Back in the Lower 48

We Return to the lower 48 on Thursday after spending the night at dry camping at Hat Creek Ranch.The ranch is the site of an original gold rush road houses. The roadhouse was  established in the 1860's as part of earlier gold rushes in Canada. It really came into it'd glory days in the late 1890's

It has been preserved and is now used as an historical and educational site. The site addresses both the gold rush and how it affected the first nation people of the area.

One of our guides explaining the sweat lodge and how it was used for prayer by the men of the group.














Having arrive on Thursday September 12th we spent the day on friday cleaning and doing maintenance on the coach for our return trip home. Those activities took up much of the day.

That evening we had our farewell

dinner at on of the restaurants in town. Having spent two months with these people many friendships were formed and saying goodby is always difficult.
We exchanged contact information with many of our fellow travelers.

The following early morning was a goodbye continental breakfast with another chance to say goodbye.  many people including us were anxious to get on the road.

After having breakfast we were on the road a little after 8:00 AM, headed south and east on I 90 and winding up 400 miles later in Coeur d' Alene ID. Yes this is the same place we started our journey two months ago.

This time it was a one night stay and we were back on the road early on Sunday morning headed for Yellowstone.  After 425 miles and seven and a half  hours we arrived at East Yellowstone about 14 miles from the park. As long as we were in the neighborhood we would take a day and have a look around.Neither of us had been in Yellowstone for many years (1963?).

We spent a very long day on Monday seeing as many things as we possible could. Old Faithful lived up to her name a short time after we arrived. we saw geysers and hot pools, canyons and waterfalls and even a few buffalo.
We would have liked to spend more time, but we are very pleased to have the time that we did take.

Today,Tuesday the 17th, we woke up later that we expected to a cold 30 degree rain. We were on the road by 8:45 headed for the west entrance of Yellowstone with the intent to drive through the park on our way to Cody WY.

When we arrive at the entrance the rain had stopped but the cold wind was stilled blowing hard. As we were heading north and east through the park the elevation was increasing and it began to rain. As we reached the 7,500 ft level it started to snow and when we got to 8,300 ft is was a full blown snow storm.

The snow was sticking to the ground and the trees but the roads remained clear and wet. What an adventure driving a 40 ft motorhome on the tight windy roads. As we turned south and east the elevation began to decrease, when we got down to 7,000 ft the snow turned back to rain and by the time we got to fishing bridge the rain had stopped.

We had lunch in Cody, spending the night in a Ten Sleep Wy about 120 miles southeast of  there. We intent to head to Devils Tower in the morning and then on to Mt Rushmore if everything goes well.

We plan to spend one day at Mt Rushmore and then make a beeline for home expecting to be there on Sunday, Monday at the latest.