Day 10: Choteau, MT to Inez Lake in the Lolo National Forest, MT

Our 10th day on the road meant yet another trip to a welder. We packed up camp and drove to a town called Choteau to drop off the Scamp at Teton Welding and Machine. 

After talking things over and checking out the previous welds, these welders said it should only take a few hours to make the needed reinforcements so we decided to stay in town while we waited. 

We stopped for a light breakfast at a local coffee shop and looked at the Atlas to pick our next destination, we took the dogs for a walk at the town Chamber of Conference building, and we enjoyed some ice cream at the town museum. Choteau is one of fourteen stops along Montana's Dinosaur Trail, so as we enjoyed our cones we walked along the the wooden boardwalk to examine some of the displays. 

It's then that we discovered that the welder who was working on the Scamp is famous. Choteau is known as the "Bear Cage Capital of the World" because the man who fixed our Scamp designed and builds a bear trap that is used all over the world! I instantly knew that our welding issues would be fixed once and for all. If he can build traps for bears, he can certainly fix our trailer frame.

After stopping at the local grocery store to stock up, we headed back to the welder's shop to check on our "home."

Wow. I don't know anything about welding...at all...but just one look at the camper was all I needed to know that we were in the clear. Bob and Shane completely reinforced our frame. They removed some of the previous welds and added more metal all along the underside of the entire front of the camper. It probably looks stronger than it looked when it was first made thirty years ago.

We paid the welder (for the third and FINAL) time and hit the road to find a new campsite for the night. 

After a two hour drive north in the general direction of Glacier National Park, we found our campsite for the evening. Situated in the Lolo National Forest along the Inez Lake, our campsite has a great view of the water and the forest. Once again, we drove through a few campsites but forged ahead until we found an isolated spot. 

Once we got out of the truck and stretched out legs a bit, we set to work reinstalling braces and the bench inside the trailer. We had to remove them to let the welder do

his thing. By this point we are a well oiled machine when it comes to deconstructing and reconstructing the trailer, so we had it done in no time. 

As I write this post, I am swinging in the hammock overlooking the lake while Kevin is somewhere fishing along the shoreline. Soon we will make dinner and crash for another night in the crisp Montana air. 

It is supposed to rain tomorrow, and we really really really want to drive the Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park one of these days. The last time we were here it was pouring and we decided against making the drive...this time we are going to wait until the weather is right, so we may go tomorrow or we may wait a day or two. It depends on what Mother Nature has in store for us.

All I know is...I hope we are done meeting welders for the duration of this trip. I mean, they are nice and all, (and their wives are nice too--our third welder's wife just retired from teaching English after 44 years) but I'd really rather spend my cash on some souvenirs or maybe even gas so we can get home! Plus it is stressful worrying about the trailer from a safety standpoint and from a where-am-I-going-to-sleep-if-it-breaks-we-are-in-bear-country?! standpoint. Like I said though--even I can tell these welds are different from the previous ones. I think it's going to be smooth sailing from here. Hey--at least tonight's campsite is free! :) 

Days 7-9: Many Pines Campground near Niehart, MT to Wood Lake Campground near Augusta, MT

In the morning of our seventh day on the road, we packed up once again and began our trek towards the Lewis and Clark National Forest in search of a site near water where we could stay for a few nights. We hit the jackpot when we stumbled upon the Wood Lake Campground. After driving carefully down yet another gravel road, we came upon a picturesque lake nestled among the Rocky Mountains. Just across from the lake sits a campground--the a Wood Lake Campground--that had many sites but not a single one was occupied! 

We noticed that a steady breeze was cutting through the area, so we chose a campsite that was sheltered by several trees. We have been traveling to the northwest corner of the country--which means even though it is summer it can be quite chilly at night. 

Once we established our homestead for the next few days, we set off to explore. Scout swam in the isolated lake while we hiked around it. Reno opted to nap in the camper while we went on our "adventure."

As the sun set behind the mountains a light drizzle settled in to the area, so we headed in to the camper to play a little "Hive" and to rest up for another day outdoors. 

