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Northern Trek June - July 2018
  • Rob and Noela
  • Rob and Noela

Northern Trek June - July 2018

Starting in Los Angeles we will visit California, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and back to Cali. This time in a car we are looking forward to creating a whole lot of new memories with our travelling friends Carl and Paola. Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 15, 2018
    Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Forest Lake, QLD

    June 15, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    D day
    It’s been 4 years since we did our Camira Crusade trip and here we are the day is finally here. Carl and Paola will be 24 hours behind us. We will organise the National Parks pass and some data and then pick them up from LAX on Saturday morning.
    See you in The city of angles.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    We hired a Jeep!!

    City of Angles, Los Angeles

    June 15, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    After a short delay in Brisbane we got under way. A sleepless night on a full flight. Noela squeezed in 6 movies and me 3, along with a couple of docos.
    Arrived LAX at 06.30 and joined the immigration cattle run.

    Thrifty bettered the price on the vehicle which is a Jeep with 4000 miles on the clock. And away we went with Noela being my second set of eyes and ears when we hit the Streets of LA. (She did the eyes and ears thing a little to well and is current walking back to the motel.)
    Our first stop was the National Forest office in Arcadia where picked up a National Parks pass. This should save us some money on park entries in the coming weeks.

    We the headed into the hills to the North of LA for some views of the San Bernardino valley and the greater LA but bush fire smoke spoilt the view.

    Showered and feeling semi human again we ventured down to Manhattan Beach for dinner. Great Fish and Chips at the Brewco. By the way the beer was shared between us.

    After dinner it will be a very well deserved sleep.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    I want!!!Re purposed dealership, nothing has really changed.11

    Fresno Follys

    June 16, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Headed for Fresno via Bakersfield famous for being the Country Music capital of the West, oilfields and the "Bakersfield drillers". Fantastic driving up the I5 after clearing LA traffic and being held up due to a phantom brush fire. The driving through the hills North of LA was an ever changing landscape of sandy and rocky, low bush to rolling hills with dry grass.

    After coming off the high ground we hit the flat plains 50 mile Souths of Bakersfield. The area is full of stone fruit crops, grapes, grain and the I5 cuts straight through the middle. All around and in the distance behind the dust haze we could just make out the mountains.

    Found a great café (Café Smitten) in Bakersfield where we had lunch opposite the original Harley dealership.

    Back out on the freeway we continued North where the GPS kept throwing detours and avoidances at us. Finally in Fresno, a quick visit to Fresno Harley, picked up a touring road atlas so that we are less reliant on the GPS. Dinner at Dennys, where we mapped out tomorrows plan for Yosemite National Park.

    Photos to follow soon.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    111

    Yosemite in a day Mammoth Lakes

    June 17, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    On the road at 7.00am to Madera, Oakhurst and into Yosemite. The drive out through what appeared to be beef country with rolling hills.
    After Oakhurst we rapidly climbed into the mountains. Narrow roads Sequoia and pine forests.

    Our first stop was Glacier point at around 7000 feet.
    Absolutely brilliant geography. This are is an extinct glacier and the remaking granite features dominate the landscape. Features such as Half Dome, El Capitain, Tunnelview, Bridalvale Falls and the list goes on.

    This is a very popular hiking area and there where plenty of them out today.

    The road wound back down to Yosemite Village where we saw a different perspective of the features above. The village had a great information centre with amazing geological displays.

    With our destination being Mammoth lakes we carried on across Tioga Pass and again the scenery was mind blowing.

    We stopped at Tenaya Lake where temptation got to me and I had my highest altitude swim 8130 feet. Air temp 10 degrees, water temp bloody freezing.

    Arrived at Mammoth at 5.30 ready for a shower and dinner.

