Two Lane Gems

Almost. I should say almost home. Technically, we were still in Wisconsin and needed to get to Illinois. If you wanted to get truly technical, we still had no home at all. Whatever. We were close. We took our time breaking down camp that morning. We tried to take a hike, but we got about …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 35 – HomeRead More

Home. That’s what I felt as we rode our bikes on the Great River State Trail. Home. I loved the unrestrained and extreme beauty of the west, the sheer extravagance of the earth’s upheaval, the power of an ever-changing landscape. It was one “wow” after another. But as we rode our bikes along the Mississippi …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 34 – Onalaska to Governor Dodge State ParkRead More

I love the big puffy clouds,” I said, “when they’re not dropping stuff.” I’d officially hit the loopy stage. That’s OK. We were getting closer to “home” with every mile. In two more days we’d be back in Illinois and then we could rest. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, my. Anyway… Day 33’s agenda was light. We drove …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 33 – Eden Prairie to OnalaskaRead More

Everything looks better in the morning. Jim called Hertz and extended our rental. With his mellifluous tones, empathy, and patience, our problem was solved and we had some breathing room. We had to be back by July 3, but that was four days away and those two extra days meant everything. We checked out of …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 32 – Jamestown to Eden PrairieRead More

Don’t underestimate small towns. It’s something I’ve learned over and over. It’s something I’ve preached over and over. Yet here we were in a small town in eastern Montana, and I thought we’d be there to sleep and leave. Have I learned nothing? When we approached our hotel the night before we’d noticed signs for …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 31 – Glendive to JamestownRead More

We began our day with breakfast at Clark and Lewie’s Pub and Grill, the restaurant inside the O’Haire Motor Inn. Great Falls, Montana, is officially Lewis and Clark country. As in, they were HERE, Lewis and Clark country. The Mandan, a hospitable tribe in what is now Washburn, North Dakota, had warned the explorers about …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 30 – Great Falls to GlendiveRead More

If you’re beginning to wonder if Jim and I are for real, I don’t blame you. We sure sound happy, don’t we? I’ve called him a saint. It’s obvious we like each other and we still have fun together, even though by this point in the trip we’d spent nearly every moment – together. And …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 29 – Glacier to Great FallsRead More

The 28th day began like so many others had on this adventure. I woke up to the sounds of birds, pulled out the Coleman stove and my French press, and made coffee. It was our 14th day of camping; half of our nights had been spent outdoors. For a flash of a moment the day …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 28 – Glacier National ParkRead More

Even though we were heading towards one of our most anticipated destinations, leaving Missoula was difficult. Jim hadn’t been back to his home town in quite some time, and I knew he wanted to see much more. But, we already had to make up time from our extended stay in Spokane. After a morning catching …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 27 – Missoula to GlacierRead More

Camping is a pain. Set up. Break down. Walk a quarter mile just to use the bathroom. Bring your own roof. Bring your own bed. Bring your own food. Bring your own everything. But then, you wake up under a canopy of evergreens, hear the world stir, and inhale life. There’s no substitute, and while …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 26 – Cabin City to MissoulaRead More

I’m a sucker for a good farmers market. Meeting face to face the people who grow or create the product I’m buying is intimate and feels like a privilege. I especially love finding a market when I’m on the road, and we made it to the Kootenai County Farmers Market in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 25 – Loon Lake to Cabin CityRead More

Our last full day with family was a day of errands. Our trusty air mattress had popped a rib at Viento State Park and I needed to pick up some of Uncle John’s flour, so my mother- and sister-in-law and I drove back to Spokane while the guys hung out at the lake. We picked …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 24 – Another relaxing dayRead More