Part Two:

Wednesday: The ride from Spokane to Glacier National Park is roughly a five hour ride but, since I was sick (really sick) I needed to stop twice to take a nap so, it took me seven hours before I arrived at Glacier National Park.

I arrived at Glacier National Park just before sunset and I was in complete awe at what I saw. After a quick look and a few photos,  I hurried to set up camp at Apgar. Since I was using me Teton Sport XXL tent it was an easy set up, so I went to grab fire wood and take another look at Lake McDonald at sunset.

After a few minutes by the lake, I headed back to my site to start a campfire while I made dinner. Early to bed for this camper, I needed some real sleep.  Around 5:30am I thought I heard a small animal around my tent so I rubbed the inside of my tent and made a little noise to scare whatever it was away, but when I rolled over I realized it was me that was making the noise, I was wheezing. NOT GOOD!!! Time to get up and find my way to Urgent Care.

Since I was up and dressed, Lake McDonald was my first stop, you can walk to the Lake from the campground but, since I was wheezing, I jumped in the rental care to watch the sunrise.

Two vans pulled up with SUP boards on top and five long haired young guys jumped out and discussed where they wanted to put their boards in the water before they have to arrive at work. They said let’s head down the road to that inlet,  I said “what road, what inlet, they explained there were many places to enter the water along the road to the right and if I followed that road it would take me to “Going to the Sun Road” so I went on a little adventure instead of going to Urgent Care. Four days sick and wheezing but, I needed to see what all the fuss was about with “Going to the Sun Road” and I do love early morning photography so off I went.

 

 

With every turn of “Going to The Sun Road” I was in complete awe. I have been to many places over the last two years trying to heal my heart, to fix my broken spirit but, I’ve never seen anything this beautiful before. On this morning, I was content…..completely content. I felt like I was one with Glacier National Park, with Montana.

 

 

 

Two days is not enough time to spend with Glacier National Park. This is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been so far, exceeded any place I’ve been as of this writing.

Next stop….. Idaho

Since I had to drive back through Idaho to get to Oregon,  I knew I needed to find a place to camp for the night.  I also needed to check Idaho off the Camp50 list.  After 5-6hrs of driving, I found a National Forest campground, $20…. works for me!!!

Set up camp and then took a ride just outside the campground to watch the sunset. AMAZING!!!

Early to bed, Early to rise!! Just before sunrise, it was time to fold up the sleeping bag, fold up the tent, slip on the crocs and drive to the Washington State rest area to change out of my PJ’s and make the final push back to Oregon.

Being sick makes for a long ride back to Oregon, I think the prednisone helped to keep me going.

With every turn through Washington it was hard not to stop and immerse myself if all that is has to offer, but I got this crazy idea that I had time to slide through Mt Rainier National Park. It’s been almost eight years since we first met and all I wanted to was to  feel connected to the mountain once again.  So close to the entrance but, it was late and starting to rain, I had to divert and leave the area. TARGET….. Salem, Oregon

Arrived  “home”,  it was good to be there and spend time with the little one. My only plan for Sunday was to do laundry but for tonight I was warm, tucked into my sleeping, surrounded by family.  Next morning we both took off to do separate errands. My nephew found a cabin on the beach available for one night only, tonight (Labor day weekend) but, we would need to drive there to reserve it, we could not do it over the phone. We finished our errands, packed our gear into my rental and drove a little over an hour to Cape Lookout, the cabin was available, we were camping tonight on the beach. Our first camping trip together.

What a wonderful time on the beach with family. This cabin was spotless and I’d say less the two years old.

The next morning we had to stop at one more beach, because that’s what we do “WE ADVENTURE”

Sorry for the delay in writing up Part 2 and THANK YOU for following along as I attempt my solo bid to camp all 50 states before the end of my 50th birthday.

Coming soon, my last trips of 2014: Rhode Island, Virginia and Connecticut.