On The Road Again!

Departure Date 8-9-2026

We have a little side trip, heading south to Crescent Lake for a couple days for our grandsons birthday celebration camping/fishing weekend. Plan on turning north on Tuesday, making a stop back at home for a day or so, and then continue north to Easton Washington for a family memorial at Lake Easton State Park. We will be there for a week, and then head east to Missoula before heading north to catch hwy 20 pretty much all the way to Mackinaw City, Michigan. Check in often as when we have time we will fire up the starlink and be posting our adventures as we make them!!! Tally Ho, And Away We Go!!!

First Week:

Day1: We officially left home on Sunday the 16th. Very hot day, in the90's, so we decided to stay at LePage Park just east of Biggs Junction. And, as most RV trips should include every discount you can imagine, we used our "Geezer" pass and stayed for $17 bucks. Full hookups, but the only one we used was the 30amp power for the AC... We've stayed here many times in the past, so a GREAT place to spend our first night of a 7 month trip. 

Day 2: We had a leisurely morning on the 17th as we only have about a 2 hour drive to the nights destination, the Elks Lodge in Yakima Washington.  Another hot day, in the upper 90's so the 30 amp hookup was all we used, but very much appreciated. It cooled off a little after dinner so we took a long walk around the golf course and returned to our trailer right at dusk. Very peaceful spot except for the occasional train passing by a few blocks away. Would stay here again if the reason arrives.

Day 3-8: I guess it is always nice to see family, but as this is a memorial weekend for the passing of Jill's brother Burque a few months back, there is a solemn feeling around camp as we all miss him very much!!! We are at Lake Easton State Park for the family gathering before we officially start our journey east. The Starlink has been working GREAT until here where we find ourselves in the shadow of heavy tree cover, so although it works, the pictures will have to wait until we get a clear view of the sky again...

Well we have finally hit the actual traveling portion of our trip. This past weekend was bittersweet being with family, but very much missing the physical presence of Burque and Jeanne. They were both in our hearts all weekend, and many great stories were told! So leaving that behind and moving forward, we are in Haugan Montana at the Silver Dollar Bar (campground for us, we don't do the drinking thing any more!). This will be a quick (and free) pit stop as we will be on the road early again tomorrow heading to the east side of Glacier National Park. We didn't have any issues today but our son had a spin out right in front of him on their way home. It was described as thrilling, but no laundry washing needed. So exciting, eyeopening, but not a "we're all gonna die" moment! We hope we do not have any of those on our trip :-)...

Shelby Montana, Lewis and Clark RV Park - 2 nights

Next morning we are up fairly early as we are leaving the trailer in Shelby to fend for itself while we head north into CanaDUH to log a few Geocaches in Alberta.

Talk about the royal "You Got Got'.... 

This morning on our way north to grab some hoser caches, about 20 miles north, doing 80mph on I-15, something caught my eye along side the road. I did a double take and nope not there, but the third take and "NO FLIPPIN WAY!". The northern plains of Montana, nothing but miles and miles of nothing but grass/grains as far as the eye can see. Took me a half mile or so to tell Jill what I though I saw in a small grove of cottonwood trees, and she said "turn around". I'm like "can't be" but she told me "turn around, or you will forever wonder". So from 80 to zero next exit, turn around and go past the spot heading south, nothing. So I'm like what the hell, I don't drink any more, no hangover right? So keep going to next exit and turn around and head north again, and NO SHIP BATMAN, there's a full blown non typical monster of an elk right behind the trees alongside the freeway. Pulled over and it didn't move, took a pic and started trying to get closer, and still no movement. And sure as hell, whoever built this thing got me hook line and sinker. If there is a camera there somewhere the dude is still laughing his ass off....

It's a flipping wire art sculpture of a monster bull elk... OK, AWESOME JOKE, and a "GOT YOU" from whoever this artist is!