    A really great day and Yosemite will be done again one day.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Furnace Creek, Death Valley

    June 18, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 35 °C

    We missed out on doing the Death Valley trip last time as we were on bikes and it was blistering hot. So, we put it back on the plan for this trip.
    After leaving Mammoth at 7.30 our first stop was to find Whitmore Springs or Wild Willys hot tub as it is known locally. We asked a local and by chance he put us on to another hot spring called Shepherds. This spring has now been set up like a hot tub in the middle of a field and is fed by a natural hot spring. Wow what a way to kick of the day, with the air temperature at 8 degrees C, we donned swimming gear and in we went.
    With amazing views all around we luxuriated for about 30 minutes and then spent another 10 minutes chatting to a guy back packing who claimed to be an animal communicator and he was able to ward of bears by barking like a dog.
    In the distance we could hear the howling of wolves. This was a truly amazing start to the day.
    From our altitude of 8000 feet we started downhill to Death Valley. Through the towns of Bishop, Big Pine and Lone Pine the last of which we stopped for a great coffee and purchased sandwiches for later in the day.
    Lone Pine is also the entry point for Death Valley and so with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains on our right and another range on our left we headed South into one of the most hot and unforgiving parts of the world.
    It quickly dawned on us how amazing this place is with only 2 inches of rain a year if they are lucky it still supports fauna and flora. We say the settlements of Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek a beautiful oasis where a golf course and resort dominate the landscape, then we headed to Death Valley Junction and Armargosa Valley. We visited Artists Palette, Mesquite Flats sand dunes, The Devils Golf Course, Bad Water Basin the lowest point in North America at minus 282 feet below sea level. Dante’s Peak where we got view 110 miles up the Valley including Mt Whitney the USAs highest Peak.
    On the way out, we stopped for Fuel at Armargosa right next door was the alien Cathouse Brothel complete with pimp car out front.
    We made the final run into North Las Vegas well away from the strip for a well-earned night’s sleep.
    We were not sure what to expect from Death Valley, but it was absolutely stunning with a really clear day and temps topping out at 102F, 38.9 C, well worth the trip.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    12

    Zion National Park

    June 19, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    After a night in a really flash but cheap casino in North Las Vegas we got on the road to Zion National Park, Zion Canyon just out of Hurricane Utah.

    There are no words to describe this place. We parked the car at Springvale and got onto the park service shuttle bus that drops you at the various hikes.

    We went to stop 9, Temple of Sinawaba and walked up the Riverside hike to the narrows our second stop was a 7 Weeping rock. Both of these locations were just amazing and no photo can do justice to the depth of the canyon and the colours and various structures.
    There are 9 walks in total and we were told that these two are spectacular, but you would need several days to cover the rest of these.

    The saying bigger and better in America really strikes a chord when it comes to their National Parks. I do keep reminding everyone that we have Mt Cootha.

    Now back in Hurricane sitting waiting for laundry to finish. It's still 32 degrees C whilst Brisbane is apparently shivering.

    Bryce Canyon tomorrow. But we again we will go via Zion to take in a different angle from the through road.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Totally Awesome, Bryce Canyon,

    June 20, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Once again, I am at a loss for words to describe the sites that we have seen today. No superlatives, no camera lens can truly capture the unbelievable grandeur of these natural wonders.
    Bryce Canyon lies to the east of the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park, and each one of these has a special look and geology that is distinctly different from the other. Bryce is no exception.
    Today started with us driving through Zion so we got to look at it from another angle. We then headed further East to Red Canyon and then to Bryce. Once again, we took advantage of the free shuttle from the visitor’s information centre.
    Our first stop was Inspiration point, the view was breathtaking as we looked at the many shapes of the formations created by eons of erosion. The colours are outstanding and against the perfect blue sky we could not have asked for better. Whilst there are fenced viewing platforms the various trails lead along the top of the ridge with nothing to catch you if you fall. Getting close to the edge is not for the faint hearted. In a land of litigation, we were amazed at how open the cliff faces were, you certainly need to be sure footed and have control of your kids.
    We walked from Inspiration Point to Sunset point and the vista change moment by moment. At the sunset point viewing area, we took the Navajo trail a steep winding well defined foot track in amongst the formations. What walked down the hill must come back up and muscles have been severely challenged on that walk back. I completed the Navajo loop, whilst Noela, Paola, and Carl took a longer route.
    There will be some aches and pains tomorrow.
    Lunch followed at the general store, and we then got back on the road via Antimony and Otter Creek along a road less travelled. A few old mines used for mining the precious metal Antimony dotted the area, and Otter Creek is a popular trout fishing location. Tthe road to, through and after these towns was better that our pacific or New England highways and yet it has almost no traffic. The roads here are brilliant.
    We have stopped in Salina Utah overnight before a big transit day getting up to Wyoming. We do not know what we will see tomorrow, but that is half the challenge.
    Walmart is certainly on the agenda for a camera as she killed hers today.
    Till tomorrow.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Soda Fountain, Soda Springs ID

    June 21, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Whilst today has been mainly just a driving day we ha e seen some different country. Driving some minor roads through Utah. Utah of course is mainly Mormon as it was the Mormons settled these and farmed these lands in the late 1800s.

