Thursday, August 6, 2009
Running out of the time at the hotel...
...so my write-ups didn't come as quickly as I liked so I am going to do a few photo dumps of the days so far and then will go back and edit everything. Sorry everything isn't nice and neat but I am going to run out of time.
Will make a flickr feed as well later, since there are way more pictures.
-Management
Will make a flickr feed as well later, since there are way more pictures.
-Management
Monday, August 3, 2009
A quick note...
Day 3's activity will go up, but I haven't finished writing day 4, and I don't have time or battery life to share all of the images. Look for those in a couple of days when I am in Canada. Yup instead of being just another white liberal threatening to go to Canada, I am headed there.
Day 3: Going Fast and Slowing Down.
Day 3 started early, but for my tastes not early enough. I rolled out of Sketchsville, USA at 6:40AM with only a 2 hour drive to Glacier. Problem was though that Many Glacier Campground has been filling up by 10AM or earlier the last two days. Yet again, I was hauling ass to somewhere.
I stopped in Bookings for gas, water, and nature's call. Tired and frustrated I couldn't make a decision on anything, "Should I get a big water, or 6 little waters, is this brand okay, 2 big waters, okay, okay, the 6-pack...............and a big one too. Eww, Lowfat Chocolatte Milk!"
Somewhere on that long road to Glacier National Park I became bored enough to try and see how fast Bug Deathstar could go (doesn't Bug Deathstar sound like a goth stripper's name). First attempt 97mph, so of course I had to try and break 100. I did that several miles later, only to think let's try for 105. Which is when I found out that a fully loaded 2003 Honda Element 4spd FWD can go 104mph tops, downhill. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid me.
Rolled into the Many Glacier entrance tired and irritable, ready to hear the campsite was full. The extremely friendly ranger said that she spoke with the camp directors 15 minutes prior and 2 sites were left. In some ways that felt like worse news. So I set off down to the campsite, more worried and frazzled than before. So much so that I couldn't enjoy all of the incredible views driving into the park. "Got to get a site, got to get there quick, slow down, slow down, don't hit anyone, you'll get it if you get it, okay......damn it, got to hurry, what was that speed limit again?"
Pulling in, the campsite director apparently had just finished a lap around the camp area to figure out the number of sites available. Stepping out of the car, I asked, "Please tell me there is a site left." 6 were left in fact. To use the word relief was an understatement.
Weight off my shoulders, I setup camp and went about actually enjoying my day.
Lunchtime was at Many Glacier Lodge, which is every bit as rustic and majestic as every guide and review on the place reveals. It overlooks Swiftcurrent Lake, perfect for sunrises and sunsets. Literally an idiot's guide to landscape photography out the viewing deck. As far as the meal goes, a grilled sausage with green peppers and some sort of local tapped Red brew completed my full easement into relaxation.
I think I was dehydrated because the beer was having a great effect on my eyelids. Back at camp, I took a shower and crawled into the tent for a nap. My body was rightfully tired from all that driving and a little sleep felt amazing. My vacation had finally arrived.
(Yeah there's more)
3 1/2 hours later it was 5:30PM and time to start making dinner. Seeing that I hadn't had a vegetable for 3 days that doesn't rhyme with "ryed otatoes", I thought some green beans and a little Pasta Roni was on the menu. Unfortunately my parents Coleman Stove thought otherwise. After much adjustment, refitting, and retooling the stove was only good at creating giant fireballs of death, so PB&J for me then.
Dinner was done and I noticed a guy walking by with a tripod. "Ah, sunset!" Good idea to me too. Grabbed the camera and scampered back to the lodge for some obsessive pics of sundown. (insert pics here)
The day ended with a drive into Babb to speak with my girlfriend. Good to hear Parisa's voice. As I drove back into the park, one last quick call to Mom and back for bed.
I stopped in Bookings for gas, water, and nature's call. Tired and frustrated I couldn't make a decision on anything, "Should I get a big water, or 6 little waters, is this brand okay, 2 big waters, okay, okay, the 6-pack...............and a big one too. Eww, Lowfat Chocolatte Milk!"
