CAPTAIN’S LOG - DAY 9
North Star Date: 12/5/2012
Location or Route: Lethbridge, AB to Billings, MT.
Travel Miles: 405 (2549 - Cumulative)
Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with strong south-southwesterly winds shifting to northwesterly. Initially we encountered 30-35 mph crosswinds and quartering headwinds with higher gusts to 60 or 70. By mid-route it shifted to cross and quarterly tailwinds and finally tailwinds and lessening wind for the last 50 miles or so. Did we mention it was windy?
Road Conditions: Bare and Dry.
Animals Observed: Many Cattle and Horses.
9:11 AM (37F/3C, Breezy)
Just completed and sent yesterday’s Captain’s Log; now where is Ruth? There she is, outside. What is she doing? Frolicking? Is she frolicking? She barely has any clothes on! “Ruth! Get in here!” I urgently instruct from the open section of the camper door, “What are you doing? What will the neighbors think?” I can’t get her attention. She’s dancing and spinning with arms outstretched in what can only be described as that scene of Jodie Foster in “Nell” where she was “Twayin’ in ‘a Win”. I’ll have to go out and get her I guess – oh for crying out loud, this is embarrassing!
“Ruth what are you doing? What will the neighbors think?”
“What neighbors?” she replied, fully displaying that beautiful smile of hers.
“The full-timers – those who are wintering here in the RV Park” I said.
“And they would be where?” she countered.
I looked around and couldn’t see anybody except that guy with the septic-tank pumper-truck, and he was far enough away that we couldn’t smell it. Hmmm, I guess she had a point. And it was really nice out.
“It’s just so nice out” she said, “I couldn’t stand it, I’m swaying in the wind! Do you want to join me?”
I looked around again. Yeah – it might be nice. It’s not as if the guys at work are here, or my hunting partners. Nobody will ever have to know, and even if somebody did see us they’d make their judgments against Alaskans, not Wyomingites, because the license plates show Alaska – cool. I took off two of my outer layers, I hadn’t needed them anyway; it was just out of shear habit that I was wearing them.
Wow! Feel that heat? Feel that freedom? It’s so unusual!
We spun around in the tropical-like breeze and felt warming rejuvenation on our exposed flesh.
“Dave what is that bright, warm, round thing in the sky?”
“I think it’s the sun Ruth. I know it’s odd, it’s so high up in the sky - but I’ve read about this. The farther south you go, the higher the sun is - and the warmer it feels. It actually moves from the eastern horizon to the western and takes a path over the top of you. It doesn’t just swing around in a big circle within a protective distance of the horizon, barely daring to show itself as if it were frightened of some great sky devil or something”.
We “Twayed in ‘a Win’” and frolicked for over an hour!
11:57 AM (44F/6C, Strong Winds)
Just outside Lethbridge. We got onto the highway after packing up and leaving the RV Park and after making a quick photo stop at the pullout to view the trestle bridge. There’s some wind, but the roads are nice and clear. Next stop fuel - or the border crossing - whichever comes first. Who Do You Love (George Thorogood), Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac), Tuff Enuf (Fabulous Thunderbirds) makes for some good road music.
1:21 PM (44F/7C, Strong Winds)
Just got through Customs. Thank goodness we hadn’t bought oranges in Canada; I think we could have gone to prison. And we’ve all heard about those Canadians jails, Eh? Or would it have been on the US side? I don’t know; these border crossings confuse me. I expect terrorist fruit-growers are putting explosives in oranges these days. Keep that in mind next time you go to the airport; maybe you better put your oranges in your checked bags. The US Border Agent wasn’t at all concerned about my firearms, so we got that going for us - which is good.
We got back into the US without bringing a single Canadian coin or currency, unlike last time. In Edmonton we’d had to exchange a few dollars for Loonies - the affectionate name for the Canadian dollar coin – so we could use the RV park showers. We still had three of those left over, and spent that on the free Wi-Fi they charged for.
We had been carrying about $27 Canadian coin - consisting of quarters and smaller - that my Dad had originally collected many years ago from his stamp machine business. My Mom had kept it in recent years and had given it to our son three years ago just before his Alaska road-trip to bring us Ruth’s little yellow angel.
