Leg 48- Oct 31- Munds Park, AZ

This day was rather odd.  We attempted to get the Bounder to free campground but missed the turn.  We attempted to take a roundabout road back to save time; it turned out we had to drive up a mostly washed out cliff with a nearly destroyed guardrail then across a nearly entire sand road.  We finally made it to the park, hid the Bounder in a camp spot then boogied out with the Cruze south.  We made it to Munds Park, AZ where my Uncle Walter, Aunt Marlene and Cousin Vicki were waiting at their family cabin.  We took a short walk (Dallas and I had trouble breathing from the altitude again) then Vicki and I went to a midnight park and put Dad's ashes under a meteor shower in Arizona.

 

Leg 45- Oct 28- Mesa Verde & Tawaoc, CO

We shot into Colorado for a night at Tawaoc at a Mountain Ute Casino RV Park.  However, since were so close, Dallas dragged me to Mesa Verde.  I had no idea what to expect.  First off, you pass 8427 feet elevation (the highest EP has ever gone) but then you just get shellacked by the stunning beauty and wonder of Mesa Verde.  There is one building there, that scientists and other researchers have no idea what it is for or the reason it was made.  That night, we tried to go eat at the Casino restaurant but the place was full.  However, it was nice to have full masks and health protocols without having to worry about EP. 

I figured dad would like this point.

 

Leg 44- Oct 27- Mexican Hat, UT

We did not expect today to be what it was.  We started out by getting our new tire.  Our old tire (and the other 5 existing tires) look like tires that would be invited to English breakfast.  Our new tire looked like something from Fury Road compared to those.  But onward, it worked!  We first drove through Valley of the Gods (more offroading!).  I didn't know it at the time but I would end up liking Valley of the Gods more than Monument Valley.   The next stop was an old Uranium road that ran straight up a hillside (absolutely terrifying) called the Moki Dugway.  We ended up at Natural Bridges which may have been my favorite natural stop so far, because it was so quiet and pretty.  I said a prayer to Dad and he now graces that national monument.  We ended the day in Goosnecks State Park.  I was so spooked by that time, I actually never saw it, just took a picture over the ledge.  This was a truly fantastic day. 

 

Leg 30 (Part 3) - Sept 22- Brownlee Reservoir, ID

The day started out so well, we enjoyed a baseball game on the radio as we drove into steep, beautiful cliffs on a winding road.  I was really enjoying the scenery when the road broke over the Brownlee Reservoir.  We were driving along a road next to at least 150 foot drop so I was taking it very slow, very freaked out and very careful.  Just after passing the only sign of human habitation (a campground and rest stop), the car started to shimmy so we turned around to the rest stop where I attempted to look over the wiring changes I had made to modify the car for towing (thinking I had screwed something up).  When I went to start the vehicle, I pushed in the clutch pedal as I always do but the vehicle kept saying "push clutch to start".  No amount of finagling could get the car to start so Dallas found the only working payphone I've seen in about 10 years and called AAA.  The 4 of us waited at the rest area for 2.5 hours (as we were in the middle of nowhere) eating crackers, attempting to fix it, screaming at spiders (only EP), hiding from thunderstorms, or listening to angry conservatives on our hand-crank radio.  EP, Sasha and I did go visit the water's edge were we talked to Dad and put some of his ashes in the river.  Following our towing back to the Bounder, we breathed a sigh of relief and prepared for our next adventure. 

EP at water's edge

Storm's Coming

Non starting car and PAYPHONE IN BACKGROUND!!!!

View from the Bounder that eve

August 8 to August 22- Ketchikan, AK

Dallas needed some relax time so she went to a magical place on earth, her brother Myles' house.  We relaxed at Myles' house while EP's only uncle bonded with her.  Grandma Hanson arrived and enjoyed some time with her family.  Delightfully as well, my great friend John Bohman joined us. 

