Canada

We made it to Canada!

Border Guard: What brings you to Canada?
Papercup Mixmaster: We're moving from California to New York
Border Guard: Are you lost?

Dog and Plant both made it through okay. All they seemed to care about were handguns. Thank goodness we're pacifists.

Turns out there is enough open space in Canada to make Wisconsin look crowded. We've been in a cell phone void for days now- although occasionally my phone beeps to tell me I have a mounting pile of messages in my voice mail, I just don't have a strong enough connection to get any of them...

Now I am in the hotel lobby in Sault Ste Marie, since the wifi is too week in our room.
Last night we stayed in a sweet cabin totaly off the grid in Rossport. The proprietor just chuckled when I asked if they had an internet connection in the cabins.
So more details of our journey will have to wait.

Hoping to get to South Baymouth tomorrow to take the ferry
Hopefully they have DSL down there so we can tell the whole story...

If not Leggo Star Wars...

What, you might wonder, is Exploding Poptart doing during the Lego Star Wars Marathons?

Just finished Lady of Avalon and Going Postal.

It's been a good week fiction-wise.

Knitting is a sadder story. Papercup Mixmaster says this is the sound of Exploding Poptart Knitting in the car this week.

"&&$# %&&& &$$%"

First 40 rows on unnecessarily complex lace wrap complete. Unfortunately that's only 2".

Back to reading...

Wellman and Marina

Silver Bay, MN is a mining town. There are piles of unknown ore and a massive crane adding to the piles. This is right on the banks of Lake Superior. Very near this:



You can walk/climb out to that little island. Exploding Poptart caught a butterly (in pixels).

Just a short photo safari on our day of rest in Minnesota.

Staying Put

Top Ten Reasons to Stay in Silver Bay, MN One More Day

10. Checkout time was 30 minutes ago.
9. Wuggy Norple is coughing harder than a tractor with a pig up its tailpipe.
8. Dog has a mysterious little red ring on her belly and still has questionable border-crossing papers.
7. Exploding Poptart has a physical presence that just says "bleh." (She needs rest.)
6. Indoor heated pool with water slide.
5. Lego Star Wars! Lego Star Wars! Lego Star Wars!
4. Vending machines only a short crawl from our door.
3. Canada will still be there tomorrow, eh.
2. More time to practice our Minnesota accents.

And the number one reason to stay one more day in Silver Bay, MN is:

1. Did we mention that checkout time was 30 minutes ago?

Fireworks, anyone?

Hi folks, Papercup Mixmaster here. We have decided to make it our goal to arrive in Ithaca on July 3rd, since July 4th features traditional massive lakeside fireworks courtesy of my sister and her extended family. So I am taking the liberty of inviting anyone reading this to join us for the festivities. Just contact my sis for the details, who heretofore will be known as:

K-nob.

P.S. If you don't know how to contact K-nob, then nanny nanny foo foo to you.

North Shore

Today we made it across Minnesota and began our route around the North Shore of Lake Superior. I, Exploding PopTart, am a little crabby about my sore throat-cough thing, and too tired for much detail. Hope these will help:

That famous bridge in Duluth, where we at lunch at a restaurant named "Grandma's" and threw rocks into the lake. Papercup Mixmaster: loved the bloody mary at Grandma's. Very nice little waterfront area in Duluth. This could be a nice place to settle.Sadly, there were not good shoulders to pull over and take pictures of the cool marshy forests around the lake, and of the cat tails going to seed. It seems like the safe places to pull over a u-haul never look as cool as the places on the edge of a 2 lane road with no shoulder. And now the landscape has changed again. But once we got to the North Shore there was a chance to stop and photograph all that cool stuff we look at out the window as we drive along,




















including waterfalls on the river pouring into the lake,

















and to get out occasionally and throw more rocks into that huge huge lake:

Finally we landed in the lap of luxury in Silver Bay, MN, which is a mining town and more importantly has a 3 story waterslide in this building pictured below. Tomorrow, Canada! (If we can get Dog allowed in with our inadequate proof of Rabies Vaccination...)

