Because we found the view wilderness very beautiful we decided to stay for another day up in the mountains. Unfortunately the whether got worse and we had a bit of snow. At night the temperature in the camper dropped to 11°C and we had to unfreeze ourselves with the gas heating in the morning. After school - Lily did not feel very well and missed school for the first time - Cléo, Anna and I walked up the hill. My need to get to the top was obviously not shared by the children and they pushed me to go down the mountain to a small meadow with lots of snow. On the way down we discovered some exciting tracks in the snow: apparently a black bear with two cubs (after correction by Kate from my ‘cups’) had walked along here not too long ago. The kids were very excited and I a bit worried since I was not so keen on a bear encounter in the forest. But we made it and had fun in the snow for a while before getting back up to Kate and Lili.
The following day was weekend and so we had a leisurely breakfast and took off only at 11 a.m. We decided to go to Missoula and to find out about the possibility of driving over a high pass (winter blockade) and camping somewhere up there. However, surprised by the time change and due to our late departure we did not make it all the way and so we decided to have another go at finding a wild spot for over night camping. We drove for an hour on gravel roads up the mountain to stop at the end of the trail at 1300 m altitude and spent the night there.
In the morning we were surprised by some hunters but then took off with beautiful sunshine to Missoula where we had lunch. We drove through the horse country of Montana and decided to tackle the Shilkako pass with 7250 feet or roughly 2175 m. It was a great drive and we decided to spend a couple of nights up there. We drove for another hour through "hunters country" crossing guys in the camouflage outfits, 4x4s and rifles in their cars. Unflustered we went up to the highest point we could get (2300 m) and parked the campervan in the bend of a trail with a splendid view over the snow covered mountains around us (obviously we had to adopt our well run in technique of parking first and then move in order to find the better spot later, the legendary Kate technique!). We had a great sunset and lit a small fire to fight the cold. At 9 p.m. the temperature had dropped already below zero.
In the morning we were surprised by some hunters but then took off with beautiful sunshine to Missoula where we had lunch. We drove through the horse country of Montana and decided to tackle the Shilkako pass with 7250 feet or roughly 2175 m. It was a great drive and we decided to spend a couple of nights up there. We drove for another hour through "hunters country" crossing guys in the camouflage outfits, 4x4s and rifles in their cars. Unflustered we went up to the highest point we could get (2300 m) and parked the campervan in the bend of a trail with a splendid view over the snow covered mountains around us (obviously we had to adopt our well run in technique of parking first and then move in order to find the better spot later, the legendary Kate technique!). We had a great sunset and lit a small fire to fight the cold. At 9 p.m. the temperature had dropped already below zero.
Slowing down in the US Rockies
After our very relaxing stay with Chris and Pat Kuchling in Bellingham we were excited to get on the road again. Our next target was the Yellowstone Nationalpark. But on the way we had some exciting stops planned in.
Having left after school (!) and endless pictures of all the animals we made over the first ridge of the Rockies, from the lush rainforests of the Pacific coast on to the arid plains of the Rockies. Encouraged by Chris Kuchling we were very much decided to go off track and do some "wild camping". Having crossed the Columbia river on Highway 5 we found the canyon so beautiful that we decided to find a place for the night along the edge. After having overcome our worries of nightly unwelcomed visitors we drove off the tarmac into the desert. We had not really tried the off -road capabilities of our home and so I was excited by the 100 m stony and bouncy trail that we followed to find a nice spot between the rocks of a side arm of the canyon. We slowly seem to get used to the "gun- culture" and were not too bothered by the empty cartridges that seem to be common feature of American landscape and that were obviously lying around here too.
After our very relaxing stay with Chris and Pat Kuchling in Bellingham we were excited to get on the road again. Our next target was the Yellowstone Nationalpark. But on the way we had some exciting stops planned in.
Having left after school (!) and endless pictures of all the animals we made over the first ridge of the Rockies, from the lush rainforests of the Pacific coast on to the arid plains of the Rockies. Encouraged by Chris Kuchling we were very much decided to go off track and do some "wild camping". Having crossed the Columbia river on Highway 5 we found the canyon so beautiful that we decided to find a place for the night along the edge. After having overcome our worries of nightly unwelcomed visitors we drove off the tarmac into the desert. We had not really tried the off -road capabilities of our home and so I was excited by the 100 m stony and bouncy trail that we followed to find a nice spot between the rocks of a side arm of the canyon. We slowly seem to get used to the "gun- culture" and were not too bothered by the empty cartridges that seem to be common feature of American landscape and that were obviously lying around here too.
