• Quail Run Tripping

Paint Your Wagon

Where am I goin'? I don't know Where am I headin'? I ain't certain
All I know Is I am on my way
When will I be there? I don't know
When will I get there? I ain't certain
All that I know Is I am on my way
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  • Trip start
    August 4, 2025

    Woodfords Noon

    August 4 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Ready to leave. We call this trip “Paint Your Wagon” after the song in the musical of the same name. We really don’t know where or when we will be anywhere.

  • Likely!

    Aug 4–5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Last night we used our RV trip planner to pick a RV park approximately 3 hours from home. Knowing we had to finish packing. We are in the middle of nowhere, in Likely, Ca. The town is a wide spot on Highway 395. The RV park is very nice. It’s part of the Likely Golf Course. Juniper trees, soft wind and distant views. We may have gotten a late start (we were supposed leave two weeks ago), but a good one.

    One of the reasons we are late leaving is medical stuff. This February Jill got diagnosed with congestive heart failure. No more pre-packaged foods (too salty). No can of chili. She spent quite a few days making frozen meals ahead of time, and brought a small instant pot (must fit under bed). Jill’s salt free chili tonight.
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  • Lunchtime Chandler State Wayside

    August 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    A very peaceful stop for lunch in our tiny house. Jill sketched a picture of the vegetation, called teasel while Les naps. The plant is from Europe and was once used to work with wool, before spinning hence the name. After the lunch stop we headed north still on 395 to Burns, Oregon. Talk about your middle of nowhere! Miles and miles of it.Read more

  • Burns

    Aug 5–6 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    We had to stop along side of road, where we could get at least two bars to make a reservation. This RV park not much to write home about…does have shade. Cat loves front deck. Will be moving on once we decide where next…

    A couple of weeks before we set out, Indy tore his ACL, in his right leg. Vet said instead of operating before this trip because it was a small tear, keep him”quiet” and don’t let him “jump” . He stopped limping back home, but we realized we are too old to lift a 85 pound dog in and out of our vehicles. After shopping a longtime online. We got a folding ramp. He has learned to wait and walk on it already. It makes taking him out for his business a little time consuming…(see video)
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  • Beyond John Day

    Aug 6–8 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    It was a short drive today, still north bound on US 395. It was light traffic and that was great, as the highway is a narrow and twisting road. We planned to drive less than two hours and camp at Clyde Holiday State Recreation Site. When we got there, the gate was closed and a Lone Ranger was working a construction project on the entrance station. He was friendly and suggested other places to stay. We continued west for 30 miles to Dayville, where we reserved two nights at a very small private RV park, “Fish Inn RV Park”. Only 8 standard RV sites. It may be small, but VERY clean and well kept. We walked to a nearby cafe for lunch. On the way back to camp, we passed several Maple trees. They must have been planted by the original settlers as they were the largest maples we have ever seen. The stump of one had a sign the read 23’ 4” around. Then in the late afternoon we took the Jeep back to John Day for gas and groceries. Dayville is a very small town, but very cute.Read more

  • Sightseeing

    August 7 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    We started the day at the local cafe. The Chicken Fried Stake and Eggs was huge and tasted great. I will even have part of it for breakfast tomorrow.
    Then we loaded up the Jeep with camera, lunch and dog, and headed to the west to find the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The highway went through Picture Rock Canyon, following the John Day River. The visitor center was outstanding! We learned a lot about the area. This area has about the densest collection of fossils found anywhere. Walking outside and looking across the canyon had an awesome view of the fossil rich mountains.Read more

  • Fossil Afternoon

    August 7 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    We headed on down the canyon towards the distant part of the monument. The monument is a number of isolated parcels surrounded by farms and ranches. We didn’t get far before we were stopped by a stop light. No construction, accident or any reason for the stop. There was a nice photo opportunity there and another photographer was parked nearby taking photos. So Les backed up the Jeep and parked to take photos too.
    After getting in line behind a local and turning off the motor we continued to wait for the light to change. A follow me truck finally showed up and the signal changed to amber. We finally found a large construction project where a landslide had been cleared and the road was under repaving. We reach the Foree Trailhead and stopped for lunch and to hike the short loop trail.
    Next, we drove over to the nearby Paint Hills Unit, 40 miles away. We walked the Painted Hills Overlook Trail snd then went on to the Painted Cove Trail, where Les hiked quickly.
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  • Pendleton Shirts

