Out West Adventure: Part 2--Going home 1

Sat. June 29: We all got up early, more in keeping with Aaron’s usual scheduling than ours. Marv made lots of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal pancakes and, after eating our fill, there were two big ones leftover that Aaron took with him for a snack. We also found a few lightweight foods like mac & cheese and ramon noodles to give him. He packed up his bike and with big hugs we wished him God Speed and sent him on his way before finishing up closing the camper. We got some pictures of him far below us as he peddled up the hill across the river on US2. Then we began our long drives. We crossed Montana, stopping only for quick breaks and to eat our picnic lunch. As we entered North Dakota we were in the heart of the big oil boom area that has taken the state by storm. Everything was so new and different from four years ago when we were here to visit Teddy Roosevelt National Park. There are malls and temporary housing and hasty road improvements to US2 and miles upon miles of refineries and fracking stations with giant hydraulic pumps. It was pretty disheartening to see and we were satisfied to just get through it.  We drove 450 miles and went back to the little town of Stanley and found that the “free” city camping park was still there, now charging $15 for their electrical sites. We hooked up and warmed up the leftover chili with salad for dinner. We had limited luck with the 3G signal and then went to bed.

Sending Aaron on his way before we leave