on the road again 2016

[Joe S.]

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.

[Carebear]

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.

[Joe S.]

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.

[Carolina]

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 

Do keep us posted, Joe.

Do you have a dog with you, too?  That always seems like fun.

Hugs, Elaine

[Joe S.]

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.

[SunshineDaydream]

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!

[Joe S.]

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!

[Joe S.]

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.

[irish]

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

[Joe S.]

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.

[Carolina]

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

[irish]

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

[Joe S.]

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.

[Carolina]

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

[Pud]

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