Journal Entry from July 15 - A Stoned Afternoon

 July 15 a drunk morning and a stoned afternoon of journaling: 

I am in General Sibley Park south of Bismarck. No wifi, so I am writing in my journal. I arrived yesterday after driving from Maple Grove MN on I94. It always takes me longer than Google Maps says, and yesterday was brutal due to the crosswinds. Needless to say, but I will anyway, my gas mileage sucked. It was, though, a beautiful drive with lush green farmlands and trees. I kept seeing these lush waterways along the interstate, and I thought, "Geez, how can we get this water to the southwest?" More on that later. 

General Sibley Park has almost 100 sites but they are spaced well apart. Grass and trees are everywhere, so it's lovely. My spot was on the edge of the park with access to a 2 mile nature trail. I held that walk til Monday as Willow had diarrhea the night before and sleep had eluded both of us. We got up 5 times in the night. Poor thing. I attribute that to the crappy KOA "K"ampground  we stayed the night before... there was an obvious  lack of grooming and maintenance. So, don't stay at the North Minneapolis KOA. Glad we were there just one night. 

My first night at General S park, I enjoyed sitting outside drinking Corona and I kept hearing a high pitched screech. My neighbors had a baby, but surely that can't be it. There were turkeys in a yard across from the park...could it be them? There were all kinds of bird song, but nope, not them either. It was the baby! Holy crap, I love babies, but I wanted to stick a pacifier in that little one's mouth. Thank God they went inside their camper so Willow and I could have a good night's sleep. 

I knew it was gonna be a cool night, 48 degrees ya'll! So I put my thermal skylight covers on and closed all the windows but one. Woke in the morning to 57 degrees inside and thew on my thermal gear to step outside. Fucking awesome. Even put on my furry slippers. Willow was shaking a bit, but that could also be because she spied a squirrel...her favorite prey. Anyway, morning coffee outside after a long night's sleep with no diarrhea was a blessed event After coffee and Willow's breakfast, which she wolfed down like a starving stray, we put on our hiking gear and headed out for a walk on the Interpretive Trail which goes around the 138 acre park. 

On the trail we learned about the lush water I saw along I94. These are known as Riparian Ecosystems, which are the river channels, floodplains, sandbars, and vegetation areas important to all that live in ND. Well okay ND, keep your water. 

Along the trail are these river channels, and although it seems impossible just looking at the lush surroundings, there was a boat launch on the channel which leads to the Missouri River. Very cool. 

The trail had information about General Sibley, whom I decided, I would protest against if I was alive back then. Sure, he was following orders, but fucking don't kill the people who are native to the land which is expansive enough to house all of humankind back then each with their own 5000 acres. Geesh. It was a fucked up time in our history. Kinda like it is now. Anyway, I digress. Immersed in nature, I can escape those "newsworthy" events that are shaking up our world. Thank goodness. Blissfully unaware. . 

The trail was lovely and Willow chased everything that moved. She was a contented soul when we returned to camp. 

I don't eat breakfast until late in the morning, and this morning after our walk, I thought, "It's a Bloody Mary kinda day!" So that's what I'm doing now, and I'm a little bit drunk after just a few sips. I'm nearly alone in this area of the park, and I hear only lawn mowers, and what? firecrackers. There are houses that border the park and these unsupervised little shits are firing at will. Since I'm a bit tipsy, I yelled across at them, "Just stop. You are ruining my peace, and my dog is scared to death." LOL

So, that's my day so far. Willow and I are going to play frisbee golf this afternoon and maybe walk back to the river channel on the off chance we could hitch a ride on a boat to the river. Hahaha. There was a big river paddle boat heading out on an evening cruise when we crossed the bridge coming in yesterday. Fun. Reminded me of Omaha. 

Later that same day....we went to play frisbee golf. Willow does not know how to play with humans yet. She's part cattle dog, so agility games are good for her; however, she is afraid when someone throws anything, so it's a long journey learning to play. Thus we'll play frisbee golf, which is me playing to get her used to things thrown. And after I threw, we ran...yes hard to do at my age...to the firsbee which usually landed about 30 to 40 feet away...I think that's not stellar, but I felt okay with it since I suck at frisbee. I usually made it in 3 or 4 shots. I was cheering myself every time I made a good throw or made it in the basket. I imagine if someone saw me they would find it quite ridiculous. Willow loved it...well the running anyway. 

