet away from other RVs. That's too close. The sites here are just crammed in. Luckily it hasn't been full, and I'm leaving today for a motel, where I can stash the cats while going to Stratford without worry.
I did enjoy the local harness-racing track. I watched some races, which were interesting, and did a bit of slot machine gambling, where I actually came out ahead. I also had a salad yesterday at the only walkable restaurant (other than the casino); I'm not sure my system knows what to do with healthy food!
The weather has been very nice: sunny but not too warm. It's only about 51 degrees this morning, and I had to use the blanket; the next time I need a blanket will probably be November, if we're lucky. It's been 94 with a heat index of 108 in Panama City; do I really need to go back?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Nice, though noisy
July 29--Campbellton, ON
It was fairly restful at Perry Sound, although I was grumpy for some of it. I mostly sat around and read, which was nice, although the weather didn't necessarily cooperate. It was hot on Tuesday, and I walked to the nearby boat launch and waded a bit (carefully, since there was lots of fishing going on), and then through the woods to a local trail that might have been neat except for all the ATV's on it; the campground was full of ATVs and motorbikes and such.
Wednesday it rained. Everything got muddy, and I mostly stayed inside. Internet access was erratic at best, so I again did reading and sorting things on my computer and such.
I've not been sleeping well. I've been having problems falling asleep (which may be due to the napping I've been doing), and waking up in the middle of the night. It's not that I'm obsessing about things, like I normally do when I have this type of insomnia, so I'm not sure what it is. Too many carbs, probably. I'm going to have to cut down on them, I think.
I got up this morning and walked over to the WiFi antenna to get online to check e-mail and such (I get very little access from my campsite). I took my time getting ready, dumped the tanks, and headed out a little before 10am. Lots of construction on the 400, as well as lots of traffic. I wish I could have looked at the scenery more; there were lots of those little human rock figures (inukshuks) that were the symbol of the Vancouver Olympics on all the exposed rocks, and there was a lot of exposed rock.
I stopped south of Barrie to get diesel (full serve, which was the only thing available, but at least my hands aren't smelly!) and McDonalds, and then more to the south. Traffic picked up considerably, and I could eventually see the CN tower in the distance. I turned east well before we got downtown, and things were crazy--roads everywhere, people cutting across traffic going 70 mpg, just crazy. I plodded on, and managed to get through it without too much cussing. I am glad I'm not coming into town, as that was backed up for miles.
I'm in a KOA that bills itself as "Toronto West", but we're in the back of beyond, really. True to the nature of most KOAs, the 401 Interstate is running right by this place, and I'm trying to pretend the sound of the traffic is a river or something. I was allowed to pick my own spot, and I have a nice semi-level semi-shaded campsite. It took me several tries to find it, but we're here! I chatted a bit with another View driver, and wound up lending him my instruction book, as he left his at home and has had some interesting experiences. I also went swimming--thank god there's trees in between the pool and the highway. All the pools here are interesting: they don't seem to be lined with concrete, but simply have a sturdy rubber/plastic liner over what seems to be packed dirt (it's uneven and wrinkled). One would think that they'd put in something more permanent, but maybe the weather would do it in.
So I'm sitting here enjoying both the sun and the cool breeze, reading a book and drinking ice tea. I may go to the nearby harness racing track tonight to watch the racing and/or play the slots, but I think I'll wait until tomorrow. There's also a restaurant; I plan to eat lunch there tomorrow, since I've already eaten out once today and I need to finish the perishables before Saturday, when we're staying at a motel (to give me a safe place to leave the cats while I drive to Stratford and see the play).
It was fairly restful at Perry Sound, although I was grumpy for some of it. I mostly sat around and read, which was nice, although the weather didn't necessarily cooperate. It was hot on Tuesday, and I walked to the nearby boat launch and waded a bit (carefully, since there was lots of fishing going on), and then through the woods to a local trail that might have been neat except for all the ATV's on it; the campground was full of ATVs and motorbikes and such.
Wednesday it rained. Everything got muddy, and I mostly stayed inside. Internet access was erratic at best, so I again did reading and sorting things on my computer and such.
I've not been sleeping well. I've been having problems falling asleep (which may be due to the napping I've been doing), and waking up in the middle of the night. It's not that I'm obsessing about things, like I normally do when I have this type of insomnia, so I'm not sure what it is. Too many carbs, probably. I'm going to have to cut down on them, I think.
I got up this morning and walked over to the WiFi antenna to get online to check e-mail and such (I get very little access from my campsite). I took my time getting ready, dumped the tanks, and headed out a little before 10am. Lots of construction on the 400, as well as lots of traffic. I wish I could have looked at the scenery more; there were lots of those little human rock figures (inukshuks) that were the symbol of the Vancouver Olympics on all the exposed rocks, and there was a lot of exposed rock.
I stopped south of Barrie to get diesel (full serve, which was the only thing available, but at least my hands aren't smelly!) and McDonalds, and then more to the south. Traffic picked up considerably, and I could eventually see the CN tower in the distance. I turned east well before we got downtown, and things were crazy--roads everywhere, people cutting across traffic going 70 mpg, just crazy. I plodded on, and managed to get through it without too much cussing. I am glad I'm not coming into town, as that was backed up for miles.
I'm in a KOA that bills itself as "Toronto West", but we're in the back of beyond, really. True to the nature of most KOAs, the 401 Interstate is running right by this place, and I'm trying to pretend the sound of the traffic is a river or something. I was allowed to pick my own spot, and I have a nice semi-level semi-shaded campsite. It took me several tries to find it, but we're here! I chatted a bit with another View driver, and wound up lending him my instruction book, as he left his at home and has had some interesting experiences. I also went swimming--thank god there's trees in between the pool and the highway. All the pools here are interesting: they don't seem to be lined with concrete, but simply have a sturdy rubber/plastic liner over what seems to be packed dirt (it's uneven and wrinkled). One would think that they'd put in something more permanent, but maybe the weather would do it in.
So I'm sitting here enjoying both the sun and the cool breeze, reading a book and drinking ice tea. I may go to the nearby harness racing track tonight to watch the racing and/or play the slots, but I think I'll wait until tomorrow. There's also a restaurant; I plan to eat lunch there tomorrow, since I've already eaten out once today and I need to finish the perishables before Saturday, when we're staying at a motel (to give me a safe place to leave the cats while I drive to Stratford and see the play).
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ooh, a trampoline!
July 27--Parry Sound, ON
Woke up yesterday morning early as usual (Puck). Fed the cats, ate some cheese pastry I'd bought at WalMart, and decided not to dump before heading east and south. I got out of the campground (nice, but not shady) by 8:30 or so, to head down the highway. I filled up the tank (98 cents a liter!) then headed out.
The one disadvantage to driving the TransCan from the Soo to Sudbury is how little of Lake Huron you actually see. For the most part, you're a few miles inland, and can only glimpse a bit of lake here and there when going through towns. Still, the drive was lovely; the sun was out and it wasn't too hot (yet), the wind was behind me, and the traffic wasn't too bad (and when it was, on two-lane highways Canada very politely puts passing-areas every few miles, for those in a big hurry). The other nice thing was, I could actually drive the speed limit! I don't like to push the rig more than 60, maybe 65 mph, and that's about what the speed limit was.
I stopped at a little town called Espaniola for lunch (Wendy's) and to give the cats a bit of a break outside of their carriers. It took me a bit of time, but I managed to find a spot--quite the happening spot at noon. We were in full sun, and it was getting warm, but with the windows open it was OK.
Past Sudbury and south, the landscape changed dramatically. The tall forests and farmer's fields of before changed to scrub forest. I thought maybe it was due to mining stunting the trees, but rock became more and more predominant, and I figured we were on the Canadian Shield. Turns out I was right. Lots of rock (including by roadsides, often festooned with piles of rock and graffiti--my favorite was "Thelma and Louise 2007"), small trees, and wetland (probably the water can't seep away through the rock). Also lots of construction, which was a pain. Particularly to my GPS, which couldn't figure out why I was driving NEXT to the actual road--well, because there's a new actual road?
The campground here is OK. WiFi signal here is limited (if too many people are using it, I can't), it's a bit dusty (the KOA people had to go yell at some guy running his ATV around on the dirt roads for churning up dust), and I don't get TV or even a good radio signal, so I'm a bit cut off. But it's shady, the pool is cool (if crowded), there's a trampoline I'm going to try later, some trails to walk, and a Tim Hortons in walking distance, if I get hungry and desperate. Not too bad.
I'm here for three days, which will be nice resting and reading and such. Hopefully. Sun and heat today, rain tomorrow, and better Thursday for travel. If only the cats don't drive me nuts--Puck is being particularly ornery. I need to play with him, and comb both of them, and give them more hairball treats. Maybe later.
Woke up yesterday morning early as usual (Puck). Fed the cats, ate some cheese pastry I'd bought at WalMart, and decided not to dump before heading east and south. I got out of the campground (nice, but not shady) by 8:30 or so, to head down the highway. I filled up the tank (98 cents a liter!) then headed out.
The one disadvantage to driving the TransCan from the Soo to Sudbury is how little of Lake Huron you actually see. For the most part, you're a few miles inland, and can only glimpse a bit of lake here and there when going through towns. Still, the drive was lovely; the sun was out and it wasn't too hot (yet), the wind was behind me, and the traffic wasn't too bad (and when it was, on two-lane highways Canada very politely puts passing-areas every few miles, for those in a big hurry). The other nice thing was, I could actually drive the speed limit! I don't like to push the rig more than 60, maybe 65 mph, and that's about what the speed limit was.
I stopped at a little town called Espaniola for lunch (Wendy's) and to give the cats a bit of a break outside of their carriers. It took me a bit of time, but I managed to find a spot--quite the happening spot at noon. We were in full sun, and it was getting warm, but with the windows open it was OK.
Past Sudbury and south, the landscape changed dramatically. The tall forests and farmer's fields of before changed to scrub forest. I thought maybe it was due to mining stunting the trees, but rock became more and more predominant, and I figured we were on the Canadian Shield. Turns out I was right. Lots of rock (including by roadsides, often festooned with piles of rock and graffiti--my favorite was "Thelma and Louise 2007"), small trees, and wetland (probably the water can't seep away through the rock). Also lots of construction, which was a pain. Particularly to my GPS, which couldn't figure out why I was driving NEXT to the actual road--well, because there's a new actual road?
The campground here is OK. WiFi signal here is limited (if too many people are using it, I can't), it's a bit dusty (the KOA people had to go yell at some guy running his ATV around on the dirt roads for churning up dust), and I don't get TV or even a good radio signal, so I'm a bit cut off. But it's shady, the pool is cool (if crowded), there's a trampoline I'm going to try later, some trails to walk, and a Tim Hortons in walking distance, if I get hungry and desperate. Not too bad.