    There is some amazing history of those times in the Oregon trail that passes through this region. The Tabernacle (photo below) is a monument to those times.

    We passed through Ephriam, Coalville, Evanston, Paris, Laketown Garden City. We also stopped in Montpelier to visit the bank now a museum that was robbed by Butch Cassidy and accomplices, before arriving in Soda Springs.

    Laketown and Garden City sit on the shores of Bear Lake, a huge expanse of water. There is a species of fish that habitats here that is only otherwise found in Washington. The theory is that the lakes are connected via subterranean caves, this is unproven as the lake is so deep it has not yet been proven.

    Soda Springs is so named by the geyser was discovered here that provided a source of commercial grade drinkable carbonated Soda Water.
    It was a large source of revenue for the town.

    Now the geyser is controlled with releases on the hour, it is very impressive. We took a cup and drank straight from the geyser after the release. It was perfect.

    We chatted with a local girl who educated us about a number of local facts and has suggested that next time we are here to contact her mother who would be more than happy to play host and tour guide.

    A cold beer and a shared meal at the local Pub and the day is complete. Another stunning day weatherwise.

    Heading to Jackson tomorrow where snow has been falling.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    2

    We're goin to, Jackson WY

    June 22, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 15 °C

    Leaving Soda Springs behind and following State Highway 89, we set out to Jackson Hole Wyoming, gateway to the Tetons and Yellowstone national Park.

    We passed through some small towns, Freedom, Wilson, Etna and Alpine. In Etna we stopped at the General Store for breakfast, we were not expecting much we were blown away by the hospitality the coffee and the food. What a Gem.

    After Alpine we turned right to head towards Hoback Junction following the Snake River where we watched several rafting groups shooting downstream. Rafting here is big business but we will not get a chance to do this on this trip.

    We arrived in Jackson around 10.30 and went directly to the visitors centre, this was really helpful and informative. The shops beckoned so a visit to several were made including the camera shop confirming that Noela's camera is a dead duck. Picked up a T shirt at Chesters HD and then went back down to the American Legion rooms. This is set up like our RSLs to assist returned defence force personnel. Had a really nice lunch there before heading over to Snow King mountain. Carl, Noela and I rode the chairlift to the top whilst Paola sat this one out. The Ski run below the chairlift is the steepest in North America and it was really , really steep, we had amazing views all the way to the Tetons and surrounding areas.

    A quick checkin to the Motel 6, and we then drove over to the Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout and Show. Highly recommend this show, After a ride out in horse drawn covered wagons we reached the dinner camp after a mock attack by horse back bandits. It was a great couple of hours with great food, camp oven style beef beans chicken and salad.

    Tomorrow morning we are being picked up to join a full day wildlife safari, hoping to see bear, moose , elk etc.

    Keep your fingers crossed for us    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    On Safari, Grand Tetons

    June 23, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    5.50 AM pick up in an 8 seat off road van, equipped with high powered binoculars and spotting scopes all from Jackson Eco Tours. From the outset it appeared that we had a great guide Chelsea, extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. We picked up another couple Paula and Tome from Jackson Lodge and we were on our way.

    These guide are in 2 way comms with each other so they can compare and share locations of the very elusive wildlife. Our first spotting was pronghorn (Antelope) and we were truly lucky to see the doe in full flight chasing a Kyote away from her fawn. This was a very rare event and something that Chelsea had not even seen. In the same place a lone Bison.

    We received a call to get to a second location where there were several moose. A Bull feeding on cress in the creek and several cows, one with calf grazing. We saw seven of these in total. Next were a pair of Elk beside the road very close up. We saw Prairie Dogs, ground Squirrels, Crane and dear, but the Grizzlys and Black bears eluded us much to Carls dismay.

    We hunted up hill and down dale and even sacrificed ourselves to Mosquitos, Chelsea went to extraordinary lengths to find them but just not happening today.

