“Land of Enchantment” Roosevelt Arch – We don’t get to Montana often So, we arrived on May 24th. It was 79.5 miles from Wally World in Cody to Grants Village and the roads were great. But don’t go fast! The beauty is astounding and you will pass areas right next to the road where there … More “Land of Enchantment”

Farms, grain silo, and everything farms is the plains. “TO INFINITY…AND BEYOND!” Always liked Buzz Lightyear (Disney’s Toy Story). And after leaving Duluth, the trip westward seemed to epitomize his signature saying. The following days grew summer-like. Temps flirted with 90 and the driving was monotonous. The landscape became very flat, and farming was the … More “Go West Young Man”

“Shut the Door please!” Hill City Cafe on Main Street. Camping at a free “Harvest Host” winery, we woke up early and went into Hill City, SD, for breakfast. Hill City is really a small town, not a city …a really small town (pop. 758 +or-). Don’t let the size fool you; it is quaint … More Mt. Rushmore!

“Badlands” camping overlooking the Badlands A relatively short drive after leaving Ft. Thompson, it was windy, flat, and uninspiring …until we neared Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Here, the prairie started to give way to South Dakota’s Badlands. Hills became more rolling. And to the south, ravines and canyons could be seen. The larger Black Hills … More “Badlands”

“Sharpe As a Whip!” Lake Sharpe Merrell Sharpe was governor of South Dakota at the time of my birth. Not to get political (not even sure if he was a Republican or Democrat), but he was instrumental in getting the COE (Army Corps of Engineers) to build Big Bend Dam. We are thankful! Traveling along … More “Sharpe as a whip!”

“Dips After Duluth!” A dilemma when traveling long distances is how to exercise. It would be easy to let one self go to pot, so to speak. But both of us want to lead a healthy life style …one that includes staying in shape. Not easy. Long days sitting, mentally exhausted, sitting in a Wally … More “Dips After Duluth!”

Mysteries of Knife Island! …Knife Island Campground in Esko, Minnesota; mysterious, small, rich history and a connection to present day St. Louis River activities. Northern Minnesota, like Maine, has a rich history with close ties to the land. Lumber, mining, fishing, farming, and rock quarries all have a history in both states. And Knife Island … More Mysteries of Knife Island

♥♥ I Love you Mom . ♥♥ Corey, Mom, myself, and Travis It has been almost 11 years since the passing of my mother. Even though she is gone, she is never far from our thoughts. Our lives depended on each other throughout our adult years but let me give you some background: 1981: Fresh out … More A special mother’s day edition

Bear Naked Growler camper packed and ready to go! Beautiful weather greeted us on Wednesday May 9th. With camper completely loaded and all essentials packed we struck out transversing western Maine. New Hampshire’s White Mountains were a little challenging but the F150 made easy work of them. We crossed into Vermont at noon. At the … More Bear Naked Growler

Whetstone to Yellowstone. Whetstone, East Branch Penobscot River, Maine 39 years ago today, I set out on my first wilderness canoe trip. As a senior at UMO, I took a class that was often billed as the second most popular class on campus (Human Sexuality was #1)! On Thursday May 4, 1979, twenty-two of us … More Whetstone to Yellowstone