I'm here for three days, which will be nice resting and reading and such. Hopefully. Sun and heat today, rain tomorrow, and better Thursday for travel. If only the cats don't drive me nuts--Puck is being particularly ornery. I need to play with him, and comb both of them, and give them more hairball treats. Maybe later.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Staying in Canada for a bit
July 23--Pancake Bay, ON
I got up early yesterday--it was foggy and cool, which was nice. I checked the tires and all were well, and then did laundry. I was in no hurry to go, since I couldn't check in to the campground until after two, so I finished all the chapters I had to read (yay money while on vacation!), and left around 11:30.
I got on the truck route, so I wouldn't have to go through downtown, and wound up by the WalMart again. I needed some groceries, but decided to go to a market instead. I got some turkey, some chip dip, and more of the hairball treats! I then went to Arby's for lunch (eh) and headed north.
The bridge was rather like the old bridge in Charleston: two big humps for the ships to go under, two lanes of traffic. And there was construction, which was quite exciting (nothing like stopping on the top of a tall bridge!) The construction continued through much of town, although there were enough signs that I didn't get lost.
After we ran out of town, it was pretty much wilderness (or darn close). Up some big hills, which pissed off the people behind me (suck it up, dudes, I'm going the speed limit). Lots of "moose crossing" signs, but no moose. I also passed the midpoint of the TransCanada, which amazed me; I don't think about just how far east the road goes. Pretty damn far, if this is the midpoint. Up into Newfoundland and everything. It's weird when I think that I'm only a bit west of Temperance (and much farther north) and yet it's the midpoint of a transcontinental road.
Pancake Bay Provincial Park is a relatively narrow strip between the highway and the lake. I pulled in and talked to some poor guy who sits out front (under an umbrella) and gets to talk to everyone arriving. He asked if I had firewood--no. Then he asked if I had a pet--I said I had two cats. He looked puzzled and said "Um, we don't have a cat policy, so I guess they're OK". I reassured him that they don't leave the RV, and headed to the office to get my official paperwork.
My spot is indeed the equivalent of the one at Kalaloch, except I don't have any view at all. I also am not next to the dumpsters, so that's something. I'm supposed to have electric, but I found that my cord isn't long enough to reach the outlet, so I'm boondocking it. Other than not being able to use my microwave (and being careful about things like computers and the radio), it's fine.
There is indeed a long narrow beach, and it was full of bathers (well, full enough). I walked a bit, and then put my feet in the water which felt really good. So I went back to the RV, put on my bathing suit and went swimming! No, I didn't stay in long, but I did get in all the way, and even swam underwater a bit. It was quite refreshing, and felt good after the rather hot drive. I will say that when I got out, I was cold for a couple of hours--it's how I used to stay cool in Missoula without air conditioning: go swimming in the river, get cold, warm up gradually. I eventually went for a walk to warm up.
The spots are rather far apart, which is nice (nobody is directly across from me, and those on either side are screened by trees). The traffic on the TransCanada is quite loud, and I'm surprised that some people who are here for the season are right on the road by me. I mean, if you're going to be camping somewhere for the summer, don't you want it a bit quieter than a busy highway? I guess not. There are seasonal spots that are closer to the water (and away from the road), which would be better.
I slept well, despite the noise (and that there was little breeze so the RV didn't cool down much). Puck woke me up, I fed them, ate a sandwich, read a bit, and then napped for two hours (which apparently included some serious snoring, since I included it in my dreams!). After this, I tried to call home a couple of times, but kept getting busy signals, so I'll try later.
There's a big tourist trap just down the road a mile or so, so I walked there today. It was still cloudy and cool and drizzly, so not a bad walk. I did have to walk in the gravel next to the TransCanada, which was a bit disconcerting when huge trucks went by. The tourist trap itself was a bit disappointing; I was hoping for a restaurant, but only a grocery, a wood-carving place, and an Indian trinket/leather/fur place (which included wolf pelts, which made me nauseous). I lurked a bit, bought an iced tea, a beef stick, and an ice-cream sandwich for lunch (I really wanted something else, but there was nothing), then walked back.
So now I'm in the RV, resting a bit before walking more, I think. It's not quite warm enough to go swimming, although it's gotten warmer and it's VERY humid, so I might walk along the beach or something. Exercise is good!
July 25--Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I don't think I did much of note on Friday. I did go to the movie they showed at the ampitheatre, which was a quick history of Lake Superior since the Europeans showed up, and would have been much more interesting if 1. I could have seen it better (it was still quite light) and 2. the kids would have shut up. People brought their kids, who got bored (can't blame them, really, particularly the smaller ones) and talked or ran about or whatever.
Yesterday I decided to do the 3.5km nature walk. It was quite a nice walk, except that I had forgotten to put on bug spray, since there weren't many bugs by the beach. So I spent a lot of time waving my arms around and smacking my legs and walking as fast as I could trying to avoid the tall grass (ticks!) and the mud churned up by illegal bicyclists. I did enjoy walking through the fen (a fen is a bog with water circulation), although I didn't see any pitcher plants. I think I actually made it through without any bites! Maybe I'm just not tasty. And then I read and relaxed and walked more through the campground.
This morning I got out early to do the Edmund Fitzgerald lookout walk. I had heard about a shortcut to the top, avoiding most of the trail through the woods (been there, done that) and walked up an access road for most of the way, then cut up an illegal trail to the base of the stairs. Lots and lots of stairs, some of which reminded me of the metal stairs at the ravine near Grandma's house, which were always freaky to me because I couldn't tell how far away they were. But I trudged up them and reached the top platforms. Which did give a great view, but weren't labeled at all, so I wasn't always sure what I was looking at. Oh well. I headed back down and took the same illegal trail, which required walking around a locked gate. Luckily, I was past the gate and into the "legal" part of the road before two official trucks drove by (past the locked gate is not only the illegal trail, but a couple of cell phone towers that these guys were apparently servicing on Sunday morning). I waved at them and tried to look innocent, although the mud on my shoes and the fact I had sweated enough to make me look as if I'd had a bucket of water dumped on my head was probably suspicious! I also had to walk waving my hand above my head for a while, because while the citronella lotion I had put on was reasonably effective for mosquitoes, the biting flies weren't deterred. I hate biting flies almost as much as ticks.
When I got back I was footsore and (as mentioned before) covered in sweat, so I put on my bathing suit and jumped into the lake one last time. It was quite cool, and I did feel quite invigorated afterwards; maybe that's why those crazy Scandinavians roll around in snow after being in the sauna? I still think I'll pass.
I had realized that I could stay at the KOA at the Soo for less money than I was paying at the state park and with a lot more amenities, so I left a day early (got a refund!) and headed south. I overshot the park and went to the WalMart for kitty litter and McDonalds lunch (I was going to buy supplies, but I couldn't bring myself to pay the Canada prices--I guess I'll eat out of my larder for the next week or so).
I'm in a small spot that isn't gravelled and seems to be an afterthought. It's relatively level, but has almost no shade. I do have nice speedy WiFi and I can get a couple of channels on the TV (yay no digital TV in Canada!). The pool is hysterical; the shallow end is 3 feet, and the deep is 3 feet 10 inches! Oh no, get the life ring!
I plan on moving on tomorrow, south and east toward Stratford, where I have a ticket to see Christopher Plummer in "The Tempest" next Sunday. I should have e-mail everywhere I stop, so I'll keep you posted!
I got up early yesterday--it was foggy and cool, which was nice. I checked the tires and all were well, and then did laundry. I was in no hurry to go, since I couldn't check in to the campground until after two, so I finished all the chapters I had to read (yay money while on vacation!), and left around 11:30.
I got on the truck route, so I wouldn't have to go through downtown, and wound up by the WalMart again. I needed some groceries, but decided to go to a market instead. I got some turkey, some chip dip, and more of the hairball treats! I then went to Arby's for lunch (eh) and headed north.
The bridge was rather like the old bridge in Charleston: two big humps for the ships to go under, two lanes of traffic. And there was construction, which was quite exciting (nothing like stopping on the top of a tall bridge!) The construction continued through much of town, although there were enough signs that I didn't get lost.
After we ran out of town, it was pretty much wilderness (or darn close). Up some big hills, which pissed off the people behind me (suck it up, dudes, I'm going the speed limit). Lots of "moose crossing" signs, but no moose. I also passed the midpoint of the TransCanada, which amazed me; I don't think about just how far east the road goes. Pretty damn far, if this is the midpoint. Up into Newfoundland and everything. It's weird when I think that I'm only a bit west of Temperance (and much farther north) and yet it's the midpoint of a transcontinental road.
Pancake Bay Provincial Park is a relatively narrow strip between the highway and the lake. I pulled in and talked to some poor guy who sits out front (under an umbrella) and gets to talk to everyone arriving. He asked if I had firewood--no. Then he asked if I had a pet--I said I had two cats. He looked puzzled and said "Um, we don't have a cat policy, so I guess they're OK". I reassured him that they don't leave the RV, and headed to the office to get my official paperwork.
My spot is indeed the equivalent of the one at Kalaloch, except I don't have any view at all. I also am not next to the dumpsters, so that's something. I'm supposed to have electric, but I found that my cord isn't long enough to reach the outlet, so I'm boondocking it. Other than not being able to use my microwave (and being careful about things like computers and the radio), it's fine.
There is indeed a long narrow beach, and it was full of bathers (well, full enough). I walked a bit, and then put my feet in the water which felt really good. So I went back to the RV, put on my bathing suit and went swimming! No, I didn't stay in long, but I did get in all the way, and even swam underwater a bit. It was quite refreshing, and felt good after the rather hot drive. I will say that when I got out, I was cold for a couple of hours--it's how I used to stay cool in Missoula without air conditioning: go swimming in the river, get cold, warm up gradually. I eventually went for a walk to warm up.
The spots are rather far apart, which is nice (nobody is directly across from me, and those on either side are screened by trees). The traffic on the TransCanada is quite loud, and I'm surprised that some people who are here for the season are right on the road by me. I mean, if you're going to be camping somewhere for the summer, don't you want it a bit quieter than a busy highway? I guess not. There are seasonal spots that are closer to the water (and away from the road), which would be better.
I slept well, despite the noise (and that there was little breeze so the RV didn't cool down much). Puck woke me up, I fed them, ate a sandwich, read a bit, and then napped for two hours (which apparently included some serious snoring, since I included it in my dreams!). After this, I tried to call home a couple of times, but kept getting busy signals, so I'll try later.
There's a big tourist trap just down the road a mile or so, so I walked there today. It was still cloudy and cool and drizzly, so not a bad walk. I did have to walk in the gravel next to the TransCanada, which was a bit disconcerting when huge trucks went by. The tourist trap itself was a bit disappointing; I was hoping for a restaurant, but only a grocery, a wood-carving place, and an Indian trinket/leather/fur place (which included wolf pelts, which made me nauseous). I lurked a bit, bought an iced tea, a beef stick, and an ice-cream sandwich for lunch (I really wanted something else, but there was nothing), then walked back.
