Dave & Julie's Alaska Adventure

[jjwink]

We have really enjoyed travelling "along side" with you. We crossed the border today at Abbotsford. Long wait of over an hour but easy passage. Only a few questions - guns, liquor, tobacco, veggies, fruit - then a Welcome Back. We are stopping in Seattle WA for a few days. Need to have some work done -brake work, front leveler leaking and a water leak- but unable to find a dealer who will help. They are all booked up for weeks. Will call Heartland tomorrow for help.

 

[Rodbuster]

Really beautiful pictures and what an awesome trip. My wife and I would like to do a similar trip in about 18 months.
I have learned alot from your posts.

Thank you very much.
Rodbuster

 

[davebennington]

8-23-2011 Tuesday

Today we drove to the Craters of the Moon National Park. It is a very unusual place, it was created many millions of years ago as a result of volcano activities in the area. The lava rocks are something to see the molten lava cooled and created an interesting landscape. Once the lava cooled on top sometimes a river of lava ran beneath it creating caves and tunnels.

We gathered quite a few pictures today

I have also included a parting shot of the sun shining on the hills across the river from the Oasis Campground just before we left.

In several of the pictures you will see hugh boulders in the field they were washed there from the great flood many millions years ago when lake Bonneville flooded this whole area.

Tomorrow we are on the road again.
Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-24-2011 Wednesday

We are in Evanston, WY, The campground is Phils RV. This place reminds me of The Elkheart Fairgrounds because a train runs right by the campground every so often.

The campground like the last one we stayed at does not have a good WIFI so I am really behind in posting pictures, I promise I will catch up when we get to a good WIFI or someplace that I can setup and catch a satellite signal.

In the mean time w are heading East now.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-25-2011 Thursday

We are now in Laramie, WY. The campground is yet another KOA, a really crowded KOA at that. The WIFI here is not working well with all the people that are here so no pictures yet.

Some of the pictures that Julie has taken are awesome. We will have to get to a place with good WIFI first.

Tomorrow we will head further East.

We are not missing the earthquake or the hurricane, we may have to stay in the West a little longer. LOL

Dave

 

[dieselsweetheart]

JJ check out the Boeing factory while you are in the Seattle area! Very interesting tour!

 

[davebennington]

8-26-2011 Friday

We are in Gothenburg, NE. The campgound is a KOA that was flooded twice this year. It is in need of some repair but they are trying to fix things up and get back in business.

We passed Cabela's home Office just of Interstate 80, I did not know they were located here.

We went into town to see the Pony Express Depot, learned a few new things about the Pony Express riders.

I finally got a chance to set up the satellite dish, so we now have good WIFI, and I will upload the promised pictures.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-27-2011 Saturday

Well we have arrived in St Joseph, MO, at a campground Beacon RV Park. Ok park we are parked next to a GreyStone the folks are from Texas. They do not know about the Forum or the Heartland Owners Club. (They do Now).

We had to do a BIG detour all the way down to Kansas, because the bridges across the Missouri river were damaged by the flood waters.

We will be here for a few days doing the tourist thing.

Dave

 

[davebennington]

8-28-2011 Sunday

Today we went to several museums, the St Joesph area has a lot of things to be proud of' This was the staring point or the Pony Express, Walter Cronkite was born here, his dad was a dentist here, Jesse James was shot to death by Bob Ford here, Lewis and Clark camped along the banks nearby, it is the birth place of Jane Wyman.

I took pictures at the Platee House Museum and The Pony Express Museum.

Tomorrow we plan to be in Saint Louis, MO for a few days.

Dave

 

[iforget]

Dave and Julie
I havent commented yet but want to tell you that I have truly enjoyed following your adventures! Thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

 

[davebennington]

8-29-2011 Monday

Iforget, Thank you for your input.

We are now in St. Louis, MO. It feels funny to be back on highways with a lot of cars again. The campground is The Covered Bridge. it is a nice little park with full hookups and a good WIFI.

I think we will be here in St Louis for 2 to 3 days once again doing the tourist thing.

I will post updates later and let everyone know how it goes.

Dave

 

[jmgratz]

8-29-2011 Monday

Iforget, Thank you for your input.

We are now in St. Louis, MO. It feels funny to be back on highways with a lot of cars again. The campground is The Covered Bridge. it is a nice little park with full hookups and a good WIFI.

I think we will be here in St Louis for 2 to 3 days once again doing the tourist thing.

I will post updates later and let everyone know how it goes.

Dave

If you are hanging around that area for awhile check out Lost Valley Lake Resort in Owensville, Mo (about 60 miles west) . It is beautiful with two lakes and many amenities. It is a membership park but you can use it if you are a Coast to Coast or RPI member. We just left there last week and enjoyed our stay there alot.

 

[davebennington]

Jim, Thanks for the input.

We are Coast 2 Coast members but we are not going that way.

Our next stop on the road is Memphis, TN. We will be spending a few days with Julie's relatives before heading to the house and the journey will end.

Dave

 

[hillsonwheels]

You both have to have mixed emotions.........sad or glad ??????? Glad you're about to get home safely!

Dick

 

[davebennington]

You both have to have mixed emotions.........sad or glad ??????? Glad you're about to get home safely!

Dick

I will be sad that the journey will be over, Julie will be happy to be home. It was a trip of a life time and I am ready to go back again and spend more time in Alaska doing several things differently.

Dave

 

[jjwink]

We would like to go back to Alaska also and also would do things differently. It was the trip of a lifetime-one everyone should try to do. We are in Vancouver WA visiting friends. Tomorrow we will start the trip home for real. We will go across Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Il , maybe Indiana.

 

[davebennington]

8-30-2011 Tuesday

Today we went to downtown St Louis and walked around.

First stop was the visitor center then on to the arc "Gateway to the West", a little further to the water front and then to the St. Louis Union Station it has quite a lot of history associated with it and the architectural designs are just great.

Tomorrow we will go again and see even more of the St Louis area.

Dave

 

[merlinb]

Dave, did you go up to the top of the arch? The ride is interesting and the view is awesome.

 

[jmgratz]

We rode to the top of the Arch several years ago. The 'elevator' was very tight and claustrophobic. But once at the top the view was great but the windows were very small. Like you say it was interesting. The thing I remember the most was watching 3 dudes break into cars at the waterfront parking lot by the arch. I told a cop who was going by and he caught all three. Great Police in St Louis.

 

[davebennington]

8-31-2011 Wednesday

Today we finished up our tour of St Louis, First a visit to the Anheuser Busch Brewery, we went for a ride on the Tom Sawyer river boat, explored Forrest Park and then on to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louie, after all this it was time of dinner so up to the "Hill" for a nice Italian Dinner.

So much to see and not enough time for all. Maybe the next time.

Dave