So after bowing down to this genius we continue north to the border. We get through the border easy peasy as I am sure the border agent felt sorry for us (while actually laughing his ass off) for falling for an elk joke. We head a little north east on what was supposed to be a paved provincial road, that actually was for about 10-15 miles before turning into a dusty gravel road instead. Oh well, to far in to turn around now right? Let's just say the we did return to pavement, but with only about 2 miles left to our destination of Writing On The Stone Provincial Park.

Writing On The Stone Provincial Park is one of those cool places that we did not plan on, just kinda happened after we crossed the border. Sure it's gonna take a few hours to clean all the dust off the truck (super stuck to the dead bug army we've collected along the way), but a kind of replica of a USA historical site with petroglyph's in an ancient river canyon.

After a few hours exploring we headed west, on paved roads this time, to Milk River where we had lunch. We grabbed a few more caches along the way so yes Alberta is now officially checked off our list. While we are eating lunch in this small little town I notice a self serve car wash across the street, and proceeded to spend about $15 Canadian on pressure washing the truck. At least enough to make a dent in the accumulation of layered bugs, dust and mud we had collected the last couple days. The border crossing went fast, well OK once we got to the crossing agent, which took over and hour waiting in line, and we were back in the USA. Tomorrows goal is Glasgow Montana.

Week 2. Two. Second Week...

OK we have been off the radar for a few days, so a LOT to catch up on. After surviving the mosquito army in Glasgow, oh ya, we have not told you about the afternoon/evening/night of blood sucking yet. So we pull into the RV lot at Cottonwood Inn (Glasgow, MT), after a day of 30-40MPH headwinds, a rest surely needed right? We open the truck doors to a infestation of these little flying gnat looking objects, harmless right? I get out to check trailer level holding on to my hat so the wind doesn't condemn it to the stockyard 5 miles down the road! Dang gnats, in the wind even... So the swinging of the hat starts to deter the dang things, and low and behold this gnat infestation actually turns out to be the devils attack squadron intent on sucking as much blood from anything and everything that has a heart. These aint no gnats, they are some new form of MOSQUITO that started life in a lab in China (shhh, just hearsay) with the sole intent on turning human skin into what looks like a cross of scabies and leprosy. OMFG... If your outside your frantically swatting away while performing a dance of Waltzing Matilda, we're sure to the comic wonderment of all those hunkered down inside watching you. TV and card games tonight, no relaxing outside for the views. Turns out the swimming pool and hot tub were indoors, we just had to survive the 150yd onslaught of ferocious flying meat suckers to get there. Turns out nobody else was using either so we had a good hour to deep soak our current profusion of holes caused by Hitler's army. After we went back and watched some TV and hit the hay...

Next morning it was pretty much the above only in reverse, unhook from the hookups, put the slide in, bring in the levelers, and hit the road.... Easy peasy right? Well yes most times, but again Hitlers army was in  full force so Jill hid in the cab of the truck while I just succumbed to the onslaught and got it done as fast as possible. 

Today's goal: get to Tolley, ND retaining as much blood as possible. So again, another day of 35-40+MPH headwinds which suck fuel even faster than Hitler's army sucks blood. It's a constant onslaught, so you have to really pay attention because the gusts hit pretty hard. I just set the cruise at 65 and let the truck do it's thing. Which, by the way, the truck and trailer took it like a Sunday stroll in a park, EXCEPT the truck drank fuel like an Olympic sumo wrestler eats rice. Another day of incredibly bad fuel mileage, but other than that a comfortable drive with little highlights. 