    August 8 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    We left Danville at 8:30 this morning and returned to US 395 northbound. It continued to be narrow and twisty, but finally got up to huge wide open valleys of never ending grass. After 3 and 1/2 hours, we arrived at the KOA in Pendleton, OR. We have been through here several times over the years. Each time we visit the Pendleton Mill Store and buy a really nice wool shirt. This year, we both bought shirts.Read more

  • Camping on a farm

    Aug 9–11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    We traveled north again, into Washington State to Hidden Acres Orchards about 15 miles north of Spokane. This is our fourth time to camp at a Harvest Host. This is a You-Pick’em farm. We are staying two nights before moving on. The first night is free, but we are expected to make a purchase. The second night is $35. There are no hook-ups so we are off grid.Read more

  • U-Pickem Farms

    Aug 10–11 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    This area has lots of You pick’um farms. Trouble with these kind of places, everything looks good but in our RV we don’t have room for lots fresh fruit and veggies. We visited several local farms and bought candy snd veggies. We kept looking for apple honey. But all the farms have a huge variety of crops, so the bees are making mixed honey. Les loves the very light colored apple honey we used to get from Boonville, CA years ago. Only actually picked stuff at our “farm.” Hidden Acres orchard nice place away from everything. What you expect from a Harvest Host place. Trouble is no electric hookups, and very hot weather. Lucky no issues running the generator a lot for air conditioning during afternoon. Cooked outside on our little camp stove for dinner. We bought one ear of corn…it was tough! Oh well. Lots of sunshine and sun flowers!Read more

  • Meeting Friends

    Aug 11–13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    We left to farm and headed southeast to Heyburn Idaho State Park at the south end of the lakes that make up Coeur d’Alene. It was just a couple hours away. A few days ago, our friends Diane and Riley (from Lake Havasu City) contacted us to see if we could meet up. They were already camping in Idaho and were planning to camp at Heyburn starting today. So we got the campsite next to theirs. Real nice site power and everything. We have had a good time talking about everything.Read more

  • Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

    August 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Diane & Riley led us over to a trailhead for the bike trail called “Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes”. We all unloaded the bikes and took about a 3 hour bike ride for 11.3 miles. The trail is a “Rails to Trails” railroad trail. It is PAVED and has restrooms with bike repair stations along it. It has a total of 73 miles, but we did not have that in us. The trail follows the shoreline of the lake and we crossed the lake on the trestle. The only climb on the trail was on the trestle at the point that boats can cross under. We stopped at the top and took pictures. As we were leaving, I hear a bird calling from the super structure above. It was an Osprey sitting on a nest! The bike ride was great!Read more

  • Into Montana

    August 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    We left Idaho and started into Montana. Not much to show in pictures, but we drove to Missoula and are camped at Granite Falls RV Resort. Les did the laundry while Jill ordered medical supplies to be delivered to the Resort. We are here for 3 days. Jill spent a full hour on the phone with the insurance company and pharmacy trying to get her next set of chemo pills, but they will have to wait until our next 3 day stop.. Only true issue traveling at our age.Read more

  • Another bike trail

    August 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    We slept in this morning, but found another bike trail. The Grant Creek trail is only 3.3 miles long, but it is paved and has nice scenery. We rode the trail out to the end and back. There was a pair of switchbacks that took a bit of careful negotiation. Jill learns another biking rule, “down shift when slowing down for turns.” After the ride, we had lunch and did a little more shopping.Read more

  • Garnet Ghost Town

    August 15 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Today we took the bikes off the jeep and took a drive out to Garnet Ghost Town, a very nice mining town maintained by BLM. They have done a very nice job of maintaining the buildings and the picnic area by the parking lot. This is a fee site, so we helped out by paying full price, not using our Senior discount, mainly we did not have correct change. Jill painted while Les shot photos with the large format camera.

    The town was started around 1890, when price of sliver was down and gold was up. It was very active in turn Century, with couple of “boom” times, including the 1930’s from thousands to 150. The post office closed it doors around 1947. It is a wonderful Ghost town.

    When we returned to camp, Diane and Riley had just pulled into the site next to ours. They left early from Heyburn State Park as it was raining there.