So now I'm in the RV, resting a bit before walking more, I think. It's not quite warm enough to go swimming, although it's gotten warmer and it's VERY humid, so I might walk along the beach or something. Exercise is good!
July 25--Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I don't think I did much of note on Friday. I did go to the movie they showed at the ampitheatre, which was a quick history of Lake Superior since the Europeans showed up, and would have been much more interesting if 1. I could have seen it better (it was still quite light) and 2. the kids would have shut up. People brought their kids, who got bored (can't blame them, really, particularly the smaller ones) and talked or ran about or whatever.
Yesterday I decided to do the 3.5km nature walk. It was quite a nice walk, except that I had forgotten to put on bug spray, since there weren't many bugs by the beach. So I spent a lot of time waving my arms around and smacking my legs and walking as fast as I could trying to avoid the tall grass (ticks!) and the mud churned up by illegal bicyclists. I did enjoy walking through the fen (a fen is a bog with water circulation), although I didn't see any pitcher plants. I think I actually made it through without any bites! Maybe I'm just not tasty. And then I read and relaxed and walked more through the campground.
This morning I got out early to do the Edmund Fitzgerald lookout walk. I had heard about a shortcut to the top, avoiding most of the trail through the woods (been there, done that) and walked up an access road for most of the way, then cut up an illegal trail to the base of the stairs. Lots and lots of stairs, some of which reminded me of the metal stairs at the ravine near Grandma's house, which were always freaky to me because I couldn't tell how far away they were. But I trudged up them and reached the top platforms. Which did give a great view, but weren't labeled at all, so I wasn't always sure what I was looking at. Oh well. I headed back down and took the same illegal trail, which required walking around a locked gate. Luckily, I was past the gate and into the "legal" part of the road before two official trucks drove by (past the locked gate is not only the illegal trail, but a couple of cell phone towers that these guys were apparently servicing on Sunday morning). I waved at them and tried to look innocent, although the mud on my shoes and the fact I had sweated enough to make me look as if I'd had a bucket of water dumped on my head was probably suspicious! I also had to walk waving my hand above my head for a while, because while the citronella lotion I had put on was reasonably effective for mosquitoes, the biting flies weren't deterred. I hate biting flies almost as much as ticks.
When I got back I was footsore and (as mentioned before) covered in sweat, so I put on my bathing suit and jumped into the lake one last time. It was quite cool, and I did feel quite invigorated afterwards; maybe that's why those crazy Scandinavians roll around in snow after being in the sauna? I still think I'll pass.
I had realized that I could stay at the KOA at the Soo for less money than I was paying at the state park and with a lot more amenities, so I left a day early (got a refund!) and headed south. I overshot the park and went to the WalMart for kitty litter and McDonalds lunch (I was going to buy supplies, but I couldn't bring myself to pay the Canada prices--I guess I'll eat out of my larder for the next week or so).
I'm in a small spot that isn't gravelled and seems to be an afterthought. It's relatively level, but has almost no shade. I do have nice speedy WiFi and I can get a couple of channels on the TV (yay no digital TV in Canada!). The pool is hysterical; the shallow end is 3 feet, and the deep is 3 feet 10 inches! Oh no, get the life ring!
I plan on moving on tomorrow, south and east toward Stratford, where I have a ticket to see Christopher Plummer in "The Tempest" next Sunday. I should have e-mail everywhere I stop, so I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ahoy!
July 21--Not moved yet
So the thunderstorm was a doozy. Not only did I think I saw a funnel cloud dissapate in the distance before it hit, but the storm itself was nasty. The frequent lightning should have given that away, but I was hoping it would go to the north. Well, it did, but we got enough to be scary.
The rain and wind hit at the same time. All of a sudden I could barely see across the parking lot to the trees that were nearly bent double, and my RV was listing like a leaking boat. I actually moved to the other side of the RV, the way you do in a boat, to try to keep it from tipping. I didn't think it actually would, but it was freaky enough to scare Nell, and she doesn't scare. Puck had wedged himself into the foot well of the driver's door, which may have been the safest place in the rig. It poured and blew for about 20 minutes, which felt a lot longer, and then passed by. All is well, but wow.
I didn't do much today--well, I read a couple of chapters for work, but otherwise I just futzed about. I did walk to a restaurant called Antlers for lunch. This place is a taxidermist's dream: I saw everything from a couple of African lions to a tiny owl stuffed and mounted on the walls. A mouse-deer, a wolverine with a Michigan hat on it, a rhino, and more ungulates than you could shake a stick at. The food was OK, but I was rather creeped out by the end of lunch; all these dead animals. Eesh.
I did get to see several tall ships go by. There are on their way from a get-together in Bay City last weekend to one in Duluth this weekend. None of them were under sail, so while they were interesting, they weren't amazing. There were also a lot of freighters; probably at least 8 if not more. Much busier day than yesterday!
Tomorrow I'm off to a Canadian provincial park, so don't expect an update for a bit. And it's a good thing, since a big-ass trailer pulled in next to me and cut off my breeze, which could make the next few days rather warm. Time to rest on a beach, with fresh water and warmer temperatures than Washington. Good thing I have a lot of books to read!
So the thunderstorm was a doozy. Not only did I think I saw a funnel cloud dissapate in the distance before it hit, but the storm itself was nasty. The frequent lightning should have given that away, but I was hoping it would go to the north. Well, it did, but we got enough to be scary.
The rain and wind hit at the same time. All of a sudden I could barely see across the parking lot to the trees that were nearly bent double, and my RV was listing like a leaking boat. I actually moved to the other side of the RV, the way you do in a boat, to try to keep it from tipping. I didn't think it actually would, but it was freaky enough to scare Nell, and she doesn't scare. Puck had wedged himself into the foot well of the driver's door, which may have been the safest place in the rig. It poured and blew for about 20 minutes, which felt a lot longer, and then passed by. All is well, but wow.
I didn't do much today--well, I read a couple of chapters for work, but otherwise I just futzed about. I did walk to a restaurant called Antlers for lunch. This place is a taxidermist's dream: I saw everything from a couple of African lions to a tiny owl stuffed and mounted on the walls. A mouse-deer, a wolverine with a Michigan hat on it, a rhino, and more ungulates than you could shake a stick at. The food was OK, but I was rather creeped out by the end of lunch; all these dead animals. Eesh.
I did get to see several tall ships go by. There are on their way from a get-together in Bay City last weekend to one in Duluth this weekend. None of them were under sail, so while they were interesting, they weren't amazing. There were also a lot of freighters; probably at least 8 if not more. Much busier day than yesterday!
Tomorrow I'm off to a Canadian provincial park, so don't expect an update for a bit. And it's a good thing, since a big-ass trailer pulled in next to me and cut off my breeze, which could make the next few days rather warm. Time to rest on a beach, with fresh water and warmer temperatures than Washington. Good thing I have a lot of books to read!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
tick, tick, ACK!
July 20--Still the Soo
I slept pretty well, and Puck didn't wake me up, for some reason. Maybe the tapeworm, being dead, didn't make them hungry? I don't know. But I slept in a bit, and then fed the cats, and headed out on the town around 9am.
The campground is about a mile or so from town, so I got to see a bit of the place on the way. Including a HUGE very old hydroelectric plant, run on water from a canal (? maybe a stream) that runs from the Superior side to the Huron side, which means it drops 21 feet on the way, which makes quite a current, and which also makes downtown Sault Ste. Marie an island. I also walked by a couple of churches, plus a big tower that was made to commemorate missionaries, but now commemorates all the early explorers, and also gives people a great view of the land. Not me, since I'm afraid of heights and didn't want to pay money to be afraid.
Downtown I stopped in some of the small shops. The town itself appears to be dying; there are "For Rent/Sale" signs everywhere. However, they are also tearing up nearly all of the streets by the water, and I'm not sure why.
I hit some tourist traps (which are a bit higher-class crap than the usual traps), bought a couple of cheap books at the Salvation Army (I really need to get rid of some of the books I've read), and then headed to the locks.
What with security everywhere these days, you can't get anywhere near the locks or the canals except in the official (fenced-off) visitor area, and they searched my bag before they let me in. I did get to see a big freighter go through the locks, which was neat to watch. Seeing a huge ship looming over the canal walls, and then watching that ship sink to where you can't really see the deck. Very impressive.
Walking back, I tried to see the historic area, but that was what they were tearing up. So I did some bushwhacking and (probably) illegal cutting across construction zones with overgrown grass (more about that later), and managed to see most everything.
I also stopped at the public fishing pier, which gave me a great look at another freighter slowly making its way to the locks. Pretty damn big. And then I walked home, where I found the RV a bit warmer than I might like (the sun came out quite a bit) but the cats were fine.
I had been home an hour or so and was sitting on the dinette seat when I suddenly felt a tickle on my shoulder. So I went to scratch it, good primate that I am, and I felt something! I screeched a bit and grabbed it enough to fling it on the table, and found a big black tick! I suspect I picked it up while walking through the long grass, it got off on the dinette when I first came in, and then got back on me when I sat down again. I tried to squish it, but the damn thing kept coming back like some sort of zombie, so I flushed it down the toilet. Let it try to get back from there! I checked myself pretty thoroughly in the shower I just took, and I'll check my hair again as well as the cats a bit later (I doubt they have anything, unless it jumped off me and onto them). I'm also a bit jumpy now; I keep feeling that tick!
It did motivate me to do a cleaning, so now we have clean (well, clean-ish) floors and a clean litter box and I did the dishes. I also vacuumed the dinette seat. Damn ticks.
And we're going to have a nice thunderstorm now. We has a severe one go just to the south of us earlier; hopefully this one won't be too bad.
I slept pretty well, and Puck didn't wake me up, for some reason. Maybe the tapeworm, being dead, didn't make them hungry? I don't know. But I slept in a bit, and then fed the cats, and headed out on the town around 9am.
The campground is about a mile or so from town, so I got to see a bit of the place on the way. Including a HUGE very old hydroelectric plant, run on water from a canal (? maybe a stream) that runs from the Superior side to the Huron side, which means it drops 21 feet on the way, which makes quite a current, and which also makes downtown Sault Ste. Marie an island. I also walked by a couple of churches, plus a big tower that was made to commemorate missionaries, but now commemorates all the early explorers, and also gives people a great view of the land. Not me, since I'm afraid of heights and didn't want to pay money to be afraid.
Downtown I stopped in some of the small shops. The town itself appears to be dying; there are "For Rent/Sale" signs everywhere. However, they are also tearing up nearly all of the streets by the water, and I'm not sure why.
I hit some tourist traps (which are a bit higher-class crap than the usual traps), bought a couple of cheap books at the Salvation Army (I really need to get rid of some of the books I've read), and then headed to the locks.
