I have a few more challenges this year but Jan will help with the driving. 4500 miles to cover. Minneapolis, Portland, Campbell River, Glacier, Winnipeg, Fargo. Memo to self: keep speed under 80 mph and have fun with family. There may be a cribbage tournament.
Safe travels to you and Jan, Joe. That's quite an adventure you have planned. Enjoy your Canadian visit, but remember that our speed limits are somewhat lower. ;). Looking forward to hearing all about your trip when you return.
Thank you. At 100-110kph I am usually passed by Canadian plates doing 170. Most on the island drive very fast on bald tires when they drive 19. A slight frost puts them off the road. 19 gets very slick in cold or wet. The country is beautiful. As a tourist there are lots of sights to see. You should slow down on that road because of elk and bear. The mountain and sea views are great. The cost of gas is not great at 116.9 per liter or about 4.50 per gallon.
Jan loves the fresh salmon and sea food on the island. Of course, spending time wirh our grand kids does not hurt.
We will not do Banff this trip as the drive would be to slow for our allowed time.
I should get out a map to chart your course.
I really like road trips. In the fall of 2013 we flew to San Francisco, and then drove to Yosemite and saw the Giant Sequoias.
Then we flew to Portland to visit more family and friends and from there drove to Seattle and up to Vancouver, then back to Portland to fly home.
Not nearly as ambitious as your trip. But it was my first time in the Pacific Northwest. The scenery is surely beautiful.
Last year we drove to Rapid City SD (from our home in NC) stopping to see family and friends along the way.
In Rapid City we joined a bus tour and saw Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument, drove across Montana, to Yellowstone, rafted on the Snake River, and ended in Salt Lake City.
Flew back to Rapid City, and drove home though Minnesota and Wisconsin, visiting friends.
We did not like the bus tour, tho' it was very nice. We should have elected to drive the entire trip. So we learned :o
Do keep us posted, Joe.
Do you have a dog with you, too? That always seems like fun.
Hugs, Elaine
Yes our dog Bailey is comming with.we had thought about leaving earlier to go through SD and WY but the hotels in SD were too expensive. So we shortened the trip by 5 days. Just outsidr of Dickenson ND is a rest stop with a good vista of the black hills. I-94 through MT has some views and so does I-90. The pines in upper Idaho have a nice scent. I think one of the rest stops in MT has a creek running next to it about 200 foot lower. We are diverting from I-90 in WA to HWY 395 and then to I-84 over to portland. We will take a stern wheel ride up the columbia river and back. A day at the beach is planned with a stop at the cheese factory for ice cream. They asked me to bring my massage toys with. I will also bring a frequency generator for some healing.
Then we take I-5/205 north to the ferry crossing Canada 19 north on Vancouver Island to Campbell River BC. There is an old grove forest there that has a unique feel. We will watch movies and BBQ with the kids before heading back.
From I-5 south we take I-90 east to Spokane. Then we cut over to HWY 2 east to take in Glacier Park. At Minot ND we head north to Trans-Canada 1 east. At portage la prairie we stop to visit with my blood brothers sister and her family. Then it is home via I-29 and I-94.
I have a list of rest stops, costco gas, flying J, and prefered hotels that I put together. I have cost estamites and a packing list. Now to start packing the van.
Sounds like fun, Joe. I would love to go to some of those places some day.
Years ago I drove across the country west on I-40 and a few months later back east on I-80. I love road trips.
There's an app called GasBuddy that tells you gas prices along your route. You might find that to be a helpful money saver. Safe travels and have a blast!
Jan has gas buddy on her phone. We have to leave a bit earlier than planned. Jan forgot to contact our Fargo ND bank to transfer funds. So now we have to get there before they close tomorrow. We have 2 bins to load, 2 suit cases, one overnight bag, 1 cooler, and bedding.
without stress, it would not be the start of trip. I thought things were going so well. The good exits, hotels, rest areas, gas stations, anf favorite places for food.
