March 31, 2011 by Rae

A Blustery Drive

From Missoula, I could take I-90 to I-15, but that would have been the long way as I-90 dips down to Butte to reach I-15. I decided to take a chance on Montanta highway 200 eastbound which would take me straight across the state to join I-15 twenty kilometres north of the Flying J/Pilot truck stop. That would mean having to come back up the same twenty kilometres, but that extra forty was still less than doing the all interstate route.

The first half or so of highway 200 made me regret my decision. It is a very twisty single lane route through a valley rimmed with snow powdered black mountains. The speed limit is ridiculous, 65-75, and there are very few places to pull over and let people pass. Add to that the pouring rain and I repeatedly berated myself for choosing the scenic route over the easy one.

But then there was the climb to the summit of the Rogers Pass, not to be confused with the Canadian pass of the same name. From the top, there is a long 6% descent with one hairpin turn (yours truly didn’t even break a sweat). When you get to the bottom and are able to take a breather, you are in a completely different world of yellow hills and big open sky. Finally, I could understand how Montana got its nickname! And the weather cleared to give me that blue I’ve only seen on the prairies, that bright blue that washes out at the edges because there isn’t enough pigment for all the sky. Oh, I was so glad to have taken this route!

It was a torturous ride through this great scenery to the truck stop outside Great Falls because of the very high winds that kept blowing Miranda towards the ditch. I am convinced that had I been passed with a big rig I would have not had the strength to keep Miranda on the highway. And it just got worse on I-15, that highway I only knew until today as a desolate desert path leading to a glittering oasis of hedonism.

The truck stop is going to be okay for the night; there’s lots of room to spread out, but the wind is very bad! I am keeping a very close eye on the kayak on the roof of the car; I may have to take it down.

There’s public wifi here with short-term packages, including $4.79 for 24 hours. Slow, but the price is right.

the west side of the Rogers Pass. I went from this to the next picture in about fifteen minutes

I’ve never been so grateful to a turnout before so I could take pictures!

driving into infinity

Now, with all my apologies to Paul Brandt, I need to burst into song:

The sign said (100) miles to Canada
and my (rig) tore across Montana
Ian Tyson sang a lonesome lullaby
And so I cranked up the (iPod)
Cause there’s just a little more to go
Before I cross the border at that Sweet Grass sign
I’m Alberta Bound

March 30, 2011 by Rae

Too Short a Time

By the time I got caught up on some computer stuff, did a couple of loads of laundry, and had a very long shower it was already going on past 6PM. I went out to the Walmart for a few things and then to dinner. Tomorrow, I will need to vacuum the rig and pull out by 11. Luxury is short-lived!

I haven’t seen anything of Missoula but the standard big box store district common to any medium to large city, but I have to say that the setting is stunning!

Missoula city limits

Miranda in one of the treed spots at Jim & Mary’s RV Park (they have open spots for big rigs with slides)

looking towards the interstate and mountains at Jim & Mary’s RV Park

March 30, 2011 by Rae

Spa Night in Missoula

I awoke in St Regis to a very heavy sky and a voltage in the low elevens. It was time to either go for a long enough drive to recharge the batteries via the truck alternator or to plug in at a park. My solar had reached its limit in a cold, soggy climate! I think it has done very well; I haven’t plugged in since about 8AM on March 18th! My goal was to be able to boondock or dry camp for fourteen days in a climate warm enough to not require the furnace. I made it to thirteen days in a climate requiring furnace use. So, my system exceeded its expectations!

Plugging in was more appealing than doing a long slog since I also needed water, was ready for a non-navy shower, and due to put on a load of laundry. So I researched RV parks along I-90, looking for one with as close to FHU as possible that would be open at this time of year. Jim and Mary’s RV Park just outside of Missoula was perfect: 30A FHU pull-thrus with wifi at the sites (weak but acceptable), a laundromat, barely a detour from I-90, and scenic to boot. The price is a reasonable $35 a night.

The drive there from St Regis was short, barely more than an hour, and on a stretch of rough highway that cut a swath through great mountains. It’ll be a four hour slog to Great Falls tomorrow, but after two short days I’ll be ready to get some mileage under me.

I’m taking full advantage of my 30 amps to run the dehumidifier and electric heater and to make a pass with the vacuum cleaner to get the rig ready for a possible inspection at the border.

My original itinerary would have had me pushing north from here to Kalispell, then around Glacier National Park. But I’ve been monitoring the road conditions on US 2 and there is always a black ice warning around the Marias Pass at the southern tip of the park. It’s just too early in the season to go that way. So, I will continue on I-90, spend tomorrow night at the Flying J (which may no longer be a Flying J) in Great Falls at the junction of I-15, cross into Alberta Friday, boondock on the Alberta side Friday night, and then enjoy a leisurely drive to Lethbridge on Saturday.

