2015 trip summary

A map of our trip
* Approximately 10,731 miles traveled
* $1306.70 spent on fuel for 456 total gallons of fuel
* 23.5mpg average
* two oil changes
* no flats
* no added water/coolant
* one deer
* many bugs
* headlights still work
* air conditioning still works
* two new windshield cracks (small but time for a new one)
* 26 different hotels, 2 family abodes
* at least 26 parks
* at least 23 restaurants
* 1 weird tan pattern

Days 10, 11: Sandy UT to Piedmont CA (home!)

700+ miles driven today, made it home at about 1:45am, house is in surprisingly good order, kids now sleeping after transfer from the van, very good food in Reno yet again (Laughing Planet Cafe). Also, it was announced that the showers were not working in Winnemucca, but this did not affect us. Last, note that there is a mobile tattoo parlor in Elko NV. 

Days 8, 9: Kalispell MT to Idaho Falls ID to Sandy UT

Hwy 93 Lewis and Clark Trail south, snack and traffic in Missoula, first roadkill in Idaho at night, temp variation from 40F to 90F in the same valley, lots of mice on the road at night, nuclear test facilities (and no towns) north east of Idaho Falls, lots of eagle's nests in WY, no bears. Now in UT, work tomorrow, then home. Burned steak in adjacent hotel room equals long spells of fire detector music. 

Day 7: Billings MT to Kalispell MT

Long drive on gravel roads in the Blackfeet Nation. Glacier National Park continues to be darn awesome. Lots of burned areas this year, Going-to-the-Sun Road was open though. Our feet were dirty this evening. 

Day 6: Sundance WY to Billings MT

Lots of wildlife the last couple days, not much human life. Hard to get a hotel in Bozeman MT in the summer, happy accident of hitting a super good restaurant here in Billings - The Fieldhouse Cafe. Tomorrow is Glacier National Park!

Sundance WY is not where the Sundance film festival takes place (Park City UT).

Day 5: Hot Springs SD to Sundance WY

Long day, short on miles. Wind Cave in the morning, saw underground caves and above ground bison, touristy but good lunch in Custer SD, Devil's Tower in the evening, no close encounters though. 

Day 4: Pierre SD to Hot Springs SD

Super cupcakes in Pierre, drive through sunflower fields to the Badlands, quick stop near an old missile silo (8 man crew above, 2 man crew below), very warm climb through the Badlands, wind through Lakota land and Pine Ridge Reservation where the Wounded Knee massacre took place, now in Hot Springs with designs on the Wind Caves and Devil's Tower tomorrow. 

Day 3: Mankato MN to Pierre SD

Route 14, cool waterfalls in Mankato, steakhouse in Pierre, lots of corn, soy, and farmland in between. Laura Ingalls Wilder territory.

Day 2: Oshkosh WI to Mankato MN

Morning in Oshkosh visiting the Air Museum there, really interesting experimental airplanes from over the years, three oldest also were taken up for short plane rides as part of the ticket price. Crossed the Mississippi in Winona which is a pretty interesting little town, also passed a weird intersection where one store sold adult fantasies, potatoes, and used farm equipment.

Part 3: Day 1: Eagle River MI to Oshkosh WI

First day back on the road, heading home to CA, aiming towards Air Museum tomorrow, Badlands, Wind Caves, Glacier NP, Salt Lake City, then home. Florence WI is very nice, bye to da UP!

Last days on Lake Superior