Sept. 19^th, 2011 Monday Brainerd, MN

Road Rash and other sights

Anyone who thinks that 10 week long road trips over are relaxing has not set out to do a circle route of the USA. Notice that Canada is now missing from the description of our “cross continent” adventure. (We may yet visit the Canadian north shore of Lake Superior; that decision will be made over the next 2 days.) However, lest my gratuitous whining about too much to do in too little time be misunderstood, I should say that the past 3 days have been a “push” to get from Yellowstone to Duluth, MN. We covered about 300 miles per day which is all we can do with dog and trailer in tow. About 4:30 blood sugar and patience plummet and we need to start the search for a campground.

Road Rash

As we left Yellowstone, we met Bill. The circumstances were less than auspicious for Bill. He was propped against a tree at the side of the road having met the tree rather abruptly when his beautiful red 3 wheeled motorcycle also met the tree. Bill, age 81, is from Tennessee. His first bike was a 1939 Indian. Renee (with my able help holding back a branch of the tree so she had access to him) was tending to his head and hand wounds and so we failed to notice the make & model  of the current bike which had been lifted off his ankle by some other strong and able passers-by. We would rather they had laid him flat than prop him up but not everyone at an incident site is a critical care RN who knows these things. (She is currently driving and listening to Twins/Yankee baseball. Yankees 5 Twins 1 for those who care.)

So we talked with Bill a bit, in the interest of keeping his mind off his leg which “really hurts like hell if you want the truth.”) and assessing his general state of health.  Someone had driven ahead to get park assistance (no cell coverage). He has been traveling alone for many years and had just spoken with his son while Bill was waiting for Old Faithful to be faithful yet again. His son told him to drive carefully.  He had been careful but it was rainy and when the car in front of him stopped suddenly for a view of some unnamed wildlife, his bike skidded into the tree, he and his helmet flew off in to the offending tree and the bike landed on his ankle. All in all he seemed ok- we guessed that his unnamed blood pressure meds kept his heart rate at a steady 65 (!!!) rather than 200 or 40 depending on his state of shock. He was quite oriented to time place and refrained from more than a bit of cursing at the driver who suddenly stopped. His Coumadin meant that the scrapes and cuts (Yankees 5 Twins 4) bleed freely but Renee comes to accidents fully equipped with gloves and 4x4s and many other useful items. Eventually the ranger arrived, complemented us on our work, asked us to stay, called for the ambulance and then did her own assessment. (Ours was better.) The ambulance was slow to come and arrived with only one paramedic. He listened to Bill carefully, did the 3^rd assessment and when it was time to load him up, asked the ranger, “Who’s gona drive the “bus?”” Turns out that staffing is a bit light in Yellowstone in mid-Sept. (good to know!). My offer to drive was gently and humorously declined. I am no better than any other red blooded co dependent- I have always wanted to drive the ambulance FOR
REAL.

So we blew kisses to Bill, he blew them back (Renee would have given her traditional goodbye kiss bestowed on all patients who survive her care, but the paramedics stood between her and Bill) and continued on our way.

Other sights

Other sights                                    

After the 4 days in Yellowstone, it seemed strange not to be on the lookout for predators and other wild creatures. Montana is quite beautiful but quickly turns to ranch land – unfenced and in some ways untamed. We saw another small herd of prong horn as we drove along. Hay is no longer baled it is rolled into giant wheels- like a golden snowball that you forgot to turn and make spherical.

The next knock out sight came at the border of Montana and North Dakota: The Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We camped in the Little Missouri National Grassland where the only sounds are the grasses blowing in the constant wind and the birds who have not yet left for the coming winter. About 10 min down the road is the place that made Teddy presidential material, according to the website. It is a combination of badlands and grasslands, seeming to stretch on forever. We made our soup and had dinner on a rise deep in the park. It was as quiet as any place I have ever been.

Why Duluth, you might ask. Well, it is the gateway to the north shore of Lake Superior. Not to mention home to a replica of a Viking ship (a few Norwegians live up this way) and a 90 year old diner. I visited here for the second time 2 years ago with my friend Mary’s family and have longed to come back. The first time was on the way to Isle Royale with my friend Linda. So who knows what adventures await Renee and I this time. I have already told her to watch for the Emergency Milk trucks.