My Journey

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Well.....we were able to squeeze a few more nights out of the casino. I'm not so sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I've never spent a week with such a generator friendly crowd and was completely amazed that these guys leave those things turned on all night. What am I missing here !?! But enough whining.....on the bright side, the casino gave me $15 worth of gambling credits. I honestly had no idea how to use an electronic slot machine but with a little help and ten minutes of pushing a button, I left $23 richer. Was it fun ? No.....



OK, it's been raining lots for the past three days so yesterday I hooked up the Jeep and headed east. The camper seems to be fine for the most part. Some changes in my life seem to be so easy, others not so much. This falls into the not so much category. Everything is compared to the BigFoot.....probably not so fair to the Arctic Fox. I don't know.....



So it was Interstate 405 south to Seattle, then made a left onto Interstate 90 and drove east. Crossing the Cascades through a storm was a little brutal. I had planned to camp on the pass somewhere but it was wet and cold so a quick stop for lunch and back on the road. We spent the afternoon along the Columbia River and finally saw the sun breaking through the clouds.....always a welcome sight after three days of rain.....









Last night was spent in Moses Lake, Washington. Today we will continue east towards Montana. I've decided to finish up my business there now, and have the freedom to move on when I please.....

 

[GregSplett]

Raining lots he says.LOLA couple days earliar and it was all fire smoke.We almost lost crystal mountain ski resort.My Father loves that camper.Welcome back to Washington!

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Hey Greg.....it seemed as though everybody I spoke with in the Seattle area commented about the poor air quality that you guys had. I suffered the same in Montana and it really sucked. The rains are good but they sure make for a challenge in the camper. Regarding the camper, I think that my Bigfoot was a much better built camper, but the Arctic Fox has the bells and whistles. At some point I may do a review / comparison of the two campers.....

Woke up in Moses Lake to another steady downpour.....day four of rain. It rained all morning and into the afternoon so we got a late start, not leaving until well after lunch. It's a beautiful drive across Washington this time of year as its harvest time in the fields. We took advantage of the late clearing skies and played in the fields.....







We spent that night in Spokane in a Walmart parking lot. Woke up the following morning to a steady, hard rain. I took this picture of my neighbors before leaving.....cold and wet in that rig in a Walmart parking lot.....



Now after five days of rain I was ready for a dry spot to hang out. Then I recalled sleeping in Wallace, Idaho. I knew a spot to camp where we could stay dry.....underneath Interstate 90.....





When semis pass overhead it kind of sounds like ocean waves hitting the shoreline. When cars pass overhead, it kind of sounds like cars driving on an interstate bridge above you. Anyhow, Wallace claims to be the center of the universe. You can buy stickers and tee shirts that claim such, and they even have a sewer manhole downtown that makes the claim.....



Today is the first day of fall. The leaves are beginning to change in the mountains. The tallest peak just outside of town has a light covering of snow. And I now find myself often day dreaming about wandering south.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

The following morning we awoke to more overcast skies. This was really getting old.....but the rains held off long enough to get an early walk in along the Trail of the Couer d'Alenes, a 72 mile long asphalt trail which was built on the abandoned Union Pacific Railroad bed. It's really quite beautiful although after a few miles of walking we came across a picnic area with a sign that said don't touch the plants, soil or water as they may be toxic due to the local silver mines. It's amazing what we can do to our environment.....probably best to view the trail from your vehicle I guess.....





Later that morning we packed up and continued east on Interstate 90. Soon after crossing into Montana we saw our first moose of the trip, running at full speed on a gravel road which paralleled the interstate (I've seen lots of moose in my days but never one in full stride ???). Several exits later we spotted 3 more moose, one fairly good size buck and 2 cows, feeding on tree branches along the river which also paralleled the interstate. We took the next exit, circled back on a forest service road hoping to photograph some moose. We didn't see anymore moose but the new camper got it's pinstripes and some mud on it. It felt good to get on that road.....





It rained off and on all day.....I believe that this was the sixth straight day of rain. We arrived in Missoula, Montana and set up camp at the local Walmart. The place was packed with campers.....

The following day was our earliest start of the trip. I ran out of propane at 8:30 a.m. and with the outside temperature being 34 degrees, I decided to pack it in and head home since we had no heat without propane.....

We made a few stops along the way. Uncle Buck's Bar & Restaurant was one of them. Since they were out of business we just used the parking lot to stretch our legs. I just like the name therefore I took this picture.....



It was late afternoon when we pulled into our place. It's funny how it always feels good to arrive home.....it doesn't seem to matter if it's 2 weeks, 2 months, or whatever.....

 

[ClayH]

Thats sure a nice looking new rig you have there.
Keep the story coming!

 

[galvyork]

If you come though Cedar City UT PM me. Would love to buy you dinner and see the pups. Plenty of places to camp as well. Safe travels. Don

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Thanks guys.....

So fall came to Montana and I swear it seems like it didn’t last more than a week before the cold and snow moved into the lower valleys. As the temperatures were dropping and the daylight hours shortened, I became more and more obsessed with getting back on the road.....



But before I could get back out I had to complete the sale of a house that I bought last fall in Montana. On Wednesday I signed the documents and today I should get the money and I’ll once again be homeless and living in a truck camper. I just don’t know.....always the push and pull in my life.....the comfort of a home versus life on the road. I don’t kid myself anymore, I’ve done this too many times. I’m living one day at a time, honestly no decisions are being made beyond that, so far anyhow. Yesterday I picked up the camper from a friend’s property and spent the night at the local Walmart.....



