Sunday, August 31, 2014

Part 1 - THE DREADED FAN BELT SHREDDING

What’s wrong with this photo? Notice the missing Jeep? Door open, Della on her bed and a chair outside? If you guess broken down on the side of the road, you won. The next question you may ask yourself is how in the world he managed that.


Well, I guess I could go all the way back to the beginning, but I won’t. The traveling team of Prichard’s & Taubman’s left Cody around 9:15 am on Friday. Among the sites we visited en route to our next stop included the Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Cody, WY. After seeing what we Americans did to fellow Americans, makes you wonder about our nation’s stupidly. For your own education, you should read up on what happened during that time to over 110,000 individuals with over 2/3 of them being US citizens.

Read up on it here Link to Website 

Anyway, we left Cody, WY in the morning and are traveling to Buffalo, WY via Hwy 16, going thru the 9,666-foot Powder River Pass. We started our climb with little issue, until the dreaded temperature (water) started climbing. Did all the right things but to no avail. Next thing you know, buzzers, lights and just plain losing power. I pulled over as much as I could but, this being a 1 lane road in both directions with no shoulder, it was a losing battle

A little stressful, what with team Taubman calling on radios wanting to know “what’s up”, Susan and me talking, me trying to figure what was wrong - thinking, we just disconnect the jeep and everything would be ok. But of course it wasn't. While we were parked on the road, the best thing was to see what was wrong: Well you guessed it,

The dreaded fan belt shredding. You can see it in Wayne’s Dash Cam Video above. See that little black spec below our rig?


Susan was kind enough to pick it up and bring it back to the rig.

By this time, decisions had to be made, it was decided that Susan would go back down the mountain take phone, computer, part numbers and make some calls. While at the same time Wayne & Kathy would go on ahead to Buffalo, WY and check in at the CG and make a few calls for the belts also. Susan left and returned a few minutes later telling me about a turnout 0.8 of a mile ahead. Then she headed down the mountain. Well after about 30-50 minutes the engine cooled down to about 175 F water temp. This allowed me to limp up about 1/2 a mile before stopping and waiting for the next cool down.

In the meantime, a gentleman by the name of Craig, stopped and offered a pull, we looked and check and we decided this might work. By this time Susan was back, and reported she had to call 911, because the emergency service would not come until we were off the road. So with her directing traffic, Craig and I started the final short journey to the pull off.

Well, with Craig pulling and me putting it in gear, we were able to inch along to the turnout. So here I sit relaxing, writing, taking photos and enjoying the sights. The Highway Patrol and Sheriff arrived to make sure everything was ok, also they let me know I could stay here as long as I needed to.

If anything, Susan & I can always pick the nicest areas to break-down. Check out our views.


Stay tune to Part 2 of THE DREADED FAN BELT SHREDDING.

Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls Rv Della & Tilly 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Yellowstone North Loop

We are down to 3G for internet, plus with the extra cars traveling, this makes for an overloaded system. So this one will be short and sweet.


Photo Link 


Safe Travel and Journeys
DaGirls Rv

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Inside Yellowstone

Ok, what can I say about Yellowstone? Is it like the most wonderful place you have ever been? I can't say, as each person sees something different and unique. But I can say this:









Great Ending to a Wonderful day






Link to Baker Hole CG Photos

Link to Inside Yellowstone Photos

Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls Rv

Saturday, August 23, 2014

On the Road to Whitehall MT

Well, it happened,  we're finally back on the road and heading to Yellowstone NP. We dumped, fueled up, hooked up and hit the road around 8 am.

Took on board 114 gallons of fuel, (should have gone inside) as it took 3 different CC's, and headed south on US-93, around Flathead Lake.


Once we hit I-90 we came into rain and wet roads, but the rig handled it well



While pulling into a town for lunch, a bunch of these passed us to park.





It seems there are a lot of Corvettes traveling to Bowling Green Kentucky for a big event at the Corvette Musuem. You can check it out by the link below. As we continued to traveled, many more passed by us. We took on fuel again and I asked a lady what was going on and she commented going to Bowling Green

Vettes on the Road to Kentucky 

Of course there is always 1 that will not make it.

We left the Hwy at exit 249 and what we saw made us pull to a stop.  Whoaaaaaaaaaaa DaGirls Rv, Diesel for 3.79 a gal.  Well you know what we did, fueled up. I figured $130 would be enough and sure enough $128 and some changed. So we headed down the road about 1/5 mile and arrived in Whitehall, MT around 4pm. A town that lies next to I-90, but also near the Lewis & Clark Trail. As you travel thru town there are many murals of the L & C trail with words from their log. I walked the 1/2 mile back into town to capture some photos.









The town is small with many businesses doing multi jobs, but the townsfolk are friendly. There is even a small pyramid constructed in the early 1900's to honor their soldiers.



One item of interest are the many old buildings along with the murals.






I even spied this old motel signed by the side of the road. Along with this old Willys Jeep


One of the many comments from our traveling partners is what a way to travel. Taking the back-roads and seeing this beautiful country. Wayne on the other hand is feeling his oats (old time phrase). Seems to be whatever was holding him back has left for better parts of the world, as he drove us to drive 250.4 miles today - slave driver.

Now I am also ticked off, as we passed along the way the "National Bison Range". This site sits next to US 93. Since I can't write anything about it. You will have to read about it HERE 

Anyway, we are dug in for the night (washing a load of clothes) and heading out in the morning to meet up with another Alfa owner down the road for breakfast/lunch.




Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls Rv.

On the Road to Yellowstone

Today is the day, we have packed up and will be leaving this morning to Yellowstone. Plan is to make it a 2-day road trip. We will be heading down Hwy 93 south along the west side of  Flathead Lake. Which is south of Kalispell, MT.

We spent our time here visiting the area including Whitefish. Whitefish is a sports town, water, skiing, hunting, fishing - you know all those outdoor sports. Nice area, while there we checked out the Moose lodge.  They can accommodate 3 rigs with 30 amps along with 2 to 4 rigs  for dry camping. We captured a few shots for memory.


One of the biggest thing that happened while in Kalispell was that Wayne found out what was keeping him down a little. Ever since they left Casa Grande, AZ he has been feeling a little under the weather. Well, this little E-Coli bug finally came to the surface. BANG - your dead bug. He is now back to his old self. 

His first words on Friday, was "let get this show on the road. Time for coffee and shut down the words." We hope to see you soon down the raod.

Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls RV



Saturday it is or would that be Was?

  Decided to leave on Sat., around 10ish. Parked the Rv's on the street and proceeded to spray the lots for weed control. Completed clos...