It occurred to me that I have a connection with the homeless people here.  The town of Eugene is in economic hard times to say the least.  I’m still trying to secure a job after a couple month of scanning classified ads.  It helps that I’m actually here now.  They are out there, however I’m waiting to see whether I’ve been accepted by the Quality Inn and Suites with whom I’ve had an interview last Wednesday.  I also haven’t put down any commitments to housing yet.  That arena seems …

Dear Friends, I’ve arrived in Eugene.  Last night I camped out near the coast.  I woke up this morning and put my feet into the Pacific Ocean.  It is beautiful here.  I will fill in more about the trip soon!

            I finished up the trip strong, with a solid day of travel.  I started out the day early in the morning stowing up my campsite in the Lolo National Forest in the western most end of Montana.  The day before I left Yellowstone, I stopped in Bozeman to get my oil changed, and traveled half the day.
            The present day begun heading through the northern most part of Idaho, the sun rising through some really beautiful mountains.  It’s not too far across to Washington and Spokane is the first …

 
The route I took, high way 212 was definitely off the beaten path.  Two lane high way in the heart of Montana, no bill boards… just wide open fields!  I came across a couple factory/mining type places digging up some mineral I’ve never heard of before.  There was one governmental type building on the way with all these huge satellites.  Everyone out here is driving a pick up or a big rig or a mile long train.  There were a couple villages with a cluster of houses and maybe a …

Lewis and Clark apparently went along the same way I did.  They came up the Missouri River, which has intersected my route multiple times.  I had no idea it was so big!  I went across it throughout Missouri, Iowa/Nebraska, and South Dakota and later on Montana.  It flows from the mid western part of Montana to the Mississippi River at St. Louis.
 
With my car finally recovered, the next day I went straight across South Dakota.  I love shooting across this gorgeous state at 75 mph (the speed limit).  Things become …

The Midas shop did a great job!  They got me back on the road again and running smooth.  I drove up to Sioux City, Iowa to spend the night, happy all the stress is finally over!  Heading across South Dakota tomorrow morning!
~Sioux City, Iowa

Saturday night as I pulled into St. Joseph, Missouri for the night, I thought I heard construction work in the distance… but it was night there was no one using heavy machinery… it was my car that was making that noise! The next morning I called AAA. I reached an operator and said I was calling about a mechanic in the area. Well, they sent a guy with a tow truck out. He got there and asked “Where do you want me to take it.” I responded that I had …