It should be a great trip!
Well, I drove from Dickenson ND to Butte MT. It was too much driving. My legs were swollen by the time we pulled into Spokane. That morning I drove to the gas station and my right foot gave out. Jan has driven the rest of the time.
I am watching what I eat. I am sleeping wit my foot above my heart. I am taking it easy. I have no extra water pills.
We rest in portland until tuesday then it is back on the road.
Joe, I think I need your address so I run up to your house and get your recliner ready for you when you get home. What a trip you are going on. Hope you and jan can enjoy it all and that the weather cooperates.
Also, an old nurse I worked with always said that in the old days the docs would have patients with leg swelling drink apple juice to help get rid of fluid. It might be interesting to get those little cans and drink a small amount and see if it helps.The best thing is to cut down on the salt. Wearing support socks up to the knees helps also. I think Walmart has some that are cheaper. Drive safe!!! IRISH
Thanks. The support socks I have are up to my knees. We will be looking for more. Most of the hotels have apple juice so I will try that. I fad a glass of organic lemon juice as that seems to keep my kidneys going. We will not be home until after August 8. I have my zero g recliner with me in the back of the van. We bring it in where ever we sleep. We are in portland now and I got one nap in it today.
You're so right Joe.. Without stress, it wouldn't be the start of a trip. It truly IS always something with a major trip.
One wonderful thing is that there's always modern conveniences everywhere we go.
I always think of the 'covered wagon days'. I wouldn't have survived one of those trips, for sure.
Keep us posted..... such fun.
Hugs, Elaine
Hope all is well with Joe and Jan. It has been so hot all over the country that maybe it has been sort of a tough trip at times. Awaiting more info on them. Irish
We are currently in Canada with our grand kids. Jan dumped a glass of water into her laptop. We are hoping it drys out with out damage. I have started to plan my new web pages. The first set was a big challenge. This is several times that magnetude. We stopped at a small town near Butte and Jan dug for saphires. She found about 8 karats. They are being heat treated now and should be at home when we get there.
Jan and Mary are going to the spa for the day tomorrow. On wednesday Jan will drive me to Duncan to visit with a pen pal. Today I took photos of the drift wood sculptures in Campbell River, I hope they turn out. We also did a quick tour of piers point farmers market. Last night on our drive home from Ghostbusters we saw three cruise ships followed by a garbage barge.
Jan is driving since my right foot gave out on me in spokane. I did not have the strength to push the brake peddle or gas peddle. More therapy when I get home. I will also restart cardiac therapy when we return.
It has been tolerable here at the 50th parallel. A bit chilly just before dawn. Back home they have been having a heat index of 115 degrees. I hope it cools by the time we return. I hope everyone is doing the best to manage their Sjogrens. Manage your spoons.
Oh, Joe, what an adventure. Kudos for embarking on this trip, and to Jan for keeping you 'on the move'.
Do your best to manage your spoons, too. But it isn't easy is it? Did you like the latest Ghostbusters? I did, but I thought it was too long (for my spoons, you know!).
This heat is amazing and I would feel it if our AC died (god forbid!). It can't keep up, and maintains only 74, even when set to 70. Over night it 'caught up' and brought the house down to 70, so all the windows are fogged up on the outside this morning.
I'm urging John to consider a trip to Iowa (from here in NC) in September, to visit his brother and sister-in-law who both turned 90 this year, and of course, to stop in his home town for a 'class reunion'. His tiny class of 24 has many folks still going strong (they are 77 this year) and they hold a reunion whenever we come to town.
Sapphires! how amazing. And a treat waiting when you get home.
Hugs, Elaine
Wow Joe this sounds like an awesome trip. My partner and I would love to go to Canada one day. Of course being in Australia it is a slightly bigger trip and certainly not a road trip like you're doing. It sounds like heaps of fun and I will be watching this thread for updates.