What with security everywhere these days, you can't get anywhere near the locks or the canals except in the official (fenced-off) visitor area, and they searched my bag before they let me in. I did get to see a big freighter go through the locks, which was neat to watch. Seeing a huge ship looming over the canal walls, and then watching that ship sink to where you can't really see the deck. Very impressive.
Walking back, I tried to see the historic area, but that was what they were tearing up. So I did some bushwhacking and (probably) illegal cutting across construction zones with overgrown grass (more about that later), and managed to see most everything.
I also stopped at the public fishing pier, which gave me a great look at another freighter slowly making its way to the locks. Pretty damn big. And then I walked home, where I found the RV a bit warmer than I might like (the sun came out quite a bit) but the cats were fine.
I had been home an hour or so and was sitting on the dinette seat when I suddenly felt a tickle on my shoulder. So I went to scratch it, good primate that I am, and I felt something! I screeched a bit and grabbed it enough to fling it on the table, and found a big black tick! I suspect I picked it up while walking through the long grass, it got off on the dinette when I first came in, and then got back on me when I sat down again. I tried to squish it, but the damn thing kept coming back like some sort of zombie, so I flushed it down the toilet. Let it try to get back from there! I checked myself pretty thoroughly in the shower I just took, and I'll check my hair again as well as the cats a bit later (I doubt they have anything, unless it jumped off me and onto them). I'm also a bit jumpy now; I keep feeling that tick!
It did motivate me to do a cleaning, so now we have clean (well, clean-ish) floors and a clean litter box and I did the dishes. I also vacuumed the dinette seat. Damn ticks.
And we're going to have a nice thunderstorm now. We has a severe one go just to the south of us earlier; hopefully this one won't be too bad.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Rollin' down the river . . . well, not really
July 19--Sault Ste. Marie, MI
I spent most of the past day or two hanging out with my family, before they all left for Lethbridge this morning. It rained much of yesterday, and I'm glad I wasn't in a tent! Serious ponding on the ground. Luckily, the church group in tents left right before it got bad.
The family left around 9:30 today, and I was out a few minutes later (I did stop to fill up on some water, since I was a bit low). I headed north on I-75, through thick woods at first, then some fields. Very little traffic, which was a nice change.
I exited at the second-to-last exit in the US and went to WalMart, where I did a bit of shopping for necessities (which apparently includes Faygo Redpop--yum!), then I went to the local vet. I had discovered back in Maumee Bay Park that Nell had a tapeworm (you really don't want to know how I discovered this, trust me), and it was my first real chance to stop at a vet. We had to weigh her (which she didn't like), and I bought anti-tapeworm meds for both her and Puck. Unfortunately, she wouldn't take them as a treat, so I had to force-pill both of them. Luckily, no damage to anyone.
I'm at a campground right on the river between Lakes Superior and Huron, with Canada right across the way. It's a nice campground, although a bit of shade would be nice (the long-termers appear to have bogarted the shady spots), and I do have a view (through other RVs) of the river. I might take my chair and go sit next to the river for a while; there's an area for people who don't border the river to have access. There are boats of all kinds going by, from tour boats (whose spiels I can overhear) to big lake freighters (which blow their horn, which is a bit loud but luckily doesn't happen often).
I'm going to walk to town tomorrow for tourist purposes, since it's going to be cloudy and maybe rainy, and that way I can make sure the RV doesn't overheat on Wednesday, when it's hot(ish) again. If I keep the big windows open, there's a great breeze through, which helps counteract the heat from the blacktop that makes up most of this campground--but it's way too easy to break into the big windows. At any rate, I took a great nap this afternoon, and I foresee several more!
I spent most of the past day or two hanging out with my family, before they all left for Lethbridge this morning. It rained much of yesterday, and I'm glad I wasn't in a tent! Serious ponding on the ground. Luckily, the church group in tents left right before it got bad.
The family left around 9:30 today, and I was out a few minutes later (I did stop to fill up on some water, since I was a bit low). I headed north on I-75, through thick woods at first, then some fields. Very little traffic, which was a nice change.
I exited at the second-to-last exit in the US and went to WalMart, where I did a bit of shopping for necessities (which apparently includes Faygo Redpop--yum!), then I went to the local vet. I had discovered back in Maumee Bay Park that Nell had a tapeworm (you really don't want to know how I discovered this, trust me), and it was my first real chance to stop at a vet. We had to weigh her (which she didn't like), and I bought anti-tapeworm meds for both her and Puck. Unfortunately, she wouldn't take them as a treat, so I had to force-pill both of them. Luckily, no damage to anyone.
I'm at a campground right on the river between Lakes Superior and Huron, with Canada right across the way. It's a nice campground, although a bit of shade would be nice (the long-termers appear to have bogarted the shady spots), and I do have a view (through other RVs) of the river. I might take my chair and go sit next to the river for a while; there's an area for people who don't border the river to have access. There are boats of all kinds going by, from tour boats (whose spiels I can overhear) to big lake freighters (which blow their horn, which is a bit loud but luckily doesn't happen often).
I'm going to walk to town tomorrow for tourist purposes, since it's going to be cloudy and maybe rainy, and that way I can make sure the RV doesn't overheat on Wednesday, when it's hot(ish) again. If I keep the big windows open, there's a great breeze through, which helps counteract the heat from the blacktop that makes up most of this campground--but it's way too easy to break into the big windows. At any rate, I took a great nap this afternoon, and I foresee several more!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Very good family reunion/party
After six days in Troll-country (i.e. below the bridge--it's a Yooper joke), I'm back in St. Ignace. It was hotter than billy hell in Toledo--upper 80's and 90's, rather like the Florida weather I bought this RV to escape. Despite the weather, it was a good time (other than the horsefly bites I got--ow): lots of eating, swimming, laughing, playing cards and dominos, and catching up with everyone. My dad's 80th birthday party went beautifully--we had it in a park right by where we used to live in South Toledo. Plenty of his old friends came, we barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs and had pasta salad and chips and soda and beer (yay great caterer!) and there were no major disasters and I think everyone had a great time. One of the better get-togethers we've had.
So I was thinking, where should I go once the party broke up? I have three weeks before I have to be back in Florida, and I'm in no hurry to return to that weather. I thought about New England, but it's been hot there, it remains hot, it's high season (particularly because it's so hot and I'd want to be by/on the beach like everyone else), and it's far away (driving back to Florida would take several days, plus having to bypass several major cities). So I decided to go back to the Upper Peninsula.
Driving up yesterday (the only thing worse than driving south through Michigan on a summer Sunday is driving north on a Saturday! Traffic galore), the temperature literally dropped 10 degrees from 9am in Dundee MI to 3pm in St. Ignace. My parents and my sister and her family are here until Monday, to go to Mackinac Island. I, having been there last year and with work to do, will be resting today--well, other than the work. There's good reliable Internet (I have to proof a couple of chapters of a text book) and I really really need to sweep the floor (the cat hair is beginning to form small tumbleweeds in the aisle, which even I as a very indifferent housekeeper don't much like). It's a cool cloudy rainy day--my kind of weather!
(We're in the same campground I was in a week ago, and the youth group is still here! Must be a long trip)
So I was thinking, where should I go once the party broke up? I have three weeks before I have to be back in Florida, and I'm in no hurry to return to that weather. I thought about New England, but it's been hot there, it remains hot, it's high season (particularly because it's so hot and I'd want to be by/on the beach like everyone else), and it's far away (driving back to Florida would take several days, plus having to bypass several major cities). So I decided to go back to the Upper Peninsula.
Driving up yesterday (the only thing worse than driving south through Michigan on a summer Sunday is driving north on a Saturday! Traffic galore), the temperature literally dropped 10 degrees from 9am in Dundee MI to 3pm in St. Ignace. My parents and my sister and her family are here until Monday, to go to Mackinac Island. I, having been there last year and with work to do, will be resting today--well, other than the work. There's good reliable Internet (I have to proof a couple of chapters of a text book) and I really really need to sweep the floor (the cat hair is beginning to form small tumbleweeds in the aisle, which even I as a very indifferent housekeeper don't much like). It's a cool cloudy rainy day--my kind of weather!
(We're in the same campground I was in a week ago, and the youth group is still here! Must be a long trip)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Rested!
July 11 (morning)--St. Ignace
Well, I'm rested! My ankles are unpuffed (for the moment), the laundry is done, I did some swimming, I did more reading, and the cats really want to eat a seagull. Nell was so in hunter mode she was making little noises while staring at the gulls. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the gull could eat her for an hors d'oeurve. I also got to tell off the little maggots from the prior post: they were chucking rocks around about 10 feet from my rig, and I told them they needed to stop or there would be problems (in a very reasonable voice) and I haven't seen them since. There was also a huge (well, maybe 20 people) youth group that arrived, set up a half-dozen big tents, a dining tent, and a kitchen. They seem to be here for a while. They're also pretty well-behaved; I saw that they're a church group, which probably explains it.
I'm off to the south today. Not looking forward to the weather, but the company should be worth it. It's been in the upper 50's for lows here; very very nice.
Puck got me up at 4:30 this morning; needless to say, he spent the next two hours in the kennel. I'd love to be able to sleep more, but I want to get started before everyone else starts leaving the UP: it's Sunday, and everyone has to be back to work tomorrow, and the Interstate should be loaded in a few hours.
Well, I'm rested! My ankles are unpuffed (for the moment), the laundry is done, I did some swimming, I did more reading, and the cats really want to eat a seagull. Nell was so in hunter mode she was making little noises while staring at the gulls. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the gull could eat her for an hors d'oeurve. I also got to tell off the little maggots from the prior post: they were chucking rocks around about 10 feet from my rig, and I told them they needed to stop or there would be problems (in a very reasonable voice) and I haven't seen them since. There was also a huge (well, maybe 20 people) youth group that arrived, set up a half-dozen big tents, a dining tent, and a kitchen. They seem to be here for a while. They're also pretty well-behaved; I saw that they're a church group, which probably explains it.
I'm off to the south today. Not looking forward to the weather, but the company should be worth it. It's been in the upper 50's for lows here; very very nice.
Puck got me up at 4:30 this morning; needless to say, he spent the next two hours in the kennel. I'd love to be able to sleep more, but I want to get started before everyone else starts leaving the UP: it's Sunday, and everyone has to be back to work tomorrow, and the Interstate should be loaded in a few hours.
Friday, July 9, 2010
I'm tired . . .
July 8--Odanah, WI
I slept OK, although Puck got me up REALLY early--as in, the sun wasn't up and the sky was barely light. So he got put in the kennel, which he didn't like, while I tried to sleep in a bit. We were up and gone by 7:45.
I wanted to go to International Falls and see (at least a bit) of the Minnesota north woods, so we headed northeast. The landscape went from trees and fields to just trees, from a mixed forest to just conifers, as we went north. The road also deteriorated; some of it resembled the infamous Minnesota highway 60 from last year, though it never reached that level of awfulness.