Our second day at the campsite brought more hikes and swimming. We had a picnic lunch next to a crystal clear creek. Our second day at Wood Lake also brought some more light rain in the evening, but as I mentioned in earlier posts I love sleeping with the sound of rain on the roof, so I fell asleep literally as a "happy camper." 

We enjoyed the setting so much, we decided to stay at Wood Lake for a third day. Our third day at the lake, however, would be a memorable one for a few reasons. When we first arrived at Wood Lake, Kevin climbed back under the trailer to check the repairs once again. That's when he noticed yet another crack. This one was small--just two inches--but the fact that it was there signified that there was STILL a weak spot in the frame. We discussed our options--either do nothing and see if the crack grows...or find yet another welder. 

We chose option two. So...on our third day at Wood Lake we drove down to Augusta, Montana and then on to Choteau, Montana to see if we could find someone to help. That's where we found Teton Welding and Machine. Kevin made a sketch of the underside of the trailer and shared it with the welders. They agreed to help us the next day. So, we headed back to our campsite satisfied that we had a solution to the problem. This would be our third welder...so we could only that the third time would be the charm. 

Once we got back to the campsite, Kevin discovered that his phone was missing. After a thorough search of the campground, we deduced that his phone must have fallen out of the truck when we stopped at a General Store for some supplies. So--we hopped back into the truck and drove back down the gravel road and drove back into town only to discover that his phone was not there. "Find my iPhone" is unreliable in this area due to the spotty service, so we headed back to camp tired and disappointed. 

After driving the one hour back from town to camp, we decided to look around the campsite one last time for the phone before night fell. Within 10 minutes, Kevin found his phone. It fell from his pocket when he went into the woods to answer nature's call!!! 

When we got back to camp, we discovered that we had two new neighbors at sites within the campground ! With the weekend approaching, we figured that the campground would start to fill up! The site was just too pretty to believe that people wouldn't be there--even if it was a bit chilly and windy. Kevin tried fishing on the lake, but the wind didn't let him stay long. He always came back looking to warm up by the fire. 

After a long day that didn't feel much like a vacation, we started making dinner. That's when it started to rain. All we could do at that point was laugh, put on raincoats, and stand in the rain and make our meal. 

As soon as dinner was ready, we climbed into the Scamp to eat. Eventually the rain lightened up enough for us to start packing up camp and get ready for an early morning drive to the welder. Kevin decided to take one more walk down to the lake while I climbed into bed to finish up a new book (First They Killed My Father). 

Eventually, the cold Montana night air settled in around us and I began to shiver even under the down comforter, T-shirt quilt, and several Mexican blankets. After Kevin got back from his hike, he climbed into bed and we snuggled with the dogs until we fell asleep...ready for the next day's adventures! 

Day 6: Hell Creek, MT to Many Pines Campground near Niehart, MT

After gassing up at the Hell Creek Marina, we headed towards our next destination. Located just a few hours west of Hell Creek, Montana, the Many Pines campground is officially in bear territory.

We selected a spot nestled in the corner of the campground and set up camp amid pine trees (the campground is aptly named) that filled the air with the scent of Christmas. A narrow trail from our site led to a rushing, clear, and crisp creek where Scout played for a bit while I read and Kevin fished. 

After enjoying the scenery for a bit we headed back to our site to make dinner and a campfire. The night air in Montana at this time of year can get quite chilly! I finished reading my second book of the trip (The Life We Bury) while hanging in the hammock. 

After dinner we relaxed some more by the fire and headed into the Scamp to get a good night's rest. Day 6 was peaceful and relaxing. Days on the road can sometimes feel like a lot of work, but today was not one of those days!!!! Today was spent in the shade of tall pine trees--it doesn't get much better than that. 

Day 5: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND to Hell Creek State Park, MT

The drive from Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Hell Creek State Park was supposed to be a short one--just three and half hours. Until we hit the 26 mile gravel road that leads to the campground. When we saw that road looming up ahead of us was solid gravel, our stomachs dropped a bit since we didn't want another issue with the Scamp, but we changing our plans would mean several more hours of driving and another "lost" day. So, we took it slowly and eventually arrived at the park. 