    Light breakfast was supplied and we had a great picnic lunch provided when we stopped on the shore of Jackson Lake. On our last stop I offered to photograph to guys touring on mountain bikes. As it turned out it was an aussie father and son who were competing in the Bamff to Mexico Great Divide bike ride. What an amazing feat.

    8 hours of value and information, we had some great laughs with the other couple exchanging various stories. Thanks to Eco Tours for a spectacular day.

    Back in Jackson we caught the free shuttle back into town for some shopping, browsing and a coffee before a light meal.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    1

    Beary good day, Teton Village

    June 24, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Our last day in Jackson and we decided to start early and retrace our steps from yesterday’s safari and see if we can find some interesting wildlife. It was very different without binoculars, but we did find Elk, Deer, and we found a moose and her calf, and she was only 20 metres away. I carefully got up close being aware that a moose with calf is very dangerous. Using a tree as cover I got to about 10 metres from her, when she looked straight at me and took a step in my direction I retreated with staggering speed. Our search continued in all the likely haunts but sadly no bear.
    On return from the wilderness we went back to the visitor’s centre, had lunch and checked out the shops again. We took a stage coach ride around town, which was a relaxing way to take in the sights. We are really getting into the cowboy way of life. Laundry was on the agenda so Noela took care of that whilst I stayed in town before the 2 – mile walk back to the motel, should have caught the shuttle.
    Late in the day at around 5.15 we drove around to Teton Village. Carl and Paola had checked this out earlier in the day and discovered that the Gondola to 9000 plus feet is free after 5 PM. The Traam to the top is $40 and goes to 10,000ft so we opted for the cheap seats on the gondola instead. As we were boarding another passenger told us of a bear at stanchion 19 or 20. Well hello bear, a black bear cub directly below us. Cameras went crazy and to make sure we did another circuit, yes, it was still there, Carl was a happy man and we were all pretty stoked as well.
    We celebrated with a light meal and a cold beverage at the Piste Bar at 9250 ft. We were not really dressed for the late afternoon shadows and the chill as the temperature plummeted to single digits. But dinner was great, the beer super cold and the company awesome.
    We again boarded the gondola for the ride down the mountain and our bear was still there, so we did yet another lap. The lift attendant must have wondered what these grown adults were up to riding around and around on the lift.
    Finally, back at the car we fuelled for tomorrow and bid 3 great days at Jackson goodbye. Tomorrow Yellowstone and probably more bear hunting.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Geysers and geesers, Yellowstone NP

    June 25, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Jackson is some 50 miles South of Yellowstone NP so we got an early start as there was plenty of things that we wanted to see on this visit. Our first encounter for the day was a group of Bison right next to the road, several cars were parked too close to them and the Bison soon spooked. We can see why people get gored by them given the amazing turn of speed and agility that a couple of them displayed, one even jumping a fence,
    We continued into the Teton NP and then to the South entrance of Yellowstone NP in good time. We again were thankful for the annual park pass that we purchased on day one this pass has saved us a couple of hundred dollars already.
    Our first stop was at West Thumb where we walked a board walk around a collection of small pools of geo thermal activity. This site bordered the lake and these vents were even in the lake bubbling their hot water into the freezing lake water. We were pretty amazed by this but there was bigger to come.
    We headed into Yellowstone village where most people just go to see “Old Faithful”, I had read about another location at the back of this geyser, so we took that boardwalk that went for about 1.5 miles. Absolutely stunning views and geology with water filled vents bubbling and boiling with different colours based on the bacteria or minerals present. There literally hundreds of these and they all had views to old faithful which as an added bonus erupted whilst we were there.
    Our trip continued taking in other sites like Black Sand basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Grand prismatic Springs, The Mud Volcano, The Sulphur Caldron, Firehole Canyon Drive along with other stops to view water falls, rapids and canyons. All of these sites offered something different and were on the southern loop road. We stopped for a late lunch at Canyon Village and then moved into the Hayden Valley our exit road to Cody Wyoming. Bison grazed in the fields, more photos were taken and we ooed and ahhed at the vistas. We came around a bend with a group of vehicles parked and all of a sudden, the car exploded with the shout of GRIZZLY and eagle eyes Noela spotted the elusive beast on a distant ridge. It was a long way off but still close enough to identify. After 15 minutes of bear gazing we continued and soon enough we exited the park.
    Our drive continued, and we recapped the day like kids on a school excursion just near the town of Witica it happened, another innocuous group of cars. There she was another Grizzly along with her two cubs blissfully feeding with the cubs playing. This time though she was 50 to 75 metres away, close enough to make sure that while taking photos you had a clear escape path. We must have been there for about 45 minutes until some peanut drove his car up to them and upset mum. Carl did not want to leave but we dragged him kicking a and screaming back to the car.
    Finally, we got to Cody at around 6.45 feeling pretty happy with the days events. But guess where Carl and Paola are going back to tomorrow morning………….Yawn, see you tomorrow.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    1