International Falls itself is a nice little northern town, pretty much indistinguishable except for a huge plant of some sort (maybe lumber or mining?). I did stop to look at some bikes, though they were expensive, and I should have stopped at the giant statue of Smokey the bear (with two little bears at his feet looking scared--hell, if I were that close to a giant Smokey, I'd be scared too!). There's something about this area and giant statues; I counted no fewer than three giant statues of fish before I reached Duluth, one of which you could climb on into a convenient saddle for pictures.
I stopped outside of town to get gas (by the aforementioned ridable fish) (and of course later passed lots of stations with cheaper gas) and headed back southeast. I got a Subway sandwich in Cook, and let the cats out for a pit stop while I ate it, then continued.
More woods, four-lane here on out. Through Duluth (the transition from Minnesota to Wisconsin was a bit terrifying, with one-lane bridges and unexpected traffic lights and hills), then along route 2.
It is a really lovely day, although it's definitely warm. Sunny, a very good breeze. I stopped in Ashland at the municipal campground, only to find that my rig wouldn't fit into any of the remaining campsites (and when I tried, it was so tilted I never would have levelled it). Which is a shame, since it was on the lake and would have made a nice stop.
So I'm at the Bad River Casino, in Odanah. There are a dozen or so free RV spots, with electric and water, which is the best deal ever. I'm on the end (after unnecessarily freaking out another guy who thought I was going to ram into him--I wasn't anywhere near him), next to a very nice guy who helped me back into the spots (which makes me feel better about being here). The casino is small by Vegas standards, but is full of machines and a few tables, as well as cigarette smoke (it didn't seem too bad when I was in there, but I can still smell the smoke on my clothes). Plus, free Pepsi! You just walk up, grab a cup, and fill up at the pop fountain. There's also a gas station, a post office, and an IGA (where I bought kleenex and cheese). If it weren't so damn hot, it would be great. Thank god for the breeze. According to my thermostat, it's 90, but it's a dry heat and the breeze keeps things manageable. I won't be staying here tomorrow, though.
The cats are actually happy about the heat--at least Nell is. I'm not sure about Puck; he's like me. However, he was chasing flies earlier (he loves to eat some flies!) and now he's on the floor with his head pillowed on the tribble cat toy; he can't be too unhappy. Besides, both of them ate like starving wolves. When it cools down a bit and I feel more confident about closing a window or two (it's too damn easy to break into this thing, since the screens just slide open), I'm going into the cafe for their meatloaf dinner, I think. The cafe closes at 9pm, but I think the casino is open later. I may have to blow some money there as well.
July 9--St. Ignace, MI
Damn, it got hot. That parking lot was like being in a frying pan. I eventually figured it wasn't going to cool down anytime soon (and the breeze began to die!) so I shut everything up and put on the air conditioning full blast. Which was like spitting on a forest fire; my A/C is just not impressive. This worries me, because it's going to be hot this week. Anyway, after 45 minutes or so, the temperature had dropped a whole 4 degrees inside, and I was hungry, so I abandoned the cats and went into the casino and had dinner. A big overcooked chopped steak, some overcooked carrots, a tasty baked potato with roll (trust the starches to be tasty!) and an iceberg-lettuce salad. I've had worse. I then gambled a dollar or so, before heading back to the RV. The sun had gone down, and it was 84 in the rig, so I gave up (it was 79 outside), turned off the A/C, opened all the windows (the breeze had completely died, which was no help), and didn't sleep well.
Puck woke me up early, I put him in the kennel and slept another hour. Then I got up, read a bit, fed the cats, and ate breakfast in the casino--other than overdone (for me) toast, the eggs and ham and potatoes and tea was very yummy, and cheap! I packed up and used the (free!) dump station for my tanks, which was rather disgusting; I think some people didn't use a hose, they just opened their tank in the general vicinity of the dump. Ew. Afterwards, I went back to the casino, washed my hands thoroughly (I wanted to scour my entire body at that point), grabbed a free Pepsi for the road, and headed east.
I got gas in Ironwood, MI, and kept driving. The weather was nice, although the wind began to blow--behind us, yay! I drove and drove and drove, and the scenery was pretty (I remember at one point marveling at the pastures, wondering how they got here in this north woods, then found out that the place had been logged to bare ground 100 years ago--that'll do it), and drove some more. I stopped east of Marquette to put my feet in Lake Superior, and damn did that feel good. The lake didn't seem that cold, and my ankles aren't happy with me; I've been eating too many carbs and not exercising enough and been sitting too long, and my ankles are puffy. I stopped in Munising to get pasties for dinner (and tomorrow's lunch!), then kept driving. I was tired then, and I'm exhausted now. I should have stopped, but I kept going.
I'm in St. Ignace, in the KOA, in the same spot I was in last year (shaded and relatively flat--since the place is mostly empty, I could pick my own spot). I thought about trying a new campground; there are a few that are nearer the lakeshore, but they don't have internet or they aren't flat and I'm too tired to be disappointed. So I came here. Besides, I hope to use the pool, which none of the others have.
I'm here for two nights. I don't plan on doing anything tomorrow--well, I'm going to do laundry, and sweep the rig, but I'm also going to nap and read and let my ankles unpuff and go swimming and pet the cats and drink a lot of water and try not to eat too much. I don't think this coming week, as much fun as it's going to be, is going to be very restful. So, I'm taking tomorrow off. Unless I get really bored, then I'll go to Mackinaw Island, but I was there last year and don't have a burning urge to go back. I can always take the free shuttle bus to downtown St. Ignace, and then just walk around town--that might work.
I think I'm going to not do the pool tonight, just shower and read and go to bed early. I'm so tired I'm dizzy--way too much driving. There are a couple of little kids running around like banshees--I'm tempted to set up a cord to trip the little buggers. They're about 8 or 10; they should know better. Their parents are letting them run wild; tire them out, I guess. Ah well, just call me Dr. Evil!
I slept OK, although Puck got me up REALLY early--as in, the sun wasn't up and the sky was barely light. So he got put in the kennel, which he didn't like, while I tried to sleep in a bit. We were up and gone by 7:45.
I wanted to go to International Falls and see (at least a bit) of the Minnesota north woods, so we headed northeast. The landscape went from trees and fields to just trees, from a mixed forest to just conifers, as we went north. The road also deteriorated; some of it resembled the infamous Minnesota highway 60 from last year, though it never reached that level of awfulness.
International Falls itself is a nice little northern town, pretty much indistinguishable except for a huge plant of some sort (maybe lumber or mining?). I did stop to look at some bikes, though they were expensive, and I should have stopped at the giant statue of Smokey the bear (with two little bears at his feet looking scared--hell, if I were that close to a giant Smokey, I'd be scared too!). There's something about this area and giant statues; I counted no fewer than three giant statues of fish before I reached Duluth, one of which you could climb on into a convenient saddle for pictures.
I stopped outside of town to get gas (by the aforementioned ridable fish) (and of course later passed lots of stations with cheaper gas) and headed back southeast. I got a Subway sandwich in Cook, and let the cats out for a pit stop while I ate it, then continued.
More woods, four-lane here on out. Through Duluth (the transition from Minnesota to Wisconsin was a bit terrifying, with one-lane bridges and unexpected traffic lights and hills), then along route 2.
It is a really lovely day, although it's definitely warm. Sunny, a very good breeze. I stopped in Ashland at the municipal campground, only to find that my rig wouldn't fit into any of the remaining campsites (and when I tried, it was so tilted I never would have levelled it). Which is a shame, since it was on the lake and would have made a nice stop.
So I'm at the Bad River Casino, in Odanah. There are a dozen or so free RV spots, with electric and water, which is the best deal ever. I'm on the end (after unnecessarily freaking out another guy who thought I was going to ram into him--I wasn't anywhere near him), next to a very nice guy who helped me back into the spots (which makes me feel better about being here). The casino is small by Vegas standards, but is full of machines and a few tables, as well as cigarette smoke (it didn't seem too bad when I was in there, but I can still smell the smoke on my clothes). Plus, free Pepsi! You just walk up, grab a cup, and fill up at the pop fountain.
The cats are actually happy about the heat--at least Nell is. I'm not sure about Puck; he's like me. However, he was chasing flies earlier (he loves to eat some flies!) and now he's on the floor with his head pillowed on the tribble cat toy; he can't be too unhappy. Besides, both of them ate like starving wolves. When it cools down a bit and I feel more confident about closing a window or two (it's too damn easy to break into this thing, since the screens just slide open), I'm going into the cafe for their meatloaf dinner, I think. The cafe closes at 9pm, but I think the casino is open later. I may have to blow some money there as well.
July 9--St. Ignace, MI
Damn, it got hot. That parking lot was like being in a frying pan. I eventually figured it wasn't going to cool down anytime soon (and the breeze began to die!) so I shut everything up and put on the air conditioning full blast. Which was like spitting on a forest fire; my A/C is just not impressive. This worries me, because it's going to be hot this week. Anyway, after 45 minutes or so, the temperature had dropped a whole 4 degrees inside, and I was hungry, so I abandoned the cats and went into the casino and had dinner. A big overcooked chopped steak, some overcooked carrots, a tasty baked potato with roll (trust the starches to be tasty!) and an iceberg-lettuce salad. I've had worse. I then gambled a dollar or so, before heading back to the RV. The sun had gone down, and it was 84 in the rig, so I gave up (it was 79 outside), turned off the A/C, opened all the windows (the breeze had completely died, which was no help), and didn't sleep well.
Puck woke me up early, I put him in the kennel and slept another hour. Then I got up, read a bit, fed the cats, and ate breakfast in the casino--other than overdone (for me) toast, the eggs and ham and potatoes and tea was very yummy, and cheap! I packed up and used the (free!) dump station for my tanks, which was rather disgusting; I think some people didn't use a hose, they just opened their tank in the general vicinity of the dump. Ew. Afterwards, I went back to the casino, washed my hands thoroughly (I wanted to scour my entire body at that point), grabbed a free Pepsi for the road, and headed east.
I got gas in Ironwood, MI, and kept driving. The weather was nice, although the wind began to blow--behind us, yay! I drove and drove and drove, and the scenery was pretty (I remember at one point marveling at the pastures, wondering how they got here in this north woods, then found out that the place had been logged to bare ground 100 years ago--that'll do it), and drove some more. I stopped east of Marquette to put my feet in Lake Superior, and damn did that feel good. The lake didn't seem that cold, and my ankles aren't happy with me; I've been eating too many carbs and not exercising enough and been sitting too long, and my ankles are puffy. I stopped in Munising to get pasties for dinner (and tomorrow's lunch!), then kept driving. I was tired then, and I'm exhausted now. I should have stopped, but I kept going.
I'm in St. Ignace, in the KOA, in the same spot I was in last year (shaded and relatively flat--since the place is mostly empty, I could pick my own spot). I thought about trying a new campground; there are a few that are nearer the lakeshore, but they don't have internet or they aren't flat and I'm too tired to be disappointed. So I came here. Besides, I hope to use the pool, which none of the others have.
