Heading West Also - Summer 2013

[Lora]

Four days and a wake-up then it’s Northern California here we come to retrieve our captured Bigfoot! Hoo-ah!! We’ll be using our ’03 Sierra for this trip taking the northern route from VA up through Elkhart, IN with a stop in Mt Rushmore, a look at the Oregon Trail Ruts Museum in WY and then down through UT and NV. After visiting with family, we’ll head north towards BC and Alberta. Afterwards we’ll head back south to visit with friends in Michigan and Pittsburgh and a final stop in Ashburn, VA before returning home.
The hardest decision has been which route to take heading north. In my twenties, we always went to the coast for fishing and scuba diving. But, I haven’t had a chance to explore much of the Sierras north of Grass Valley. But, we do have to make a stop in Portland. Decisions, decisions!

We are not going to spend a lot of time in CA, OR, & WA (am planning about 10-11 days to get from just north of Sacto to Marwayne) and want to stay in the cooler areas as the trailer has a Fantastic fan but no AC. I have been so excited planning this trip and it has been hard to wait! We’ve got camping gear laid out and I’ve tried to remember all the bits & pieces. It’s hard when you can’t just pack the trailer and head out and I just Know I'm forgetting things .
Previous trips have all been through KS and states further south, so this will include country I haven't driven through before. Oh man, I want to leave tomorrow (NOW)!!

I’ve used google and yahoo maps for overall planning, picked up some maps and guide books for more detailed & offline work, and have a GPS for enroute info.