On the road in the west

[mikelutestanski]

Hello
     Passed several bus conversions on I 90 in western montana today. Presently at Butte flying J overnight.  We will try for Sheridan tomorrow. I have to visit a classmate from the fifties.
      5000 miles or so and many adventures.  The bus is averaging 7.5. Since we left Florida. June 4 . We arrived in port angeles Wa June 22 and met Bobofthenorth and Marilyn.  We had a very nice visit touring parts of Canada. Leaving Bob we headed south and west to explore the coast.  Had  to visit Bobs red mill factory in Portland. Drove I 84 along the Columbia river gorge.
    We explored air museums at Hood river and Tillamook.  Very nice.   Several trains also.
    One bus  conversion was a. 4104; Green and white.the others were provosts.
     Time to head back east .we will be going thru South Dakota to Sioux Falls to meet other bus nuts.   Heading for the UP and the Macinac bridge.
      Happy bussin from the road. Mike

[robertglines1]

Great to hear from ya'll   enjoy the ride!!!   Bob & Judy

[RJ]

Presently at Butte flying J overnight. 

Mike -

You've got to stop in Billings and say hello to Chris & Cherie (Technomadia) while they're awaiting the re-installation of their rebuilt 8V71 at Interstate Diesel.

Billings is right on your way to Sheridan. . .

Send me a PM here or my email (in profile) and I'll give you Chris's cell number.  They'll be delighted to meet another busnut!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[bevans6]

Wow, two great road stories in one night, not to forget Brian's epic journey!  I hope to add to that in a few weeks, but still waiting on my DOT inspection.  Mike, Brian  and Mark have my very best wishes!

Brian

[lostagain]

Mike, good to hear about a good trip, without whining about the price of fuel!

Flying J in Butte is a good place for overnighting, been there 2 or 3 times. My son goes to Montana Tech there the next 2 years. They get cold winters at 5300 feet altitude.

In Sheridan, you have to see the Main Street downtown. Very historic, early 20th century.

Have a nice trip.

JC

[Dave5Cs]

Nice trip Mike good for you guys. Hope all is well and drive safe.

Dave5Cs

[Melbo]

Mike

Good to hear the bus in doing fine. I just drove US 54 across NM TX OK KS MO into IL.  My L10 is booking the same 7.5 as you or just a little better. Of course I am running on the flat compared to the mountains.

Cool Beans that you got to see Bob and Marilyn

Melbo

[JohnVickrey]

Hey Mike,
Maybe you can stop by and visit us.  We will be here until after the Truck Show in September.  We'll save our bussin' friends site for ya.  I put some pictures on our facebook page www.facebook.com/castlerockcampark.  This weekend there will be Mini Cooper's Guiness World Record attempt http://www.minionthemack.com/ .  Then there's the Bridge walk on September 2. 

Is Alaska still on your list or did you already do that??

[gumpy]

If you're coming towards the Minneapolis area on your way to the upper peninsula, let me know.
There's a Cabela's in Rogers, about 7 miles from me. RV dump there and good place to overnight.

I'll be leaving next Wed on the motorcycle for a solo trip to Yellowstone to see my daughter so won't be
around for a couple weeks  after that.

[gus]

Don't miss the Badlands Park, dry camping near the lodge on the east end. Park entrance right on I90.

Also the Devils Tower north of I90, worth the few miles out of the way.

We were just there in early June.

[bobofthenorth]

Cool Beans that you got to see Bob and Marilyn

Its was pretty cool seeing Mike & Diane but I think they were glad to get off the boat.  We never did find them a whale no matter how hard we looked but we did get boarded by the Coasties.  One head quit working so Mike got to help unplug that mess and then to wrap things up I backed over a dinghy fall and jammed up one shaft solid.  Mike & Diane high tailed it off the boat while we were waiting for the diver to arrive.  Can't say I blame them.   

[Dave5Cs]

Bob sounds like Boat business as usual eh!...LOL When I had mine I backed up on to  the rocks and spun a crab pot around the prop shaft and locked it up and didn't even get the dungies to eat afterwards.

Dave5Cs

[mikelutestanski]

Hello,   Gas prices ,   Well you fill it up and pay the bill next month when the card is due.  
   FWIW.  Rapid city  south Dakota is 4.06  today.  Montana was 3.90   Used 48 gals for 354 miles. Had a bit of genny use in Sheridan so 7.3 or so.   Went thru sturgis and saw the devils tower today.  The tower was a bit of a disappoint. Smaller than envisioned..  Route 14 back to 90 was a nice ride.
  I have a time at 55 . It is too many rs for 4 th and too slow for 5th.    44 to 50 works better for me.  
     I cruised at 72 for a while on I90 in Wyoming .  Had 4 pipeline trucks following for 50 miles.    
     Anyway a good day.  Heading east toward Sioux Falls to meet my son in Brandon.  
Regards from the road.  Mike
P.S.    Bobofthenorth is full of it; Diane and I had a great time.  It was an adventure from the time we left the dock until he kicked us off at the coho ferry. We went to this island and a crazy bus driver picked us up in a school bus . This guy was a real hoot, playing the drums to 50s music and steering sometimes with one hand whilst the road went all over the place .he drove us to the Hummingbird cafe (bar).... Anyway we have a week of great memories. We did not see any whales but I managed to see a wolf on this unihabited island. the Indian owners had it posted .they told us it had cameras and wolves so keep away..
  This is after all our 50 year anniversary trip...  Mike

[Sam 4106]

Hi Mike,

When did Rapid City get moved to North Dakota? LOL! Last I knew it was in South Dakota, I'll have to catch up on the news more often. Which route are you taking across Minnesota? We live 4 miles south of Interstate 90 at La Crescent, MN and have a full hook-up site, with 50 amp electric, if you care to stop. Email is in our profile.

Good luck, Sam

[mikelutestanski]

Hello.   
I90. In SD. Is bad.   Really exercised the air bags and air seats today , and we have 200 more miles to go.   BAH  humbug
    Regards. Mike