Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Preparing To Head West!


We've been planning a two month cross-country trip for a year now. Some would say we are compulsive planners, but this trip is "easy does it"--- just relying on our Droid and a few notes/travel books.

Our trailer is ready to go

We've taken increasingly long trips, practiced camping without hook-ups, and trained in survival measures such as recovering after a harrowing day with a sip of red wine.

Here's our plan

May 16 -- leave 8am.  Stop for dinner with Jane and Doug in Rochester, NY.  Continue on to Grande Island, Nebraska stopping to sleep in Flying J  truck/RV stops.

May 18-19   Grande Island, NB. Camp at Mormon Springs (an early Mormon settlement on their migration to Utah). visit the Museum of the Pioneers in Stuhr, NB.

May 20-24   Bad Lands National Park in South Dakota-- staying at White River KOA.

May 25-31   Black Hills South Dakota, staying at Custer State Park.

June 1          Hardin, SD

June 2-4       East side of Glacier National Park, at St. Mary's campground

June 5-6      Missoula, Montana

June 7         Leave the trailer in Missoula. Head towards Seattle to visit Gary's mom and brother Rob & family. Stop for the night at the Grand Coolie Dam.

June 8-14   visit Gary's family in Seattle.  Very lucky timing-- we will be there for Rob and Nan's  daughter Amy's high school graduation!!

June 15     Back to Missoula, MT. Pick up the trailer and spend the night.

June 16-20   west side of Glacier National Park-- Apgar campground

June 21-25    Yellowstone National Park. Grant campground (no fraternizing with bears).

June 26-29    Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming. Coulter Bay campground.

June 30-July 4     Cody, Wy  for Rodeo week (more lucky timing)!  Ponderosa campground

July 5        start for home, but stop for the night at Devil's Tower National monument (remember Close Encounters of the Third Kind?)

July 6      stop in Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace and spend the night at Lake Mitchell campground.

July 7      driving east all day. stop to sleep at the Beloit, Illinois Flying J

July 8     Morning visit with Michael's mom, Joan and sister Christie

July 8-9   Erie, Pennsylvania stop for a day's R&R on the shores of Lake Erie.

July 10   Arrive back home. Should total about 9,000 miles (Whew!)

3 comments:

  1. Looks like it will be a great trip...!

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  2. Outstanding. What will you collect along the way ? Shot glasses, coffee mugs ? Bugs on the bumper ? Enjoy. :)

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  3. Looks amazing-can't believe the trip is finally here! The blog is a great way to let us live it with you! Xoxoxo

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