The surprise of the day came when we started to turn down the road to the RV park, of course it is closed and a detour is the needed access. Well ok, where the the heck is this detour? So this is easy right, just ask google maps... So ya, just keep going straight for another mile and a half and then turn right and you will get there... No problem, don't really want to drive the rig on a gravel/dirt road, but OK Mrs. Google... Well the farther we go the softer this gravel/dirt road is getting, and when we get to the point where we are supposed to turn right, there is no right to turn on. OK Mrs Google, your are not as smart as you think you are, and we are in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road that is questionable at best, what are we gonna do now. So another try at the RV park and they finally answer their phone, and we get a rather humorous "what did you go that way for?". Just turn around the man says... Go back past where you were another couple miles, take a left, followed by another left, then a right, then a left and go down the hill and you will find us... Oh by the way, all dirt road that might be a little muddy from the recent rains. No shit Sherlock? So I won't get into details, but I finally got the rig turned around, thank god for 4 wheel drive (nuff said)... We end up finding the park, but it is a flipping mud hole mess with a gravel parking pad for each site that just might not swallow up your RV? A good 2 hours and we are finally unhooked, and head to the bar for dinner and BINGO!!!! YAAHH..... (Picture looks green, but in reality that is a trap, under the green is 2-3" of greasy black mud...

So all is well, we made it, no damage, just mud everywhere, especially covering the lower part of the front of the trailer, the top is nothing but dead bugs with a logo somewhere hidden underneath. By the way, yellow jackets just love that vertical smorgasbord of bug meat, almost as much as the collection happening on the front of the truck. Keeps them away from the trailer door, so leave it be for now. 

The Next Day...

So today's plan is to get up early and head north east and cross into CanaDUH one more time and grab HOSIER Geocaches in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to finish all the provinces bordering the US. Surprising how little amount of traffic there is up here, so crossing the border is easy, except the questions about "who makes ORV Trailers, never seen them before?" LOL Plan goes quick and we get 4 in each province and are back in the RV park by 11am. So as mentioned prior, we are staying in a converted mud pit with hookups, and this morning they were predicting thunder storms with over and inch of rain, so we were going to get out while the getting was possible. Well by noon that has all changed, and were not gonna die after all, and we decide to stay on schedule and whole up inside (skeeters were bad but nothing like before) and start watching season 5 of Clarkson's Farm, but Bingo won out and we again donated our $20 to the local winners club, but had fun doing it anyway... Bed early and up early to get out of the dreaded mud hole and back on dry land. 

The Next Day (it always is...)

Up early to a foggy dreary morning that has everything outside soaking wet. So not only fighting skeeters, but trying to stay clean while hooking everything up was just SO FUN. But as soon as we hit the paved road again. my spirits lifted and when the fog lifted we were up to speed with the dreaded mud pit experience behind us (literally as it was still stuck to the trailer rather nicely). Our goal for today? Grand Forks North Dakota... The head winds are much better today, and the mileage was creeping upward, and the fog lifted, and nothing but paved road ahead of us, YAHOO... 

Turns out to be an easy drive day, no surprises, phew.... We got to Grand Forks around 3ish and found our Harvest Host easy, and had a real nice quiet afternoon. I filled a bucket with water and had at the front of the trailer for an hour or so, and got it all off. I have to say that the triple coats of wax I put on the front cap before leaving sure did help with the cleaning chore, as soon as we have a day or two I will need to clean and reapply another coat. Yes a parking lot, but in a very nice and quiet residential neighborhood that we were very glad to see after the last couple days of mud and skeeters...

Today, Monday August 31 - Memorial Day   Country Campground Detroit Lakes Minnesota. 

Easy drive day, the winds are behind us (literally) and the tail wind and rather flat drive got the fuel mileage back to where it should be. Between that, only a 2.5 hour drive, and the lowest priced fuel we have seen so far, it was a GREAT day!!! Time to finish catching up on this here blog thing, and get ready to try bingo here at the VFW... Taa Taa folks, and remember all those that gave to preserving the American Dream so that we can smile another day and be FREE to do the American things we do!!!!! Happy Labor Day!!!