The next day we made one of the American dreams of Kate and kids come true. After school (!) involving some major whinging about the limited teaching qualities of the accompanying faculty we drove the remaining 200 kms to Spokane (arguing how to pronounce it - Kate obviously won) to visit our first Rodeo! A big interstat fair was just starting that Friday in Spokane. It is basically like an agricultural show, a fun far and a horse show combined. On the starting day it was the children who exposed their animals - pretty much everything that you can find on a farm from rabbits to bulls. But then at 6:45 we entered the arena to watch the bull riding, bar back bronco riding, calve roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing. I have to say that I was first put off a bit by the - what looked to me like - animal torturing. One of the horses seemed to have gone mad in its small metall box that they are put in before they are "ridden off" and we had the feeling that no bone must be left unbroken. However, after some explanations by the cowboy on the microphone I understood that the horses did not really suffer much and I started to join in the fun. It was quite amazing how the cowboys lassoed the calves, horses and bulls. The riding was pretty amazing too.
Lili’s account:
In Spokane we went to a fair and we saw a rodeo.
We watched a Bucking Bronco show. A strap is put around the horse’s tummy. The strap tickles the horse. It is put tight enough so that the horse can’t loose it, but not too tight so that the horse thinks it can get it off by kicking and bucking. The rider must try to stay on as long as possible. The same competition took place with bulls.
Then we saw "tie down roping". In fact there is a man on his horse with a lassoo. He has to catch a calf with the lassoo, when he has it on his rope the horse needs to pull back the rope and stay back while he is tying the feet of the calf together.
In Spokane we went to a fair and we saw a rodeo.
We watched a Bucking Bronco show. A strap is put around the horse’s tummy. The strap tickles the horse. It is put tight enough so that the horse can’t loose it, but not too tight so that the horse thinks it can get it off by kicking and bucking. The rider must try to stay on as long as possible. The same competition took place with bulls.
Then we saw "tie down roping". In fact there is a man on his horse with a lassoo. He has to catch a calf with the lassoo, when he has it on his rope the horse needs to pull back the rope and stay back while he is tying the feet of the calf together.
Anna’s account:
Lili was sick, but me, Daddy and Cléo went walking. We saw some baer tracks in the woods. Tracks of an adult and two cubs. When we came down into the valley we saw a pile of shellings of pine cones. We thought it was a chipmunck’s lunch. Done there we wrote the name of Lili in the snow so that she could see it from above in the camper
Lili was sick, but me, Daddy and Cléo went walking. We saw some baer tracks in the woods. Tracks of an adult and two cubs. When we came down into the valley we saw a pile of shellings of pine cones. We thought it was a chipmunck’s lunch. Done there we wrote the name of Lili in the snow so that she could see it from above in the camper
Lili’s account:
We went up in the mountains and Daddy lost his number plate. The next morning I was sick so I had stay inside while the ohters went into the forest and they found the number plate on the road. While I was sick I listened to a CD called "The journey to the river sea". I liked it very much - thanks to the cousins. The others wrote my name in the snow for me. We made our own fire and I dug a hole for it. We cooked saussages. The next day we left.
We went up in the mountains and Daddy lost his number plate. The next morning I was sick so I had stay inside while the ohters went into the forest and they found the number plate on the road. While I was sick I listened to a CD called "The journey to the river sea". I liked it very much - thanks to the cousins. The others wrote my name in the snow for me. We made our own fire and I dug a hole for it. We cooked saussages. The next day we left.
The following day we wanted to make it to Yellowstone, but decided before going in the park we needed a washing, internet and shopping day. We stopped in Butte (no it is not pronounced ‘butt’, but ‘beaut’) for shoping - a ghost town at a highway intersection and drove all the way to Gardiner at the North entrance of Yellowstone. In Butte I discovered that we had lost the rear numberplate. It must have happened on the bumpy mountain road earlier that day. What a bummer! This is not exactly the kind of thing that is easily replaced. I need a think to find a solution (since I don’t like Kate’s simply idea just to get one made in the US). We found an ok campsite in Gardiner and accomplished the necessities.
Anna’s account:
We came in the desert. I made lime soda while Lili was reading with Mummy. At the bottom of the cliffs we saw a dead car sprinkled with holes. We tried to touch it with a stone and Daddy managed. We went for a little walk and Mummy explained that the Indians killed the Buffolos by driving them over a cliff because they did initially not have any horses. At night there were thousands of stars.
We came in the desert. I made lime soda while Lili was reading with Mummy. At the bottom of the cliffs we saw a dead car sprinkled with holes. We tried to touch it with a stone and Daddy managed. We went for a little walk and Mummy explained that the Indians killed the Buffolos by driving them over a cliff because they did initially not have any horses. At night there were thousands of stars.
