Sunday, May 6/2012

This rain continued through out the night and I thanked the Lord that we were on solid ground.  Pavement is a good thing at times!!  This morning the wind is also up and the bus is being buffed around in a nasty sort of way.  Jan text me and says that there is a wind warning around us and it looked like the rain was going to continue for another few days.  Well that is not going to be an issue as John and I were going to be heading into Saskatoon today and our final stop before we actually park in Leoville.
Jace text us and told us that Kim's parents (Bernie and Gloria) were expecting us to park out at their farm while we were in the area.  This spot would be much more conducive for Hogan and there would be no risk of the cops showing up at the door to telling us to move (there is a 36 hour limit to parking on the street in Saskatoon).
We arrived at the farm and parked.  It is so good to be home.  Jace and Kim arrived shortly thereafter and Casey and Tori arrived as well.  It was wonderful to see my babies again!!  It was even great to see the grand dogs!!

Snow Geese are back

Coors, Roxy and Hogan

Gloria had cooked supper for us and it was even more wonderful to sit at a table and eat food that I didn't cook and visit with "family" - extended and other wise.  Life is Good!!

Saturday, May 5/2012

It started raining during the night and by the time I got up around 8:00 a.m. the mud puddles had already formed and even Hogan did not want to adventure out.  Well Nature was calling so that was not even an option!!  He was in and out in about 30 seconds flat but that was long enough for him to have feet caked so full of mud that they resembled the feet of a St. Bernard!!  It took me two bowl of water to get his feet soaked clean.  Wet, I can deal with.....mud, not so much!!  Jesus Mary and Joseph, this is going to get ugly and I was glad that we would be leaving today.
John got up with in half an hour and said that we were getting the hell out of here and hoped that we were not already stuck in the mud that had already gathered around the bus.  The campground, I do not think has fully recovered from last year's flood.
We needed to put on some water so decided that we would use the campground host's faucet as it did not appear to be in as much mud as all the rest of the faucets.
I decided that instead of wearing shoes, I would slip my flip flops on and hook the hose up.  Well, before I was finished, I was ready to absolutely kill someone.  My feet were cold and they were caked with enough mud that the flip flops were more of a hazard so I ended up doing all this in my bare feet all the time cursing the powers that be and John and even Hogan and the State of Montana and anyone that came into my line of vision!!  I looked like Sasquatch and that was just plain UGLY!!
With my feet frozen, I decided that there was enough water in the bus and I would fill the water jugs.  Since I was frozen, John turned on the hot water heater so that the" Creature from the Mud Pit"  could shower and get warm.
The camp host dropped by, with her cheery little face (could have swiped some mud across it) and asked if we had stayed the night (as if she didn't know!).  I said yes and she left me with a pay envelope.  By this time, I had the water jugs out and the bus unhooked and started filling the jugs.  I noted that the water was an ugly brown colour and thought - "Holy Shit", I just put this crap into the bus!!!!   *#^*($@*
Long story short - I only filled one jug, took a shower and we continued our journey towards home.  The only good thing to be said about this whole gong show was that it had not been raining at the time.   Imagine the headlines "Camp host killed - Found lying in the mud"    Oh it could have been so much uglier!!!
Eventually we made it to Malta where we topped up on fuel and propane then headed to the border where  we would cross and finally be back in our own Country.  It started raining shortly after we left Malta and continued for the rest of the day.

Getting a little mud on the flip flops

We crossed into Canada (once again no issues at the border) and stopped for the night at the paved open area at Saskatchewan Landing.  The rain continued for the rest of the evening and into the night.  Oh well, it is not snow and that is a blessing.

Friday, May 4/2012

I woke up to sunshine!!  Woo Hoo.  Perhaps that is a good omen and the jeep will be finished and this rig can get moving again.
Alas, we are back on the road and headed North.  Yeah!!!!
We stopped at the James Kipp Recreation Area as they have a nice campground there and we have stayed here several times in the past.  When we pulled in, we noted that the camp host was not in attendance and since the sign said "campground full" there was no reason for her to be there.  Since we are not a rig that can simply "turn around" we continued into the campsites taking the loop that would eventually lead us back to the entrance/exit road.  While doing this, a camper flagged us down and said that he would be leaving in about half an hour (which actually became closer to an hour - but who is counting) and we were welcome to his site.  BONUS!!
When John asked him why the campground was so full he said that most everyone in the area was fishing for paddlefish.  This fellow had caught himself a 100 pound paddlefish and was done now. Of course John and I had never heard of paddlefish so I had to "google" it and found out it was related to the sturgeon (it too dating back to pre historic times) and that they were only in a select few rivers - one of them being the Missouri and only in a few select areas of those rivers.
We eventually got settled into the site and Hogan and I went for a bit of a walk.  The camper that had left the spot for us mentioned that the campground actually just re-opened recently as there was massive flooding last spring which covered the whole campground and surrounding area keeping the campground closed till Aug.  While out walking I certainly saw evidence attesting to this calamity.  The once lovely grassy field (where Hogan chased deer and Canada Geese last year) was barren and cracked from months under water.  It was quite ugly.  Oh well, if God is willing and the River don't rise again this year, it will recover and next year there will be grass.

