Back in the US of A

Great Falls, Montana – Monday, October 3, 2011

At the visitor center this morning we met a couple from Ontario that were traveling to the States.  They were headed to Glacier National Park and then Bryce Canyon.  They were traveling in a Roadtrek 190 just like we used to have before Big guy.  We remember those days and how we missed having comfortable chairs to relax in at the end of the day. They too were considering having a few more comforts in their travels.

The reason we spent so much time at this visitor center is because of their dump station.  We learned a valuable lesson about using the wrong type of toilet paper over the last couple of days.  We’re paying for that lesson this morning. We need to stock up on the right kind of paper when we find it.

Here is a picture of a Canadian wind indicator.

We have $11.80 Canadian left and the goal now is to spend it before we reach the US border.  Exchange rates have made the US Dollar more valuable now, so if we try to convert our Canadian money into US  we’ll lose out.  Ergo, we gotta spend it instead, and besides it’s a challenge.  So after lunch and dessert we’re down to 35 cents Canadian, and we can live with that.

As we travel towards the US border it’s a nice sunny day.  Mocha has to keep changing her position on the couch to stay in the sun. As you can tell, traveling doesn’t bother her a bit.

At last we reach the border.

This time we didn’t agonize over what kind of food we had or how much beer and wine we had.  We just went for it.  But they got us.  We had to forfeit 2 oranges and 2 grapefruit that we bought in Canada.  Even though they were grown in the US. The rules are the rules and you don’t mess with the border patrol. Otherwise it only took us 10 minutes to get through.

Mocha says it’s good to be back in the USA.

Right after we cross the border we call Dad and let him know  we are back in the lower 48 and have cell coverage again.  Our route at this point is undecided.  We tentatively decide to head to Yellowstone so our goal for tonight is Great Falls, Montana.

Here’s another use for the round hay bales. Advertising is everywhere.

We arrive at the local Walmart to spend the night and discover it is right across the street from an oil storage facility.  The smell of oil wafts through the air.  We decide we can handle it and settle in for the night. We actually had to run the AC for awhile to cool things down. It got up to 82 degrees today. What a difference.

BG Miles Today	186	BG Total Miles	9702
Eat Out total $	1337.98	BG Total Fuel $	5427.68
Entertainment total $	1391.63	Total Camping $	1162.03
E Miles Today	0	E Total Miles	2865.31
E Total Fuel $	575.82	Day # of Trip	125