In April Stevie and I drove out to the desert, driving around Eureka Dune for hours searching for the way into Saline Valley.  Not sure- did we make it?  Was this the trip through Steel Pass?

Waterdogs/Art Show at Dohr Street, Sarah builds frames for my apple drawings

Steve’s brother had his roof damaged by a hail storm.   Steve and I drove to Iowa in the Big White Truck to help reshingle the roof.  What a great trip–we traveled on the back roads, a quarter mile north of I 80, almost deserted and lost in time. 7/17 we leave early and drive through California and Nevada, camping at Angel Creek, near Wells, Nevada, arrive 10:30 7/18 up at 5, coffee and leave at 8 Am.  Saratoga (cute!) 7 PM Saturday, 1000 miles at Medicine Bow in Mountains of Wyoming 7/19/1998 Daily Nebraska Park Permit.  Fireflies!  Hord Lake, on the Platte River–there was water then, $3 at 1537 miles. Arrive at Lance’s house in Decorah Monday 7/20, following a big, tree-tossing storm, about 4 PM.   We spend an incredibly hot week, Steve and Lance on the roof, me helping marginally-  I can’t carry 60# slabs of shingles like I thought.  Nordicfest and the tractor parade, and a toy shop where many tractors in several sizes could be had.  Decorah is a beautiful town, in a unique, glacier-free landscape of ancient rock and deep cold springs. via Seedsavers to visit rare-apple orchards, and Blue Earth to visit my niece Becky.  Camping upstate-    visit to nightmarish Mall of the Americas  .  .  .  Big dinner at Bucca’s with the Petersons. Leaving Minneapolis on Tuesday7/28, Maplewood State Park at 2600 miles, Wednesday 7/29 at Pelican Rapids, Visited Steve’s Aunt Enid and uncle Pag in Barnesville.   We  searched Moorehead for the old family homes before crossing over into North Dakota, to visit Hatton, the family graveyard of Soliahs and Mastruds. Crossing North Dakota was bleak and cold, the scariest bathrooms anywhere.  Who suggested we take the northern route?  Montana was better, and Flathead Lake, cherry orchards, beautiful cabin culture, and at last, Hot Springs. Montana.  The best, softest, most beautiful water anywhere.