It’s been 35 years since college!! Today, I met up with two of my former music major friends from those days. I acted like a tourist and bought a few souvenirs. Here’s me getting into the spirit of it: The bookstore was the best!
In the late afternoon and evening we drove to Norris Hot Springs about 45 minutes away. Kinda like a hippie place haha but not as crowded as Bozeman Hot Springs. What an enjoyable day!
Headed for Montana today. I was on the road early enough to see a beautiful sunrise!!
A college friend and her husband lives near Bozeman, so I am going to stay there a couple of days to enjoy some time with her. They were both fellow music majors with me.
I noticed something interesting. Yesterday, perched on a hill overlooking the highway exit for the Wyoming Welcome Center was my first sighting of a buffalo!! Haha it was just a sculpture!! In the next few days I saw many various sculptures randomly put on hilltops, so I guess that it a thing they like to do in the great northwest!
Supposedly it is a cell phone tower camoflauge. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/28546
Again today there was a traffic delay. I could see billowing smoke miles ahead and after creeping along for about an hour, finally got close enough to see it was a burning 18-wheeler–no idea what happened. You know, it’s convenient having a camper along! When there’s stoppages, you can hop back there and use the toilet or get a drink!
Montana really is BIG SKY country! I saw my first glimpses of snow on the mountains surrounding Bozeman.
I will be staying 2 nights at the Bozeman Hot Springs Campground. http://www.bozemanhotsprings.co/bozeman-campground/ A former KOA; campers have access to the Hot Springs next door.
Heading today for Caspar, Wyoming! Mileage should be about 526 miles and 7 1/2 hours.
I woke up and was on the road at practically dawn this morning. Can you tell I’m excited? It was COLD. Little did I realize I would have cold nights for the next 2 months!!! I headed north to Raton Pass elevation 7834 feet, where I entered into Colorado. If you go this route, there are few services till closer to Colorado Springs, so fill up your gas tank. My V6 engine is doing just fine towing up and down the mountains. I hardly even feel it back there.
Many signs for deer, moose and bear crossings.
Today I was aiming to be in Denver approximately at lunch time, so that I could meet up with a childhood friend. I encountered construction before Denver, so arrived at about 1 pm at a designated restaurant. It was so good to see her! I hadn’t seen her in 39 years!!! Her older sister was in my class and I had seen her sister a few times for class reunions, but not her.
After a couple hours of visiting I got back on the road, anticipating a couple of hours drive to Casper, WY. BUT the highway just north of there had a huge hour-long delay with some sort of accident. Gridlock on the highway, rubberneckers…..you know the routine.
The campground tonight was Fort Caspar Campground, Casper, WY. It has a beautiful view of the valley if you can get a spot on that side.
Day 1 of the epic trip to Alaska.
Today I traveled from Dallas TX area to Capulin, New Mexico.
Mileage = about 511 miles
Time = about 7 3/4 hours
Having driven from FL to TX when I retired, I found that driving across Texas is a long journey also!
Texas does everything BIG. Having a teardrop camper is kind of like having a cute baby: Everyone stops to look and admire. “May I see the inside of your camper?” Two people at my lunch stop said they had been following me most of the way and would love to have a peek!
I myself must’ve been born Curious Georgina, cause I love seeing everything along the way!
Most of the way was flat, but after Amarillo, it starts getting hilly.
.My first night at a campground was uneventful. I stayed in Capulin at the Capulin RV Park. A very rustic place and there is basically nothing nearby, no villages, stores etc. Only the extinct Capulin Volcano, which is directly across the highway from the park. You can drive your vehicle to the top of the volcano. About 20 years ago my parents took me and my 2 kids on a trip to Colorado and we drove to the top that time. But I just camped for the night and then went on this morning. BTW, this was only my second time backing in to a spot. The first time, on the journey from FL 6 weeks before, it didn’t go so well. But this time, although I had to pull up and try it again a number of times, I eventually got my T@B in the spot perfectly!
Tomorrow I leave on my epic trip to Alaska!
My T@B teardrop trailer is packed.
I bought a MILEPOST travel guide and have studied it religiously to choose a route through Canada to Alaska.
I prepared my vehicle. Had an oil change and tires checked on my 2012 RAV4 V6 as well as the trailer.
Some things I have done to modify my T@B: took out the cumbersome dinette table and replaced it with a smaller folding one from Walmart. I installed ledgers on either side of the benches so that when I need the bed bigger, I can put bed slats across. But most of the time it will be just me and I can easily sleep across the back portion, which is about twin size.
I also re-upholstered the brown/blue patterned upholstery with denim material. I installed many storage hooks and caddies with Command strips. Places for toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, shampoo, spices, paper towels, paper plates and plastic bags (for dog poo 🙂 ) Hooks for keys, dog leash.
Don’t forget pictures of my children, my laptop, a flashlight, air freshener.
Hooked up the electrical to fully charge the battery. Turned on the fridge for it to get cool.
I’m ready!
In August through September of 2016, I took an epic retirement trip by road to Alaska. I was driving my 2012 RAV4 V6, towing my 2016 T@b Max S teardrop trailer. I was accompanied by my dog Burrito and cat Oreo.
So many people have asked to see my pictures and hear about my adventures. At the time of the trip, I posted pictures and statuses regularly to my timeline on Facebook. But finding posts from that long ago is not easy when you start scrolling back on a timeline, plus not everyone is on Facebook, so that is the reason for this blog. Please forgive me for any mistakes of any kind. I am not an expert in computers or blogs, so this was as good as it gets. My journey starts on August 1st and ends on October 1st. Enjoy!
Even after I published it to the internet yesterday, I am still going back checking things, adding more, etc. I’m no computer or writing expert, so please forgive any mistakes!