Heading out

Little bit of a rainbow

We hunkered down for the evening watching hockey and feeling glad that we were able to get a spot for the night.  It looked like rain and we both went to bed hoping that this was no going to materialize.

Thursday, May 3/2012

This bunny must be this year's baby - so little

this bunny was a bit bigger

Hogan and I are up early again this morning and it looks like it will be another dreary day today.  The heater is on as it is chilly in the bus this morning and by the looks of the weather at home, the heater will be on several more times before summer actually arrives.
It was another day spent reading my kindle.  The jeep is still in the repair shop and I can only hope that it is fixed tomorrow so that we can get back on the road.  Now THAT would be nice!!
While John was sitting outside, he saw two bunny rabbits hopping around minding their own business.  They were so cute and one was smaller than the other so I don't know if this was parent and baby or an older sibling (Gee, I think I have been sitting here too long!!)  I remember when we were sitting here in the Fall that I saw a bunny hopping around the parking lot so obviously it survived the winter!!
I made a hamburger stew today and threw a can of Rotel (diced tomatoes and habenaro peppers) into it.  It really added some "zing" to it and I was grabbing for the milk to put out the fire in my mouth!!   I guess I used the "hot" variety - won't be doing that again!!  I could just hear Ray and Kay laughing at me over that one!!  It wasn't quite "blow your face off" hot but it was close!!  See what happens when you stagnate for a few days - I really need to be back on the road and heading towards home!!

Wednesday, May 2/2012

Still waiting on the jeep and I am still immersed in my kindle.
The weather is lousy, raining off and on with the occasional burst of sunshine!!

Tuesday, May 1/2012

It is dreary and a bit overcast today although it is not chilly so that is just fine.  The birds are busy chirping away this morning - particularly that noisy magpie!!  Hogan is busy growling at the little fluffy tailed red squirrels and so wants to go and chase them.  Unfortunately, there are people out and about this morning as well so he is not allowed to be off leash.

Our spot for a few days

We stopped at the local Walmart today to do some final bits of shopping then headed over to the fix-it shop with the jeep.  They are hoping to get it in today and at least start on the repairs while waiting for parts.  I will just sit here and WAIT!!  It is a good thing I have my new Kindle as I will immerse myself in stories for the next few days........

Monday, April 30/2012

I slept  until 8:00 a.m. this morning and since I went to bed at 9:30 last night (Ya I changed my watch), I should be well rested and ready to go for the day.  It is a bit chilly in the bus again this morning so I had to turn on the heater.  It pumps out some good heat so does not take too long before it is toasty in here.
While doing last night's supper dishes (ya, I know, the maid - she is not very good!!) I looked out the kitchen window and saw four antelope walking along the beach and stop to drink from the lake.   It was so totally cool.  Yesterday, when I was at the beach, I did note that there were lots of tracks in the sand and thought they may be deer tracks - but,  now know that they were probably antelope tracks.  Of course I had to stop doing dishes and take pictures and watched them until the dish water was cold!!  What the Hell - I don't think I was watching them that long!!  Anyway, it is so incredible that I got to see them and once again I feel that I truly am blessed in being able to witness nature at its finest.
Just as I was about to put this blog away, I looked towards the water and there was a Great Blue Heron wading in the shallows looking for a quick meal.   He was awesome to watch and yes, I did take pictures!!

Pronghorn Antelope by the water

Great Blue Heron

Heading out

Left it is

road is open so that is a good sign!!

starting the tunnels along Wind River Canyon

Trains to the left - Cars to the right

This canyon is truly a jewel in Wyoming's landscape.  It is beautiful

Heading towards Montana

Welcome to Montana

The Clark Fork of the Yellowstone River

A train carrying nothing but huge propellers for wind turbines.
It took two trailers to carry each propeller and three engines to pull the train.

Our camping spot here in Laurel Montana - just outside of Billings

Yellowstone River - moving fast and looking mighty angry

Hogan and I walking around all the old building of the former POW camp

Mr Robin - Spring has Sprung

Hogan chillin after a long hard day of travel!!

Before we left this morning, the park ranger came by.  He had been out doing his rounds and noticed us parked down here at the lake side.  He was pleasant, asked where we were from and when I said Saskatchewan, he said "Saskatoon"?  Imagine my surprise!!  I said yes and asked how he knew and he said he only knew of Saskatoon and Moose Jaw!!  Anyway, he was a pleasant fellow and we chatted for a while before he wished us a safe trip and headed out.  Being that we were not in an official "campsite" I thought that he was going to give us grief but he said that they allow camping such as this along this side of the Reservoir so that was good to know.
We headed down the road through some pretty incredible scenery (I love traveling the Wind River Canyon) and soon found ourselves stopping for the night at the Riverside Campground in Laurel, Montana (a World War ll POW camp).  Last year, when we were heading down to Arizona, this campsite was closed (upgrading) so we were pleased to see that it had re-opened and we wheeled on in and settled for the night.  Hogan and I walked around the camp, chit chatted to a couple of the locals then returned to the bus.  It was pleasantly warm out and a good evening for a walk.   The robins and squirrels were enjoying the evening as well.
Tomorrow we will make a stop at Walmart then head over to the "fix it" shop for some repairs to the jeep.  Once they are done, we will continue our North bound trek.