It was totally worth the drive. We realized that  Hell Creek is a very popular fishing destination, but the previous night's storm had knocked out the power and cleared out the park a bit, so we ended up with a site directly on the side of the lake. 

Once we set up camp, Reno headed into the trailer to sleep, and Scout headed directly to the water. He proceeded to swim and play for the entire afternoon. We even took him to the dock to let him jump off. He wore himself out. 

Once Scout was good and tired, I settled in to the hammock to read while Kevin decided to do some fishing. He caught a 15" Walleye and a 21" Northern Pike! 

We had leftover tacos for dinner and relaxed by the lake until the sun set. Kevin checked under the Scamp to make sure things were looking good, and I felt much better about things when he said that it looked better than when we first got her! So--thoroughly relaxed--we headed to bed happy to know that the view from the front door in the morning would be a breathtaking one. 

Days 3&4: Sheyenne National Grassland, ND to Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit), ND

After a relaxing and isolated night at the Sheyenne National Grassland we set out for a short-ish drive to the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We stayed in the South Unit two years ago and loved it--a buffalo walked right through our camp there! So, we knew we would see some amazing views and get up close with nature. 

After a 6 and half hour drive, we arrived at the park and drove to the Juniper Campground loop. We picked out a secluded and shaded site--#23--and backed the Scamp into her new home away from home. We were so excited. Things were going so smoothly, and this would be our first multiple night stay of the trip. But...as Kevin climbed under the trailer to check on the welds that repaired the Scamp just before we left for our road trip he made an awful discovery: there was a new crack in the frame. A bad one. One that meant we couldn't tow the Scamp safely. We were stuck and had no cell service in the campground. 

After the panic subsided, we set a plan into motion. Thankfully we knew just what to do from Kevin's breakdown before we left. We hopped in the truck and drove back towards civilization. Once we got cell service, Kevin found a welder with a mobile unit who agreed to drive the hour it would take to get from his location to our campsite the next day. But we knew we couldn't continue the trip with a frame that kept breaking. Something else had to be wrong. So, we returned to camp to investigate. Kevin always brings some tools with him just in case something happens while we are on the road, and so he quickly removed the bench at the front of our trailer to investigate more closely. There we found the answer--the front portion of the Scamp was no longer attached to the frame and he vibrations/looseness was causing the frame to crack. So we--well, Kevin--hatched a plan to fix it. We drove into a nearby town to a hardware store (twice) to reattach the frame to the Scamp. 

We went to bed early on Friday night--stressed and worried--and awoke early to await arrival of the welder. We truly were at the mercy of others. Thankfully, our fellow campers and campground hosts were kind and kept checking on us to see if they could be of any help. In the early afternoon, "Mike the welder" arrived. In less than an hour he had repaired the cracked frame and even reinforced other parts of the frame. Once he was on his way (for much cheaper than I was expecting for a two hour drive plus labor and parts), Kevin and I worked together to reattach the trailer to the frame. As if we weren't stressed enough, we had a new challenge to face. A storm was rolling in, and as the dark clouds and thunder loomed in the distance, we raced to get our "home" put back together so that we could have shelter for the night. 

I still can't believe it, but we beat the storm and even had time to make tacos before the rain started to fall. Needless to say, our first 24 hours at the park were not awesome. At all. And...we basically ignored the dogs the entire time, but they were so well behaved. They didn't bark at the multitude of strangers coming through our site, and even though they were bored and hadn't been walked all day they just sat and watched as we worked to get everything fixed.

One thing I love is the sound of rain on the Scamp, so I couldn't help but feel happy and relieved as we all climbed into our repaired trailer for the night. We played a game of "Hive" (Kevin won) and then crashed early--exhausted from the stress of it all. 

Sidenote--the park sits directly on the line between the central and mountain time zones so we were so confused about what time it was the entire time we were there! The truck and our cell phones all said different things depending upon where we were standing! If someone were to have overheard our conversation about what time to set our alarm for because the welder said he'd try to be there at 8 am they would think we were crazy! 

In the morning, desperate to see something other than the campground of the national park, we decided to head out for a drive on the park's scenic loop before packing up camp and heading out to our next destination. I am so glad we did! The previous night's rain cooled off everything, and the buffalo were out in full force. 