I'm here for two nights. I don't plan on doing anything tomorrow--well, I'm going to do laundry, and sweep the rig, but I'm also going to nap and read and let my ankles unpuff and go swimming and pet the cats and drink a lot of water and try not to eat too much. I don't think this coming week, as much fun as it's going to be, is going to be very restful. So, I'm taking tomorrow off. Unless I get really bored, then I'll go to Mackinaw Island, but I was there last year and don't have a burning urge to go back. I can always take the free shuttle bus to downtown St. Ignace, and then just walk around town--that might work.
I think I'm going to not do the pool tonight, just shower and read and go to bed early. I'm so tired I'm dizzy--way too much driving. There are a couple of little kids running around like banshees--I'm tempted to set up a cord to trip the little buggers. They're about 8 or 10; they should know better. Their parents are letting them run wild; tire them out, I guess. Ah well, just call me Dr. Evil!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
From the plains to the forests
June 7--Bemidji, MN
I slept really well last night, and woke up this morning with a sore throat. Well, if I'm coming down with something, that would explain a lot. Still, the sun was out, the air smelled fresh and wonderful, and it was a good morning. I fed the cats and we were out on the road by 7:50am.
I drove through the construction in Minot (lots of construction in ND--one place east of Devils Lake they had taken the road out right down to the dirt, which made driving fun) to Rugby, where I had to stop to get a picture of the Geographic Center of North America. Well, no, it isn't really, the actual center is a few miles away in the middle of basically an empty field, so Rugby had usurped the honor, but still. The monument is in a restaurant's parking lot, and it does amaze me: Canada must just be huge, if the distance from the Panamanian border with Columbia to Rugby is the same distance as that from Rugby to the northernmost part of Canada. I mean, we're not only in North Dakota, but northern North Dakota!
The land had changed from rangeland to farmland right about at Minot, and most of the hills went away as well. So we cruised through the farmland past Devils Lake (which was indeed really high) to Grand Forks, where I stopped and got diesel. Over the Red River (not too high at the moment, even though Grand Forks gets seriously flooded every year, seems like) to Crookston, MN, where I got lunch. The sky had begun completely clear, but by the time I got to MN we'd caught up with the clouds.
The plains changed over to forest right about Fosston, and it was rather abrupt. I turned south at Bagley, because I wanted to see the source of the Mississippi. Well, to get to the actual source, I would have to pay $5, and there weren't any parking spots since the RV spots were full of cars, so instead I stopped right outside the park, at a canoe launch. The Mighty Mississippi was about the size of a good creek--about the size of the creek at the entrance to Seneca Trail after some really good rain. Not too impressive.
It had begun to spit rain off and on, so I continued on. I was going to stay at a particular campground, but I couldn't get the usual discount and it was out of the way, so I lacked imagination and am at the Bemidji KOA. I have electricity and cable and Internet access (obviously) and plan to use all of them. The sun just came out, the cats have been fed, and I'm about ready to read and/or watch TV. Just another evening in paradise!
I slept really well last night, and woke up this morning with a sore throat. Well, if I'm coming down with something, that would explain a lot. Still, the sun was out, the air smelled fresh and wonderful, and it was a good morning. I fed the cats and we were out on the road by 7:50am.
I drove through the construction in Minot (lots of construction in ND--one place east of Devils Lake they had taken the road out right down to the dirt, which made driving fun) to Rugby, where I had to stop to get a picture of the Geographic Center of North America. Well, no, it isn't really, the actual center is a few miles away in the middle of basically an empty field, so Rugby had usurped the honor, but still. The monument is in a restaurant's parking lot, and it does amaze me: Canada must just be huge, if the distance from the Panamanian border with Columbia to Rugby is the same distance as that from Rugby to the northernmost part of Canada. I mean, we're not only in North Dakota, but northern North Dakota!
The land had changed from rangeland to farmland right about at Minot, and most of the hills went away as well. So we cruised through the farmland past Devils Lake (which was indeed really high) to Grand Forks, where I stopped and got diesel. Over the Red River (not too high at the moment, even though Grand Forks gets seriously flooded every year, seems like) to Crookston, MN, where I got lunch. The sky had begun completely clear, but by the time I got to MN we'd caught up with the clouds.
The plains changed over to forest right about Fosston, and it was rather abrupt. I turned south at Bagley, because I wanted to see the source of the Mississippi. Well, to get to the actual source, I would have to pay $5, and there weren't any parking spots since the RV spots were full of cars, so instead I stopped right outside the park, at a canoe launch. The Mighty Mississippi was about the size of a good creek--about the size of the creek at the entrance to Seneca Trail after some really good rain. Not too impressive.
It had begun to spit rain off and on, so I continued on. I was going to stay at a particular campground, but I couldn't get the usual discount and it was out of the way, so I lacked imagination and am at the Bemidji KOA. I have electricity and cable and Internet access (obviously) and plan to use all of them. The sun just came out, the cats have been fed, and I'm about ready to read and/or watch TV. Just another evening in paradise!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Not much to say
June 6--Minot, ND
The trains didn't wake me last night, although I did wake up for the 4am worry (yay cable again--distraction!). We got out on the road by 7:50, and I drove for what seemed a very long time. For the most part the wind was behind us, which not only gave us great mileage, but kept me from going mad: we were perpendicular to the wind for about 13 miles, and given the tilt of the RV and the veering we were doing with gusts, I was incredibly glad that was only about 13 miles. Rolling land, ranging from pasture to cultivation, with no mountains visible.
Most of the day it was cloudy, with more dramatic clouds and spits of rain. I decided to stop in Minot, since there's not much past this and I'm tired (I do hope to sleep tonight). I'm at the usual campground, though there's someone in my old spot! This one is better: it just has electric, so with my discount it cost less than $20. The sun has come out, the wind is now not an enemy but a friend fumigating the RV through all the windows which I've opened, and the cats are laying in the sun making vitamin D. No cable, alas, and no hot tub, but otherwise near perfect. I may have to take a nap in the sun myself!
The trains didn't wake me last night, although I did wake up for the 4am worry (yay cable again--distraction!). We got out on the road by 7:50, and I drove for what seemed a very long time. For the most part the wind was behind us, which not only gave us great mileage, but kept me from going mad: we were perpendicular to the wind for about 13 miles, and given the tilt of the RV and the veering we were doing with gusts, I was incredibly glad that was only about 13 miles. Rolling land, ranging from pasture to cultivation, with no mountains visible.
Most of the day it was cloudy, with more dramatic clouds and spits of rain. I decided to stop in Minot, since there's not much past this and I'm tired (I do hope to sleep tonight). I'm at the usual campground, though there's someone in my old spot! This one is better: it just has electric, so with my discount it cost less than $20. The sun has come out, the wind is now not an enemy but a friend fumigating the RV through all the windows which I've opened, and the cats are laying in the sun making vitamin D. No cable, alas, and no hot tub, but otherwise near perfect. I may have to take a nap in the sun myself!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Big Sky country--for real
July 5--Malta, MT
It amazes me how much mobility there was in the campground this weekend. I thought the place would be full and everyone would stay for the weekend. Well, the place was full each night (give or take a few tent sites), but a third to half of the campground left and was replaced each night. Sometimes very late--people would pull in at 9pm and out at 6:30am. Hell, you might as well just stay in a parking lot!
I continued doing nothing last night, and enjoying it immensely. This morning I woke early (or rather I got up early, after Puck woke me up around 6am), and was out on the road by 8:15. The cats weren't happy, but they knew what was up. I hope they enjoyed their peace, because we're going at least four (and maybe more) one-night stands.
I got gas (and of course spotted diesel for less money pretty much everywhere today) and headed through Hellgate Canyon, to Highway 200. It was fairly deserted, although since I don't go much over 60mph, lots of people passed me (when they could). There was low fog here and there, which was very pretty, but the odd deer trying to cross the road (and one confused German Shepherd in Lincoln) made things a bit hairy. It wasn't actively raining, for the most part, but it was very cloudy. When I got to Lincoln I stopped at the Hi Country Beef Jerky Trading Post, and got some jerky (it's damn tasty--I'm trying not to eat all of it today) before heading over the pass. Luckily it wasn't too cold--Rogers Pass (this one, not the one I went through in Canada) has the record low temperature for the lower 48: -70 F. Now that's cold.
Once down in the (relative) flatlands, I could drive a bit more consistently (I've been getting 18 to 20mpg lately--I don't know why I wasn't doing this well before; maybe the tires?). I drove through Great Falls to get to Fort Benton, which was a big-time steamship port. This was the farther you could get up the Missouri (upstream are the Great Falls of the Missouri, which tends to put a crimp in boat travel). for about 20 years, this was quite the boom town/hellhole. Everyone coming up the river stopped here, and several trails (like the Mullen trail, to Walla Walla, and the Whoop-up Trail, to Ft. McLeod) began here. I walked up and down the riverfront, reading all the signs. There was yet another heroic Lewis/Clark/Sacajawea statue (why is it that it's always Lewis, Clark, and either Sacajawea or the dog?), plus a full-sized keelboat--big and shallow-draft. There's also the Shep statue (for those who don't know, Shep was the dog of a sheepherder who died and was shipped off on the railroad--afterwards, Shep met every train apparently hoping to meet his master--he was killed six years into his vigil). I also found Veteran's park, which had a monument to the military dogs in Vietnam, which apparently were left behind when the troops left, which is sadder than Shep.
Headed north and east, the clouds were amazing. Montana lived up to its Big Sky Country billing, because the clouds were incredibly dramatic. Dark, light, rain falling or not, near and far, really cool. It wasn't quite as cool when I had to drive through the rain, but still, pretty cool.
Nothing much else happened until I stopped at Malta--oh, wait, I saw the Empire Builder headed west, just east of Chinook (I think it was only about half an hour late). I'm at a campground recommended by AAA, which is literally a stone's throw from the railroad. Those other campgrounds where I said the trains were near? Nothing compared to this. The rig shakes when the trains go by. Luckily there's no whistles, but I'm likely to think it's an earthquake. The cats don't seem to mind, so I'm sure I'll sleep through it OK. I just did laundry (had to dry everything twice--weeny dryers) and ate bean burritos. I suspect it'll be early to bed, if I don't find something good on TV (yay cable! I am SO not into roughing it.)
My parents, my sister and her husband and her kids, and both family's dogs are going to be headed to Billings tomorrow to pick up a 31-foot RV to drive to Toledo--I believe I've started a fashion! I'm trying to get them to write a blog as well,b ut no takers.
It amazes me how much mobility there was in the campground this weekend. I thought the place would be full and everyone would stay for the weekend. Well, the place was full each night (give or take a few tent sites), but a third to half of the campground left and was replaced each night. Sometimes very late--people would pull in at 9pm and out at 6:30am. Hell, you might as well just stay in a parking lot!