    Another pharmacy issue: Last night, we got an email from CVS pharmacy telling Les that the prior authorization for a prescription finally was approved after 6 weeks and they had shipped it to our home address. Before leaving home, Les called CVS and told them NOT to ship until he called them to provide an address, as we would be traveling. Someone didn’t get the message. The medication has to be kept refrigerated. So our neighbor took it inside and put it in the refrigerator. He’ll be able to use it when we get home. He can get a refill in early September delivered to where ever we are.
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  • Great Falls

    August 16 in the United States ⋅ 🌩️ 91 °F

    We drove to Great Falls, MT today and are camping at Great Falls RV Park for the next 2 nights. We got here just in time for a little rain. First on this trip. Les got our weather radio out with the dark clouds around us. First time for that too (came with RV 13 years ago).Read more

  • Charles Russel Museum

    August 17 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Charles Russel was a famous artist of the early 20th century who sculpted and painted scenes of the west. The museum was extensive and included some of his work and a lot from artist he knew and/or inspired. It was very professional and informative. Most of his “art” ended up elsewhere, but his home and studio is here. Told the story of him, his wife and friends. Great information and work by native artists. John Clark was a contemporary wood carver, friend and native artist. The museum had great gallery of his work as well.Read more

  • Lewis and Clark

    August 17 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We went back out, after a brief nap, to see the Lewis and Clark museum. This was our second very good museum today. It starts with a short film from Ken Burns about the “Corp of Discovery”. There was also a table of firearms to examine, including a nice Northwest Trade Gun. That is inspiring me to try and finish the Trade Gun I started 47 years ago. After the museum, we did food shopping at Smiths, including a new carton of Moose Tracks ice cream.Read more

  • Overnight - Jordon, MT

    August 18 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    East bound on MT 200 (among several other numbers on the same road). This route is Montana’s version US50 in eastern Nevada, the loneliest road in the state. Miles and miles of dead straight road, flat prairie dotted with an occasional house (some actually in use), a few cows and a horse or two, and a small herd of goats. It is definitely construction season. We went through 8-9 construction zones, 3 with signals and pilot cars. They were replacing bridges, culverts and totally rebuilding a couple of miles of the road itself. There weren’t really any wide spots to pull over either. We ate lunch parked in the center of a “Y” intersection. Camp tonight is a gravel parking lot with 10 full hookup sites. Not scenic, but only $30. Glad we have power for air conditioning. Hot this afternoon on the prairie. We wondered about those first automobile trips across Montana using unmarked farm roads and no gas stations or mechanics.Read more

  • Into North Dakota

    August 19 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Eastward again on MT200. More very straight and narrow highway. And another 7 miles of construction. It finally became wider with 6’ of pavement beyond the fog line. We gassed up in Glendive, MT at a Flying J with a Montana discount card to get extra 5 cents/gallon off. I have not seen prices this low in MANY years, $2.88 /gallon! At this point we headed east on I-94 into ND. We stopped at the welcome center at the second exit in ND and Jill made her call to order her chemo meds. After several long holds, the order was placed and should arrive on Thursday. So when we arrived at Red Trail Camp Ground, we extended our stay to 3 nights to include the delivery. This campground is WAY nicer than last light. Les checked the cellar internet speed and was blown away by the 1.3Gbps speed. He still put out the StarLink dish so he could pay bills securely.Read more

  • TRNP - South Unit Evening

    August 19 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    We went out to dinner to celebrate Jill’s birthday. Afterwards, we went into Teddy Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit. The southern part of the loop road is closed for reconstruction. So we drove out the road portion that is open. The first wildlife we saw were prairie dogs, lots of them. Photos to come later. Then we saw buffalo on a distant hill, but no they turned out to be wild horses. Shortly we did finally find a herd of buffalo and then another herd of horse were on the road nearby. We continued on to the road closure. We took pictures and videos. On the way out the herd of buffalo was crossing the road and we had to wait for them to clear the road. We stopped at an overlook and took some sunset photos.Read more

