THE DUTTONS ON THE ROAD : March 2024

After our time in Wichita we headed out for the summer. Knowing we would have to be back in August for Dr. We planned a shorter route that summer.

Over our time traveling we had developed a rule to go by. Called the 222 rule. Which is to be off the road by 2pm and not to drive over 200 miles and stay at least 2 nights. So we plan our travel by this rule the best we can.

As we left Wichita we headed north stopping at Wilson lake by Wilson Ks. For 5 nights where we enjoyed the lake and the area around us. Visited Russell Ks.

Leaving there we went to Alma, Nebraska for a couple nights, then McCook Nebraska and on to Chappell, Nebraska for a week to spend Memorial Day weekend. Did some shopping at Cabela's and others in Sidney Nebraska. Also Church in Sidney.

Leaving there we went to Bayard,Ne. stayed at their City Park for 3 nights. Went to Scottsbluff for Lab and drugs. Visit Scotts Bluff National Monument. This is a very neat place. This 800 feet tower above the North Platte River served as a landmark for many peoples,from Native Americans to emigrants on the Overland Trails. Lots to explore.

Views from top of Scotts Bluff tower.

We moved on to Hot Springs, SD. Staying at Cold Brook Lake. June 1st and stayed 3 nights. We visited Custer state park and drove the needles highway. Seen lots of Bison and pronghorn. The Needles highway is a very interesting place. If you're ever close it's definitely worth the time.

Custer State Park

Needles Highway

Have to take turns from both ways.

Camp site Cold Brook Lake

Moving on again to Horse Thief Lake campground by Mount Rushmore. We visited Mount Rushmore in the day time and for the lighted view and show. Visited Chapel on the hill in Rapid City, SD. Laura Ingalls school house in Keystone, SD.

Chapel on the hill.

After our time there we headed to the Big Horn Mountains. Stayed at Middle Fork Campground west of Buffalo, Wy. The campground is at 7400'. The first morning it was snowing. We went into Buffalo to check it out had lunch at Bumble Bee Cafe. Then we went back to Campground, still snowing.

We headed over the mountain to the town of Ten Sleeps. By this time of day it was ice cream time. The general store made their own ice cream and root beer, so you know float. We were down lower there so no snow. So as required in tourist towns we walked and shopped and bought. As we started back to camp we hit snow again. It was a beautiful drive in the light snow.

Our drive in the snow and the snow left from winter.

The trees were catching some snow.

That night it was below 30 degrees and 45 for a high that day. As we're setting up camp here our hydraulics had quit. So I had to bring the slideout in manually. So we could move on the next day. Luckily our motorhome at that time was completely usable with the slide in. The pump motor was bad.

Our next adventure was to go to Thayne,Wy. Where we had a spot for a month. As we started that way Ronda wanted to go by a place she had visited with cousin Deb when they were kids. Hells half acre. So we stopped there to enjoy our lunch.

Hells Half Acre

Need to enlarge to tell much.

After there we found a BLM land site for the night, north of Farson, Wy.

Our view for the night.

We arrived at Wolf Den Log Cabin Motel and Rv Park, Thayne, WY. on HWY 89 right along the border of Idaho on June 11th . 50 miles from Jackson, WY. So 60 to the Grand Tetons National Park then another 50 miles into Yellowstone to Old Faithful. We stayed here for a month.

After settling in we start our adventures by taking a scenic drive to Soda Springs, Idaho .

The city is named for the hundreds of natural springs of carbonated water that are located in and around the city.^[5] The springs were known to Native Americans, and were a landmark along the Oregon Trail in the middle 19th century. The city is also the location of the Soda Springs Geyser, which was unleashed in 1937 when town fathers were seeking hot water for a hot pool bathing attraction. They drilled into a chamber of highly pressurized carbon dioxide gas and cold water, and the geyser erupted. After running for weeks and flooding the downtown area it was capped and then manually released, at first upon request, as a tourist attraction. More recently a timed release valve opens every hour on the hour. The geyser's height and volume have not decreased in the decades since. Viewing platforms are located at either end of the travertine mound where the geyser erupts. Interpretive signs are located on the platforms explaining the phenomenon.

