YELLOWSTONE to Kentucky June 2010

 

The best weather we experienced while at Yellowstone was the day we left for home.  Weather really not that bad, just not typical mid-June Kentucky weather…very windy, temps 30s at night, 50s by day(if the sun made an appearance) and light snow.  This did nothing to take away from the beauty of this place.

Once on the road our first stop was,of course, a Wal-Mart in Cody, Wy to stock up on a few supplies.  After leaving there it was south on Hwy 120 to Thermopolis, Casper,to I-25 to Cheyenne  then I-80 into Nebraska.

River in Wyoming running alongside I-25.

 

 

 

A little of the scenery on the road to Casper, which will be our layover for the evening..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

 

Our first KOA night was spent here in Casper, Wyoming.  We were very much surprised by this facility, very quiet, large sites, FHU, nice  rec/check-in accommodations, and most friendly staff.

 

After a good nights sleep, with very little wind, we were up and on the road again toward Cheyenne and points South.

On into Nebraska we went passing a place called Sidney, with what appeared to be the largest Bass Pro Shop I had ever seen located there.  I’m sure I could have spent a couple of days just touring this huge facility.

 

This was some sort of museum spanning the interstate, celebrating the early settlers and explorers of this part of the country.

We spent this night at a nice, quiet park in N. Platte, Nb.  The next morning we could see that this travel day may experience a little wet weather along the way with storm clouds approaching from the West. 

 

 

 

 

 

Roz and I plowed our way on eastbound, destination—Offutt AFB at Omaha, Nb where we were planning to spend a couple of days at the military FamCamp at Offutt.  The weather across Nebraska had been generally good till we were approaching Omaha, then we were in and out of thunderstorms for the remainder of the drive. 

Arrived at Offutt, got assigned our site and settled in for the evening.  The rains had subsided and the BBQ came out and ribs were cooked.  Had a nice evening, watching TV and the lightning in the Western sky that was approaching our location.

During the night the storms moved in and the next morning the forecast was for more of the same for the next 24 hours, severe T-storms all day.  So, it was decision time for the two of us.  Weather radar on TV showed this T-storm activity to be mainly located on a line East and West of us, moving East.  Since our plans called for a Southerly path, we decided to shorten our stay and move on down the road, hoping to be out of the stormy portion and south of this weather in about 100 miles or less.  I was not especially impressed with this FamCamp anyway, short sites and a gravelly/muddy access road, with white stuff that stuck to ones shoes, leaving a lot of tracks everywhere I stepped.

So, I took the truck for fuel, returned and between showers prepared the TT for travel, hooked up, and hit the road.

As we had suspected, in less than an hour all this bad weather was behind us and we were on our way towards Missouri.

Our route took us down I-29 to St Joseph then rte 36 towards Hannibal, Mo.  Our plan for the night was a COE campgrounds onMark Twain Lake, about 25 miles West of Hannibal.  This Park was a little off the beaten path, but well worth the extra drive.  This is a large park with several loops, and very few customers.  Probably over 200 sites available and no more than a dozen campers.  Quiet, peaceful, relaxing….

 

 

 

 

 

View out our back window..

 

 

 

One of our frequent visitors. 

 

 

 

Roz and I spent two very relaxing days at this beautiful park, and told ourselves that “We Will Return.”

We were still about 300 miles from home and as reluctant as we were to leave here, knew we would only be postponing the inevitable, we had to go home.  

The remainder of the trip was anti-climatic, a good, uneventful drive.  We arrived back home around 2:30 in the afternoon and decided most unpacking would be done “later.” 

Trip report:  5,000 miles traveled, a lot of diesel fuel consumed, the Ford could not have performed better, and the Arctic Fox, even though it now has a patched up hole in her roof and some other battle damage, still came through with flying colors.  No mechanical issues of either the truck or camper.  As much as we thoroughly enjoyed this trip and the company of one another, it is still good to be back home.  MY OWN BED TONIGHT!!

Next trip---Motorcycle trip through the Blue Ridge Parkway.