Sparky's Epic Adventure to Newfoundland, via the southern route!

Day 16, of Sparky's Epic Adventure. We drove from Bozeman Montana to Buffalo Wyoming, with a slight detour to Livingston Montana, one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park. Lawrie and I were in Yellowstone in 2001 just before 911 happened. Oddly, when I was switching my printed photos over to digital that entire trip was lost. We stopped in Livingston on the way back to grab a cup of coffee for the trip. I was in the coffee line-up when the news of the first plane hitting the World Trade Building was broadcast. The woman handed me the coffee just as the second plane hit. I got back in our vehicle and told Lawrie what had happened, and he said. "We have to get back across the border as quickly as possible." And we did, driving non-stop until we arrived at the Osoyoos crossing around midnight. Driving through Livingston brought back those memories. It's a cute town, and I should have taken more photos but I thought I still had the ones from 2001. 

Montana

Day 17 of Sparky's Epic Adventure. We explored the downtown area of Buffalo Wyoming until another thunderstorm chased us inside. It's a good day to get caught up on emails and reading. One of the reasons I wanted to stop in Buffalo is Craig Johnson, the author of the Longmire mystery novels, has written extensively about this area and the cafe at the Occidental Hotel on Main Street. It's called the Busy Bee in his books. I poked my nose into the cafe It was packed with locals enjoying their morning coffee and breakfasts, so, instead, Sparky and I wandered a few doors along and discovered a dog-friendly cafe, Lolly's Sugar Shack. Sparky played with the resident dog, Dakota. I sampled their Lappuchino (a latte-cappuccino) and a fabulous cinnamon bun. Talk about a sugar rush. I rarely eat sweets but cinnamon buns were Lawrie's favorite, so I couldn't pass it up. 

Buffalo Wyoming

Lolly's Sugar Shack in Buffalo Wyoming

Day 18 of Sparky's Epic Adventure across North America. The weather has been cranky all day as we drove from Buffalo to Cheyenne Wyoming. We passed several interesting places but between fighting to keep the car on the road in a torrential downpour and rain, rain, rain, I didn't stop for anything but a quick rest break or two for Sparky and me. We are overnighting in historic Cheyenne. 

Big Boots Cheyenne Wyoming

Our drive from Cheyenne Wyoming to Colorado was cloudy, foggy, and rainy. The Big Boots of Cheyenne Wyoming each tell a story about the spot where they are located in the city. The red one made me smile. It is located outside the Laramie Country Library of Cheyenne. It depicts some of the statues that are scattered around the library's reading trail - and several of the books that have been banned by libraries in other states but not in Wyoming. I love their cheeky humor. 

Cheeky detail on Big Boot

Day 19 of Sparky's Epic Adventure. We're staying with friends, John and Cayce, at 9000 feet in the mountains a bit south-ish of Denver Colorado. Great dinner with lots of laughter and stories. 

Day 20 Yesterday John and Cayce Chalk toured Sparky and me around their neighborhood and the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was spectacular! The short fuzzy guy and I had a slight challenge with the number of stairs but we eventually huffed and puffed our way down to see the stage and then back up again. 

Red Rocks Colorado

Day 21 of Sparky's Epic Adventure across North America. Today was a driving day, across a good chunk of Kansas. It's pretty flat and I don't remember having to turn the steering wheel very often. Just straight ahead for 5 hours! 

Oakley Kansas

Oakley Kansas

Day 22 of Sparky's Epic Adventure. We are in Topeka Kansas but I am not going to post anything on Facebook except this. The hotel network isn't secure. 

Day 23 of Sparky's Epic Adventure to Newfoundland Canada, via a convoluted route. We're in Jefferson City for a few days, visiting good friends Robert Goth and Julie from our time on Isla Mujeres Mexico. It's a beautiful area. Lush rolling hills. Forests. Streams. And fields planted with corn and other crops. Sparky and his girlfriend, Princess Izy, had a cute little reunion. They recognized each other after a separation of over 3 years. The eastern half of Kansas was much more scenic than eastern Colorado to somewhere west of Topeka. Today's drive was quicker than I thought it would be and the 'house pests' arrived at Rob and Julie's at noon. It will be good to stay put for a few days instead of driving every day. We have traveled 5340 kilometers or about 3320 miles since May 1st.