Have fun and Manage your spoons
Pud
Australia is a trip we have talked about. I was supposed to be stationed there in the 70's. I responded adversely to som drugs they tested on me and was released early. So I never got to see your country. An old pen pal wants me to go to tasmania to see him and his platations in Australia and New Zealand. Before sjogrens I was tempted.
Well I have a ride of two hours in the morning to see a penpal of 30 years if he still lives. Have fun down under.
Tasmania is a beautiful place. My partner and I did a fly drive trip 2 years ago and it is so lovely. We want to retire down there one day. Hope you have a safe drive today
Joe and Jan... love reading about your summer road trip.
Looking forward to photos when you have time.
Still hoping one day to take a tour along eastern coast and into Nova Scotia.
Mentioned a driving tour in Italy to Dr.. he told me not to leave country yet.
So looking forward to the local musicfests.. and seeing rain on the radar for us.. yeah!!
Of course I'm daydreaming about a trip to Iceland! and with no spare cash, either.
Think of all that ice!
Hugs, Elaine
As long as you keep posting to remind me, I will try to respond. I do not know how to post photos for you.
I do some drive by shooting for photos...arm out window and click, no frame or focus.
Yesterday, Jan drove 3 hours down to Duncan so I could see Tom. Tom is 78 and wrote a book I liked. He has written more but I have not read them all. We visited for a coupleof hours at the Dog House cafe. Tom ate 1/2 of his Ruben and took the other half homs. He had completed in the olympics before he got polio as a bike racer. Ws have bee corresponding for over 30 years. His book that I like is "Hkw to build your own Flying Saucer"
We discussed Brownian motion in solids, liquids, and gases as they transmit sound.
On the wayback we first stopped for a McFlurry. The forests became monotonous for her so we slept in a rest area foran hour. Then we stoppex at costco for gas and supper. They have Hawiian pizza in Canada!
We are packing today. We leave at 4am to catcha the 7:30am ferry from duke point. We will be spending Friday Night in a tent in Index, WA. On a previous trip I purchased a tent my wife demanded hotels. I left the tent with our brand kids. Jan is afraid or tent camping as there may be bears. So friday night will e interesting.
Glad things are going well, Joe. You and Jan always seem to get through these trips with all the changes and little things that come up.
I am with Jan on the tent and bears thingy. Stay well and take care of each other. You sure have some interesting things going on. Irish
On Friday, I was on the sunny side of the car...a flare. Who could have predicted that? Friday and Saturday night we camped in a large back yard in Index, WA where the kids were having a church retreat. On Friday night I had an odly seasoned blue berry cobbler. I had trouble with my balance and walking. That night I had strange pastel dreams of various geometric figures. I had no pain most of Saturday and my bad eye was clearer.
I found out Jan and Mary conspired with the cook for me to try "Mary Jane". Apparently the cook mixed it heavy. I never thought it was supposed to be hulucinagenic. Yes, it did help with my sjogrens symptoms. Or maybe I just did not care.
The place had a nice fire pit. 7 big tents in the back yard was hardly a dent. Jan and I did sleep in the tent we purchased for our trip 2 years ago. A 9x10 umbrella wit a 6 foot interior height. We put our two recliners and the dog bed in. We ledt the bottom zipper open for a power cord and so Bailey could go in and out. She stayed with us most of the time but loved the freedom she had.
Sunday's drive I had the sunny side and another flare. For todays drive to "The Highway to the Sun", I will try a screen.
It was nice to spend the night in a handicap room last night.
Pass the blueberry cobbler, Joe!
If we don't care about the pain, then it is gone......since it's always all in our cerebral cells anyway.
And yes, big helping of cobbler for me too.
And sorry about your flare, Joe. Not fun.
Hugs, Elaine
We made it to Kalispell today. The window screen helped. I put a towel over my legs and that helped also. I took one aleve and one 222 as we left Spokane. I will take more tomorrow as we drive the Highway to the Sun. I hope to get some great pics.
