Montana-Yellowstone-Idaho-Bob Davis Podcast 1145

Montana Yellowstone Idaho

Firstly I’m on another big trip from Wisconsin through to Montana, Yellowstone and Idaho. Ultimately I’ll be pulling into Quartzsite, Arizona earlier than planned. But this is a great route south. Details in Montana-Yellowstone-Idaho-Bob Davis Podcast 1145.

Custer National Battlefield Monument

Secondly my Montana visit was punctuated with a visit to the Custer National Battlefield Monument. For details on that experience check out my YouTube channel here.

Soul Happy

Above all when I am traveling my soul is happy.

Juices Flowing

That is to say when the wheels are turning the creative juices are flowing.

Much To See

Also there are always amazing things to see.

Observations

Another key point is my observations on what I have experienced on the trip so far.

Old Story From Yellowstone

Certainly a ‘pass-through’ this year was a lot different from a old story about pushing a VW Bug through the park in the middle of the night.

This experience differed markedly from the VW experience so many years go.

What’s With The Bison?

For one thing people these days seem to be mad to get through the park so they can get pictures of Bison.

I’ve witnessed behavior in the same fashion at the Grand Canyon.

Jewels

As much as it is important to celebrate the fact that we Americans have these wilderness jewels to marvel over…

On the negative side I’m not sure people are actually experiencing these parks.

Selfies

They are too busy taking selfies.

Camping Booked

On the other hand I am glad the park was too busy for camping.

Pass Through

Because a pass through was just what the doctor ordered at this point in the trip.

Land Of Sky Blue Waters

Because I camped all summer as I like to say on the shores of a lake in the ‘Land of Sky Blue Waters’…

After that I am not so keen to camp.

Truck Stops

All in all truck stops are my go to these days.

Recording In Flying J’s Lot

Basically it’s pretty hard to miss in this podcast since I recorded in a Flying J Parking Lot.

Oil Cheaper

Overall oil is getting cheaper…

Winter Travel

Therefore the winter looks promising for more travel and adventure.

By all means getting down to Quartzite is my priority…

115 Degrees

But when I last checked the weather it was 115 degrees in the desert out there.

By all means the subject for my next podcast.

Sponsored By 36/LYN The Independently Owned And Operated Refueling Station

Montana-Yellowstone-Idaho-Bob Davis Podcast 1145

Pipeline-Fire-Flagstaff-Arizona-Bob Davis Podcast 1058

Pipeline Fire In Flagstaff Arizona

Above all I am about 3 miles from the Pipeline Fire in Flagstaff Arizona. However my experiences South of here inform what happened here. Learn more in Pipeline-Fire-Flagstaff-Arizona-Bob Davis Podcast 1058.

Coconino National Forest

Firstly I was camping in the Coconino National Forest about 20 miles South of Flagstaff.

Blatant Disregard

Secondly what I saw there was blatant disregard of the no fire rule by campers.

Freedom?

Of course we all want freedom.

Rules

Certainly nobody likes rules.

Don’t Be An Idiot

But freedom doesn’t mean being an idiot.

Negligence Caused Pipeline Fire

For example a local was arrested leaving the scene of the fire in Flagstaff. He had ignored the burn ban and started the fire.

Park Ranger View

I had a great conversation with a park ranger in the same vein.

Too Many People

To clarify there are too many visitors and according to the ranger they don’t listen.

And she said the rangers would rather tell people what they can do.

Due to the number of visitors in paid sites the National Forest shunts people to dispersed camping sites North of Sedona and South of Flagstaff.

Dispersed Camping Is Primitive

As a result there are no vault toilets or trash facilities.

Modern Americans Don’t Do Primitive

Apparently modern Americans don’t know what to do with that.

Let’s Have A Campfire!

Furthermore if they want a campfire then they light one.

Stories To Tell

In Pipeline-Fire-Flagstaff-Arizona-Bob Davis Podcast 1058 I’ll tell some stories about some of the things that went on in that dispersed campground this weekend.

Forest Service

Moreover things that provoked a visit in force from the Forest Service.

These Are Spaces To Appreciate

To sum up it’s amazing to me that people don’t fully appreciate how lucky we are to have these spaces to experience.

Not Destroy

Even more a forest fire is incredibly destructive during and after the burn.

Sad

And it’s sad when the fire starts because someone just wants to do what they want to do.

In conclusion I don’t get into the debate about how they manage these forests. Truth is there is a generational drought in the west.

A sign that says no fires means no fire.

Sad that has to be said.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating

Pipeline-Fire-Flagstaff-Arizona-Bob Davis Podcast 1058

 

 

Mount-Rainier-Sioux-Falls-4Days-Bob Davis Podcast 1002

Mount Rainier to Sioux Falls in 4 Days

Firstly I don’t like to travel this fast but I just rolled from Mount Rainier to Sioux Falls in 4days. Learn more in Mount-Rainier-Sioux-Falls-4Days-Bob Davis Podcast 1002.

Amazing

Secondly it was an amazing trip.

Game Changer In Sioux Falls

Most importantly I had a game changing business meeting in South Dakota that solved my connectivity problems in one fell swoop. In addition I’ll be telling you more about this fix in future podcasts.

Oregon Coast To Washington State

But it was a great trip up the Oregon Coast, to Washington’s Mount Rainier then across the Yakima Valley.

Idaho to Montana

Even more Idaho and Montana take the cake.

Grasslands

And the grasslands of North Dakota!

South Dakota In 100 Degree Heat

Finally the trip across South Dakota in one hundred degree heat was one for the books.

One Day to Minnesota and Wisconsin

Further still a quick one day trip across Minnesota to Wisconsin for Father’s Day 2021.

Fading Restrictions and Burgeoning Optimism Across America

Above all a trip across the northern tier of the United States at a time when Covid restrictions are beginning to face for the time being, and people seem more optimistic.

Record Visitors At The Parks

Certainly the national parks have record visitors and are packed while the National Forests and Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are deserted.

Lassen Mount Shasta and More

Moreover I was able to enjoy Lassen National Park and Mount Shasta before quite an adventure in the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon.

Logging roads, coast line, rain forests, arid valleys and more.

Back Roads Forever

To clarify I am struck by how much running across the country this way on back roads is similar to binge watching a series on HBO or Netflix at the height of the pandemic last year.

Travel Velocity

Certainly I wonder if I am one of the few nomads moving across the country at various levels of travel velocity, covering so much ground all on the back roads.

How Far and How Fast

To sum up I wonder how the rest of the my nomad friends listening and reading this blog travel. How far and how fast.

Running Fast Can Be Fun

In short I’ll say it again. I don’t like to travel this fast. It’s exhausting. But it can be fun as well.

In the same vein I hope listeners and subscribers enjoy some of the stories and experiences from this mega trip.

Plans Change

In addition I’ve changed my plans a bit, I think, for the rest of the summer.

Details in Mount-Rainier-Sioux-Falls-4Days-Bob Davis Podcast 1002.

Sponsored by Nathan W. Nelson and the Strategic Business Legal Team at Virtus Law.

Mount-Rainier-Sioux-Falls-4Days-Bob Davis Podcast 1002