Somewhere on that long road to Glacier National Park I became bored enough to try and see how fast Bug Deathstar could go (doesn't Bug Deathstar sound like a goth stripper's name). First attempt 97mph, so of course I had to try and break 100. I did that several miles later, only to think let's try for 105. Which is when I found out that a fully loaded 2003 Honda Element 4spd FWD can go 104mph tops, downhill. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid me.
Rolled into the Many Glacier entrance tired and irritable, ready to hear the campsite was full. The extremely friendly ranger said that she spoke with the camp directors 15 minutes prior and 2 sites were left. In some ways that felt like worse news. So I set off down to the campsite, more worried and frazzled than before. So much so that I couldn't enjoy all of the incredible views driving into the park. "Got to get a site, got to get there quick, slow down, slow down, don't hit anyone, you'll get it if you get it, okay......damn it, got to hurry, what was that speed limit again?"
Pulling in, the campsite director apparently had just finished a lap around the camp area to figure out the number of sites available. Stepping out of the car, I asked, "Please tell me there is a site left." 6 were left in fact. To use the word relief was an understatement.
Weight off my shoulders, I setup camp and went about actually enjoying my day.
Lunchtime was at Many Glacier Lodge, which is every bit as rustic and majestic as every guide and review on the place reveals. It overlooks Swiftcurrent Lake, perfect for sunrises and sunsets. Literally an idiot's guide to landscape photography out the viewing deck. As far as the meal goes, a grilled sausage with green peppers and some sort of local tapped Red brew completed my full easement into relaxation.
I think I was dehydrated because the beer was having a great effect on my eyelids. Back at camp, I took a shower and crawled into the tent for a nap. My body was rightfully tired from all that driving and a little sleep felt amazing. My vacation had finally arrived.
(Yeah there's more)
3 1/2 hours later it was 5:30PM and time to start making dinner. Seeing that I hadn't had a vegetable for 3 days that doesn't rhyme with "ryed otatoes", I thought some green beans and a little Pasta Roni was on the menu. Unfortunately my parents Coleman Stove thought otherwise. After much adjustment, refitting, and retooling the stove was only good at creating giant fireballs of death, so PB&J for me then.
Dinner was done and I noticed a guy walking by with a tripod. "Ah, sunset!" Good idea to me too. Grabbed the camera and scampered back to the lodge for some obsessive pics of sundown. (insert pics here)
The day ended with a drive into Babb to speak with my girlfriend. Good to hear Parisa's voice. As I drove back into the park, one last quick call to Mom and back for bed.
Day 2 Redux
When you are tired, you do stupid things. Things like drive fast in the night, things like not getting enough sleep, things like getting paranoid in Great Falls, etc. Speaking of which, Great Falls is somewhat of a sketchy town in my opinion. Nothing about it made me feel safe. Every old and current convenient store has been converted into a casino. A Montana casino consists of 10 video poker machines and 4 to 8 of the scariest people you have ever seen. I was not impressed.
Lists
Things I should have brought:
- Hand lotion soap
- My own Coleman Stove
- Some sort of chairback thingie for sitting in the tent
- More Banjo related music
- Towel
- Bathing Suit
- Regular-size Leatherman
- Girlfriend (or dirty-mag, what?)
- Beer or Whiskey or Beer and Whiskey
- One fluffy pillow and one thick pillow
Good unlikely things I did bring:
- Headlamp
- Toilet Paper
- Pen & pad
- A large variety of hats
- Banjo related music
- LED wand flashlight.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day 2: SD is even more awesome, then not so much, then so much driving...
(Note: will add pictures later)
Miles traveled today: 829.5 miles
Start location: Chamberlain, SD
End location: Great Falls, MT
Well I made it to the end destination but not without hitting a gravel road just after dark, has anyone else ever done rally racing in the dark, with no navigator, and poor lighting, and a windshield full of bug juice, and driving too fast? Anyone? Joe would call this greenlanding, I am pretty sure. Speaking of bug genocide, not as bad today. I have decided that the bugs could be considered the Rebel Forces (or X-wings if you will) and the silver Element I am driving is the Deathstar. So for the rest of this trip the car is referred to as the Bug Deathstar, and so far the deflector shields are working just fine.