On his way, he had forgotten to use his “bag o’ coin” and gave it to us before flying home. We hadn’t been able to exchange it in Fairbanks, because banks “don’t do coin”, and so we had it on hand for this trip.
Today we spent it on Chinese-Canadian “Fireworks” for our “Beginning of the World” party scheduled on 12/22/12 at our home in Wyoming, providing the world doesn’t end the day before.
We’re about one hour out of Great Falls - put the pedal to the metal. LA Woman (Doors), Baby Likes to Rock It (Tractors), Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer) makes for some good road music.
3:16 PM (48F/9C, Strong Winds)
Just got through Great Falls. We love the Big Sky country of Montana. “O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain”. Fairbanks co-worker Trek is from here. Hang in there buddy, your years in Fairbanks will pay off and then you too will go home! Get Out of Denver & Let It Rock (Bob Seger), Sharp Dressed man (ZZ Top), and that “Slinky Toy” jingle make for some good road music.
{First Mate Attachment for Captain’s Log}
3:47 PM (48F/9C, Gale Force Winds)
Ok, I’m steady at 200 feet behind him, so I shouldn’t lose CB radio reception, now if I can just keep from running into him. I’m HUNGRY! If I can just get a sandwich out of the lunch bag and still stay on the road. Look down for just a second – not too long, there it is – the lunch bag, eyes back to the road, simple correction, feel for the bag, flip it open, reach in to remove the sandwich. Ok good, I have the sandwich in hand, what’s that noise?! The RUMBLE STRIP! Eyes back to the road, both hands on the wheel. Oh my gosh that darn wind! I was in the other lane! Okay let’s try it again, there’s a hill ahead, he might have to slow down, that would be good for me. Reach… feel… grasp… good, wait - that’s not a sandwich, must be the cookies, quick look, there it is, grasp the sandwich, Oh my gosh that darn wind! Eyes on the road, both hands on the wheel, slight correction - get back in your lane, good, now where is Dave, is that him way up there? Darn that Cummins Turbo Diesel! Have to catch up, both hands on the wheel, press down on the pedal. I’m so HUNGRY! Maybe I can wolf down something at the next fuel stop.
{Same time, same place, except back in the Caption’s Chair}
3:47 PM (48F/9C, Light to Moderate Wind)
That wind is a bit challenging, not so bad though. If it’s not straight crosswind and not too gusty this rig sucks it right in. Another hill? No sweat – I love this Cummins Turbo Diesel. What a smart move when we chose diesel over gas. I wanted to be able to set that cruise control and forget about it; not have to think about these hills slowing us down. Have to credit the high torque. I love this truck! Reckon I could eat something, not too hungry, but I need to keep up my strength, and I can make corrections with my knees - but I’ll have to interrupt my picture taking for awhile, want to play it safe. Music Player is set, Ruth is in proper position, good, now where’s that lunch. Hmmmm this looks good: sandwich, chips, cookies – mmmmmm cookies – carrots and radishes, and an Apple! I’m so glad Ruth always includes an apple. Nice - looks good, eyes back to the road, everything good. Guess I’ll start with the sandwich. Wow! Nice climb up that hill, I love this Cummins Turbo Diesel. Why is Ruth lagging way back there again? Man that’s a good sandwich!
5:35 PM (48F/9C, Light Wind)
Just got fuel; two more hours to Billings. I had to fuel on one side of the truck-stop building at the diesel pump while Ruth fueled on the other side at the gas pump. After I fueled and checked vehicle fluid levels and washed all the glass, I stepped inside to use the facilities; then I went looking for Ruth.
I found her wolfing down a sandwich at the gas pump. “For crying-out-loud Ruth, what’s wrong with you? Are you hungry or something? You act like you haven’t eaten all day!”
8:11 PM (50F/10C, Light Wind)
Just got all set up at the Yellowstone River RV Park in Billings. Nice place – except it’s closed. Well actually you can self check-in and pay for electric and free Wi-Fi, but with the restrooms, laundry, showers and office closed for the season we’re not going to be able to get that last shower before arriving home tomorrow. Well - we’ll work that out in the morning. Been a long day, time to get some sleep, getting sleepy, close eyes…
Day 9 Pics