    True Wild West, Cody WY

    June 26, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Cody is a wild west town steeped in history and named after Buffalo Bill Cody who developed the town and poured significant amounts of money into it. The hospitality here is second to none and the towns people are extremely proud of what they have.
    Noela and I started the day with breakfast at Granny’s a great traditional diner with really wholesome and good value meals. From there we singlehandedly tried to add to the Cody economy as we found some great western outfitters for shoes , boots and clothing. A mandatory visit to Cody Harley Davidson and a coffee at a genuine espresso coffee shop.
    Carl and Paola headed back into Yellowstone to Mammoth Springs and Roosevelt to chase down more of the elusive bears in the area and returned having seen 3 bear at various distances.
    We all joined a tour at 3.00pm that ran for an hour. The tour was on a trolley bus and gave a very informative talk on the history, the population and the economy, again highlighting the pride that the locals have in their town.
    Tonight, we will witness a mock gunfight at the Hotel Irma Bill Cody’s old Saloon and hotel before heading over to the stampede stadium to see the daily Rodeo. Cody claims to be the rodeo capital of America.
    Then its time to hit the road again and move into Montana and Washington state.

    More to come on the Rodeo.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Rodeo Time, Cody WY

    June 26, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Shoot out at the hotel Irma was a bit corny but they re-enacted a shoot out with Butch Cassidy and Wyatt Earp. There was a big crowd and it certainly entertained the kids.

    One of our things to do in Cody was the rodeo that is held every night in summer. We were picked up by the Cody rodeo bus and taken to the rodeo grounds on the western end of town. We had great sets directly over the shoots.

    It was an entertaining night with several Aussies competing so they received a special cheer. If you ever go to Cody this is a must do event.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Montana Hospitality, Willsall, MT

    June 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    After a great breakfast at granny's, we left Cody behind, driving north along the Chief Joseph Highway. This is an amazing road with awesome scenery and telling history. It was here that the Nez Perze were pursued by the US army with orders to take no prisoners. This was 12 months after Custer and hundreds of US cavalry soldiers were killed at Little Big Horn.

    The Indians were being closed in on but they threw in some clever diversionary tactics and escaped. We stopped at an overlook today called dead Indian pass. The battle that raged here in and around 1877 was bloody and vicious.

    We continued on and detoured to Silvergate a small town that we stayed in 4 years ago it is a beautiful place on the beginning of the Beartooth Highway. From here we followed the Beartooth out of Wyoming and into Montana, again with spectacular scenery, snow and green rolling hills and the ever present Beartooth Mountain nearby. We stopped at the scene of my wrong side of the road fopar of 4 years ago. I got it right this time. Some snowballs were thrown, our country name carved in the snow wall and plenty of laughs at Carl trying not to sink in thee snow with thongs on. The Beartooth is a great road to ride and driving a car just di not do it justice. That said it was worth it just the same.

    We reached the town of Redlodge at lunchtime had a bite to eat and planned the afternoon drive. To ease the drive tomorrow we pushed on via Roscoe, Columbus and Springdale before turning right and heading for Sulphur Springs. We decided that we would just happen upon a small lodging at one of the small towns, and that was what happened. After a couple of towns with nothing we drove into Willsall and feeling satisfied with todays effort we have stopped at Fort Willsall Motel Willsall is a a 2 horse town with a motel designed as a fort, complete with log cabins.