March 29, 2011 by Rae

Into Montana

I awoke to a leaden sky and what could only be called slush falling from the sky. I headed over to the casino to see if I could get internet (no), but the fellow at the front desk gave me a number to call to get road conditions. The information wasn’t very descriptive (basically “All is good on I-90 eastbound”) and did not describe what was going on at the 4th of July Summit or Lookout Pass. But I’d left the day before in comparable conditions and would have been comfortable running the passes, so I decided to pull out.

There’s an easy-access Conoco station right near the casino with prices at $3.59 a gallon (compare to $3,90 in Oregon!), so I headed there first since I only had a quarter tank left. I pulled in and was quickly boxed in by a trio of cars, the drivers of which were not content to fill up and go. No, they had to fill up, go into the store to shop, come back to their cars, scratch their lottery tickets, and finish their coffees. I was there almost a half hour! I decided to be unusually patient and not give anyone a dirty look. 🙂

Driving north to Coeur d’Alene was the first of today’s three tricky sections: a two mile long 6% grade followed by a flat stretch, and then a sharp drop with a change to 25MPH in the middle and a stop for construction at the bottom. No problem.

When I hit Coeur d’Alene I had the option of just going with my gut and knowledge and turning onto I-90, or parking Miranda at a mall and schlepping to the nearby McDonald’s for internet. It was nasty out so I decided to go with the first option.

The climb to 4th of July Summit sneaks up on you. One minute you’re zipping along at 65MPH and the next you start to lose power. I settled Miranda at about 45, took off the overdrive, slipped into D2, and smoothly crested the summit. I started down in the same conditions and the rig drove itself, with me gently guiding its slalom down to the bottom, no brakes needed. Miranda doesn’t have an RPM gauge (stupid, stupid, stupid automatic transmission dashboard design!), so I was going by sound and the engine wasn’t straining at all.

There’s a long stretch of flat between 4th of July and the climb to Lookout. That climb is a bit steeper, but I did it in the same conditions as 4th of July. Signs recommend going down at 25MPH MAX, so I started down at 20MPH in D1, but that was way too slow! I moved up to 40MPH and D2 and just coasted down, tapping the brakes twice when the engine got too loud.

As planned, I pulled into the rest area just below Lookout Pass for lunch. Unexpectedly, I was still in full possession of my nerves. I have my mojo back! 🙂

After lunch, it was a quick drive to the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar/Casino/Gift Shop/Restaurant. There’s parking out back with dead power outlets. I wouldn’t trust them if they were live! The RV parking area isn’t maintained and it’s very snowy, but I found a flat dry spot behind the motel to spend a night or two.

Speaking of power, I’m still holding it together, but I haven’t had a full charge in days (I’ve hit 12.6 volts at best and 12.2 at worst) and I can only use one thing at a time. My inverter is driving me nuts: I can have 12.2 volts registering at the batteries and 2 amps coming in from the array, but the inverter insists my battery is completely depleted and refuses to charge my computer unless it’s off. Otherwise, all is good. My LED lights are awesome power sippers and I can keep the rig at a comfortable temperature.

The only downer is that I’m out of water and every single dump station I have passed in the last few days still had the water shut off for the winter! I have plenty of drinking water left and a gallon of clean water from a tap for washing up so I’m fine, but I sure wouldn’t mind a shower. I’m only a couple of days out of Lethbridge and aim to arrive there Saturday, so if I can find an open RV park I just may splurge on one night on FHU.

Now, if I could only get used to the time change!

March 29, 2011 by Rae

Wandering Around Idaho (and Montana, Sort Of)

Coeur d’Alene is a small town whose main attraction are outdoor sports. There isn’t really anything touristy to do, like museums. I decided to spend my day in the area scouting ahead with the toad and then coming back by way of the scenic route around the lake.

The drive into Montana reminded me of just why I love driving stick. It’s very technical and the toad had fun zipping me up and down the mountains. I turned around in Saltese then came back to Kellog, Idaho, for lunch at the McDonalds so I could check my emails.

Kellog is an amusing-looking town. Some of the buildings seem to have been plucked straight out of Bavaria and others out of 1950’s America! I was most impressed by the aerial gondola ferrying people up the mountain since it starts right downtown.

Shortly after Kellog there was a road sign flashing “Boat inspection ahead! All vehicles hauling boats pull in!” I had the kayak on the roof, so I pulled in. Two kids (I swear they were of high school age; or I’m getting older!) asked me a few questions, the most pertinent of which was when and where was the last time the boat was in the water (August, Dawson City, YT). The purpose of the stop is to keep invasive species like zebra mussels from entering Idaho waters. I was given an inspection report and told to hang on to it ‘because cops like to hang out after the inspection station.’

Approaching Coeur d’Alene, there is a turnoff for a scenic by-way. I decide to go home that way, not having any idea of what this road would be like or how long. It wound up being VERY twisty; even though there are RV parks and campgrounds along it I would not want to do it in an RV! It also took me about an hour out of my way. I really enjoyed the climb up above the lake and into farmland. I eventually emerged about twenty minutes south of the casino just as the sun was setting.

Idaho, at least the northern part of the state, is very scenic!