I continued doing nothing last night, and enjoying it immensely. This morning I woke early (or rather I got up early, after Puck woke me up around 6am), and was out on the road by 8:15. The cats weren't happy, but they knew what was up. I hope they enjoyed their peace, because we're going at least four (and maybe more) one-night stands.
I got gas (and of course spotted diesel for less money pretty much everywhere today) and headed through Hellgate Canyon, to Highway 200. It was fairly deserted, although since I don't go much over 60mph, lots of people passed me (when they could). There was low fog here and there, which was very pretty, but the odd deer trying to cross the road (and one confused German Shepherd in Lincoln) made things a bit hairy. It wasn't actively raining, for the most part, but it was very cloudy. When I got to Lincoln I stopped at the Hi Country Beef Jerky Trading Post, and got some jerky (it's damn tasty--I'm trying not to eat all of it today) before heading over the pass. Luckily it wasn't too cold--Rogers Pass (this one, not the one I went through in Canada) has the record low temperature for the lower 48: -70 F. Now that's cold.
Once down in the (relative) flatlands, I could drive a bit more consistently (I've been getting 18 to 20mpg lately--I don't know why I wasn't doing this well before; maybe the tires?). I drove through Great Falls to get to Fort Benton, which was a big-time steamship port. This was the farther you could get up the Missouri (upstream are the Great Falls of the Missouri, which tends to put a crimp in boat travel). for about 20 years, this was quite the boom town/hellhole. Everyone coming up the river stopped here, and several trails (like the Mullen trail, to Walla Walla, and the Whoop-up Trail, to Ft. McLeod) began here. I walked up and down the riverfront, reading all the signs. There was yet another heroic Lewis/Clark/Sacajawea statue (why is it that it's always Lewis, Clark, and either Sacajawea or the dog?), plus a full-sized keelboat--big and shallow-draft. There's also the Shep statue (for those who don't know, Shep was the dog of a sheepherder who died and was shipped off on the railroad--afterwards, Shep met every train apparently hoping to meet his master--he was killed six years into his vigil). I also found Veteran's park, which had a monument to the military dogs in Vietnam, which apparently were left behind when the troops left, which is sadder than Shep.
Headed north and east, the clouds were amazing. Montana lived up to its Big Sky Country billing, because the clouds were incredibly dramatic. Dark, light, rain falling or not, near and far, really cool. It wasn't quite as cool when I had to drive through the rain, but still, pretty cool.
Nothing much else happened until I stopped at Malta--oh, wait, I saw the Empire Builder headed west, just east of Chinook (I think it was only about half an hour late). I'm at a campground recommended by AAA, which is literally a stone's throw from the railroad. Those other campgrounds where I said the trains were near? Nothing compared to this. The rig shakes when the trains go by. Luckily there's no whistles, but I'm likely to think it's an earthquake. The cats don't seem to mind, so I'm sure I'll sleep through it OK. I just did laundry (had to dry everything twice--weeny dryers) and ate bean burritos. I suspect it'll be early to bed, if I don't find something good on TV (yay cable! I am SO not into roughing it.)
My parents, my sister and her husband and her kids, and both family's dogs are going to be headed to Billings tomorrow to pick up a 31-foot RV to drive to Toledo--I believe I've started a fashion! I'm trying to get them to write a blog as well,b ut no takers.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Missoula!
July 4--Missoula, MT
So day before yesterday I got up early--the trains that went right by the campground helped! It was a bit cloudy and rainy, but we got off by 8:10. I stopped to get gas in Post Falls, which was a mistake: the person ahead of me at the diesel pumps didn't follow the rule of gas stations, which is pull up to the first available pump. Since I couldn't pull in ahead of him, I sat and sat and sat while he took his time. Then the pump wouldn't take my credit card, so I took cash in, and then it took the card after all . . . it took a while. The rest of the drive to Wallace was uneventful.
I wanted to go to the Bordello Museum in Wallace, since I hadn't been. Even with all the hassle, I was still early, so I had a chance to walk around Wallace. This town is known for three things, in no particular order: 1. it was the sight of the last stoplight on I-90, which existed until around 1991; 2. they filmed the movie "Dante's Peak" here (of the several "Volcanos wreak havoc" movies that came out around then, it was the one with Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton), and 3. the Bordello Museum. Well, there's also a sign stating that the intersection of 6th street and Bank Street is the Center of the Universe, but that's unofficial.
It was always rumored that prostitution was legal in Wallace; it wasn't, but the sheriff was given enough "donations" that they didn't get busted (in fact, there was a "panic button" in each of the four bordellos that would get the police there quickly). The last whorehouse went out of business in 1988, when the madam was warned that the Feds were coming, and everyone grabbed a few changes of clothing and left. The building (complete with everything that was left, which included a bag of groceries on the counter) was locked up and undisturbed until 1993, when Ginger sold the building and it was made into a museum by simply cleaning out the garbage and rotted food (except for ashtrays, which were covered with saran and left), dressing a few dummies in the clothing left behind, and opening the doors. The place looks just like the inhabitants just left for lunch--there are books out, makeup, toiletries in the one bathroom, food in the kitchen, liquor in the cabinets, everything. I got my own tour, since I was the only person who had signed up, and it was fascinating.
After the tour I stopped at a bakery where I bought a HUGE roast beef sandwich, as well as a pepperoni-and-cheese roll (which I had for breakfast the next day), and headed out. It rained off and on the rest of the drive, which made the narrow twisty sections of I-90 even more fun.
The skies cleared when I hit Missoula, and I headed through the traffic (I think the whole town was trying to get on the Interstate) to the KOA. Believe it or not, I was given the EXACT SAME SPOT I had last JUly! 150 spaces to choose from, and I get the exact same spot! Which was nice, because it was a damn good location. I set the RV up, sat with the cats for a bit, then headed downtown on the bus.
I walked around downtown, glad to be here. I watched the kayakers surfing Brennan's Wave off Caras Park--apparently there was a big competition there that day, but it was cleared by the time I got there. I walked in and out of stores, and then ate a double Mo-burger with pepper cheese. Huge, greasy, and wonderful. I had some time before the bus I needed, so I walked to Safeway to buy groceries, where I discovered a miracle: Friskies Hairball Control treats! I've used those with my cats since I got them, and they work great, much better than any other product I've tried, but I haven't been able to find them for months! I bought enough to last until their expiration date, and hopefully I'll be able to find them after that.
Yesterday I tried to sleep in as much as possible (not much, with these cats), then walked over to catch the other bus (the one that stops at the KOA driveway doesn't run Saturdays). I stopped in the PetSmart and the Barnes and Noble, just browsing, and then headed downtown. I went to the Farmer's Market, then the People's Market, then the Caras Park market (Missoula is such a crunchy granola place that it can support so many markets) and got an organic breakfast burrito, which I ate while listening to a really good guitar player. Then I walked over the Higgins bridge down to University (the Munster House is looking a bit ragged--looks like student housing now), then down University to the campus. There are a LOT of new buildings I haven't seen: the Native American building (which is complete with place for bonfires), the Journalism building, the Education building, lots of new ones. Then over the Clark Fork footbridge (Goldsmith's doesn't have ice cream anymore--the restaurant is a bike shop) to the library, where I bought a tea, then to the Bagels on Broadway for dinner bagels, then back to the bus.
Today I did very little. I watched TV (yay KOA cable!), read the paper (yay KOA again!), took a nap, did some proofreading, and goofed around on the Internet. It's now cloudy (it was sunny earlier), so I might go sit in the hot tub. Ah, relaxation. It's back on the road tomorrow; the weather looks like it will cooperate by not being hotter than hell, which is great. I may not be able to stop for more than one night until I get to Toledo, which will be a haul. We'll see what sort of progress I make.
Hmm. In completely random news, I'm currently watching "Yankee Doodle Dandy" ("1776" was on earlier), and in the "Wow I never thought of it that way", I'm watching James Cagny doing George Cohen doing FDR, dancing away, when FDR could actually barely walk. Hmm. I wonder if Cagney dances on his toes because he has high heels on because he was kinda short?
So day before yesterday I got up early--the trains that went right by the campground helped! It was a bit cloudy and rainy, but we got off by 8:10. I stopped to get gas in Post Falls, which was a mistake: the person ahead of me at the diesel pumps didn't follow the rule of gas stations, which is pull up to the first available pump. Since I couldn't pull in ahead of him, I sat and sat and sat while he took his time. Then the pump wouldn't take my credit card, so I took cash in, and then it took the card after all . . . it took a while. The rest of the drive to Wallace was uneventful.
I wanted to go to the Bordello Museum in Wallace, since I hadn't been. Even with all the hassle, I was still early, so I had a chance to walk around Wallace. This town is known for three things, in no particular order: 1. it was the sight of the last stoplight on I-90, which existed until around 1991; 2. they filmed the movie "Dante's Peak" here (of the several "Volcanos wreak havoc" movies that came out around then, it was the one with Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton), and 3. the Bordello Museum. Well, there's also a sign stating that the intersection of 6th street and Bank Street is the Center of the Universe, but that's unofficial.
It was always rumored that prostitution was legal in Wallace; it wasn't, but the sheriff was given enough "donations" that they didn't get busted (in fact, there was a "panic button" in each of the four bordellos that would get the police there quickly). The last whorehouse went out of business in 1988, when the madam was warned that the Feds were coming, and everyone grabbed a few changes of clothing and left. The building (complete with everything that was left, which included a bag of groceries on the counter) was locked up and undisturbed until 1993, when Ginger sold the building and it was made into a museum by simply cleaning out the garbage and rotted food (except for ashtrays, which were covered with saran and left), dressing a few dummies in the clothing left behind, and opening the doors. The place looks just like the inhabitants just left for lunch--there are books out, makeup, toiletries in the one bathroom, food in the kitchen, liquor in the cabinets, everything. I got my own tour, since I was the only person who had signed up, and it was fascinating.
After the tour I stopped at a bakery where I bought a HUGE roast beef sandwich, as well as a pepperoni-and-cheese roll (which I had for breakfast the next day), and headed out. It rained off and on the rest of the drive, which made the narrow twisty sections of I-90 even more fun.
The skies cleared when I hit Missoula, and I headed through the traffic (I think the whole town was trying to get on the Interstate) to the KOA. Believe it or not, I was given the EXACT SAME SPOT I had last JUly! 150 spaces to choose from, and I get the exact same spot! Which was nice, because it was a damn good location. I set the RV up, sat with the cats for a bit, then headed downtown on the bus.
I walked around downtown, glad to be here. I watched the kayakers surfing Brennan's Wave off Caras Park--apparently there was a big competition there that day, but it was cleared by the time I got there. I walked in and out of stores, and then ate a double Mo-burger with pepper cheese. Huge, greasy, and wonderful. I had some time before the bus I needed, so I walked to Safeway to buy groceries, where I discovered a miracle: Friskies Hairball Control treats! I've used those with my cats since I got them, and they work great, much better than any other product I've tried, but I haven't been able to find them for months! I bought enough to last until their expiration date, and hopefully I'll be able to find them after that.
