Hi LB,
Up here in the panhandle we are on Pacific time. I luv it. Can talk to the grandkids in LA anytime...and the grandkids on the East coast mornings or afternoons. We even get Mark Furman on radio. He has a local talk show. :o)
I was really excited about this move. Have never been a city boy. Though I lived in several because I loved my work. My first, earliest and fondest memories are of ranch and farm life in Oklahoma and it has never left me.
Always loved the Northwest. Have hiked, camped, hunted and fished from Colorado to Wyoming, Montana, N Idaho, Washington and Oregon many many times. Now I finally live here. My wife loves this lifestyle too. She is a serious daily hiker, loves to fish, and has owned her own horses. We have a terrific partnership.
The trip cross-country was definitely more challenging than last fall. In October we drove and towed the boat. Had perfect weather every mile coming this way. This time we towed the camper. Left Greensboro, NC at noon on 13 April in a blinding rainstorm. That was replaced the following morning with a blinding snowstorm in the mountains of Tennessee. The weather finally broke and the drive through the central states was uneventful but not boring as spring was breaking out everywhere. Iowa was boring as the fields were bare. Same for Eastern South Dakota, but then came the Badlands and the awesome scenery began. We did not make all the stops in Sturgis, Deadwood and Mount Rushmore as we have been there twice before and we had a scheduled rendezvous with a moving van, but I definitely recommend them.
Heading into Wyoming the game sightings began. We watched a Bald Eagle catch a fish in a small river. We saw Antelope, Bison, Deer, Pheasant, thousands and thousands of Black Angus and other cattle. Lots of large flocks of birds including Canadian and Snow Geese and other water fowl were migrating North. We also found some more snow at elevation. As we approached the Big Horn Mountains, the snow-capped peaks were an awesome sight. Soon we were in a snow storm, but it was light snow and we continued driving and found the sun again.
Entering Wyoming from the East, you really begin to feel the difference in local folks. They are friendly, helpful, and relaxed. Ask a question and you get a straight answer with a smile and a good wish. This continues and spreads into Montana, Northern Idaho and the rest of the Northwest.
We spent the night and I had the best sirloin steak and salad ever in Sheridan, Montana. We skipped Little Bighorn, I have walked every part of that battlefield and studied the tactics previously.
Montana is...well it is Montana. Wyoming has the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, Montana has Glacier National Park and both are very different yet equally awesome. All of both states are just incredibly beautiful.
Crossing the Rockies in Western Montana we ran into a third intermittent snowstorm between Missoula and on into Idaho. The road was OK, so we kept going and broke into bright sunshine a few miles West of Coeur d'Alene. It was an easy downhill coast to the absolutely wonderful view of the lake and city, then a turn North for 10 minutes to our newly built Western style home.
The trip was 2700 miles and took five days. The first morning at about 5am, I was unloading the truck and camper. A neighbor came out and started helping. By the end of the day, all had stopped by to say hi and ask to help. The second day, Karen and I had breakfast at Hayden Lake, took a walk and had lunch at the Coeur d'Alene resort lakefront restaurant. It gets no better.
Our household goods arrived in great shape. No damage whatsoever (Atlas Van Lines). We are nearly settled.
Lucked out and got the last slip at the lake for this summer. Boat will be in the slip this week. Fishing by the weekend.
For you truck enthusiasts...I have had 2 Dodge, 2500, diesel, extended cab, 4x4's (bought both new). Early last year, I bought a 2003, Ford, F-250 diesel, extended cab, 4x4, with the new 6.0. It towed the boat great but was a very rough ride, unloaded, on the return. Traded it for a 2004, F-350 (single rear wheels), 6.0 diesel 4x4, with the full crew cab. That is the right truck with or without a load.
The biggest shock about retiring and moving is the house and cell phones no longer ring incessantly. I don't miss that and plan to cancel the cell phones this week.
I spent 20 years in Special Forces and the Army and another 22 years in private enterprise running my own company. We have been actively involved in refugee resettlement for 18 years as volunteers. We want peace.
I hope all Americans understand, we Americans want peace...but we need more more war to get it.
Thanks to all for all the good wishes.
unclewest |