After Fathers Day weekend it was time to make a drug run. The closest Walgreens was in Idaho Falls which was 90 miles away. The drive is along the Snake River and rolling hill farm grounds. Beautiful drive.

Took a trip to the Grand Tetons for the day. Stopped for lunch in Jackson at Miazga's Polish & Italian. Great food.

At least the Kielbasa Plate and Ruben were great.

View for lunch, ski slopes in the background.

Tetons

The Tetons National Park is a must see.

It's now 15 days into our month here. We hiked close by our RV park and other sites.

It's now time to do another drug run and we decided after picking up drugs in Idaho Falls, we decided would go to West Yellowstone, Montana. We stayed a couple nights at Bear Lodge. The first day we visited Yellowstone park in the northern part.

The second day we left West Yellowstone and went through the park. Checking out the southern part and going out back through the Tetons park on the way back to Rv park.

We had seen some wildlife but had not seen a Bear in the park but on the road between the two parks there was one, could see it but could not find a spot to stop for a picture. Both sides of the road were taken for a half mile both ways. People there everywhere.

After this adventure and resting up from the trip. It was now the 1st of July. We took a day trip up Teton Village the ski resort on the Idaho side of the park which takes you up in the mountains. More so than on the park side.

It was a beautiful drive over Teton pass and up to the village.

This was a rest area on the road to the village the road was too narrow to stop along for pictures.

We did find a great lunch spot in Driggs Idaho. The Agave, Mexican restaurant.

For the 4th of July we went just a few miles over into Idaho. Where we hike the South Fork Tincup Trail, which is through sheep grazing open range. Seen herdsman wagons and one being moved. We then returned to Rv Park and were able to watch fireworks from there.

Hiking South Fork Tincup Trail

Another day trip we drove around Bear Lake which is in Idaho and Utah. This was the 5th and it was so busy we were unable to stop. It was a beautiful drive. We need to return when it's not so busy.

A couple days later we took a Hike to Periodic Springs. Beautiful places. As we arrived at the top it started raining with some small hail.

Hiding under pine trees from the hail that lasts about a minute.

On the 11th we moved to Fire Fighters Campground, Flaming Gorge in Utah. The Flaming Gorge Area is a very neat area to see. We stayed there for a week. Took lots of hikes and road trips around the area.

Just before dark this night we had a visitor run by

rear of motorhome. A black Bear went past then a few minutes later came back by

the other way. I was not fast enough to get pictures.

While there, our friends, Dale & Pauline Ditto dropped by for a couple days. Which is always a good time.

It was time to move on again and we headed to Colorado.

We arrived for 5 nights at Green Mountain Reservoir, Heeney,Co.

While there, visited Rockie Mountain National Park and drove Trail Ridge Road over to Estes Park. Stopped for lunch at La Calbanna Mexican. Then back over the top.

View from the top.

In the clouds

Views from our campsite Green Mountain Reservoir

We also visited Silverthrone and Dillon.

Dillon Lake

While here My right leg was hurting and turned red. So to the emergency room we go

in Fresno. The best emergency room I've ever seen. Got me right in and ultra sound found low leg clots.

Was able start shots to start blood thinner. This was the second time I had blood clots in this leg. So now this pill is for life. All was good. Being able to continue our adventures.

We continued on and went south to Lake Isabel north of Rye, Co. Spent 3 days exploring the area.

Our site view lake Isabel.

Lake Isabel

Leaving here we went to Alvarado Campground by Westcliffe, Colorado. While here we did a 3 mile hiking trail right out of the campground. But most of the time I was doing labs to get the blood thinner right and getting drugs in Canon City.

Views from. Alvarado Campground

We headed to Red River, Nm from here, stopping for a night in La Veta, Co. At Circle the Wagons Rv Park. As we had been dry camping it was time to do laundry and empty and fill tanks.

We arrived at Fawn Lake Campground by Red River for 4 nights. Took the drive to Taos and Eagles Nest where we ran into good friends Chuck & Nettie working at the thrift store. It always makes our day to run into friends we've met in this lifestyle.

Hummers