2022 Montana Trip W/O Rosie

Va Beach to Bozeman and Back with a stop in Hessel, Mi. First time since Rosie’s birth we haven’t traveled together. Read more

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Trip start
July 8, 2022
2022 Montana Trip W/O Rosie Traveler
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Day 1
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 7:20 AM
☁️ 75 °F
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Lee Hall 37.195526, -76.57717937°11’44” N 76°34’38” W
And so it begins
July 8, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
6:30 am departure. Rosie knew I was traveling and wasn’t pleased to be crated. Funny how they know. She followed me intently all morning especially while I packed my suitcase.

Started barking as soon as I walked out. Sue was up late so hope she calms down for a bit.

Sue advises that Rosie wanted nothing of her crate and had to be let out. After searching outside she finally came in and calmed down. A spa day was in her future (for Rosie) so she ended the day pretty worn out.Read more
TravelerSo I hear about an argument among intellectuals of today: The Earth-World is FLAT. We were wrong. As pilots, I feel it isn't flat, but what do I know? Are you seeing any evidence of either way?
7/11/22Reply
TravelerOn the day that the Webb Telescope unveiled its first images into deep space showing planets, galaxies and solar systems from billions of years ago (I’m still wrapping my arms around the whole light speed/distance thing), the “flat earthers” need to take a nap. Ya lost me at including them in the term “intellectuals”.
7/11/22Reply
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Day 1
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 9:28 AM
⛅ 75 °F
Altitude: 745 ft
United States Greenwood 38.041851, -78.76764738°2’31” N 78°46’4” W
1st gas stop.
July 8, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
Gas will prob cost more than hotels on this trip 🤪

So far, travel is going very smoothly…listening to “A plague upon our house” by Dr. Scott Atlas. All I can say is WOW. The level of hatred for Pres. Trump was/is overwhelming. I assumed, but never knew how deep it was/is.

Why would anyone want to hold office?

I must say that traveling this way (alone without Rosie) is pretty relaxing. The miles just clicked away. But I think the country side helps, the hills in western Va, WVa and Ohio are beautiful and the traffic was really light.Read more
TravelerIs Sue flying?
7/11/22Reply
TravelerShe’s going to Lake House to watch Calvin and Marshall while Nick & Danielle get a much needed break.
7/11/22Reply
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Day 1
Friday, July 8, 2022
☁️ 72 °F
Altitude: 883 ft
United States Sandusky Street Historic District 40.298489, -83.06778740°17’55” N 83°4’4” W
1st overnight stop
July 8, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
Not the best hotel but I’m alone and there’s a WHITE CASTLE near by 😇
TravelerWhite Castle for the WIN!
7/10/22Reply
TravelerSad, but I plan my lodging based on WC locations 😂
7/10/22Reply
TravelerIf you can, why NOT!
7/11/22Reply
Traveler😂
7/11/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 7:02 AM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 883 ft
United States Sandusky Street Historic District 40.298489, -83.06778740°17’55” N 83°4’4” W
Heading to Hessel
July 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Looking forward to seeing my mom’s sister and relatives.

Funny but my cousin (Phyllis) is married to Terry Cox (no Cox relation) so their grandkids a struggling to place me in the family tree 😂
TravelerCousin Teresa ?? Would like a Hello drive by heehee
7/10/22Reply
TravelerHey!! This is a really long trip and tight on schedule. Would love to but can’t see it happening. Maybe on the southern route return trip?
7/10/22Reply
TravelerI was just being silly! Travel on and enjoy the ride!
7/10/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11:30 AM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 945 ft
United States West Branch Public Library 44.277092, -84.23989944°16’38” N 84°14’24” W
2
75 on I-75
July 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
TravelerTravel safe have fun buy Bourbon!
7/9/22Reply
TravelerSafe travels Jerry! Life is short, move forward! 💕
7/10/22Reply
TravelerThanks Mark. Funny how so many owners, patrons and relatives are so dialed into Bourbons/Whiskey’s now. They smile/laugh when I ask for Wellers. But im told its very available in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, off my route. I may "adjust" on the return -Wellers AND White Castle. 😇
7/10/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, July 9, 2022
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 541 ft
United States Cedarville Bay 45.995289, -84.34998345°59’43” N 84°20’60” W
Arrived in Hessel
July 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
Dinner was at 4:45 PM. (It was lunch for them). Then fishing (not catching) and card games till bedtime. Lots of kids/grandkids/cousins are here (yearly family reunion) many I’ve never previously met.

Bedtime was at 11:00. Late for me and I believe they were just being kind….it’s normally 2:00-3:00 am 🤪Read more
TravelerSo happy to see your smiling face!
7/10/22Reply
TravelerHow fun. Makes me homesick.
7/11/22Reply
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Day 3
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 2:04 PM
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 604 ft
United States Frying Pan Island 45.990074, -83.90190145°59’24” N 83°54’7” W
Village of Detour
July 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
Took quick ride to “east end of UP”. Car ferry Carrie’s cars/riders to Drummond Island (no US bridges access island).
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Day 3
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 75 °F
Altitude: 581 ft
United States Mill Pond 46.003828, -84.42591246°0’14” N 84°25’33” W
Goodbye Dinner
July 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Last supper (4:00 PM 😇).