    Its going to be a very peaceful night.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Blackfeet Nation, Browning MT

    June 28, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Dinner Last night was at the Bank Bar, an old bank complete with vault now operating as a bar and restaurant. Whilst it sounds flash Wilsall only has a population of 200 or so but it is a friendly place and we can thoroughly recommend the motel known as Fort Wilsall Motel run by Dick and May. As predicted our little log cabins were very quiet so it was a restful night.
    We pushed on this morning to Sulphur Springs and stopped at Dori’s for breakfast, she was a hoot and loves getting Australians through. She armed us with some local knowledge and off we went heading for Great falls on the Missouri River. We can see why they call Montana big Sky country, it is open with sweeping plains and rolling hills, blue skies and fields full of premium feed for the beef cattle raised here.
    The falls in Great Falls were spectacular and even though the river here was dammed in 1915 the old falls still remain below the dam wall. As the river was in flood the dam was spilling. Whilst there we met a group of kids on summer camp. They were very impressed to meet some Australians and they warned us of a Water Moccasin nearby.
    The country we passed through again today has a savage past, but it seems to have been dominated by the Black Feet Nation of American Indians. Tonight we are in Browning Montana the Blackfeet reservation centre and gateway to Glacier National Park.
    The weather is still holding but that may change tomorrow but glacier and thee road to the sun promises to be a great day.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Glacier National Park, MT

    June 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Well Browning was a strange place, it had all the hall marks of a town that had been forgotten and yet it is a gateway to one of the most scenic and popular National Parks. Fireworks going off all night, police sirens, hoards of mangy dogs wandering the streets and dilapidated houses and buildings.
    The Blackfeet are trying to make a go of it but like many native American populations they seem cut off from the mainstream.
    We got going after an inhouse included breakfast, heading North on Hwy 89 and into the Glacier National Park, “Going to the Sun Road”. Only several miles out of Browning we had to stop for roadworks. The stop/go guy was taking off his jumper down to a T Shirt with the outside temp at 8 degrees Celsius. As we pulled up he saw our flag and came over and said howdy. Jeremy Jones Horn, stood and talked to us about his life and ours his heritage his family and everything in between for the 15 minutes before the pilot vehicle guided us through the road works. The roadworks were the most confused and messy construction site we have seen, but it’s obviously creating employment for a lot of people.
    The run into the park was brilliant, the roads demand to be ridden on a bike with sweeping well cambered corners and awesome scenery. Soon enough we arrived at the park gates, showed our magic park pass and entered our 7th National Park. Our first stop was the visitors centre, it was now down to about 6 degrees and windy. The visitors centre again was informative and we gained a great insight into what to look at.
    It did not take long to see what all the fuss was about, this was another park that was just amazing with spectacular views and geology. Extinct glaciers are all through the park with waterfalls around every corner. There was still plentiful snow at the top of Logan’s Pass, where we stopped for a walk in the snow and to buy a souvenir or two. I think we were all grateful for the light weight layers of Kathmandu and Mountain Design clothing that we have procured over the last trip and this trip.
    Now we were in the thick of Bear country and whilst we did not see any today we are on high alert as we walked through narrow paths bordered by thick under brush. I nearly climbed a tree when Carl having walked ahead jumped out from behind a tree. It was the closest thing we saw to a grizzly today, but the b.s…d scared ten years off my life.
    From the park we descended quickly and followed the Flathead River through to West Glacier where we stopped for lunch, warmed up and prepared for the end of day drive.
    During the afternoon we continued through spectacular country, past and over fast running rivers and massive lakes. Classic Montana style log cabins and old barns dotted the landscape. Montana has it all from vast open plains as described yesterday to mountain and glacier country. The people we have met are so friendly.
    We have finally made our way into Bonners Ferry in Idaho, 23 miles from the Canadian border, Carl and I have the domestic duties (laundry) under control. Its wet and cold outside and we are looking forward to a nice dinner tonight.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Wenatchee to Seattle, Wenatchee, WA