9-1-2026  Still in Detroit Lakes:

So today was supposed to be a surprise for Jill, but I leaked the goods right before we left home that today would be her day to visit one or two of Thomas Dambo's legendary trolls. OK let's be fair, it is an addiction for her (and her sister), like Geocaching is to both of us, but you find these dang recycled HUGE wooden trolls hiding rather than a tiny trinket. So this Thomas Dambo guy has been building these trolls all over the world, and there just happens to be 5 of them (plus his golden rabbit) here around Detroit Lakes. I am not sure how our route got detoured south to make this happen for her, but I am sure guessing it was her brilliant, intelligent, thoughtful husband, right? So this was her day, a gift from her outrageously handsome husband (yuk yuk - I know choke choke right?) for her to find all 6 of Thomas's creations. And as a secondary gift, we made sure to get her a pad for her seat belt shoulder strap, awe so soft and comfy now!!!! I got two jugs of DEF, I guess I lost on that deal.... Tomorrow is a totally free day but will probably be the day I tighten all the bolts, bells and whistles in the truck, trailer & hitch department to make sure we are good for another couple thousand miles. Maybe a trip to a car wash, the dang bug collection HAS TO GO!!!!!!!

Wednesday September 2 - Still in Detroit Lakes

So today was the R&R day we had been looking forward to. We slept in (laid in bed that is) till 7ish, made coffee, watched the morning unfold and just plain relaxed. About 11:00 we decided to go into Detroit Lakes and try this place that everyone says "You Have To Go There". So ok away we go... Zounds crazy but: Viziting a localz favorite for todayz lunch. Zorbaz iz legendary we guezz... Food waz ok but the NA Zpicy margaritaz were Fantaztic.... After lunch we drove around grabbing a few Geocaches and decided to try to reduce the bug collection on the front of the truck. Stopped at a self serve car wash with a pressure washer and it got the big pieces off, but still no cigar. So after fueling up ahead of tomorrows departure, we headed back to camp. I spent a good 2 hours "relaxing" with a bucket of water and a soft wash cloth scrubbing/rubbing/scratching and finally it looks like a clean almost new front end now. I even washed all the winders, inside and out, so now the bugs have a totally new front end to pick where they are gonna die.... I guess the Chevy Bow Tie is really just a disfigured cross for the bug cemetery!!!!!

Thursday Sept 3rd: Duluth MN

Well it was an uneventful drive today, YEA!!!! We did however dross the MIssissippi and St. Louis rivers which means we are officially on the eastern side of the country now. BUT, the wind is blowing rather fiercely, enough you have to wear your hat backwards and put the hearing aids in your pockets. We are right on the Lake Superior waterfront at a little off the wall RV park that is part of the boat docks for Duluth. About 2 blocks away is the famous Aerial Lift Bridge which raises and lowers when needed to let ships in/out of the bay and into the main part of Lake Superior. And as our luck would have it, today we got to watch a 700 foot long container ship heading out through the bridge channel.  All cool and very interesting, but the real reason we are here is to check on one of Tom's relatives that helped in the development of Duluth and surveyed the entire northern Minnesota area in the mid 1800's. George Riley Stuntz died in 1906, but we went and visited him this afternoon! Kind of a short, stiff, skinny, rocky looking guy, but hey we gave him a hug anyway! I never met you before today George, but you are holding up well through the years!!!!! 

Friday September 4th
Klint Safford Memorial RV Park: Iron River, Michigan

Today was that "Peaceful Easy Feeling" kind of day. Very nice after the huge thunder storms that rock and rolled us most the night last night. Speed limit in Wisconsin is 55 so almost all day was slow cruise with very little traffic, overcast skies, and absolutely no winds. Geocaching led us to a COOL FIND at the Stormy Kromer headquarters (Hoser Hosehead Heaven Hat) where I did contribute to their fund and bought the most obnoxious red plaid hat they had!!!! Yup, I am now officially part of the Mackenzie brothers hat club 🙂. We are now in Iron River, MI, at a little quiet and peaceful city RV park. We added a few more geocaches to our Wisconsin total and then got out first Michigan cache to add one more state to our find list. We will ad a bunch the next few days while we travel through the state. Tomorrows goal is Fayette Historic State Park - Garden, MI where we will spend a couple nights and go find another one of Jill's trolls. As you can see the trees up here in northern Michigan are starting to show their fall color's, almost time to head south. 
(It has come to our attention that this weekend is Labor Day weekend, not last weekend, so I guess we get to celebrate it twice this year!!!)