Great time with everyone.
TravelerWe sure miss you even if you don't play games!!!
7/15/22Reply
TravelerI play games….just not for $$$😂
7/16/22Reply
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Day 4
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 9:18 AM
⛅ 68 °F
Altitude: 600 ft
United States Munising 46.409393, -86.65198546°24’34” N 86°39’7” W
Straight, Due West for 40 Miles
July 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Road was 30 miles straight. Couldn’t see other side (curvature of the earth). Very few cars. Incredible. Miles and miles of nothing but trees, no driveways, no buildings. Only a railroad next to me.

Lots of heavy rain and very spotty cell service. Really nice drive from Hessel, MI to Grand Rapids, MN.

Most of the entire route has been “Red” country, as evidenced by the sign.Read more
TravelerLooks beautiful!!
7/11/22Reply
TravelerHey: Looks like fun. What are you driving?
7/11/22Reply
TravelerMy Jeep Gladiator. Pictured on blog intro. Great car.
7/11/22Reply
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Day 4
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 5:56 PM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 1,325 ft
United States Grand Rapids 47.236759, -93.52833647°14’12” N 93°31’42” W
Top of the Mighty Mississippi
July 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Not much in Grand Rapids. However, seeing the Mississippi, and how small it was here, I started researching the “Head of the Mississippi” (where it starts).

I’ve been to the end so it’d be cool to see the headwater.

After looking, it’s pretty much on my route (slightly south). So tomorrow, on the way to North Dakota, I’ll divert a bit to see where the Mississippi starts. Sweet.Read more
TravelerWOW. Now that looks amazingly gorgeous.
7/11/22Reply
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 9:26 AM
☀️ 68 °F
Altitude: 1,476 ft
United States Vern 47.304073, -95.21244847°18’15” N 95°12’45” W
Bucket List….check
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
I’ve been to the southern end of the Mississippi-New Orleans.

I’ve been across it in various locations traveling east and west.

Now, I’ve been to where it starts flowing south. The Headwaters. Pretty cool.Read more
TravelerSo peaceful
7/12/22Reply
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 1:46 PM
☀️ 77 °F
Altitude: 1,558 ft
United States Horseshoe Lake 48.327335, -99.82049648°19’38” N 99°49’14” W
Well, its not the largest ball of twine.
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
“Geographical Center of North America”

It’s not a bucket list check off but what the hell; it’s cool.
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 2:56 PM
☀️ 77 °F
Altitude: 1,604 ft
United States Des Lacs River 48.277313, -101.43173248°16’38” N 101°25’54” W
Hills are starting to appear
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Up until now, the landscape has been so flat the roads fall off in the horizon as the curvature of the earth dictates.

Now (finally) hills and elevations are starting to come in. Sooner or later, the Rockies will introduce themselves.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 3:11 PM
☀️ 75 °F
Altitude: 2,077 ft
United States Berthold 48.315296, -101.73667948°18’55” N 101°44’12” W
Continental Divide
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Saw this on the way west today. Wasn’t positive what it meant.

I am advised that it means:

“A continental divide is a line that separates river systems that flow to opposite sides of the continent. “

Interesting.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 4:31 PM
☀️ 81 °F
Altitude: 1,900 ft
United States Lewis and Clark State Park 48.115906, -103.24270848°6’57” N 103°14’34” W
Lewis & Clark port
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
Fascinated by the L&C effort. Had to stop to see where they stopped in ND on the Missouri River.

No “evidence” but a nice park.
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Day 5
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:16 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 1,903 ft
United States Williston 48.146637, -103.62054448°8’48” N 103°37’14” W
Arrived Williston, ND
July 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Just an overnight stop after my normal 600+/- mile leg. Bozeman, Montana tomorrow. Then, I’ll do what I can to help the wedding process.

Nice stop. This area is HUGE for oil people (not all fracking). I saw incredible sites for hundreds of miles drilling and fracking.

Sat next to an oil rig guy at dinner. He came up from LA a year ago. Loves it here. Interesting conversations, although he had no clue of the big picture of oil in the US… young guy, busy, with nothing to lose. But he told me the location of oil in this area-20,000’. Amazing.

Since leaving MN, I started seeing rig’s right after crossing into ND. From the Continental Divide to here, massive amounts.

According to this guy, it’s still the largest oil hit in the world (he said they drill wherever they need to and it’s always there)

I saw hundreds of the mobile vehicle pictured. Not sure what it is. But there were fields and fields full of oil equipment… the farmers and cows seemed to cohabitate cooperatively.