    June 30, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Hi all sorry a couple of big days and no time to blog, trying to Catch up tonight.
    A reasonable early start to the day from Bonners Ferry, the plan for the day was to get to Wenatchee. We had a really restful night and a great breakfast at a diner just down the road. We expected the drive to not hold to much in terms of views or landmarks and that is just what we got.
    The countryside quickly changed from the pine laden hills of the Idaho panhandle as we moved South West towards Spokane. Ahh… Spokane where we planned to have a look around, we found on arrival that they were having an event called Hoop Fest and the city streets were diverted. We attempted to find a lookout but no good on that score as well. We paid Spokane off as a bad joke and it was chewing up time, so we continued, that said what we did see indicated that it is a lovely place.
    From Spokane, we continued west through miles and miles and miles and did I say miles of wheat fields with very little change. The scenery changed briefly when we hit a huge expanse of water and Coulee Dam, and just after a large gorge where two tectonic plates meet. We went through many small towns all seemingly a day’s ride from each other.
    One standout was Waterville where we stopped by chance and saw a museum. This museum was on of the best that we have seen with rock displays, pioneering displays, a 45 star 1900 US flag, farming implements and more. Finally, we reached the Wenatchee River and its abundant stone fruit crops. Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Apricots. We stopped and picked up a punnett of the best cherries I have ever eaten.
    The accommodation was scarce, and we learned that there was a state baseball championship being held. The rooms that were available were very pricey. We drove back to East Wenatchee and same applied. A decision was made to continue, but we also new that the fact that it is summer holiday we had moved into an alpine region again and the July 4 holiday might conspire against us. It did we checked hotels in Cashmere, Leavenworth, Coles Corner, Skyomish, Gold Bar and Sultan. Even Monroe had nothing. All of this meant that we had driven through what was our Saturday plan Stevens Pass. Stevens Pass was amazing again following a fast-moving river and climbing through this alpine region. The town of Leavenworth is named with all Bavarian and Swiss chalets and resorts.
    We stopped at Monroe to regroup all feeling shattered from a long day, we ate at a diner and checked the accommodation situation. Our decision was to push on into Seattle rather than to stop on the outskirts. And so, it was that we navigated in failing light into Washington states largest city, with being in Seattle a night early we formulated a new plan and turned in for the night.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler
    1

    Seattle,WA

    July 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After a great nights sleep in Seattle (no not the movie) we decided that driving into downtown was our best option and parking there for the day. We concentrated on the pier area as there is always something happening there. The famous Pike Street markets were brilliant with the guys at the fish market throwing fish to each other. There was arts and crafts, fruit and veg and any matter of things. It is a must do in Seattle.

    Given that the hop on hop off bus was so good in San Francisco 4 years ago was so good we all decided that the 40 bucks for a 24 hour pass for a similar bus here would be a good idea. We were sadly let down and the tour was probably the worst that we had seen. Completely un informative and a total waste of money. Trip advisor will get to hear of that one.
    A quick pizza at Subway, yes Subway, before we boarded the ferry to Bainbridge Island. The 30 to 40-minute trip was fantastic, and Bainbridge itself is full of boutique shops and restaurants. The shore line littered with drift wood and beautiful houses. We could have spent a day there and our 2 or 3 hours there passed quickly. Drama struck for me on the return trip. All good after a good night’s sleep but I did not remember much about the afternoon.
    We would love to return and explore the islands and maybe do a tour into Canada. Due to our early arrival in Seattle we made the decision to make the Monday a leisurely day and take the coast road 101 to Astoria, so that is the plan for tomorrow.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Astoria, WA

    July 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    With a day up our sleeve we left Seattle and followed the I 5 to Tacoma and Olympia before picking up the 101 and heading for the coast, Aberdeen, Westport, Long beach to name a few seaside towns.
    We have been watching the recurring land marks of and exploratory expedition of Lewis and Clark and their original outward journey finished in this North West corner of Oregon at Astoria. One year to get here and a year to return and report on their findings through unbelievably hard conditions.
    Our quest to reach these parts was to tick of a bucket list item for Carl and that was to see and drive across the nearly 3 mile span of the Astoria bridge. As I said was passed through Westport a fishing village with its memorial to lost mariners. There was a biting cold North Westerly wind blowing and my brag of going for a swim in the North East Pacific started to be re thought.
    Long Beach Washington is the longest beach in the world and after fish and chips for lunch we drove down to the shore and I at least waded knee deep into the ocean, the water was toe numbingly cold so that was it for me and Paola at least got her feet wet as well.
    From here we continued to Astoria and carl satisfied his bucket list item. It really is an amazing site, crossing the mighty Columbia River. We also visited the Astoria Tower and climber the spiral stair case inside, 164 steps up the spiral staircase certainly got the legs burning but it was worth every step.
    The 101 is an amazing road up the west coast and we are pleased to have covered so much of it in two trips.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Portland, Fairview, OR