Yesterday I tried to sleep in as much as possible (not much, with these cats), then walked over to catch the other bus (the one that stops at the KOA driveway doesn't run Saturdays). I stopped in the PetSmart and the Barnes and Noble, just browsing, and then headed downtown. I went to the Farmer's Market, then the People's Market, then the Caras Park market (Missoula is such a crunchy granola place that it can support so many markets) and got an organic breakfast burrito, which I ate while listening to a really good guitar player. Then I walked over the Higgins bridge down to University (the Munster House is looking a bit ragged--looks like student housing now), then down University to the campus. There are a LOT of new buildings I haven't seen: the Native American building (which is complete with place for bonfires), the Journalism building, the Education building, lots of new ones. Then over the Clark Fork footbridge (Goldsmith's doesn't have ice cream anymore--the restaurant is a bike shop) to the library, where I bought a tea, then to the Bagels on Broadway for dinner bagels, then back to the bus.
Today I did very little. I watched TV (yay KOA cable!), read the paper (yay KOA again!), took a nap, did some proofreading, and goofed around on the Internet. It's now cloudy (it was sunny earlier), so I might go sit in the hot tub. Ah, relaxation. It's back on the road tomorrow; the weather looks like it will cooperate by not being hotter than hell, which is great. I may not be able to stop for more than one night until I get to Toledo, which will be a haul. We'll see what sort of progress I make.
Hmm. In completely random news, I'm currently watching "Yankee Doodle Dandy" ("1776" was on earlier), and in the "Wow I never thought of it that way", I'm watching James Cagny doing George Cohen doing FDR, dancing away, when FDR could actually barely walk. Hmm. I wonder if Cagney dances on his toes because he has high heels on because he was kinda short?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Headed east again
July 1--Spokane Valley, WA
The mountain came out! I got some great looks at Rainier in the late afternoon yesterday, when the clouds went away for a little while . . . so they could come back in force today. But I get ahead of myself.
I got into Seattle a bit earlier than I had planned; taking the bus that stopped right across the street got me moving a bit faster to catch it. I then had a bagel with cream cheese while I read the local alternative papers, and began to walk toward Tom's office. I knew I was early, but the big REI flagship store (complete with a mountain path to test bikes and a climbing wall) is right across the street from his office, so I figured I could linger there.
The REI store was lovely, and full of stuff. I did notice, however, that there seemed to be very few overweight people there. Granted, there aren't that many overweight people in Seattle, but at least when the salespeople asked if they could help me (which they did constantly) they did nicely, without the "what on earth are YOU doing here, tubby?" vibe I've gotten from other places. I almost bought an all-purpose head bandanna/scarf/whatever, but I didn't. And they also had socks without toes, for doing yoga, which intrigued me enough I almost bought them as well. Then when I was done shopping, I sat outside and read my book until 11:30.
I called Tom and he met me outside the building. We walked to a sushi place (that I had passed on my way to his office), where the sushi was OK (I was disappointed by almost every meal I had in Seattle; I guess I'm expecting too much). Then he showed me his offices, which were huge and well-lit and full of people and computers and papers. It was great to see him again!
After I left Tom I wandered over to the Seattle Center, where the Space Needle is. No, I didn't go up the Space Needle (although if I'd known that the clouds were breaking, I might have done so to see the skyline). I didn't go to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame either; I expect that will be my next trip. Instead, I decided on the spur of the moment to take a Duck tour! Yes, the same sort of boats that we took in the Wisconsin Dells.
I got into the Duck late, but managed to get a window. I wound up with a little kid next to me, who didn't speak English and who luckily was more interested in the food his mom kept handing out than in the view. I enjoyed the trip quite a bit, even though the driver was really quite obnoxious. He told bad jokes, laughed harder at them than anyone else did, and never stopped basically shilling for other attractions in the area (I wonder how much they pay him?). Still, it was cool to ride so high above Seattle, and then we went into Lake Union.
Seattle is built all around water, and Lake Union is a freshwater lake between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. What's cooler is, there are float planes that are constantly taking off and landing, and this is also the home of the house barges. If you saw "Sleepless in Seattle", we cruised by the barge where they filmed (and if you want to buy it, it's only $2.5 million!). I loved looking at those house barges; I'd like to live on one someday, although it'd need to be somewhere I could afford.
After we got back, I took the monorail downtown (mostly to say that I had done it) and then wandered back down to the waterfront near the Pike Place Market to stare at Mt. Rainier for a while. After I caught the bus, I found that I could stare at the mountain on the way home as well. There something about these volcanoes here, that just loom in the distance and don't look real, that fascinates me. Unfortunately, once I got back to the RV I couldn't see the mountain anymore, unless I walked to a nearby bird sanctuary. Which I did. The campground is along the Green River, and that sucker must flood bigtime; not only are there advisories on the bus routes that flooding may cause problems, but there's a big temporary levee along the road made of straw bales and plastic bags. Wow.
It got cloudy overnight, and began to rain when I started to pack up to leave (of course!). I got out by 8:10, then ran into traffic so it took me over a half an hour to go about 10 miles, but things sped up more once I got on I-90--yay reverse commute!
We went up to Snoqualmie pass, and then back down the other side. I got off at Roslyn, because I wanted to say hi to Cicely, Alaska. The series "Northern Exposure" was filmed there, and I wound up parking right under the big moose painting on the Roslyn Cafe. I wandered a bit, bought a Brick Tavern T-shirt and a KBHR bumpersticker, then bought a cup of tea at Cicely's Cafe. The lady in there was telling me that she needed to fix the sink in the ladies' room, because someone had sat on it and broken it! Who the hell sits on a sink in a restaurant bathroom? Neither of us could believe it.
Most of the rest of the day was driving, which isn't very interesting. Central Washington, having been scraped by Glacial Lake Missoula, is pretty featureless. At least it stopped raining, though the sun didn't come out. It did get up into the 70's, which was nice.
I'm in the Spokane Valley KOA. It's small and a bit dusty, but we have a nice spot on the end (no cable TV at this spot, alas, but I do have NPR) and Nell enjoyed the sun shining in. Puck is now looking out the window and entertaining people walking by, who can't believe there's a cat in the RV! Oh, and the next-door neighbors just pulled in! Never a dull moment. I'm off to Missoula for a few days tomorrow--yay Msla!
The mountain came out! I got some great looks at Rainier in the late afternoon yesterday, when the clouds went away for a little while . . . so they could come back in force today. But I get ahead of myself.
I got into Seattle a bit earlier than I had planned; taking the bus that stopped right across the street got me moving a bit faster to catch it. I then had a bagel with cream cheese while I read the local alternative papers, and began to walk toward Tom's office. I knew I was early, but the big REI flagship store (complete with a mountain path to test bikes and a climbing wall) is right across the street from his office, so I figured I could linger there.
The REI store was lovely, and full of stuff. I did notice, however, that there seemed to be very few overweight people there. Granted, there aren't that many overweight people in Seattle, but at least when the salespeople asked if they could help me (which they did constantly) they did nicely, without the "what on earth are YOU doing here, tubby?" vibe I've gotten from other places. I almost bought an all-purpose head bandanna/scarf/whatever, but I didn't. And they also had socks without toes, for doing yoga, which intrigued me enough I almost bought them as well. Then when I was done shopping, I sat outside and read my book until 11:30.
I called Tom and he met me outside the building. We walked to a sushi place (that I had passed on my way to his office), where the sushi was OK (I was disappointed by almost every meal I had in Seattle; I guess I'm expecting too much). Then he showed me his offices, which were huge and well-lit and full of people and computers and papers. It was great to see him again!
After I left Tom I wandered over to the Seattle Center, where the Space Needle is. No, I didn't go up the Space Needle (although if I'd known that the clouds were breaking, I might have done so to see the skyline). I didn't go to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame either; I expect that will be my next trip. Instead, I decided on the spur of the moment to take a Duck tour! Yes, the same sort of boats that we took in the Wisconsin Dells.
I got into the Duck late, but managed to get a window. I wound up with a little kid next to me, who didn't speak English and who luckily was more interested in the food his mom kept handing out than in the view. I enjoyed the trip quite a bit, even though the driver was really quite obnoxious. He told bad jokes, laughed harder at them than anyone else did, and never stopped basically shilling for other attractions in the area (I wonder how much they pay him?). Still, it was cool to ride so high above Seattle, and then we went into Lake Union.
Seattle is built all around water, and Lake Union is a freshwater lake between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. What's cooler is, there are float planes that are constantly taking off and landing, and this is also the home of the house barges. If you saw "Sleepless in Seattle", we cruised by the barge where they filmed (and if you want to buy it, it's only $2.5 million!). I loved looking at those house barges; I'd like to live on one someday, although it'd need to be somewhere I could afford.
After we got back, I took the monorail downtown (mostly to say that I had done it) and then wandered back down to the waterfront near the Pike Place Market to stare at Mt. Rainier for a while. After I caught the bus, I found that I could stare at the mountain on the way home as well. There something about these volcanoes here, that just loom in the distance and don't look real, that fascinates me. Unfortunately, once I got back to the RV I couldn't see the mountain anymore, unless I walked to a nearby bird sanctuary. Which I did. The campground is along the Green River, and that sucker must flood bigtime; not only are there advisories on the bus routes that flooding may cause problems, but there's a big temporary levee along the road made of straw bales and plastic bags. Wow.
It got cloudy overnight, and began to rain when I started to pack up to leave (of course!). I got out by 8:10, then ran into traffic so it took me over a half an hour to go about 10 miles, but things sped up more once I got on I-90--yay reverse commute!
We went up to Snoqualmie pass, and then back down the other side. I got off at Roslyn, because I wanted to say hi to Cicely, Alaska. The series "Northern Exposure" was filmed there, and I wound up parking right under the big moose painting on the Roslyn Cafe. I wandered a bit, bought a Brick Tavern T-shirt and a KBHR bumpersticker, then bought a cup of tea at Cicely's Cafe. The lady in there was telling me that she needed to fix the sink in the ladies' room, because someone had sat on it and broken it! Who the hell sits on a sink in a restaurant bathroom? Neither of us could believe it.
Most of the rest of the day was driving, which isn't very interesting. Central Washington, having been scraped by Glacial Lake Missoula, is pretty featureless. At least it stopped raining, though the sun didn't come out. It did get up into the 70's, which was nice.
I'm in the Spokane Valley KOA. It's small and a bit dusty, but we have a nice spot on the end (no cable TV at this spot, alas, but I do have NPR) and Nell enjoyed the sun shining in. Puck is now looking out the window and entertaining people walking by, who can't believe there's a cat in the RV! Oh, and the next-door neighbors just pulled in! Never a dull moment. I'm off to Missoula for a few days tomorrow--yay Msla!
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