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| The Heartland |
Our estimated departure time worked out pretty well. We were able to leave Ripton shortly after noon on Sunday, July 24th chanting the mantra, "if we forgot it, we can buy it at Walmart." Walmart RV parking has served us well in the past, but we are now finding that town ordinances have limited some stores from hosting RV camping adding the step of calling ahead when possible. Our first night was spent at a Flying J truck plaza in Rochester, NY. It was incredibly noisy with trucks coming and going, but by using the fan, we were finally in a deep sleep, only to be rudely awaken when a body slammed against the side of the RV. There were loud voices and laughter, then quiet. Obviously, they were too busy trying to walk to bother with us. Night two was spent at a Walmart in LaPort, Indiana. Then it was on to some luxury camping at a KOA in Albert Lea, MN. Wednesday night brought us to Rapid City, SD. Huge wind turbines dominated the landscape for as far as the eye could see. It was a mixture of farming wind, soybeans and corn.
A small detour took us into Stugis, SD where they were gearing up for the upcoming motorcycle week. Sturgis ranges from honky-tonk to pastural.
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| Stugis 1 |
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| Sturgis 2 |
We left South Dakota and the land of the Cheyenne and Crow behind and laughed a little when we passed Chief Dull Knife College and thought about who might attend. Cutting the northeastern corner of Wy landed us in Montana. It felt comfortable to be driving along the banks of the Yellowstone River through towns with awesome names like, Big Timber, MT.
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| What did you say? |
July 28th found us camping in Lewis and Clark National Forest. We were kept company by country radio, Cat Country, then the Wolf, Eagle Country, the Mountain, the River and finally Coyote Country. Leaving Lewis and Clark, on our way to Great Falls, we stopped for coffee in the canyon town of Neibert and contrary to what their sign said, we found it most convenient!
We wondered about the buffalo trout we saw outside of Great Falls, Montana on the banks of the mighty Missouri River.
We crossed into Alberta in Sweet Grass Montana. "Do you have any firearms, alcohol or tobacco?" "Yes, yes and no." "Please park and step inside." After some brief paperwork, we were on our way through vast Alberta ranch land. Not to be outdone by South Dakota, Alberta has its own native heritage. We were reminded of having passed, Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, on previous trips but didn't remember Fort Whoop Up. Friday night we once more enjoyed Walmart RV camping outside of Calgary. Saturday, July 30th found us beyond Edmonton and well into oil country. Tonight is being spent south of Grande Prairie, Alberta. Having wifi, showers and a laundry has been nice. Tomorrow we will begin the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek, BC. 3200 miles down and once on the AK Highway, 1600 miles toAnchorage.
We wondered about the buffalo trout we saw outside of Great Falls, Montana on the banks of the mighty Missouri River.
We crossed into Alberta in Sweet Grass Montana. "Do you have any firearms, alcohol or tobacco?" "Yes, yes and no." "Please park and step inside." After some brief paperwork, we were on our way through vast Alberta ranch land. Not to be outdone by South Dakota, Alberta has its own native heritage. We were reminded of having passed, Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, on previous trips but didn't remember Fort Whoop Up. Friday night we once more enjoyed Walmart RV camping outside of Calgary. Saturday, July 30th found us beyond Edmonton and well into oil country. Tonight is being spent south of Grande Prairie, Alberta. Having wifi, showers and a laundry has been nice. Tomorrow we will begin the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek, BC. 3200 miles down and once on the AK Highway, 1600 miles toAnchorage. 
