Welcome to our Fall 2020 Northwest National Parks RV Trip blog.

We officially left Sunday, September 7, 2020 and will return approximately December 1, 2020. We are looking forward to visiting many of the parks we did not get to visit on our winter 2019 vacation. You may remember from our last blog, we had to redirect our trip from San Luis Obisbo, California and go south due to roads closures from snow. Part of this vacation is going back to California and Washington to see the parks that we couldn’t visit.


Pre-trip preparations:

New for us this trip is towing a car. In previous trips, we haven’t been able to go where we wanted to because the RV was too big or there was nowhere to park it. We purchased a car that could be flat towed. It wasn’t easy to find a shop that was able to attach the equipment that was needed for the car, but we finally did.  Can’t wait to see how we like having a car in addition to the RV.

While we vacation, we normally stay at some campgrounds and some off the road stops, such as truck stops, parking lots (Walmart, Sam’s Club, etc.), or wherever we can find a place to pull over that looks safe or have good references from past RV stopovers. We have a few apps on our phone plus a website that directs you to free or low-priced camping. Free is usually our first choice as we travel to our target destination. This year we decided to try something different. Patrick helped us obtain a Thousand Trails membership for the Northwest and Southwest areas. This company has designated campgrounds throughout the county where you can stay providing you have a membership. We also decided to try one more camping membership. Our choices were Boondockers Welcome, Overnight RV Camping, or Harvest Host.

 

Boondockers Welcome has database where locals across the US/Canada let you stay at their property for free. Overnight RV Camping has its own database which lists places that allow you to stay for free or for $20 or less. Harvest Host is primarily winery, distilleries, farms, or museums where you can stay for free but would like you to visit their establishment and make a purchase or help while you are there.

We finally chose Overnight RV Camping as it has the least amount of human interaction and we can keep our social distancing. For $29.99 you have access to their website or app. It did seem similar to a few online resources we already use but we decided to give it a chance. We will let you know how we like it.

 

We left one week later than planned wrapping up things at home but we are finally on the road. Our current plan is to make our way to Glacier National Park in Montana via I -94 through Michigan, I-90 through Illinois, thru Wisconsin, to North Dakota. We will pick up US2 in North Dakota and continue west just south of the US / Canadian border to Glacier National Park in northern Montana.

The first real stop was Rochelle, Illinois. There is a train diamond there with many, many trains all day and night. We have been here many times before and there is always lots of action. It never disappoints. What was disappointing was the check engine light in the RV that let us know we already had a problem as we left Rochelle (on Labor Day). Rather than risk a problem on the road, we decided to go directly to a nearby Ford Dealership that could service our Ford E450 Super Duty truck. We stayed the night in their parking lot and luckily got serviced first thing in the morning. The problem: clogged air filter choking the engine.

Wisconsin was rain, rain, and more rain . . . .  and then North Dakota. Let’s start with US 2 in North Dakota. US 2 is a paved 2 lane road that runs parallel and 20 miles south of the Canadian border. The sites along the way are farm fields, more farm fields, cows, and a few small towns along the way. If you like farm fields and cows, this is the road to take. Fortunately for us, we love this type of view. As farming season comes to an end, many of the farmers are out in their fields cutting hay, grain, and digging sugar beets.  Sometimes we have to pull off the road and watch the action – always entertaining. Still in the fields were sunflowers, beans, and very dried corn.


      


     

Fun facts: North Dakota produces 92% of the US total for Flaxseed. Second is Canola at 86%. Surprisingly, only 24% of the employable population are employed directly by agriculture or agriculture-related industry. There are 30,000 farms and ranches with an average farm size of 1,307 acres.

        * * *

After much driving and quick overnight stays, we finally landed in Minot, North Dakota. We will be staying at the North Dakota State Fair Grounds for a few days for a needed driving break. Before we get to the fairground, we stop at Scandinavian Heritage Park. It looked interesting so why not stop.

During the free land grant, this area was populated with immigrants from Scandinavian countries. This village contains actual buildings moved to this park from their home. Due to Covid – nothing was open but you could look around. Enjoy the pictures.

Gol Stave Church
Covered wrap-around porch
 
Carved wood around entry doors.
Stabbur - Storage building beautifully engraved.



Dala Horse & Joe


There wasn’t much was going on at the State Fair grounds. There was a small flea market and Rib Fest – a BBQ rib festival on the grounds the weekend we were there. The campground was large but there were only 3 other campers so it was very quiet. While staying at the fair, we visited the International Peace Gardens and the 52nd annual Drake Threshing Show.

The International Peace Gardens are a jointly owned park in North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada.  The entry to the gardens is between the US and Canadian customs stations. You are free to visit both sides of the park but you must go through US customs on your way out. The park includes formal gardens (approx. 150,000 annual flowers), a bell tower, 9/11 memorial (which includes steel salvaged from the World Trade Center towers), and a conservatory with more than 6,000 cacti, succulents, and orchids.  Also, in the park is a sports camp, an international music camp, theater complex, and a campground.  Unfortunately, our visit was a few days after they had some frosty nights so most of the annuals were gone. The perennials were going strong so it was still beautiful. A very lovely afternoon excursion.

       


 
Cactus Conservatory



Formal Garden

Part of the 9/11 memorial
Bell Tower

  

As we travel, we always look for the local activities / celebrations and the 52nd Drake Threshing Show was as one would expect, tractors – old and new, old farm equipment along with a food stand, toy barn with all types of crafts for sale, and a tractor pull. They had an old thresher there demonstrating how to extract grain from the plant. I didn’t know this, but the thresher has been replaced with a combine. Always something to learn. Another fun afternoon in North Dakota.

 



Free overnight camping:  Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, and a Ford Dealership parking lot.

 

 

 






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