Total miles traveled: 2688

Thoughts from Wuggy Norple

Thought 1: no thoughts today

Back Online

I (Exploding PopTart) had never been through western North Dakota before. Whenever we'd traveled to the family homestead in ND, we were always traveling from the East. The Badlands in Western North Dakota are quite lovely, but because we were eager to get to Great Uncle's house in Glenfield, we didn't stop for photos nearly as often as I wanted. I, ever insatiable, stuck my camera out the window to see what I could get. I think it was while taking this picture that something flew by in the wind and scraped the film on my camera lens. Aargh. Anyone have any advice?

I hadn't been go Glenfield since I was 5 years old. I remembered the warm welcome I receieved then and each time I've gone to visit my family. They are extreemly gracous, generous and kind. Wuggy Norple met more cousins than he'd ever seen in one place in his life. Papercup Mixmaster and I were persuaded to join the family jam for the first time, which must be one of the most fun things a family can do together. We were having so much fun we didn't realize how late we were partying with the folks, because it turns out sun set is a full hour later this far north. Weird but true.

The town has about 100 people and is currently without a general store or cell phone coverage. Everyone feels safe letting the children run around the front yard when the gravel roads are traveled only by neighbors. [Pictured here are the streets of Suburban Glenfield, and the grain silo of the downtown. They were taken within a block from one another.]

One of Papa Saxaphone (aka my dad)'s cousins (I think I've got that right... I made up a family tree to make sure I had it all straight) had recently moved out of Glenfield, and generously offered his house for our stay. It felt so good to just settle in to a place for 72 hours. We slept in every morning, and this visit felt like the first real rest I'd had since before I started packing.

I went for my morning runs down rt. 200 and rt 20, and either way I went, I turned around before I hit the next cross road. There have been abundant rains this year, hence the beautiful green, the little ponds of water on every field, the mosquitoes, in turn, the birds. I heard a family of orange-headed oriols expressing their annouyance at my presence before I saw them sitting on the tops of cat-tails between road and field. There is an amazing sense of spaciousness in North Dakota. The road to the nearest town is straight and long, and the passing flow of fields changes slowly and subtly.

We made it to Walker, MN today. Minnesota is hillier, and the roads are curvier. You can't see nearly so far into the distance here. Papercup Mixmaster pupped in "Wasted in the Afterglow" and I almost cried when I heard AstralForce's voice. Then it was a HATFYR greatest hits CD while Wuggy Norple read his new book "The Adventures of Captain Underpants." We found a cute hotel that has our favorite things (even an input on the TV so we can play Wuggy Norple's new favorite game "Lego Star Wars", plus it looks like there is a path down to the lake to explore tomorrow morning. Onward to Lake Superior...

Total miles traveled: 2498

Good Dog

When our cell phone coverage popped back in for a moment as we neared Billings, we got the message that Good Dog had died. We will miss you.

Wuggy Norple says that Good Dog should be called Dog's Friend, since Dog was one of her best friends.

Both nicknames seem quite appropriate.

North Dakota, family and fun

Just a quick update from Wuggy Norple and Papercup Mixmaster in the public library in Jamestown, ND. We are visiting with Great Uncle and Papa Saxophone. Tomorrow we are heading further east into Minnesota. We played music with all the uncles yesterday, and had a party with many young cousins. The mosquitoes are very, very bad this time of year, but inside we played Lego Star Wars and Monkey Bowling and Monkey Racing. We'll share more with pictures when we get to the next hotel.

Total miles traveled: 2,233

Happy Birthday Wuggy Norple

Today is Wuggy Norple's birthday. We started off with presents in bed, then headed out to a Family Fun Center in Billings. Only thing is-- it got up to 98 today, which is HOT. Quick round of bumper boats, some arcade games and an ice cream cone at the DQ and we were about done. Lest you worry about Dog, she and Exploding Poptart found a patch of grass under a beautiful shade tree and settled in with a good book. It was so cozy, that after a while a rabbit appeared under the next tree for a little snack.

