Our stay on Whidbey Island in Washington State was drawing to a close. Ahead of us was a cross-country journey along the top of the country on our way to visit a high-school chum in Chicago and then venture down to Key West, Florida, for the winter. In short, we were approaching a 6-month, 3,600-mile trek.
Click here to read Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.
Monique’s mapping out of the route was simple. Get on Washington Hwy. 20, detour up to U.S. Hwy. 2 in Idaho Eastward into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and then hug the coast along Lake Michigan to the Windy City. All very direct and inviting. However, Monique’s planning is always open to deviation when she reads about sights or events that will add extra spice to our on-the-road experiences.
I’m not going to bore you with a mile-by-mile recollection of blacktop from mountains to plains to lakes but rather toss out some of the memorable stops as we wove our way beneath the Canadian border. The tough part is paring down more than 2,500 photos into a very few that capture the feeling of our journey.
North Cascades National Park
Our first stop along scenic Route 20 was in a “secret spot” known as North Cascades National Park in Washington State. It must be a secret, because it is the least visited of all National Parks in the Lower 48 states. Like most of the more popular members of the National Park system, North Cascades offers beauty and opportunities for appreciation of nature, especially glaciers. Four days of cherished mountains and forest before heading into the sunrise and joining U.S. 2 in Idaho.
Related video: North Cascades National Park: The Raw Edge Of Nature
A River Runs Through It
At the start of this trip, we had spent almost three years as nomads in a 22-foot travel trailer (later replaced by a 28-footer). As we explored the area around Sandpoint, Idaho, we found a pizza restaurant in Hope with the freshest ingredients we had enjoyed in years. Honestly, that was a highlight until, while driving along twisting very rural roads, we spied a “For Sale” sign on a shack situated on verdant farmland in dire need of love. It was reminiscent of the film “A River Runs Through It.”
It spoke to us: “Buy me.” The price was reasonable and the land, with a creek running through it framed by mountain vistas, was postcard ideal. We imagined starting a restoration of the property during the warm summer months until reality stepped in. We would be delayed by the upcoming Idaho winter and never finish up. Time to move on.
We dipped down from the upper neck of Idaho to visit relatives in the Palouse Region, where rolling landscape is a quilt of colors and textures, glowing in places from bright yellow mustard plants. The “Palouse” is dunes sculpted by windblown silt covered with the most abundant crop of wheat in the world.
Glacier National Park
Montana is a big state – fourth largest in size. Our cross-state travels didn’t take it all in, but three locales will always be in our memories, beginning with the majestic scenes of Glacier National Park. I urge you to stop reading this blog immediately, jump in the RV and get there ASAP.
Related video: Glacier National Park: One Half Of North America’s Crown
The formidable glaciers that give the park its name are melting. Several still radiate in the sunset, but much of the terrain is now grass and rocks. We hiked to several of the lakes to absorb the grandeur of the park and joined a long procession driving up the Going-to-the-Sun Road that takes motorists under the “Weeping Wall.”
The drive to that popular attraction was interrupted when we stopped to watch a multitude of Mountain Goats practically clinging to the side of escarpments, raising our fear for the youngsters apparently just learning to navigate on tiny outcroppings.
The Apgar Trail is not the most treacherous we have encountered, but we were overjoyed to wake up the “souls of our feet” deadened by the hike in a cold creek on the return hike. Soon after putting on our shoes again, we encountered one of the most memorable sights in all our journeys. A doe was walking down the trail with her stumbling fawn alongside. Evidently, she was proud of her offspring, because she stood in the path for a few minutes watching us as her calf nursed.
The Apgar Trail ends at the Apgar Campground near McDonald Lake, which glistened royal blue in the afternoon sun. Hard not to want to put a boat in that lake.
When we departed Glacier National Park, we left our focus on nature to now wander into history. We pick up in Part 2 of this series with two opportunities to visit the past.
I welcome your comments and questions below in the Response section of this post.
From the Never-bored RVers. See you on down the road.
More in this series:
The Never-Bored RVers’ Journal: Across The Top Of America Part 2
The Never-Bored RVers’ Journal: Across The Top Of America Part 3
About the Author: Barry Zander spent a decade as a newspaper reporter and editor, was president of an advertising/PR agency, and was in marketing before retiring in 2006. That was when Monique suggested selling their home and buying an RV to travel North America. After five years full-timing, they bought a cabin in the mountains of Southern California, the base for continuing travels. You can read more of Barry’s adventures on his blog, On Top of the World.
Hi, I have always enjoyed your stories. Glad to know all is well with you. We are Canadian Snowbirds; for 10 years we were in the southern parts of USA and had enjoyed 6 months of every winter down there; we have been members of Thousand Trails & still are. In the Fall of 2013, I was diagnosed with multiplemyeloma (cancer of the blood), that is when the brakes were put on. I had a good Uncologist that prescribed me oral medication that lasted for a three month stretch. This stretch allowed us to do more traveling, the meds stopped working after 2 years and now I am on. Clinical Trial where I have treatments every 2 weeks. So, our traveling is limited and I am feeling glad to be a 7 year survivor, I still have my motor home that we occasionally use. Keep Up The Good Work. Stan
Roof and slide out floor repair
I'm looking for a Link that would help me find parts for my 1996 Ford Class B-190 Airstream. I'd appreciate and my advance thanks to my fellow traveller who can provide help. Bill USN, DAV (ret.)
What unit were you using in your travels
any/all information, wiring diagrams, info on appliances anything and everything
I think what you called "Dall sheep" are actually mountain goats!
I enjoyed reading your blog. We are full timers from WA State and have covered some of the same territory. We were recently in The Keys, staying at Fiesta Key and driving to Key West for a day. Much of the area is still in recovery mode from the hurricane but Key West seemed to be in pretty good shape. We have scoured our way all over FL for the past 2 mo. and now head north to spend a month in the UP and Petosky area. I have been making note of places to stop and stay throughout the peninsula. We are booked at a resort for 2 weeks in Petosky so have 2 more weeks to see the rest of it. We are in a 45 ft MH so cannot stay in national parks and some state parks. If you have suggestions for places we should not miss I would love to know where they are. Thank you! Safe travels...
On our bucket list for next year
Love your blog. We travel 70% of our time
Rving