June 30

Just got a wifi connection have been flying blind for the last 4 days. We're at Toad River, BC. I'll try to catch-up with the blog tonight if the connection survives....

Saturday June 25

This morning we wake up at west end campground Fort Peck in Nashua, Montana. Wind was howling at 30 mph. We're on ridge overlooking the lake created by the dam which is on the Missouri River. .

We started at the visitor center which has a museum that explains the creation of the earthen dam which was started in 1936 and a display of the dinosaurs found in the area. They have the most complete skeleton of a T Rex (about 30ft long) ever found.

After that we drove to an area called the Pines.  Named by Lewis and Clark on their adventure. East of here there is nothing but grasslands. They come across this area above the Missouri covered with pines and cedars. Along the way we of course search the area for rock specimens. Spent the day investigating the area.

Back at the trailer the winds have finally calmed down but we lost 12 volt power. After some investigation, we found a circuit breaker that wasn't resetting and of course it isn't one that we can get at a local hardware store. Long story short...turns out to be a loose wire feeding the circuit breaker.  Everything is back up and running.

Tomorrow  we head to Glacier National Park where we plan to spend a few days checking out the area. Then north to Alberta, British Columbia, The Yukon and Alaska. 

BTW: At the North Dakota/Montana border we crossed into the Mountain Time Zone...

Friday June 24

Left Graham's Island State Park, Devils Lake, North Dakota at 8:30A CDT. Temp 71°F in bright sun. There is a fishing competition starting today.  There were hundreds of truck's  with boat trailers parked near the boat ramp: gor on the water before we got moving. As of this morning we have done 2,587 miles.

Goal to day is to leave ND behind and reach Nashua. That's Nashua, Montana.

Passed Rugby, ND the geographical center of North America...

Lunch at subway in Stanley, ND.

Still on Rt 2 in the high plains.

About noon rain moved over us from ghe southwest. Nothing hard just enough to wash the dust off the truck.

1:40P Williston, ND...

Thursday June 23

Left Hayward at 7:45A  CDT. 62°F Sunny

Rt63s -> Rt77w -> Rt53n -> Rt2w

Note that we're staying off major highways. That way we see more local color. Mostly green and swampy. We've also changed from moose crossing signs to canoe landing signs. Although we haven't seen any canoes landing we did see a car with its windshield shattered 🤪

Today we left Wisconsin and entered Minnesota at Duluth continuing west. It now 3:50P and we're approaching Devils Lake, North Dakota. 

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I have now visited every State in our nation!!!!!

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We're staying at Graham's Island State Park tonight. 

Today we're  High Plains drifters.

Wednesday June 22

Started early as we've crossed into thw central time zone and the new trailer clock didn't auto adjust. Had breakfast at the Rustic Roost. Asked the waitress where to find agates. "Head up to Lake Superior  straight up Rt63". Maps sent us to Bear Bay a rocky beach. Only muddy sand...

Headed west to Fish Creek - muddy sand

Headed west to Duluth no beaches headed noth along the Lake. Finally found rocky beaches. Very interesting rocks but no agates. Headed back to Hayward. 

Did grocers and a roasted chicken and slaw for dinner.

Sat our at the picnic table with maps to plan our next day until the bugs carried us into the trailer. 

Heading to Minnesota to the headwaters of the Mississippi River near Bemidji. 

Tuesday June 21

On the road again.  Heading SW to Wisconsin in search of  agates. Stopped for breakfast at a rest area. Tried a state campgroud but it was full so we wnded up in Hayward WI. 

Got rockhounding leads at KOA. The river we went to was too deep and rapid. Found a gravel area and spent time there no agates but clearly glacial till. Drove around; check gravel alone railroad tracks. 

Stopped at Google Maps recommendation pizza: mistake. Frankie's Pizza. Thin crispy crust with no identifiable toppings.

Did laundry after returning to the KOA.

Monday June 20

Today is a rockhounding day. This area was once the Copper Capital.  There are abandoned mines everywhere.  We started by visiting a huge rock shop in a barn with several floors of rocks. There we got info of where to start. 

The abandoned Arnold Mine was first. We had a map of the general location so when we we thought we were close we parked and took a trail into the woods. There was nothing when all of a sudden there's a massive picnic table ( would easily seat 20). We walk over to it There was a sign "Gorge". We found the back door to the Arnold Mine ruins park. No sign on the road but once in the woods signs...

After that we visited several mine dump and found raw copper.

Had a late lunch at The Hut Inn.

Back at the campground we searched the beach for agates and stuff. Found stuff but no agates.

Sunday June 19

Left St Ignace KOA this morning. Temp 55°F. Heading west to the Keweenaw Pennisula on Lake Superior.  The campground is Sunset Bay in Allouez, MI.