This time, ALL the hotels in the AAA guide were booked in our desired town. We found a campsite with an opening (one of those RV pull-up, tents okay sites) but had yet to remedy our mattressastrophy. Wuggy Norple was increasingly unhappy as we drove, and we weren't quite sure why, aside from the obvious factors of extreme heat and boring traveling companions. We took a chance and headed into Glendive anyway, knowing that the next town known to have a hotel was at least 100 miles further. On the way into town Papercup Mixmaster suggested I call the totally booked hotel just to be sure, and lo and behold, there had been a cancellation. Thank goodness we could finally rest and Wuggy Norple could enjoy that swim he had been waiting for all day.

We pulled up to one of the strangest little hotels I have ever seen, unloaded in the 90+ heat, and headed out for dinner. But when we sat down to eat, Wuggie Norple said he was too full to eat (half an ice cream 6 hours ago?). He said he needed to lay down. I sat him on my lap and noticed that he had that special kind of fever-hot I've learned to recognize over the past 6 years. Then he said he was too sick for swimming, and I knew we were trouble. We opted for take out and headed back to the room.

So here we are on Wuggy Norple's birthday, watching his favorite channel Jetix and laying on the bed. He's still feeling to crappy to eat or swim. All he wants is a snuggle.

Total miles traveled: 1,875

Last Hotel Room

Before we left Yellowstone, we kept checking the cell phone for bars so we could make a hotel reservation in Montana. We were not up for a repeat of last night's drama. [A pool, DSL and Laundry became our mantra]
As soon as we had coverage we called- first hotel, full. Second hotel, full...
Unless you could all squeeze into a King? It's our last room.

The last hotel room in Livingston Montana.

Total miles traveled: 1528

Danger, wild animals

After a night on the hard ground (catastrophic mattress failure), the not-really-greatness of our campsite and the pressure of needing to make it to North Dakota by Saturday, we were not sure we would be able to enjoy Yosemite. We decided to take the full lap and just see what there was to see. There are oceans and oceans of forests, which Exploding poptart thinks are lovely and serene, but which Papercup Mixmaster and Wuggy Norple think are dull. And now there's a traffic jam. What for, you might ask? Bison on the highway. Whole families of bison. With babies even.

Apparently it happens. And Elk. And Deer. And the biggest traffic jam of all... a real bear. And finishing the animal safari part of our journey, we found the lake. If that sight doesn't bring peace, I don't know what would. We found a little pull out and watched Dog chase the bubbles on the waves, and Wuggy Norple and Papercup Mixmaster skipping stones. Wuggie Norple almost lost it when we suggested he get back in the car. We stopped at just a fraction of the amazing wonderful things to see, and as we traversed geyser country, thought perhaps it was time to leave Wyoming, and get back to our cross-country trip. We stopped for lunch at the Old Faithful village, and noticed people streaming towards a plume of smoke. It was due to go at 1:55 and here we were at 2:05. It was a hot impatient wait, but we got to see it- the archetypal plume. Now we could go.

The last campsite

We weren't sure if we would be able to do Craters and Yellowstone in the same day, so we put off making our decision. But by the time we left craters, we decided to camp in Yellowstone that night. It was a little bit of a race against the clock to make sure we would have enough light to pitch a tent, but we were game. Unfortunately the phone reservation system had closed for the night. When we arrived at the park gates the ranger showed us a big board showing which campsites were full, and which were open. We crossed our fingers and headed in. About halfway around the big loop to a campsite that said "open" on the magic board, I had a vision of us arriving deep in the park to a now-full campsite. So we pulled into the reservation center of the nearest campsite to confirm we would have a space. No, the perky college student said, everything was full. Everything. Unless, oh, if you have a dog that wouldn't work. There we are, 2 hours from civilization, and everything is booked. And it's past our dinner time, and the light is growing dim, and we are still hot and sticky from Craters of the Moon. And as I am pleading our case to the nice lady, she says, "wait, how big is your tent?" because at just that moment a campsite opened nearby, but the spot is really really small. We'll take it, I say. Even though it isn't near the lake, even though a million things. The last campsite in Yellowstone was ours.