  • TRNP - North Unit Morning

    August 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    Today's high temperature forcast is 103 degrees. So we got up early, ate a quick breakfast and headed up to the North Unit of the Teddy Roosevelt National Park, a 1.5 hour drive in the Jeep without the ebikes. We got there 2.5 hours later because we crossed into the Central Time zone on the way. We passed huge fields of sunflowers. Entering the park, we did not stop at the visitor center as it looks like a couple of mobilhomes. We were stopped on the road by buffalos again. The road is only 14 miles to the end. We stopped at the Cannonball Concretions pullout and Les took a bunch of photos while Jill took a walk over to the picnic area across the road. There are are rocks there that are almost perfect spheres. The next stop was RIver Bend Overlook. There is a cool overllok building built by the CCC. Jill remembers it from when she was a little girl. Next we stopped at the Oxbox Overlook at the end of the road. It has another great vista of the Little Missouri River that travels through the whole park, We ate lunch back at the picnic area before head back south, We made a quick stop at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center which is more of a gift shop.Read more

  • TRNP - South Unit Cloudy Morning

    August 21 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Les headed back into the Teddy Roosevelt National Park South Unit this morning to take photos with the morening light. Unfortunately it is broken overcast skys, so photography was limited. He happened onto a herd of buffalo crossing the road and several were taking dust baths. A little further on a herd of 30 wild horses crossted the road in front of him and he got a great 40 second video. After driving to the construction stop, he turns around and started back. He stopped at an interesting geo formation to take pictures, the sun peeked out briefly. Stopping at the upper end of Jones Creek Trail he got a few more shots. Then he stopped at one of the many Prairie Dog Towns and shot there for a little while. On the way back to the entrance, he stopped to take a large format photo of Peaceful Valley Ranch, but the light was not good enough, so he took a photo with the cell phone. Stopping at the visitor center, he bought a couple of lapel pins for the motorhome collection.
    Jill stayed back at ranch..ok motorhome, started laundry, and make some salt free chili. Best thing is her meds showed (UPS), so we move east again tomorrow.
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  • Goat Wrangling

    August 22 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    Heading east on I-94 towards Bismarck. The highway easy driving, but then Jill says "There is something called Enchanted Highway, it is supposed to have huge metal sculptures!" So we got off the highway where we saw the first sculpture, but Les could not see a way to turn around there, so we kept going. Turns out we didn't see any signs or sculptures AND the road had no turn around space. So we proceded to the town of Taylor and got back on the freeway. Next, Jill said we have to stop an see Salem Sue, the world"s largest cow. So at the off ramp for New Salem, on a hill to the south of the highway was a cow standing there. It stands very still because it is CONCRETE. We didn't go up to it again because the parking area was too small to turn around in. Next stop, Costco for gas ($2.77/gallon). We got the best gas milage ever on this leg of the journey, 8.5 MPG (normal is 7.5). The wind was at our backs!
    Jill found a Harvest Host site for the next two nights. It is a goat ranch just north of Bismarck. The co-owner, Carol is a spinner of goat wool, so she and Jill are getting along famously. Harvest host is supposed to be free the first night. When got done buying yarn etc… fancy RV resorts are cheaper.
    Les went into the barn to take photos of the goats and found 4 of them had escaped from the enclosure. He tried to herd them back into the enclousre. They went back in, but 3 more escaped. He helped the owner with a fence repair. Later, he heard a goat bleating on a distant part of the pasture. He found a goat named "Grackle" with his head stuck in a fence panal. He and Carol were able to cut the fence and rescue Grackle.
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  • Goat Farm

    August 23 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    The plan today was to visit a museum and do some shopping in Bismarck. Well, Jill didn’t feel like visiting a museum, so we just did shopping and returned to the goat farm. We started off at Fleet Farm, a big variation on Tractor Supply and they carry Indy’s dog food. They were having a Bucket Sale. So, we bought a 5 gallon bucket and filled it up with a variety of stuff, including the dog food and got 15% off. The bucket was donated to the farm. Next we bypassed Costco, because the motorhome does not have storage for most Costco quantities. Walmart was the next stop. Shopping done and we returned to the farm. The goats were out in the pasture grazing. When they saw us they came over to the fence to see if we had peanuts. Indy was afraid of the goats and hid behind us. Les took a nap after lunch and Jill put out a chair and umbrella and did some drop spindle spinning of the goat fur she bought here. More campers joined up to day. One trouble with farms…flies! Indy doesn’t like it when Les takes the fly swatter to hunt them…Read more