Rt2W -> Rt77N ->Rt 28w. The drive takes along the north shore of Lake Michigan  but few views of the lake. Most of this part of the state is Hiawatha National forest.  Stopped for breakfast in Germfask at a place that had no name. Turns out it was a Packer's bar that services breakfast.  This was after stopping for gas and the attendant when asked if they had something for breakfast.  His answer was " a snickers and crown royal"...

The Sunset Bay campground advertizes being out off the way and they weren't kidding. Got there without reservations and got the last site.

Thursday June 16

Overcast this morning as we head west through the Canadian capital of Ottawa and on to Mew Lake campground in Algonquin Provincal Park.

Had thunderstorms last nite around 2:50A to add to the truck and train noise. Had to get up to close the overhead vents.

Short drive day today only about 5 hrs 😁

Saturday June 18

Back in the US.  Just crossed the Us-Canada border at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.

Left Algonquin Provincal Park at 8 AM. The temp was 45 °F. Made a stop in Huntsville at Walmart for ice. Travelled on the north shore of Lake Huron all day without seeing the lake.

Stopped for lunch at Massey, ON at the Dragon Fly Restaurant.  It was very good and we won't have to eat until noon tomorrow. Stopped along Rt17 for gas. We got down to red-light empty; cost $250Cd to fill up.

Stating at St Ignace KOA for the night before continuing west.

Note: not cell service in Canada with the Trac phone. The next week or so we'll be in the states...

Friday June 17

In Algonquin Park at Mew Lake Campgound site 31. Up early perked coffee and headed out to fish. Tough fishing from shore shores are overgrown.  There a winds making it even more difficult. Found a spot at Smoke Lake. Ranger stopped to check us out. Said we looked over 65 so didn't check our licenses but checked that we had no live bait which is prohibited. I caught a small mouth bass. We tried a couple other places but no luck.

The bail on my casting reel broke so we went to Portage Outfitters to see about a replacement.😩 No luck so we had breakfast at Portage Outfitters. The launch area for canoe/kayak  travelers. 

We've  had no cell service or wifi since getting into Canada.

Travelled out of the park to Huntsville to see what a Canadian sim card would cost.decided to wait til we get to Alberta ...

Saw this guy when we got back into the park.

 . 

into Canada

Crossed the Us-Canada border at 12:45.

Only a 5 minute wait and no Covid related questions or ArriveCan stuff. A non- event.

Will be in Coteau-du-Lac by 3P.

Made a gas stop before leaving VT.

$5.10/gal...

Arrive a KOA Montreal West at 3:30p.

Definitely an overnight spot nestled between Rt20C and the railroad. Not a place to spend time. 🙃

 We did about 390mi and all highway.

Tomorrow we're heading to Algonquin Provincal Park, a place we first visited as kids. Pat and I took our kids there and Pat and I visited again when Kristin started college. It's a wonderful place for wildlife viewing. The plan is to spend 2 night before moving on th Sault Ste Marie and dropping back into the States in Michigan and start our search for Lake Superior agates and Petrosky Stones (fossilized coral).

6/15/2022

We're on the road. 9:30A EDT.

ALASKA here we come ready or not.

This morning all final adjustment made. Coffee mugs full..and a couple Boston Cream donuts.

Odometer: 76,809

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Temp: 68°F

Our destination for today is Montreal, Quebec via Rt93US ->Rt91US->Rt55C->Rt10C.

JimBob Adventures 2022

It's Monday June 13, 2022 and this is the start of another Jim Bob Adventures.

Actually we started our prep work about a month ago. Bob's Tundra has new brakes all around and the trailer tires have been check rotated and a new tire pressure monitoring system has been added.

This is an adventure that has been in the works for the last 3 years. A combination of factors and events has delay this launch. Our Mom's passing and the Covid-19 pandemic are a few of the major issues but the borders are open and we're finally doing it!!!

The primary goal is to finalize visiting all 50 states. For Jim It's North Dakota; Bob It's Alaska. So on Wednesday we leave Candia NH and head northwest to Vermont and cross the Canadian border at Derby,VT. Our first stop will be the KOA Montreal West.

The plan is to update this blog on a daily basis to share but I'm not sure what access we'll have once we leave larger population areas. I will write each day (goal)

and publish when technology allows.

We've been asked for our travel details but that's not how we travel. We have no schedule or time constraints. Some days we drive and others we'll play golf or fish or rockhound…we do plan to be out of Alaska before getting snowed in 😁.

We'll share photos and stuff as we wander our way across this magnificent continent of North America. Anyone is welcome to share our adventure it is  rated G. 

Some of the places will be ones that our Mom and Dad brought us to in our earlier years and others we have shared with our children but the majority will be new to us and probably places not in any travel brochures. We love meeting the local.

jimbobadventures.blogspot.com

Enjoy,

Jim & Bob Despathy