Junior Ranger

Wednesday we powered through Idaho to get to Craters of the Moon National Monument. So in the middle of the high desert, now we are in a sea of black rock with no shade anywhere. The sea of black rock was broken occasionally by tiny little flowers- spring on the lava flow. It really is stunning, but as I stood in the visitor center native plants garden under the one tree in walking distance, I realized once again that this would be a hot hard life without trees. Wuggy Norple emerged from the tour an official Junior Ranger. He pledged to take care of nature and to share what he had learned.

More thoughts of Wuggy Norple

Thought 1: Wuggy Norple does not like apricots
Thought 2: Wuggy Norple has a loose tooth (his first)
Thought 3: Wuggy Norple can't wait to get to North Dakota

Thoughts of Wuggy Norple

Dictated by WN. Transcribed by PM.

Thought 1: Wuggy Norple does not like soy sauce.
Thought 2: We could do the rest of the thoughts tomorrow.
Thought 3: I don't like Thought #2.
[Power Rangers singing ensues. Time for bed.]

And More Oregon...

Eastern Oregon is like another planet. It's like a desert in the mountains. I guess that's why they call it the high desert. Papercup Mixmaster says that the landscape of Eastern Oregon made even Bob Seeger sound profound. Against the wind. Yes. Against the wind indeed.

For one stretch the map indicated wiggly black line, normally an ascent or descent. But here between Burns and Ontario in Eastern Oregon, the highway snaked through a deep rocky canyon, following a small river. By the time we found a place safe enough to pull over and take a picture, the rockiness had given way to a more pastoral scene.



Entering Idaho on an interstate highway, our first since departing Ashland, driving was easier, smoother. The distant horizon was painted in stripes of color from ground to sky. We were entering pastures and fields, exiting the range. Our time on the interstate is interrupted by a side trip north on a state route, looking for a nice place to stay and prepare for Craters of the Moon National Monument tomorrow.

We are now in Hailey, ID, apparently a secret retreat for very wealthy skiing enthusiasts. The nearby airport, the innkeeper says, is no longer big enough to handle the traffic during the season. "It's all private jets," she adds. There is a lot of new construction. The place we're in is new as well, and the large indoor pool has a grand view of a grass-covered mountain peak, very ski-worthy. Later, the moon appeared.

Wuggy Norple says the James Taylor song "Our Town" reminds him of times with LouJones and Guy. Also, Wuggy Norple is now very tired at the hotel.

Dog really likes it in this hotel.

Exploding Poptart is a little worried about Plant.

Wuggy Norple says he wants you to know he is very tired in this hotel.

Total miles traveled: 1058

High Desert

This part of Oregon looks a lot like northern Nevada, the part past Pyramid Lake on the way to Burning Man. It's hot and dry, but not oppressive. This is cowboy country. Evidence of pioneer life, from indiscernible eras, is casually left among the chaparral and cows. But much of this is BLM land. That's clean. Lake Abert is stunning, so perfectly undeveloped, surrounded by green marsh giving way to alkali flats and volcanic-looking rock. Cows on the beach. Above us is Abert Rim, a 2000-foot fault scarp that hulks over the lake and tiny highway for miles. It is pictured, if such a thing could be possible, below.


If you've traveled around the west at all you know that some towns are just a store and a post office and you have no idea where the workers live becauses there's no houses, no trailers, nothing in the middle of nowhere and you start to wonder about these folk--how long is their commute?