After a few cups of coffee this morning, I plan to grab the road atlas and check the weather.....then I’ll decide a direction to go. Certainly it’s either west to the ocean or south to warmer climates. Last night there was snow in the forecast here in Montana.....

 

[chet6.7]

Good to see you on the road again.

 

[unkamonkey]

At least the dogs are looking at you with the "Quit standing out there taking a picture and get in and lets go" look. They are ready for another adventure.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Thanks Chet.....and yea Unkamonkey, they seem to be really into it for now. We're having some good times.....



On our first day of adventure / travel, we really didn't make it too far down the highway. As we approached the mountain pass just east of Butte, Montana, we drove through a pretty good snow storm so I decided to pack it in in Butte and wait the bad weather out. While there walking the dogs in a cemetery I stumbled across the gravesite of Evel Knievel, the motorcycle stunt guy that just happened to be from Butte.....





One other interesting headstone we came across was this one. I wonder what this is all about ? It seems like this guy has a cult like following.....





Anyhow after enduring a frigid night filled with snow showers, we headed into town for a brief visit to a used bookstore, and then we drove south.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Now while I was holed up in Butte, I had my road atlas out and this place called Brownes Lake caught my eye. After a google search of the place, I thought it looked like a nice, peaceful spot to hang out for a few days.....



Once again, not many miles traveled, but who cares.....I mean I don't even know where I'm going right now. Anyhow, turns out Brownes Lake was an excellent choice.....we loved it ! Some beautiful scenery on the way in led us to a secluded lake high up in the Pioneer Mountains.....



Finding a spot to camp was simple.....we were the only ones there.....



We explored up high in the Jeep and did some rock scrambling up some cliffs to get views of the lake from way up.....





Last night was a bit comical as I walked down to the shoreline to look for moose.....nothing. As I returned to the camper, two moose had just passed by and were entering back into the forest.....



The silence at Brownes Lake was astonishing. The darkness of the night skies were exhilarating.....a zillion stars in the sky. Both nights here I slept for nearly ten hours forcing myself to get up. Here I found peace and solitude.....



My first book of the trip.....life without the distraction of television.....

Leaving Before the Rains Come by Alexandra Fuller

His God, he said, was in mountains and rivers. His church was big sky and deep water. His religion was the wilderness.

 

[Foy]

The Frank Little story

Frank Little was an organizer and a high-ranking officer in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), an anti-capitalism socialist/anarchist union formed in the early days of the 20th century. Being staunchly anti-capitalist, he was also a fierce anti-war activist, as he believed WWI was a "rich man's war and a poor man's fight". He arrived in Butte in the summer of 1917, just a few months after the US declared war against the Axis powers, to organize the various Butte mining unions to unite and strike in an effort to stop the war, or at least the US involvement in it. Soon after his arrival, he was attacked in his room at night, dragged out in his underwear, dragged down the street behind a car, and hanged from a railroad trestle. Nobody was ever charged or prosecuted for his murder, presumably carried out at the behest of the Anaconda copper mining company by members of Butte's law enforcement community. Frank Little remains as an iconic figure among anarchists, socialists, and union labor activists. August 1, 2017 marked the centennial of his murder.

Foy

 

[Sticky9]

Tanner is getting big, and looks like he is starting to listen better. As always, thanks for the pictures and updates. Can't wait to see where the road takes you next!

Mike

 

[bald.eagle]

Been a while since I read any on your post, Jerry - I spent quite an amount of time over the past couple days catching up on the last 50 pages! Sure has been great to follow along with your journey, both the good and the bad. I think Tanner won the pup lottery with you, what a life for a dog! He looks like he'll be a great road companion once he gets his youthfulness under control. I think the road is going to be great for you and the dogs after the trying times lately.

Until we made a trip to Colorado a few weeks ago, my wife and I had only been around the eastern half of the country. We spent four days, stayed just outside Boulder and saw as much as we could of the mountains and surrounding area in that short time. Hiked RMNP, went to Red Rocks, drove for hours and hours through the mountains just taking it all in. I can't wait to get back out west, I'm already annoying my wife with my dreaming of travel plans for the next trip. I'm bookmarking your thread so I can keep a closer watch on updates. Safe travels.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Good job Foy.....I've got another one for you but I need to get better pictures.....stranger than the last one I think.....

Mike.....Tanner is turning out to be a great friend. He rarely leaves my side which is ideal when you spend as much time as I do walking, hiking, climbing or whatever nonsense I'm up to. He's right there....

Thanks Derek.....I understand completely as I doubt I'll ever return to the east coast. It's been years in the making for me but I think it's finally happened. I have no idea where or when I'll land somewhere, but I do know a few places where I won't land....

From Brownes Lake we drove south into Dillon, Montana.....



Dillon is what I would describe as a small, cowboy town in southwest Montana. They tell me that if you see someone dressed like a cowboy in Bozeman, Montana, he really ain't one. But I highly doubt that to be the case in Dillon. This is ranch country and the beauty of the land is some of the best that Montana has to offer. The weather was fantastic so we just spent the day hanging around town doing nothing.....



We played in the grass and rolled around in the fall leaves.....



In the evening we drove just west of town and found a spot for the night along the Beaverhead River. Beautiful, ice cold clear water flowed along one side of us, and foothills to the mountains on the other. We hiked up a trail we happened across and were rewarded with some wonderful views of the town and the surrounding mountain peaks.....