That being said I got off to an early start this morning at 5:30AM because I wanted to cover a lot of ground today. First up were the Badlands which we so incredible, and views so spectacular that I got tired of taking pictures. It is just so scenic, I wasn't sure how to capture it in a photo. I took video, and series of photos, it was very tedious until I remembered that I was there to enjoy myself. Quietly I walked off one of the trails and went as far as I could until it was just me sitting on top of the mount. A moment of solitude was nice.
I had a late breakfast down at the Badlands visitor center and met a nice guy named Jeff who sold Indian jewelry that he made himself. No beads from Hobby Lobby but mostly stuff made from real buffalo horns, porcupine needles, etc that were dyed with all natural hand smashed dyes. Very nice and gentle guy that told me everything I wanted to know.
After that it was on down the road for a quick stop into WALL DRUG. It is a BIG TOURIST STORE with a restaurant. That's it, at least for me it was. Back on the road after into a multitude of bikers and tourist attractions in order to reach Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Both were novel, very interesting to see, and very interesting to hear their stories, but almost not worth it due to the lameness of the towns surrounding them. Families need something to do I guess. I couldn't leave quick enough.
I hauled booty out of the Black Hills and avoided Sturgis all together. I figured there are so many bikers that the good riders are here with the bad, and both have been drinking, and I want no part of any accidents. Just 8hrs of road to make it to Grand Falls (felt like 8 days).
Important random note is that my car turned over 100000 miles somewhere in Wyoming today and I feel like I am just breaking her in. What Bug Deathstar isn't a girl's name to you?
Skipped Devil's Tower and Little Big Horn. Custer is so overated, I don't understand how a headstong idiot has thousands of things named after him. Why?
Tomorrow's destination is Many Glacier camp grounds.
I feel like I am at the door step of Glacier now, one more early morning tomorrow and then I can settle into camp at the park and stop freaking driving and start enjoying. I can't wait, goodnight world.
Miles traveled today: 829.5 miles
Start location: Chamberlain, SD
End location: Great Falls, MT
Well I made it to the end destination but not without hitting a gravel road just after dark, has anyone else ever done rally racing in the dark, with no navigator, and poor lighting, and a windshield full of bug juice, and driving too fast? Anyone? Joe would call this greenlanding, I am pretty sure. Speaking of bug genocide, not as bad today. I have decided that the bugs could be considered the Rebel Forces (or X-wings if you will) and the silver Element I am driving is the Deathstar. So for the rest of this trip the car is referred to as the Bug Deathstar, and so far the deflector shields are working just fine.
That being said I got off to an early start this morning at 5:30AM because I wanted to cover a lot of ground today. First up were the Badlands which we so incredible, and views so spectacular that I got tired of taking pictures. It is just so scenic, I wasn't sure how to capture it in a photo. I took video, and series of photos, it was very tedious until I remembered that I was there to enjoy myself. Quietly I walked off one of the trails and went as far as I could until it was just me sitting on top of the mount. A moment of solitude was nice.
I had a late breakfast down at the Badlands visitor center and met a nice guy named Jeff who sold Indian jewelry that he made himself. No beads from Hobby Lobby but mostly stuff made from real buffalo horns, porcupine needles, etc that were dyed with all natural hand smashed dyes. Very nice and gentle guy that told me everything I wanted to know.
After that it was on down the road for a quick stop into WALL DRUG. It is a BIG TOURIST STORE with a restaurant. That's it, at least for me it was. Back on the road after into a multitude of bikers and tourist attractions in order to reach Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Both were novel, very interesting to see, and very interesting to hear their stories, but almost not worth it due to the lameness of the towns surrounding them. Families need something to do I guess. I couldn't leave quick enough.
I hauled booty out of the Black Hills and avoided Sturgis all together. I figured there are so many bikers that the good riders are here with the bad, and both have been drinking, and I want no part of any accidents. Just 8hrs of road to make it to Grand Falls (felt like 8 days).
Important random note is that my car turned over 100000 miles somewhere in Wyoming today and I feel like I am just breaking her in. What Bug Deathstar isn't a girl's name to you?
Skipped Devil's Tower and Little Big Horn. Custer is so overated, I don't understand how a headstong idiot has thousands of things named after him. Why?
Tomorrow's destination is Many Glacier camp grounds.
I feel like I am at the door step of Glacier now, one more early morning tomorrow and then I can settle into camp at the park and stop freaking driving and start enjoying. I can't wait, goodnight world.
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