Are we there yet?

Sparky's Epic Adventure to Newfoundland (coast to coast!)

Wooden VW Van at Hotel Zed, Tofino

 Day 9 of Sparky's Epic Adventure (Newfoundland via Vancouver Island BC).

We spent more time this morning exploring Tofino, Long Beach, and Incinerator Rock Beach before heading east for the first time on this adventure. We are back in Nanoose Bay with Rosemary and Glen, then headed to White Rock/Surrey tomorrow on the car ferry from Nanaimo.

Tofino Harbour

Day 10 of Sparky's Epic Adventure to Newfoundland, the long way.

Sparky and I spent the day in and around the BC Ferry transportation system. I drove to Duke Point, a bit south of Nanaimo, then we sailed past Gabriola Island and across the Straight of Georgia to Tsawwassen BC. The weather was perfect for the two-hour crossing.

Sparky on a coil of mooring lines

Day 11, Sparky's Epic Adventure. Relaxing with my friends, cleaning, and reorganizing my car.

This is just some of the stuff that fits into the car, and most belongs to Sparky. The foam mattress. A doggie stroller. Dog food. Leashes. Sunshade. Teddy bear. Brushes, combs, and medications. A black doggie bed to keep him from rolling around if I hit the brakes. And my suitcase and a sleeping bag, just in case.

Some Sparky's stuff!

Day 12, was spent lazing around doing not much.

Day 13 of Sparky's Epic Adventure.

Blaine Washington

Sparky and I drove from Surrey/White Rock to Wenatchee, Washington. It's only 334 kilometers or about 210 miles, but the drive turned into a 7-hour trek. The Peace Arch border crossing was backed up, then there was a road construction delay between Bellingham and Everett, Washington, and again somewhere east of where the I-5 and Highway 2 intersect. It was stop-and-go for quite some time. The weather has turned hot, hitting 34C or mid-90s F.

The beautiful route cuts through towering mountains, then beside emerald green rivers, and through small, sleepy mountain towns with names like Start Up and Gold Bar and architecture from the 1890s. Once we passed the Stevens Pass Ski Resort at 4000 feet above sea level, the climate began to change to dry and semi-arid with orchards, farms, and vineyards.

Owl Drugs and Fountain since 1926 Wenatchee

Day 14, of Sparky's Epic Adventure.

Is this sounding like a prisoner marking off the days until his release? At times I hear a loud 'fuff!' from my travel companion and then I know he's fed up and needs a break.

We hit the I-90 freeway from Wenatchee to Superior Montana, scooting past Coeur d'Alene Idaho. I've been there a few times and didn't feel the need to stop again, even though it is very beautiful.

Tonight we are settled in a tiny town of 900 people near Missoula Montana. I prefer the tiny, old, and quaint towns to larger cities. We drove through the semi-arid moonscape of eastern Washington into the mountains, lakes, and rivers of Idaho and on into Montana. All is well, except I still don't have the energy to figure out what the heck is wrong with my phone's roaming plan. I might get lost a time or two, but that's what adventures are all about.

Superior Montana 

Day 15, of Sparky's Epic Adventure.

I'm sure he's fed up already. He spent most of the day snoozing in the back on his foam mattress or glaring at me from the footwell of the passenger's seat. Poor pupper.

My photos don't do justice to the gorgeous scenery between Superior and Bozeman Montana. Towering mountains. 6300-foot summits for highway I-90. Broad valleys. Massive ranches. And cows, lots of cows. I detoured onto a few secondary roads but wasn't able to stop for photos. Even on the secondary roads the speed limit was 80 M/ph or about 128 KM/ph. The roads don't have wide shoulders (although the men do!), and the edges drop a few inches before veering over the bank. There were very few places to pull over and take photos so I missed some really beautiful photo ops.

Gorgeous mountains visible in Montana