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Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of the local

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    • Camping
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    • U.S. National Parks
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Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge

Two Lane Gems

Excerpts from author Theresa L. Goodrich’s Two Lane Gems book series.

Go on a virtual road trip with Two Lane Gems. I’m publishing my books in serial form so you can go on an adventure from the comfort of your home.

Governor Dodge State Park

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 35 – Home

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

TLG Bike Riding and taking a selfie

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

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

Spam Museum in Austin, MN

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

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

World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown North Dakota

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

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

Makoshika State Park in Montana

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

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

Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Interpretive Center in Montana

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

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

Glacier National Park

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

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

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier

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

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

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

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

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

The grounds of Fort Missoula from the lookout tower

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

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

Sunshine Mine Memorial

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

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

Wolffy's Hamburger

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

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

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