2015 Road Trip Day 4

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Spokane Washington

Smoke. Smoke. Smoke. It’s everywhere. From Western Montana through Idaho to Washington it’s smoke from all of the fires.

It was cold when I got up this morning in Billings. It was in the 40’s when I left. So, as I was driving I got to thinking of Denna Mora Campground. It was close to 60 years ago that we stayed there. It’s funny the things you remember from your childhood. My parents liked to travel but we didn’t have much money so we camped. This was back when there weren’t that many campgrounds and many of the ones there were were primitive. Denna Mora was one of them. The toilets were outhouses. The night we stayed there the weather was cold. It was drizzling. I remember Dad built a fire and we heated some rocks, put them in socks, and put them in the bottom of our sleeping bags.

Like I said, we didn’t have much money but we were still able to go on a two week camping trip almost every summer. We had a tent that slept four people so that took care of Mom, Dad, my sister and me. We had sleeping bags and air mattresses. We had a table that seated four and folded up into the size of a suitcase. We had a Coleman lantern and a Coleman stove. We had an ice chest. We had a set of metal dishes, pots, and pans that packed up into the biggest pot. With that we made enough camping trips that by the time I was 17, I had been in 47 states, Mexico, and at least three Canadian provinces (maybe more – I’m not sure). On the trip we camped at Denna Mora, we drove to Spokane just so we could say we made it to Washington. What was the state I missed? Oregon, and I picked that up in the 70’s when I went to see my sister in California. I have either swam or waded in every one of the Great Lakes.

Every time I take off on one of my road trips I am amazed at how much easier driving trips are today. For example, when we headed West, we often stopped the first night in Oklahoma City and spent the night with my Uncle Pump’s family. Back then, that was a long drive and we would have to get up early to get on the road. It would take us over six hours just to go the 300 miles across Missouri. This was back before I-44. Back then, it was Highway 66 and it was two lane most of the way. If you ever drive through Missouri now, you can often see an old two lane road running next to I-44. That’s old Highway 66. It went through every town so there would be stop signs and stop lights. We were always happy to finally hit Oklahoma where we had the two turnpikes. Back then, a good day was 350 miles. On this trip, I’ve averaged 650 miles a day.

14 comments on “2015 Road Trip Day 4”

  1. Vehicles and tires are also a damn sight more reliable than back in the day. I can’t remember the last time I had a flat tire on the road, and breakdowns on the side of the road are a rare sight now.

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  2. GREAT CHRONOLOGY (IF that’s the proper word) Denny:
    When I was a kid, it was back-and-forth from South Florida to Ohio and Indiana on our annual Summer trips to visit relatives. Until after my youth I had never visited but 11 of these United States. Since then I’ve expanded that to 24 states, plus Ontario, Canada and Mexico (A mistake!).

    There are some that I would really love to visit – ALL West of the Mississippi – Except for Cali-Forni-Cate and Obama-Hawaii.

    We did the whole “camper stuff” with my Step-Dad’s fantastic converted military Ford bus (Extra-height) that had all of the modern conveniences and pre-dated today’s RV’s.

    Back then, all of my friends thought that was so cool and I still think that it was.

    Anyway – That’s my 50 cents worth on your reliving your youth and I envy you – Enjoy!

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    • Ron,
      Don’t white wash the whole state of Calif. with the goings on in Lost Angeles and San Fransicko.
      I live in the central CA mountains about half way between Kings Canyon and Sequoia Nat parks and Yosemite Nat park. We are incredibly sane and conservative in the hinter lands of Ca.
      You have to see some of the natural wonders the state has such as the Sequoia Redwood trees and Yosemite valley to name only a few.

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  3. Denny, I was just in Billings about 4 weeks ago with the girlfriend and out two teenage daughters. It’s beautiful there. We flew in there and rented a car to drive to Sheridan (Wyoming) which in and of itself was a great ride. We saw only a small amount of smoke coming from the Bighorn National Forest which was actually where the ranch was that we stayed at. We were lucky as while we were there, the fire never posed a great threat to where we were. I’m envious that you’re out there and I’m back on this side of the country. Enjoy that weather and steer clear of those pesky fires. If you have the time and you’re in the area, you should visit the Little Bighorn memorial just South of Billings. It’s a very interesting place.

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  6. Maybe I missed a post! Are you just traveling for fun, Denny? I mean, to see the scenery? Or are you going to a meeting somewhere? I would love to get up one morning and go on the road. Just like that. With no other goal than to see my country. It’s fantastic that you’ve been in 47 States and 3 Canadian Provinces. In 1964, we left Houston (me, husband, two boys, 7 and 5) and rode to Montreal in 5 days. We had a wonderful time. It certainly beat any train trips we had previously (and ever since) done. Love to be on the road and see things: sky, lakes, towns, people. I’m following you on the map.

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  7. Hey Denny~
    If you make it out to the Oregon Coast, we should hook up! I’m in Astoria for a few more weeks. Come out and get way from all the fires and smoke, have some fresh air!

    ~XxxOoo

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