Community Forums

gjstacy · 08-03-2009, 06:58 PM

Well, we're about to escape from the Las Vegas heat...it's past time!

We will be heading up to Yellowstone for just a couple of nights and then on up to Glacier Natl Park for 4 nights (probably not really enough time to see everything, but it'll be a start). From there, we'll head west to Bonners Ferry, ID (God's country) to visit a cousin who lives there.

Has anyone traveled Rt 2 as you head west from Glacier over to the northern peninsula of Idaho??? If so, we'd like to hear about the quality and RV-worthiness of the road.

After that, we'll be wandering south to visit with friends along the way in Washington and Oregon...then on down US 395 all the way to Rt 58 in CA to Barstow and then on up the back side of the mountains to Big Bear for more fun with friends.

Hope we find lots of cooler weather

and perhaps have some Alpine sightings along the way that I can post on that thread.

Hope all of you have a wonderful and safe traveling summer!

Rick Coleman · 08-04-2009, 08:47 AM

Hi Gail- It's a small world...we left Lopez Island/Anacortes, WA yesterday and are on our way to Grizzly Park in West Yellowstone. We stopped last night at Suncrest Resort in Moses Lake, WA. Very nice facilities, extremely tidy and clean. Right off the 90. We continue on to just outside Missoula, MT today and spend the night at Jim & Mary's RV park. Arrive West Yellowstone tomorrow for 6 days and then on to Glacier Park where we stay at a small park at Flathead Lake, in Bigfork.

Let's see if we can connect and you and John can by us dinner at Chez Big Deal. I prefer their surf and turf.

Cinequip · 08-04-2009, 10:42 PM

Leaving Gros Ventre CG in the Tetons for Fishing Bridge CG in Yellowstone on the 5th. Depart Yellowstone on the 8th. Might go to Glacier before heading home via Spokane and Walla Walla to visit friends and relatives.

gjstacy · 08-04-2009, 10:55 PM

Wow, Rick...can't believe you'll be there, too! And, the world is even smaller, cause we'll be at Grizzly's, too. Yup, we'll definitely come find you as soon as we arrive. We should be there fairly early on the 7th. We had originally planned that stop to vist good friends from Encino who own property in W Yellowstone (actually their family own Grizzly's and much else of the town as well as a ranch and lots of other property surrounding town...they've been there for many generations). As it turns out, they won't be going up to MT until much later, so we'll be there on our own...it'll be great fun to see you guys!

Chez Big Deal it is!!

Scott & Marcia, we'll keep an eye out for you both at Yellowstone and Glacier. Don't know if you can tell from our picture at left, but our coach has a nearly unique paint color (blue), as there are only two of us with this graphic scheme that are blue (us and the Swans). If you are nearby, come look for us and the Coleman's at Grizzly's in West Yellowstone on the afternoon of the 7th and join us at Chez Big Deal! We're also heading to Spokane after Glacier for the car show the weekend of the 14th.

Looks like I'll be able to post Alpine sightings!

Rick Coleman · 08-06-2009, 07:20 AM

Hi Gail- We are in space 145, a great end space with a very large grass area next to us. Nice big thunderstorm and rain last night, but it looks like it is partly clearing today. These end spots are tough to come by as Grizzly is packed. Best bet to get one is to go one line ahead of time to see their site plan and reserve ahead.

Please call my cell 310.291.8949 when you get here. It will be great to see you. Diesel is only about $2.50 a gallon in Montana!!!!

gjstacy · 08-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Hi Rick,

Don't know where we'll be, but at this point, we are in a back in site somewhere. Unfortunately, we waited too long to make our reservations, and we know better, too, having been there a couple of times before. I'm jealous that you have an end space, as I know from last year that the back ins don't have much space for parking your toad.

We'll give you a call upon arrival...probably right around noon.

Gail

Cinequip · 08-09-2009, 08:50 AM

Sorry, but we will miss Glacier this trip. Having too much vibration when pulling a grade, and plan to visit cummins in Spokane ASAP. Sounds like U-joint or maybe diff.

Rick Coleman · 08-10-2009, 07:53 AM

Since you fixed your vibration problem are you continuing on to Glacier? We head from Yellowstone to Bigfork tomorrow, with an overnight at Missoula on the way.

Cinequip · 08-10-2009, 10:45 AM

Rick,

No, we're on a mission to Walla Walla now, to visit friends. Stayed in a very nice private RV park in Osburn, ID. Tight turns, but a real jewel of a park.

See you someday...

Cinequip · 08-10-2009, 11:03 AM

All the online reviews are true. Very tight turns. All sites are the same length (about 35'). We had to push back to within 6" of the trailer behind us. They must have loved the hydro-hot exhaust! I loosened and pushed back the P/S mirror so someone wouldn't take it off driving by. Needless to say, the entry door opened right on to the road. The one sunny day, there were lots of kids running around and screaming. No picnic tables or fire rings. No internet or cell service. All this for about $40 per day!

We won't take the coach into Yellowstone again. West Yellowstone sounds great. No matter where you camp, there is lot's of driving to get anywhere, so you might was well camp in a nice place outside the park.

Rick Coleman · 08-10-2009, 08:32 PM

Well, I for one think Grizzly RV Park just outside of Yellowstone National Park in West Yellowstone is wonderful. While driving through the park I stopped in at Fishing Bridge RV Park that I have heard many positive things about and found it would hold no interest for me. The spaces are very small (short) and the RV's seem to nearly touch each other. But...each to their own.

gjstacy · 08-10-2009, 09:39 PM

I wrote about Grizzly under the "Alpine Sightings" thread, but will say here that we, too, love Grizzly RV Park in W Yellowstone. The back-in sites are a bit tight for a 40ft rig plus toad, but the pull-throughs are plenty spacious. Regardless of which type site you have, there is a lot of space in between with grass & small trees. The pads are nice level gravel; there is good WiFi and cable TV service. Perhaps best is the really nice, helpful staff. The park is only about a half mile or so from the west entrance to Yellowstone. Finally, the town is kind of fun to walk around.

We've been to Yellowstone 3 times in the last 5 years, and have stayed here each time, even though we have dear friends who have a nearby ranch with a bunch of full hook-up sites. We just love Grizzly!

Have I raved too much???

TerryM · 08-10-2009, 10:31 PM

US 2 West of Glacier Park is my kind of driving. It's scenic and yet relaxing, as long as you're not in a big hurry....much better than a freeway. Easy for an Alpine.

We visited Milwaukee in early July, then Rapid City area and Yellowstone on the way back to Washington. Grizzly was booked at West Yellowstone, so we stayed at the KOA a few miles west of town. It was actually very nice, with a patio restaurant and a fairly well stocked store and bikes to rent, etc. Very quiet. We didn't even hear the bears that would hit the garbage dumpsters each night.

We went to the NoWACA Rally in Port Townsend in late July, followed by short stays at Ocean Shores and Long Beach (Were surprised one morning to see Lyle and Cath Fuller drive into our park and stop and say hi.)

We are off to some of the Oregon beaches in a couple of days. Not sure exactly where, but probably north of Florence up to Astoria. Should take a little over a week. I'm sure we'll find some new favorite seafood restaurants.

gjstacy · 08-11-2009, 08:58 AM

Terry, thanks for the info on US 2 heading west from Glacier. We'll be heading that way on Thursday. After our short visit in Bonners Ferry, we're going to be meeting the Kelley's in Spokane to visit the car show there this weekend. Then, it'll be off to Bend, OR to see Bud & Pam Johnson.