We had to grab EP and outrun the incoming tide

Funcle Myles

John Bohman and a Bear

Grandma Hanson with her girls

 

June 3 to August 8- Naknek, AK

We spent 66 days in Naknek, Alaska.  Eliza Pearl and I stared at each, screamed at eagles and rode around in both a 1995 Mercury Sable and a net cart.  We crossed the tundra, escaped bears, and terrorized the library.  EP celebrated her first birthday in a forklift repair shop.  Dallas worked like a dog in the main office helping with the Salmon fleet.  Our apartment was nestled in an boat yard with zero neighbors. 

 

Leg 22- May 24- Alta Lake State Park, WA

Camping in the trees

Our final location today was a forested lake in gorgeous country of North Central Washington.   We found a great spot to park the Bounder then settled in for the night.  A nearby camper came over to chat with us and told us there were 2 juvenile owls learning to fly as one of their parents kept watch.  EP pointed at it then squeaked and swung her hands at it.  This is one of the prettiest spots we've stopped. 

Hoot Hoot

Sunsets in a canyon

 

Leg 20- May 22- Huson, MT

We hadn't had a mail spot since Iowa.  But our next mail spot was so much better than that.  Our friends Sarah and Marshall had started work on a little homestead in the middle of the woods adjacent to the Lolo National Forest.  So far, they had just completed a...shed that had a little apartment in it.  Their "shed" was able to swallow the Bounder with ease.  For the first time since we had bought this beast, it was under cover.  

There was no time for lollygagging, we had some sunshine, trees, logs, and friends to enjoy outside.  Marshall and I walked to the top of the hill and let some of Dad free into the forest.  After we grilled up some burgers we had a delightful picnic under an open sky.  It feels good to let the environment envelop you while enjoying excellent story time with friends. 

 

Leg 16- May 18- Bowman, ND

My mom told me an interesting tidbit about papa while on this trip.  She let me know that he always jokingly said that North Dakota didn't exist.  He said he had never met anyone from there, nor anyone who lived there nor anything it was famous for at all.  To carry along my dad's joke, Dallas and I had a small celebration of my father's life in North Dakota.  Dad would have had a great laugh that I brought some of his ashes then sprinkled some in a North Dakota field.  Love you Dad.
 

Leg 13- May 15- Chimney Rock, NE

These views cannot be convey the feeling

YESSSSSSS, after all my years of wanting of visit Chimney Rock we finally made it.  We started out with the amazing vistas off the bluffs around the state with rolling grasslands; something about it just stirs me deep in my soul.   Waaaahoooooo.  

My cousin Alex and our good friend Kiyoshi showed up out of Colorado to join us.  We took a walk up to a silent vista overlooking the bluffs and Chimney Rock itself.  EP had a delightful time and kept staring at her kin.  

After our walk, my Cousin and I returned to the hilltop where we scattered some ashes of Papa and told some jokes about the silly times we had all had together.  It was special and I'm glad we did it.  

A family finally makes it to Papa's dream

EP knows

Cousin Alex has an excellent smile

 

Kiyoshi joining us was magical

I wore these glasses 10 years ago on this same blog

Leg 7- May 7- Moraine View, IL

 

After some Bounder partial breakdowns, we made it to our stopover spot of Moraine View State Park Recreation Area.  Funnily enough, when I asked for a brochure, I got one from 2006 and State Governor Rod R. Blagojevich is proudly listed on the top of the paper.  The moraine that this park was named after was created 15,000 years ago when the Wisconsin glacier deposited the Bloomington Moraine (the 4th largest in Illinois).   We arrived with a bunch of time so I took a bike ride to pick up fish fry.  Dallas had to work after our fish lunch, so EP and I took a walk on a beautiful walk around a swamp.  EP got so excited when we heard a frog that she did her most wiggly arm and tummy shimmy.  EP had dinner facing the lake and ended throwing more of her quesadilla at Sasha than eating herself.  Enjoyably, EP has sprinkles pattern in the fabric of her jacket, she tried to reach, grab, and eat her jacket sprinklers. 

EP watches with amazement

Illinois is flat, except for this moraine.