Today, Sunday September 15th is an anniversary of sorts. Three years ago today we visited the big RV show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, just to learn about RV’s. Today, Dave towed our Airstream over the most challenging 190 miles of our trip, crossing the Continental Divide three times from Colter Bay in the Tetons to the northern end of Yellowstone.
Author Archives: kdtitley
Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park
It is a rainy Monday, so we decide to treat ourselves to breakfast at the Signal Mountain Lodge here in the park — which has a nice view of Lake Jackson from the dining room. Dave has some business to transact, so naturally we head over to Jackson Lake Lodge. The next storm is rolling in and the Tetons are completely hidden from view — much to the disappointment of tourists unloaded from the train of buses who tromp through, stare out the window, take a selfie in front of the fog, buy a coffee, and get back on the bus.
Grand Teton Arrival
It is hard to believe that it was two years ago, in fulfilling our dream of staying in a cabin in the Tetons, that experience would lead us to where we are today — in a campground in the Tetons! Here we are, a month-and-a-half into a five month trip, set up under towering Lodgepole Pines in the Colter Bay campground on Jackson Lake in Teton National Park. (And we think we have the hot shower issue figured out.) WooHoo!
The Black Hills are Amazing!
Tonight we are boon-docking in the Black Hills National Forest, in a campground overlooking Sheridan Lake. Our site is parallel to the lake, with gorgeous views under the Ponderosa pine trees from the kitchen, living area, and bedroom. We have plenty of greenery around us. Below us are water skiers and fishermen enjoying the lake. I sit outside at the picnic table overlooking the water to write, but the cool breezes drive me inside, despite my jacket.
Across the Northern Plains
1,024 miles, 16 Google-hours drive time to travel from Bay Furnace Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest to our camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is going to be a different week for us — a week of boon-docking (no utilities) and longer days towing. Each week is a learning experience — we are discovering what pace we like to set, from miles driven to number of days in one place.
Michigan and Wisconsin – August 2019
o quote my favorite philosopher, “The days are just packed!” A plan for high adventure and sitting in a tree with a pal & passing the time count as equally important experiences to fill our days. And I think we are beginning to get a hang of how that works, here on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Heading West
Six camp sites in seven days — was enough to wear us out! Our four days at Indiana Dunes State Park was an unexpected blessing when we realized we could set up camp, and leave it that way! Oh, and sleep in.
Underway for our 2019 Deployment!
The Grande Depart — At 1300 on 30 July, 2019, Dave and I, with the Airstream (currently known as either Dauntless or as OBSO (our bright shiny object) pulled out of the driveway. Sorry we didn’t see you waving neighbor Milly! We headed west, under bright summer skies, and of course, because we were towing on I-80, we had several miles of a downpour. Tradition must be preserved!
Lagniappe (a little bit extra, a gift)
This whole experience with Dave has been its own special gift. And now I have three days, on my own, in this special place. I have no specific plans for this unexpected lagniappe, just some general ideas — so we’ll see what happens!
Bookends
The mountains are covered from top to toe in clouds — just as they were on the day we arrived. Seems an appropriate bookend for the vacation. It is not even light enough to go look for animals at Oxbow. So, on to our favorite Plan B: breakfast in town. We pass Mr. Fox with his mouth full of squirrel at the stop sign.