After we played 9 holes, I turned on Pandora and listened to the Heavy UK, smoked a joint...well a hit cuz I'm a total one hit wonder... did the dishes. Then I sat my ass down to write this. 

Damn, it's gorgeous right now. A few clouds floating in a bright blue sky, a slight breeze and 75 degrees. These are the days I look forward to on my trip. I feel super peaceful and care free. 

My clothes keep getting looser, in fact, I put on my hiking pants today with a zipper and button closure (which is completely against my clothing belief system...elastic and stretch please!) and I put my phone and keys in the pockets adding weight and they were falling down my hips as I played frisbee. Uh, do I hear a "Hallelujah!"? I love being in shape. The pandemic messed that up for awhile. So, a good day. 

I quit washing my hair...like for a week now...I get it wet sometimes...anyway it looks better...no curly frizzy fly away hair. What an adjustment not having an appliance for my hair. It's great really. Here's my getting ready to "go out" routine: 

Brush teeth, take a PTA bath, wet my hair and fluff, put on deodorant (aren't ya glad?), face and body lotion, brush my crazy eyebrows, get dressed in something stretchy and comfy, put on my better Birkenstock knock offs, grab my decent (clean) visor, clean my glasses, and wahla, I'm out the door for dinner. 

Pretty easy. If it's not easy I just say no. I mean, I like a challenge, but not with the simple things. 

I live an adventurous challenge everyday these days. Maybe it's called retirement. LOL It's great. I may die from the additional cigarettes I can smoke when I'm just sitting outside like a retiree. I'm working on that...soon. 

Here's how I ended this journal entry that day: 

I'm sure when I start typing this when I'm not stoned, I'll want to edit this post. DON'T DO IT! 

Peace, heart emoji, 5 sheets of TP at a time, Watson

Finally Photos

 After much haggling with Google Photos, I have pictures to share!

Here is my camp in Maple Grove MN where I spent a week without electric and water hookups, but all good. I had a primo spot next to the toilets, fresh water, and dish washing sink...really awesome. When I arrived Friday, all spots were full with the exception of the one next to mine...very nice. The camp was next to Lake Independence and the trails were great. 

I got new 3 new tires in Maple Grove and headed to Bismarck ND for 2 nights and camped near the Missouri River. Good trails there and a frisbee golf course, so of course, I played although I'm terrible. Trying to get Willow used to me throwing whatever...I'd throw, we'd run to the frisbee and when I made it in the "hole"...is that what they call it...I would jump and yell in my happy voice. She did well putting up with the throwing and with me. LOL

After 2 days in General Sibley Park, and an oil change in town, we headed to Billings MT for a night. The drive was spectacular and we stopped at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Painted Canyon overlook. Yep, the exact spot a woman was gored by a bison a few days before. Seriously, it's right off the interstate...how the heck does that happen? 

Not great photos and yep, a thumb. But it was gorgeous, and I didn't see a single Bison. Whew!

In Billings, I camped at the Missouri headwaters which is 3 rivers joining and all that was flying was mosquitoes everywhere all the time. Ugh. But pretty none the less. 

I was going to take the Beartooth Highway down to the north part of Yellowstone; however, the more I read about the drive, I came to realize I would be white knuckling it the whole way. Jason, let's put that drive on our bucket list and go together in not an RV. So on to Bozeman I went and camped along the beautiful Yellowstone River. 

I hung out in Bozeman the next morning and walked the city park trail and had breakfast. 

I drove from Bozeman to Couer d'Alene ID and stayed for 2 nights in a nice camp but with no trails, so I was kind of stuck. I did get to see Lake Couer d'Alene as I left for the Cascade mountains of Washington. 

I stayed at this little run down place in the alpine lakes area of the cascades. It was quaint though with some hilarious people talking about ridiculous things...which I only just overheard because, well, they were 50 feet from me. LOL. 

And then I arrived at Sally and Bob's in Sequim WA. It's pretty much heaven. Cool weather, 10 minute bike ride to the ocean, taking the boat out onto the ocean, hearing the ship horns as they travel port to port, and watching the eagles dive for fish in the pond. More pics to follow, but here are a few. 

Watson signing out with peace in my heart.