Fast Forward trip update

Having figured out that I can either do stuff or write about doing stuff, this will be the short version.

Iris and I spent 3 muggy/wet/hot/rainy days in/around DC (Smithsonian, monuments, some food), then headed for Amish country (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) for a day, then spent a not so fun day driving to Connecticutt. Iris flew home the next day (I miss her company, but have to say 1 works better than 2 with my rig). I spent 5 days with the kids in CT (cute, good family), including a day at the Bronx Zoo (which is pretty good as zoos go–they’re trying to do well by the animals, but it still seemed a bit sad to me.)

Beautiful but wet drive up through NY (miserable wet camp–Iris should be glad she went home, just to miss that night), 3 days in Canada with my roommate from Peace Corps days (she’s had a very interesting life since last I saw her. It was a great break for the dogs. She’s a dog person, has a fenced yard, took up to a nice dog park for off-leash walking.) Drove to MI (they let me back into the country even though I didn’t have a passport, only my driver’s license and birth certificate. Apparently the rules changed while I’ve been on the road.) 1 night with a former colleague, who got her start in math ed partly with my help, and is now doing well in a good tenure-track job there.

Then drive, drive, drive. Traffic around Chicago as bad as expected, worse in Wisconsin than expected. Lots of construction (stimulus dollars at work, and a good thing too. A lot of our roads are in terrible condition. The holes around the northeast are . . . impressive. Very noticeable to a small car towing a trailer. And who knew you could get washboards in concrete?)

Am now in Montana. I can’t TELL you how good it feels to be back in the west. Navigation is simple (stay on I-94 west). Traffic is reasonable (no serious slowdowns even in construction zones.) Humidity is low (the locals think it’s humid, but after the steambath of everything east of Kansas through Wisconsin, let me tell you–it’s low. What a relief. Hair and towels actually dry after a shower.) Air smells right. My chest can expand and shoulders relax. Felt OK to stay in a rest area night before last, and it was more pleasant than a lot of campgrounds. This was in ND, and signs said no overnight camping, but no one hassled me (I think they only hassle people sleeping out on the grass.) I remember as a kid thinking north and west were better than east and south, and while I can say I enjoyed my time in the east and south, and will go back when I retire and can do this long-term–yes, west and north are better, for me.

AC is working, at least when I’m hooked up to shore power. And a good thing, too. Yesterday was hot (97º F when I stopped), but I set up the trailer in about 15 minutes, and the dogs and I were all comfortable until the sun went down and it cooled off to the low 80’s. I ran it all night, and slept well, with blankets 🙂 ) I have yet to test the AC with the generator, and may not have to–the prediction is for 70’s and even 60’s where I’m headed.

OK, I suppose that leaves out all the interesting stuff (not that it’s all that interesting to anyone but me), but it catches the blog up. I hope to camp in mountains over the weekend, spend a day in Hamilton with friends, and then head to Bellingham. But one of the benefits of travelling alone is I can change my mind at any time, so we’ll see.

Oh, yes–drove through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (southern bit; ND Badlands) yesterday, and it was well worth the $10 and the two and a half hours. The grass is still green, and it was beautiful. Have some pictures (including 1 lonely buffalo), but pictures will have to wait til I get home and have nothing better to do than sit at the computer.