SEPTEMBER 9 - 18, 2012

We are now on our own.  We spent 2 days getting back into the lower 48.  Glad to be back in the states with internet and phone service.  Our first night back in the states was spent in the state of Washington.  We tried to go the Grand Coulee Dam but when we got 12 miles from the dam we were turned around because of wildfires that were already crossing the roads. The whole area is full of smoke.  We went back to Soap Lake Washington to a campground there.   A bit scary I must say. The next day we called the dam again to see if we could get there but the roads were still closed.  A bit disappointed we decided to visit the Dry Falls.  Many years ago there were falls here that exceeded the size of Niagra Falls.  Below is the story of Dry Falls.

 

 

Below are a few pictures of how the falls look today.  It has created an area that looks very much like the Grand Canyon.  Beautiful.  You can also check out more pictures by clicking on the link below. 

 

THESE DRY FALLS WERE ONCE COVERED WITH WATER

 

IMAGINE THIS ALL UNDERWATER

 

 

We drove the next day to Spokane Washington and the roads are still full of smoke.  The skies were not clear of smoke until we left Billings, Montana

 

THIS IS WHAT THE ROADS LOOKED LIKE UNTIL WE LEFT BILLINGS, MONTANA.  THERE ARE WILDFIRES EVERYWHERE.

 

When we got to Montana we wanted to visit the Grant Kohrs Ranch but upon advice from a friend who tried to go there a few months ago we were to call first.  Sure enough, most of their buildings were closed and no tours were available.  We aren't having much luck trying to do sightseeing on our way home.  We finally got to do some sightseeing outside of Billings, Mt on our way out of the state.  We visited the Little Big Horn Battlefields.  We spent several hours here.  It is hard to look out at the fields and picture such a battle going on.  We listened to a Ranger give a talk on how the battle took place.  This was the place of Custers Last Stand.  We walked up to the memorial and visited the graveyard to read many tombstones.  War is a horrible thing taking many lives on both sides. 

 

We are now in Forest City, Iowa.  We are having our cracked windshields replaced along with a problem with our slideout.  We have ordered new shades for our coach and will sit here until Oct 2nd when they are due to arrive.  It will probably take 2-3 days to install them and then we will be on our way. 

 

We plan on doing the Winnebago Factory Tour and do any sightseeing that is around here.  We need a rest anyway.  Give us time to wax the coach while we are sitting here too.  

 

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