Saturday September 5th

Today was drive, drive some more, and then again, drive more!!!! We started early and drove to Fayette Historic State Park where we checked in at one and quickly dropped our trailer off at our campsite. We took off right away heading north east to Germfask MI. Our goal? To visit Benny the Beard Fisher of course! Good ole Benny, another stop for Jill on her troll trail adventures. He is actually kind of cool, but the whole situation is a little different than the other trolls we have visited. Anyway, after visiting Benny and the gift shop we headed south kind of backtracking our route, as our destination for the next stop was Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse. We had heard rumblings that good ole Uncle George Stuntz might have stirred up some trouble around these parts, but the local historian did not recognize the name so we just chalked it up to "hear say" and enjoyed the tour of the lighthouse and the Lake Michigan shoreline. By now the sun was getting farther into the western sky and we decided to kick it in geat and head back to the trailer for dinner. Of course the last little town before the state park, "Garden" actually, had a sign for a genuine "Great Lakes Fish Fry" at the watering hole, so what the heck? Sounds better than leftovers so we hung a "Lefty" and parked in the busy parking lot, and enjoyed an hour of sitting and enjoying the "locals" in this very nice eatery. Fish was great, or we were just hungry, but the end result was empty plates and full stomachs... By now the sun is almost set, so we hauled it back to the trailer, got out of the truck, and immediately went down to the lake to try and get a sunset picture before it disappeared. As you can see, we barely made it in time, but it turned out to be so vivid that the colors were actually reflecting off the rocks on the shore as well. Awesome and very peaceful, and just in time!!! From there it was finishing trailer setup and then nighty night after a long, long day! 

Sunday September 6th

Today started early again, we left the trailer at 6:45 after a cup "O Joe", and headed north east again. Jill would not tell me where she wanted to take me, all I knew is it was 45 minutes away and I would "like it". OK then, what the heck, it's only more driving right? So we end up at this place called Palms Book State Park. There is nothing here but a parking lot and restrooms??? Jill just says "follow me" and down this trail we go. Then out of nowhere a little lake shows up in the forest, and it's got a floating dock/boat contraption on a cable system. So we walk out the trail to where said floating thing is next to a dock, and low and behold this is an ancient spring that the native Americans held sacred. Holy moley, I can see why... The lake is 45 feet deep, and crystal clear... The water boils up through sand on the bottom and the floating contraption takes you right out to the middle. Amazing, and curdles the hair on the back of your neck cool. Awesome is an over used word, but it fits this place for sure!!! From there back to the trailer, hook up and head east to tackle the dreaded Mackinac Bridge. Turns out to be no big deal, and we make it to Burt Lake State Park the middle of the afternoon. 

Check back often to follow our colossal RV trip around the USA!
7 Months, 37 States, Over 15,000 miles! 

The goal? To cover the 25 states on the eastern side of the country that we have never visited before! The trip will cover over 15,000 miles and take seven months to complete. We are planning on leaving the middle of August 2026 and returning March 2027. It will include spending the fall in the north eastern states, and the winter in the south east, south central and south west portions of the USA. We will try to hit as many national parks, state parks and historical areas as possible. Plus of course, grab at least one Geocache in every state we visit!!! Colossal is the term we are using to describe it, until a better term comes to our minds....

The First Half Plans

So far: 78 nights - 38 different camping sites - 6,376 miles (not counting side trips)