    July 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Astoria was a great place and we enjoyed our meal at one of the boutique breweries that dot the state of Oregon the one we ate at was the Bouy.
    Departing Astoria at 7.30am we headed toward Portland with our destination being Cascade Corporation, corporate headquarters for my work. We were greeted by Tod Finney, Tom Logan who shared the duties of doing a plant tour. Noela now knows that I do not just come here to party. Steve Keller bought lunch in the Cascade Café where we were joined and made to feel especially welcome by Andy, Anderson Susan Wright and David Nakamura. A big thank you to you all for a great tour and lunch. Thankyou also to Joe Gallivan for the invitation to your home.
    A visit to Paradise Harley followed and these guys were unbelievably welcoming. The day was rounded out with the girls visiting some shops, when we returned they did not have one shopping bag. Laundry day today and then dinner.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    4th of July, Portland OR

    July 4, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The 4th of July is a special day here in the USA, a public holiday set aside to commemorate and celebrate its independence from the commonwealth.
    We decided to use the quieter roads to explore the Columbia River Gorge. We started out by visiting one of our Cascade contacts Joe and his wife Kelly. We were made to feel very welcome but we were also very jealous of there little piece of country outside Portland.
    From there we took the 84 out along the Columbia River to Bridal Veil, Multnomah Falls and the Cascade Locks. Again, the scenery and history is amazing with Multnomah being the 2nd highest continuous waterfall in the USA. It is still recovering after a bush fire that was started by illegal means in 2017.
    We had lunch at Cascade Locks and watched the old paddle wheeler head out on a tour. Just a little too late for us to join it. All along this stretch the local native Americans have fishing platforms where they net Salmon coming upstream. The Bonneville Dam stretches across the river just below the locks and has been designed with a central sluice that allows salmon upstream access.
    We crossed over the river here, a unique experience given that the bridge is open mesh on the roadway, so you can see straight through to the river below. On the northern side we visited Skamania and the Skamania Lodge where I had the privilege to stay during a sales meeting earlier in my time with Cascade. It has a massive lodge, golf course and a very high price tag.
    We stopped opposite the dam and we noticed that there were some men building a new fishing platform. Whilst the structures look crude they are very strong. I was able to talk to them about how it was constructed. These men were Yakima tribe who have fished these waters for many years and whilst the building materials have changed they maintain old traditions.
    During the day we passed many parks with the locals set up for their 4th July picnics, very very serious picnics with all manner of lounges barbeques and marquees.
    Our route back to the motel took us along the Northern side of the river final picking up the road into Portland from Seattle. The sound of fireworks can be heard right across the city. Its now 8.45 PM and still light so the fireworks will not get underway for another hour yet. Carl and Paola have ventured into the city we have decided to sit that one out.
    Portland city and some shop browsing tomorrow.    Read more

  • Rob and NoelaNorthern Trek June - July 2018Traveler

    Downtown, Portland OR

    July 5, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Portland is a beautiful city and we spent today cramming as much in as possible. The public transport here is brilliant, we jumped onto the Tri-met Maxrail at 8.00am for 5$ a head ride all day for 24 hours. With a quick stop and a coffee at Pioneer Square we boarded the max rail again and wnt up to Washington Park the home of Portland Zoo, the Japanese Garden, International Rose garden, Vietnam Vets memorial, a memorial to the Holocaust Victims and more.
    I was first taken to the Rose garden in 1994 and have always wanted to come back. From the terminus of the Maxrail there is a free shuttle every 15 minutes that runs through Washington Park. We got off the shuttle at the Rose garden, the rose fragrance is amazing and there are literally thousands of roses planted here. The oldest being a rose bush grown from a cutting from a plant 1000 years old.
    From here we went our separate ways with Carl and Paola going to the Vietnam Memorial and the Zoo and us walking the streets and taking in Portland downtown. Noela picked up some good bargains. We really enjoyed all of the different parts of the city including some of the weird ssites like the blue guy below. Reports from Carl and Paola are that the zoo is fantastic, and Carl got to appease his bear appetite again.
    We regrouped at the motel at 4.30 and visited the Columbia river adjacent to the airport where there is a whole community living in houseboats on the river. Portland is truly a wonderful place but for now we are packed and ready for our gypsy train to move on. Tomorrow we move on to visit Mt Hood and Sisters Oregon and some very special friends.    Read more

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