Wednesday will be the long drive day. The route changes in our trip are related to hotel availability. If we were not on a timeline, it might be easier. I do not remember who said it but planning 3 hours of drive time per day looks to work best with my sjogrens and the sun. A motorhome may be better for us to travel in with Sjogrens.
Jan is missing my 10 and 14 hour drive days.we have missed the fires so far with our side trips.
The USA is so beautiful. When we are locked to one place we often forget about that. I have driven through a lot of our states and there is always something to see. I have the eastern sea board and a few southern states plus Hawaii and Alaska to see. I have driven from Winnipeg to Campbell River in Canada. I have a few more places in North America. The trip we were planning to Europe we gave to our youngest daughter. I do not think I am currently up for that. Maybe later I can.
Doing a trip like this requireshelp and planning for us. I hope others may be able to try doing it.
Incase you have not guessed, I had a flair every driving day on the way home. I had trouble figuring out why. The first day I guessed it was because I was not the driver so I had more sun. The next time I realized that my jeans did not provide sun protection. The third time I used a blanket over my legs to block the sun whivh helped but I still had trouble after the drives. My spf50 shirt did a good job. I burned my hands on the second and third day of travel. They are healing now.
I think on my next trip I want more sun protection.
the days were long but I enjoyed them for the most part. It you get a chance to travel, take it. Prepare well for your trip. My challenges came from not preparing properly. I will try to do better on my next trip.
Yes, I am with you on occasions of sun-flare.
With addition of latest medication I am sunsensative. Oddly only in certain areas (top of right shoulder, something like deep blisters.. not the usual upper layer of skin. )
Did you ever put the film on the car windows?
3 hours of driving is my limit. I want to stop look around in a town, listen to accents, taste regional fare. DH can drive till he drops.
Dear Joe, I'm so in awe of your road trip! I am truly past the ability (willingness?) to undertake such a major road trip.
And yet....the urge is there. One son (and grandchildren) live near us in Raleigh, and one in Paris (no road trip to Paris!).
I would like to drive to Iowa to visit my husband's older brother and his wife, who both turned 90 this year. It would be a three day trip. Stopping the second day to visit my husbands classmates, class of 57 in his hometown.
I think it would be fairly easy...my husband has excellent health and loves to drive. We would stay in motels and I am the only one who has mobility issues.
First I have to see what the result of aspiration of my synovial cyst turns out to be. If the pain issue is resolved, even for a few months, I would like to make the trip.
Otherwise I will be unable to stand or walk for any time. However, that isn't always necessary, and I have my beloved handicapped tag.
And YOU are planning for your next trip! That's the spirit I love.
Regards, Elaine
I made use of my handicap tag. There were times we could not park close the Jan would drop me off. Most stores had electric carts. There were times my walker would have been nice. I currently use just one cane.
Most hotels had a cart for our luggage. We packed a bag that had just our night things. Handicap rooms were easier to negotiate. We prefer king bed for Jan and my recliner in the room. You get very tired on the road. I used to cover 600+ miles per day. Jan complained about 300+ per day as being too few. The lesser millage allowed us more time tofind a place for supper. It also allowed for side trips.
Often lunch was fast food at a gas stop, gas stops were Costco and Flying J. Our expenses averaged about a $1/mile. That was food, hotel, gas, and misc. I did not gain or loose weight on the trip.
I had recorded the mile marker of all rest areas, flying J gas stops, costco, and la Quinta. Gas is often cheaper at costco. Good Sams gets a discount at Flying J. La Quinta allows dogs without extra fees and provides breakfast. Some even have wine or beer and supper.
we would often make our hotel reservations at noon. While the lists were about 6 pages, they made the trip easier. As they are on the computer prep for the next trip is easier.
most people who RV will reserve their campsites a year in advance.