road trip across the USA Archives - ETB Travel Photography

Pintler Scenic Byway – Phillipsburg to Anaconda

So, I camped off the dirt road going to the Glacier Lake Trailhead for few nights while I hiked in Flathead National Forest. I had little shade, but great cell service which was a pleasant surprise in the wilderness. A car coming down from the Glacier Lake Trail stopped to warn me that a bear just ran by VANgo! Ugh, I’m so sad I missed it!! Annie growled at something, but I did not see a thing. It’s amazing how quiet they can be.

Anyway, from Condon, I took the scenic route to Butte in Southwestern Montana. I passed by Seeley Lake which I visited on my road trip across the USA 11 years ago and then dropped down into Drummond where I picked up the Pintler Scenic Byway.

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Flathead Food Tour

Bigfork

Of late, I have not spent much time exploring towns while in Flathead Valley. Whitefish and Kalispell are both very cute but are a little too big for me when I’m flying solo. They would be perfect if I were to return with friends to be a tourist. But since I wasn’t being a tourist, and I had been there twice before, I didn’t linger.

That said, it was time to do something aside from hike and take cover in the air-conditioning, so I started my day in Bigfork, after camping nearby at a trailhead off Jewel Basin Road.

HAVE A TASTE!

Three Weeks in Northern Idaho

A year ago, May, I spent 3 weeks in Idaho…mostly the bottom half of it. This July, I made it to the top half of Idaho, and spent another 3 weeks exploring. I didn’t pull out the French fries and ketchup costume for the state sign challenge, because I figure I only need to do that once, but the state sign in Idaho is easy to find!

This time while in Idaho, I visited Stanley, Wallace and Bonners Ferry. I had briefly visited Stanley (which is really central Idaho) over 11 years ago on my year long road trip around the USA, and I visited Coeur d’Alene last fall for a weekend, but beyond that I haven’t spent much time in this part of the state.

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Hiking Silas Lakes Trail

If you are following along on my road trip journey, you know that I changed campsites last night from Hugh Otte Camping Area to a more secluded area off of 302. I’m now in a high meadow with a few other big rigs in sight, but not too close. I am parked by Townsend Creek which runs through the willows. I awoke to a foghorn type sound at 5:30am!

I could only liken it to a cow, but upon peering out VANgo’s window, I did not see any animals. On the other hand, Annie was trembling with excitement as she stared outside. Knowing she sees something and I don’t is sometimes disconcerting! I guessed that maybe a moose was tucked in the willows, but by the time I returned in the afternoon, there was a herd of cows lining the Louis Lake Road, so perhaps I heard a “moo” after all!

HAPPY HIKING!

Sinks Canyon State Park

In between my campsite at Hugh Otte Camping Area and Lander, Wyoming is the Sinks Canyon State Park. Generally speaking, I tend stop in a park Visitor Center only about half the time. With limited cell service at best, I decided to stop in for some brochures and hiking information about the area. I was hopeful they could provide some guidance on hikes in the nearby Shoshone National Forest, but most of what they offered was on Sinks Canyon State Park.

HAPPY HIKING!

Popo Agie Falls Trail

It has been a few months, and I’m back on the road again…this time with an upgraded Hellwig sway bar, Koni shocks, a Maxxair Fan, and a more powerful 300ah battery! VANgo will take us through parts of Wyoming (but not Yellowstone with the floods), northern Idaho and western Montana over a two month period.

My dog Annie and I pulled into Lander, Wyoming Wednesday night and found a camp spot with rock fire ring at Hugh Otte Camping Area in Shoshone National Forest. We got in just before dark and the road was not well maintained, so I took a spot a little more out in the open than I prefer. It was fine for a week day, as there weren’t too many people around.

I moved closer to some trees today, but it is near the circle drive to the pit toilet, so we shall see how many visitors I have at my campsite. Hopefully no one will park in it like they did in Idaho and Colorado! Regardless, after spending much of my last two-month road trip in Florida in parking lots, this free camping area feels like paradise.

The cell service is intermittent at best, but it is only 10 miles outside of town, close to Sinks Canyon State Park, as well as several hiking trails, including the hike to Popo Agie Falls.

HAPPY HIKING!

Things to Do in Covington

The quaint town of Covington, Louisiana is part of the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area. I only visited for a day as I made my way back from Florida to Texas and wished I had scheduled more time to stay, as the city of 11,500 is quite charming.

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Things to Do in Ocean Springs

After visiting Gulf Shores, Alabama, we continued west toward Texas, albeit slowly. We made a stop at the Mississippi Visitors Center. I asked the lady working at the counter, who was a hoot, to name her favorite small towns. Oceans Springs was the first she mentioned, and she raved about it. So, after Annie and I took our token state sign picture (dressed for a lobster boil), we made Oceans Springs our next stop.

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The Quieter Side of Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores is the southernmost settlement in Alabama. Located just west of Pensacola, Florida, the resort town with a population of 12,000 attracts many tourists, especially during spring break. For some reason, I expected a quainter city, so I was surprised by all high rises which lined the beach and the amusement park. That said, during the 24 hours I visited Gulf Shores, I didn’t even make it to the built-up area.

RELAX!

State Sign Challenge: Florida

It’s that time again. Time for another state sign challenge. Annie and I reused our Halloween costume of a SCUBA diver and shark. Only this time we were at least near sea level rather than in the mountains and seems appropriate for the State of Florida.

Florida is known as the shark attack capital of the world and accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the USA each year. But please don’t let that statistic scare you given, the percentage of people swimming in Florida waters year-round probably far outweighs most other states. Not to mention, I’m a firm believer that most animals, including sharks, don’t hunt humans for the heck of it like the media portrays.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!