Riley is such a town, but we were relieved and delighted to have reached it after almost 90 miles of high desert, and nothing but high desert. Not even other cars. (Wagontire doesn't count at all. A couple of trailers, no store, no gas. And despite the fact that "The only good water for miles around was from springs on Wagontire Mountain, which led to waterhole feuds, gun battles and murder," there was nothing for us to stop for.) Riley was friendly and refreshing. We bought one of each 5-cent Laffy Taffy's they had. No, not those Laffy Taffy's.


Now staying in Burns, OR. Indoor heated pool and hot tub. The boy is pleased. Squirting ensues. Marco!

Of course our reply is: Scutaro!

Tomorrow, we have at least 2 hours more of Oregon to get to Idaho. We'll get as close to Craters of the Moon as we can before we grow weary, or distracted.

Total miles traveled: 716

Fairfax and Ashland

My dad laughed when I told him our first destination- Fairfax CA. That's right, we drove the long way up 280 and across the Golden Gate to beautiful Marin County. And after that hour and half's hard drive we were so exhausted we had to stop. No, seriously, we learned on our original drive out to California that on the day of a big move, it can be really nice to land in a warm home. So we spent the evening with dear friends drinking wine and basking their amazing new house, and trying to fathom leaving them in California.

Sunday morning, after a good old fashioned American breakfast, all of us crowded around the dining room table, (except Wuggie Norple, who ate at 7:00 when he woke up) we carried the luggage down the long steps (and a short shuttle ride) to our trailer and headed to another warm and comforting place to land - our gracious friend's home in Ashland. They put us up at the sweetest B&B with a porch swing and little paths through a garden in bloom. (I ran through the neighborhood Monday morning; it was a perfect sunny breezy run through old homes and art galleries and along the train tracks). We stuffed ourselves with Italian food at night, and pancakes in the morning, and as much of their company as we could squeeze in before we had to face facts that we needed to be on our way. Day 3 and still in Oregon, it seemed like we were eventually going to have to put some miles on.

Total miles traveled: 417

Getting Started

In homage to our son's favorite author Daniel Pinkwater, we decided to take names from "The Wuggie Norple Story." The boy wants to be Wuggie Norple (of course). I (mom) will be Exploding Poptart, and dad will be Papercup Mixmaster. We are also accompanied by Dog and Plant.

Our Story begins on Thursday, my last day of work, which ended with Exploding Poptart in a race with the clock to load up 7 years of books and files and bits of candle by 5:00 so I could make it to Day Care in time to pick up Wuggie Norple before he turned into a pumpkin. At 4:50 my amazing co-worker PitBull Goddess and I started shoving boxes into my compact car "you could come back..." she said as our task looked more and more impossible. But somehow it all fit, even the plants, and at 5:05 we took a last look or 3 around the office to see whate ELSE I had forgotten. I rode away from my office for the last time, realizing that without PitBull Goddess I would be repeatedly banging my head against the wall instead of speading off with a perfectly loaded car at 5:10. God Bless that woman.

That night we packed like crazy, and Wuggie Norple had to choose all his favorite toys he would want to play with for the next 3 months and fit them into a plastic tub for our trip.

Friday was Wuggie Norple's last day of Kindergarden. I walked him to school for the last time and before I got home, the movers were there. We spent the rest of the day trying to stay one step ahead. We had one major failure early on as the "important stuff to go in the car" pile was packed into identical cardboard boxes destined fo storage in Milpitas before I'd even had my coffee. Friends came over and helped us get fed, run errands and generally keep our spirits up.

Saturday the hardest was over (for us) because the moving company loaded our stuff (who knew we had so much of it!) into giant semi while we sat on the floor of the dining room trying to come up with things to do that didn't involve any THINGS or furnitire. By 4:00 it was done. We circled the house a few times to make sure we had left nothing behind, and said goodbye to our sweet little oasis.

Plant

This is Plant. Plant was chosen for the journey due to her resiliency and tolerance for nonsense. Unfortunately Plant's major defense mechanism is to fall into pieces, which seems to be how she reproduces.