Sunset today is 9:53 PM MT. That’s 11:53 for me 🤪 Its 9:53 and the sky is still bright. The moon is setting faster than the sun.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 6:52 AM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 1,903 ft
United States Williston 48.146637, -103.62054448°8’48” N 103°37’14” W
Raindrops?
July 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
I saw this little guy fly in front of me and then try to change course but never saw him in my mirror. I was doing 82 MPH. Found him this AM in the grill. Sad.

Since arriving in the UP, one annoying constant has been the sound of “raindrops”.

Because it’s not rain, you really can’t use your wipers. Using them spreads a “goo” all over as though it was oatmeal.

It’s necessary to stop every 100 miles at least to scrape (not wash) the windshield.Read more
Traveleroops
7/13/22Reply
TravelerCouldn’t get him”all out” so far 😢
7/13/22Reply
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Day 6
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 11:45 AM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: 4,446 ft
United States Big Timber Airport 45.815258, -109.97164945°48’55” N 109°58’18” W
Snow-Capped Mountains. In July…
July 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
Just west of Billings, the big boys start becoming visible.

On I-90 with 80 mph speed limit. People do 90 mph at least. Two days later, just east of this area, a 20 car pileup with 6 dead on I-90. I can see how easily it could happen if you add high winds and rain.Read more
TravelerWOW. Makes me homesick. I'm heading to Alaska the end of the month. Why don't you meet me there?
7/15/22Reply
TravelerNot possible. Sue is in NY watching Calvin/Marshall. Rosie’s at home with sitter.
7/15/22Reply
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Day 6
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 1:15 PM
⛅ 91 °F
Altitude: 4,626 ft
United States 01S05E23AA__01 Well 45.740093, -111.06140145°44’24” N 111°3’41” W
Arrived Bozeman.
July 13, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F
The time changes really help going west. Took three car washes to get “most” of bugs/bird off grill and front end.

Nice dinner with Eric,Cat & Dana. Surprised to see Anna/Husband and Erica/Boyfriend at same restaurant.

Ended night at Dana & Mary’s with bonfire and Bourbon.Read more
Travelergreat shots....just got caught up today and am so jealous! What FUN....beautiful changes of scenery and interesting people...lol I love it!
7/15/22Reply
TravelerGlad you’re logged on.
7/15/22Reply
TravelerBeautiful!!
7/15/22Reply
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Day 7
Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 9:18 PM
🌙 70 °F
Altitude: 5,348 ft
United States 03S04E21DA__01 Well 45.567558, -111.24664345°34’3” N 111°14’48” W
Grooms Party Day
July 14, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F
Great seeing the Timmons Clan.
TravelerAre they related to you? what a beautiful place.
7/15/22Reply
Traveler1937 bar that Cowboys used to ride horses to…hitching posts are still there. Not as many guns anymore. It’s Sue’s family.
7/15/22Reply
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Day 8
Friday, July 15, 2022 at 11:09 AM
⛅ 72 °F
Altitude: 7,520 ft
United States City of Island Park 44.668976, -110.94110944°40’8” N 110°56’28” W
Yellowstone for the day
July 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
West entrance was open. Beautiful day. Brown bear right after entrance with lots of gawkers. Second one with gawkers that decided to get close. Idiots.

Stopped to see geysers and “yellowstone” areas. Lots of vents, geysers and pools of boiling waters. sulphur smell. At 7,800’ above sea level (thin air) it becomes difficult to breathe quickly.Read more
TravelerWOW 👌
7/16/22Reply
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Day 8
Friday, July 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 75 °F
Altitude: 5,171 ft
United States 02S04E33DA__01 Well 45.620098, -111.23549745°37’12” N 111°14’8” W
Welcoming Party at the Christians
July 15, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
Nice party with all the wedding attendees. Dana again went all-out with “Cowboy” style.
TravelerYummy!!
7/17/22Reply
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Day 9
Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 12:10 AM
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 4,511 ft
United States 01S05E10CC__01 Well 45.760269, -111.09775545°45’37” N 111°5’52” W
The Big Day
July 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
Tess & Cody’s joining day. What a beautiful venue and event.
TravelerWhat a perfect wedding!!
7/17/22Reply
Traveler“Cowboy up” 😂
7/17/22Reply
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Day 9
Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 12:30 AM
☀️ 84 °F
Altitude: 4,820 ft
United States 01S06E18BBBB01 Well 45.761993, -111.04052745°45’43” N 111°2’26” W
Big Day Pics
July 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
TravelerGreat pictures!!
7/25/22Reply
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Day 9
Saturday, July 16, 2022
☀️ 88 °F
Altitude: 4,833 ft
United States 01S06E18BBBB01 Well 45.762093, -111.04044345°45’44” N 111°2’26” W
More Big Day Pics
July 16, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
TravelerAww, great picture Jerry!!
7/25/22Reply
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