I'm glad we made sure to make time to see the park before we left! Our stay ended up being memorable not just for the breakdown but for the wildlife as well. 

Once we finished our morning drive through the park, we headed back to the campground to pick up the Scamp and nervously put her new welds to the test...

Day 2: Lake Kegonsa, WI to Sheyenne National Grassland, ND

Our agenda for day 2 of the trip called for more driving, so after Kevin made breakfast we got back on the road. Kevin found Sheyenne National Grassland in North Dakota when we started "planning" this year's trip, but getting there meant at least 8 hours in the car.

Around 6 pm we finally found ourselves on a remote dusty gravel road and pulled in to the isolated campground. No one else was at the campground, so we had our pick of the 10 campsites. We chose site #8--nestled in some trees and quickly set up camp so that we could rest and relax after a long day in the car. 

While I put some finishing touches on our set-up, Kevin took Scout on a walk to check out the surroundings. About 30 minutes later he returned insisting that I grab our hammock and follow him. To be honest, I was starving and initially wanted to start making dinner, but decided to throw some cheese cubes, pretzels, and a bottle of wine in a bag and follow him. Am I glad I did.

Just a few hundred steps from our site was a grove of trees in the middle of the grassland. With no other souls in sight for miles and a glorious breeze blowing through the open field, we enjoyed the hammock and snacks while the sun set. It was spectacular. 

Eventually, the sun settled behind the hill, so we reluctantly walked back to our campsite to make dinner. 

After dinner, we walked back to the field to stargaze as the breezes continues to whip through the open spaces. It was a magical night--quiet, peaceful, relaxing. Exactly what we needed! 

Day 2 surprised me. That campground was like a little secret hidden away for unsuspecting people like us to stumble into and be wowed by the sheer magic that a landscape like a grassland can provide. 

We slept like logs as the breezes ruffled the curtains of the Scamp. I wonder what surprises Day 3 will bring...

Road Trip 2016 Begins! Day 1: Columbus, OH to Lake Kegonsa, Wisconsin

Well, it's that time of year again! We've graded the last projects of the school year and said goodbye to our students. We've cleaned our classrooms and entered report card comments. It is officially summer once again! It's time to recharge! It's time for Road  Trip 2016! 

We had a few hiccups before getting on the road this year--the biggest one came when the frame of our Scamp broke while Kevin was towing it to a fishing trip for a few days before we planned to leave on our trip. A welder was thankfully able to make the repairs necessary, and we only had to leave two days later than originally planned. We are hoping that it will be smooth sailing from here! 

So...here is how this year's road trip began:

DAY 1: 

We loaded up the pups and pulled out of the driveway around 6 AM on Wednesday, June 8th. We typically spend a LOT of time in the car the first few days of our trip in an effort to get out West as quickly as possible. 

This year we are traveling in style! We traded in our old truck for a 2016 Chevy Silverado and we are feeling spoiled. The satellite radio and navigation screen and cruise control that consistently work have us feeling more comfortable than ever! 

We found a delicious taco truck in Wisconsin and had a nice picnic lunch after a few hours on the road. It hit the spot! 

After we all stretched our legs a bit we piled back into the car and continued our journey towards Wisconsin. While Kevin was driving, I did a little research to try to find a dog friendly campground with somewhere for Scout to swim. After a full day in the car he was definitely going to need some time to burn some energy. 

We decided to set up camp at Lake Kegonsa State Park. With 98 wooded campsites, running water and showers, this campsite was just what we needed after our first day on the road.

After setting up camp, we went on a hike down to the pet beach so that Scout could swim! I took pictures on our "good" camera, so I will have to add them when we get back home, but I can guarantee that Scout thoroughly enjoyed the beach while Reno watched from a safe distance. 

As the sun began to set, we decided to head back to camp where Kevin cooked steak and potatoes for us to share by our first campfire of the trip. One awesome feature of this campground was the elderly man who drives from campsite to campsite selling and delivering firewood!!! We headed to bed early--both of us were wiped out from the hike and from packing the day before and from our early morning wake up. 

Day 1 was smooth and fun. Hoping for more of the same as we continue our adventure!!!!