Trip Planning

It's that time of the season when we begin to think about the details for our next trip. There are only 3 weeks to go and we are planning to travel from here to Naperville to visit Patty and her family for a week or so in October. While figuring the distance from here to her home and then on to AZ for the winter, the total distance amounts to about 3200 miles of travel. The real challenge is to figure out the best route where we can conserve the most fuel - now at about $4 per gallon for diesel - and maximize the efficiency of the truck towing the fifth wheel. It looks like the southern route, through southern Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa is the flattest and most economical. The northern route, through northern Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota offers more sight seeing opportunities but is a lot more costly as a result of the many mountains we would have to cross. Another option is to drive straight to AZ and fly to Chicago for our visit. That is not the preferred solution, but is one that we will look at from an economical point of view. We love to travel with the fifth wheel, but we also need to look at expenses. At any rate, we will begin looking at those alternatives.

It is also that time of the season when we begin to think about a possible return to this location next year. It is our favorite location - so far - to spend summers, and that is why we have returned to this spot for a second year. Do we want to return for a third year? That's the big question, and one that we have time to answer. We will probably commit to returning next year, but will also look at other opportunities between now and next February or March to keep our options open. We love the area, but are a bit disappointed in some aspects of our experience this year. The staff at the lodge seems to be preoccupied with internal problems (?) this year and there are more conflicts among the work staff at the front desk this year. Not to mention that the overall experience with the guests hasn't been as enjoyable as last year. Time will tell.

We would like to get in a visit to Yellowstone before we leave, and possibly combine it with a visit to Cody to see our friends that are working there again his year. If we are going to put that trip together, we need to make that happen soon.  In some ways, it is a little sad to be at this point in the season, but in other ways, it is turning up the excitement level again...