Freighthouse Restaurant
La Crosse, WI
Winter in Wisconsin would not top the list for most travelers, but that is where I find myself in November. Weather varies from evenings of snow flurries and 27degrees or less to sunny days of 46 degrees. I prefer the sunny days. I left home in California temps of 80. Snow is nice to behold but that’s about it.
Playing “name that road kill” (more…)
Colorful homes of Portland
Downtown icons
7th Sept – I sit in Pioneer Square with other multitudes, seeking respite from walking, eating a Philly Cheesesteak from a food cart, and planning my next move. So far I have not found what the hoopla is about. I walked the Pearl District where the restoration is ongoing midst vagrants, pornography strewn around the Federal Building, and busy streets. (more…)
iPad traveler
3 Sept – Beautiful, sunny morning with temps in the 50s and a hot air balloon rising into the blue sky. I head south toward Missoula along the west side of blue, blue Flathead Lake with countless sailboats on its surface. I think at least every 10th car is towing a boat. Pretty scenery and easy roads, 70 mph speed limits. I angle west and meet up with I 90 which will take me through the panhandle of Idaho and straight to Bellevue WA. I think the GPS mentioned 350+ miles but I blanked that part out. Once in WA, the interstate quickly became desert and dull. Most interesting part of this highway are the “cell phone pullouts.” (more…)
Once site of Glacial Lake Missoula
30th Aug – Not only did I loose an hour for Mountain Time, I lost a day. Then I discovered I rushed the month, too. I know precisely where I am, just not what day it is. To be on a road trip and unaware of the day is ideal.
I drove north to Glacier National Park. Drove a different route to visit the Bison National Refuge. It is a 19-mile gravel road out of MoIese on the northwestern side of the refuge. Twisting, climbing to over 4700′ with awesome vistas of what used to be the huge Glacial Lake Missoula and what is now a vast valley basin, I find driving around the park peaceful and solitary. Wildlife consists of bison, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and black bear. (more…)
Lewis and Clark along Clearwater River
Pulley system over the Lochsa River
28th Aug – Lewiston to Missoula, I am following Lewis and Clark as they emerged from the Bitterroot Mountains and, with the help of the Nez Perce, built canoes and followed Clearwater River to the Columbia and the Pacific. Today, I steer my Honda down the winding 2000′ Lewiston Grade to meet the Clearwater River and drive north into the Nez Perce Reservation. The Clearwater is indeed clear, sometimes calm and deep, other times rippling rapids among rocks and shallows. Its expanse ranges from 30 to more than 100 feet; numerous small bridges and even the occasional pulley system spans its waters. (more…)
Emigrant Trail Monument - Truckee CA
24 Aug – I drove to Truckee via Sacramento, a drive of lies and bad memory: lies that “it’s a dry heat” and forgetting how unpleasant 101 degrees can be. I was thrilled to see $3.51 a gallon gas, which goes to show how I have adapted, being sooooo relieved the price is less than $4. Dull drive until I got above Auburn where I began to see trees and temperatures dropping as I climbed to Donner Pass and Truckee. (more…)