R.A.T. Days 50 - 56 - Breaking 10k miles

Taking advantage of this year's hurricane season to rediscover America. We're calling it the R.A.T. (Rediscover America Tour). While Sanibel sits on dry dock at Safe Cove boatyard in Port Charlotte, Florida, Jimi and I will be traveling 49 of the 50 U.S. States. Along the way we're going to recapture what America's made of, visiting out-of-the-way and well -known places, reconnecting with friends and family and  much more.

Day 50 - September 8th. We spent the day in the Glacier National Park near Kalispell, Montana.

Total miles driven: 9186

I'd say it's common in these parts.

What's that  white stuff?

What's for dinner? 

Traditional Vietnamese soup called Pho from Pho Ly.

Jimi opted for sweet n sour chicken.

Day 51 - September 9th. Camping in the Lolo National Forest, we tried something new. Grilling pizza on the grill.

Total miles driven: 9245

Day 52 - September 10th. After four nights of straight camping, we were ready for a well deserved night in a hotel. Post Falls, Idaho

Total miles driven: 9373

This photo is what we get when we don't have any viable photos to post. We've added another travel companion: Dakota the kitty with no eyes. Jimi found him in the park. Soft and clean, but his eyes have been ripped out, so I will eventually give him new eyes. He now lives on the dash with Pete the squirrel and Wally the cactus.

Day 53 - September 11th.Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Total miles driven: 9637

Another nice camping spot. No camp fire though, since the fire danger is extremely high.

Day 54 - September 12th Mt Rainier National Forest hiked 13+ miles

Total miles driven: 9775

Day 55 - September 13th Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State

Total miles driven: 9870

This was a massive pile of food. The Kettle Cafe found on Trip Advisor.

Day 56 - September 14th. We spent some of the day in Seattle at  the public library and then the Pike Place Market. Afterwards, we drove to Lake Stevens and spent the next few hours with my Uncle Clifford, Aunt  Jeannie and second cousin, Jonathan. It was a real treat for me.

Total miles driven: 10,048

A random kid, a pig and me at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA.

Fresh  fish and other seafood.

Aunt Jeannie, me (Lorie), Jonathan and Uncle Clifford.

R.A.T. Days 43 - 49...hots days and cold nights

Taking advantage of this year's hurricane season to rediscover America. We're calling it the R.A.T. (Rediscover America Tour). While Sanibel sits on dry dock at Safe Cove boatyard in Port Charlotte, Florida, Jimi and I will be traveling 49 of the 50 U.S. States. Along the way we're going to recapture what America's made of, visiting out-of-the-way and well -known places, reconnecting with friends and family and  much more.

Day 43 - September 1st. Today we drove and drove and drove, landing in Billings Montana for the night.

Total miles driven: 7857

Walking through the Wal-Mart parking lot, Jimi found this little cactus laying on the asphalt. Most of the dirt had been spilled out and this poor guy was destined for sure death. Jimi rescued him and now he is another traveling companion for us. He sits wedged between the dashboard and windshield with Pete the squirrel.

Day 44 - September 2nd. We left Florida to escape the heat, but still we were getting 95 degree days. So, we headed for even higher ground where we finally found a cool high of 75 and cold low of 39.  Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming

Total miles driven: 7955

Day 45 - September 3rd. We drove into Yellowstone National Park with plans to stay a few days and really take it all in. The first day we scoped out picture opportunities.

Total miles driven: 8150

Fly Fisherman

Day 46 - September 4th. There are no shortage of Bison in Yellowstone. We also saw Swan, Deer, Elk, Ravens (we'd never actually seen one before) and coyote.

Total miles driven: 8309

Old Faithful is as faithful as ever.

 The high content of sulfur and minerals create some nice color.

The Bison don't care...they walk out in front of traffic and just stand there until they are good and ready to move on. Excuse our dirty windshield.

Day 47 - September 5th. This Deer wondered around our camp site just after breakfast. A little while later, a herd of them came through. After leaving Yellowstone, we drove to Helena, MT for the night.

Total miles driven: 8500

Day 48 - September 6th. We drove to the Clearwater National Forrest in Utah.

Total miles driven: 8690

I knitted myself a hat and matching cowl, just in time for the cool weather.

Jimi grilling and wearing the warm wool hat I knitted for him.

This was by far the best camp spot we had so far. Just off the road, by the river and had a nice fire pit and several small makeshift tables. Of course, with the extreme fire danger, we were unable to build a fire, but it was still a nice place.

Day 49 - September 7th. A few more pictures from our camp spot. Then we drove to Kalispell, Montata to sleep for the night.

Total miles driven: 8879

R.A.T. Days 36 - 42...heading West

Taking advantage of this year's hurricane season to rediscover America. We're calling it the R.A.T. (Rediscover America Tour). While Sanibel sits on dry dock at Safe Cove boatyard in Port Charlotte, Florida, Jimi and I will be traveling 49 of the 50 U.S. States. Along the way we're going to recapture what America's made of, visiting out-of-the-way and well -known places, reconnecting with friends and family and  much more.

Day 36 - August 25th. We stopped by Jeff's house (Jimi's brother) in Round Lake, IL. He was at work, but we picked up a couple of solar panels and batterys for Sanibel. We visited briefly with Tracy (Jimi's niece) and her husband, Tom, before driving on to Wisconsin for the night.

Total miles driven: 5973

Day 37 - August 26th. Going through Wisconsin, Jimi recognized the name of a town roughly 18 miles out of our way, It is where his grandparents are laid to rest. We decided to take the detour. We talked to a nice man in the cemetery office, who gave us some history and a small tour. The structures on the property are somewhat made up of a museum. Here are some snapshots we captured.

Total miles driven: 6207

This larger than life size "Last Supper" with Jesus and his 12 disciples was carved from one piece of marble by Italians. it is quite amazing.

His grandfather passed in 1996 and his  biological grandmother passed in 1965. They lay together here in this mausoleum- head to head.

Day 38 - August 27th. Wisconsin take pride in their cheese. Walking through Wal-Mart we found cheese hats. Do I look like a cheese head?

Total miles driven: 6465

Day 39 - August 28th. Driving along, we stopped at the  Mall of America. Everything you can imagine could possibly be found there.

Total miles driven:6739

This group of college students stopped us to ask some questions about a project they are working on. They made our day - we so enjoyed talking with each of them and wished we'd been able to talk longer.
From left to right - Emma from PA, USA, Abigail from France, Haruna from Japan, Jimi and Lorie, Vihan from India, Erle from China, and Trung from Vietnam.

 The entrance to the mall from where we parked.

We parked in the Florida lot - how appropriate is that.

Massive Lego displays hang above the Lego store.

Even a helicopter.

It took an employee 5 months to build this Lego battleship with amazing detail.

The Nickelodeon park and famous roller-coaster inside the mall.

Enjoying Chipotle.

Day 40 - August 29th. West it is and in to South Dakota. We stopped for the night in the State's Capitol, Pierre.

Total miles driven: 6986

Peterbilt.

Day 41 - August 30th. We drove to the Little Missouri Grasslands where we camped for the night.

Total miles driven: 7304

This is us...camping! Nice place, all alone except for the coyote calls nearby, curious antelope and an occasional distant cattle groan.

Day 42 - August 31st. We went to the South Theodore Roosevelt National Park and drove the loop before heading on to the North Theodore Roosevelt National Park where we camped for the night. We saw herds of buffalo...one herd was within ten feet from my passenger window of our Astro. 

Total miles driven: 7404

Jimi captured this great photo.