Day 120 - Cameron AZ to Home

September 13, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 302
Total Mileage to Date: 10084

Home at Last!

10,084 miles and 120 days later we are back home to 100 F temperatures. Yes, today’s high here in Tucson was 100.8 degrees F. That is warmer than what we saw up north where the average high was 52 F and I don’t recall a high above 70 F. The average lows were in the upper 30’s and many nights were even below freezing.

Here are the final numbers:

Total Miles 10,084
Diesel – Coach 1,355 gallons
Gasoline – Hummer 68 gallons
Coach Engine Time 225 Hours
Average Coach Speed 45 MPH
Average MPG Coach 7.4
Total Cost of Trip $8857 or around $2214 per month

Day 119 - Junction of Utah 20 & US 89 to Cameron AZ

Today’s Mileage: 234
Total Mileage to Date: 9782
Mileage to Home: 311

Well we finally made it back to Arizona and warm weather. It did get down to 29 F last night but here at Cameron it is 89 F and I am having to run the air condition for the first time in four months.

I was hoping to make it a little farther today but I was getting a little tried so I decided to stay at our usual stop either coming from or going to Tucson.

For more on Cameron, AZ see Day 1

We usually like to spend one more night just north of Phoenix so that we can arrive home just before noon. However, since we have been away from home for so long on this trip, we may just go all the way tomorrow.

Days 117 & 118

Day 117- September 10, 2010

Day 117 was spent at Camp Charlie’s in Sunset Utah, getting the coach serviced. It took most of the day to get everything finished up but all is done and we are ready to get back on the road Saturday morning.

Day 118 – September 11, 2010

Sunset UT to the Junction of Utah 20 & US 89

Today’s Mileage: 264
Total Mileage to Date: 9548
Mileage to Home: 545

We were on the road by 9:30 AM this morning. We had a little delay as one of the coaches at Charlie’s had our shore power cable pinned to the ground with its mud guard. The coach was empty so there was no one to raise it but with the help of two other coach owners that are staying at Camp Charlie’s, we were able to free it. Then it was off to Smith’s to top the coach off with diesel. Smith’s was selling diesel for $2.729 a gallon, the lowest price on our entire trip.

Today’s run went well and we arrived at the junction of Utah Highway 20 and US 89 around 2:30 PM. Enough driving for one day, besides one can spend the night here free. There is an old abandoned trading post on the corner with a large gravel parking area in back. It makes a perfect place to dry camp for the night.

Tomorrow we should cross back into Arizona.

Day 116 - Idaho Falls, Idaho to Sunset, Utah

September 9, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 184
Total Mileage to Date: 9284
Mileage to Home: 809

We are now one more state closer to home today; we arrived at Charlie’s Service Sunset, Utah around noon today. It looked just like old times as the parking lot was full of motor homes. Justin, Charlie’s son, came out to greet us and quickly parked our coach so we could set it up and have lunch.

The day started out cold and rainy. This afternoon the skies have cleared and the temperature made it to 72 F, one of the warmest days that we have had during our entire trip. The forecast for tonight is 46 F and for tomorrow sunny with a high of 66 F.

If all goes well they will service our coach tomorrow and we will be on our way Saturday morning otherwise we will have to stay at Camp Charlie’s through the weekend.

Day 115 - Deer Lodge Montana to Idaho Falls, Idaho

September 8, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 233
Total Mileage to Date: 9100
Mileage to Home: 992

Today’s update is from the Idaho Falls, Idaho Wal-Mart parking lot where we will be spending the night. We are now two states south of the Canadian border and one more state closer to home. We are also less than 1000 miles from home.

The cold nights and overcast skies continue last night’s low was 31 F. It is warmer here at Idaho Falls, currently 78 F so that is an improvement; however, the forecast is for thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow.

Dinner will be a Wal-Mart roasted chicken and whatever else the deli has to offer. An advantage, besides being able to spend the night free, is a quick easy dinner from the deli that is usually good for two night’s dinner. Also one can replenish grocery supplies and other items.

Days 111 to 114

September 3rd through 6th, 2010

The cold cloudy weather must have followed us from Alaska. During our stay in Marion with our friends, the nights went below freezing, one night was as low as 28 F and the days seem to hover around the typical 52 F that haunted us through Canada and Alaska.

The days flew by doing repairs on the motor home and helping Don with his projects on the new home they are building.

Of course the best thing doing our stay was Karen’s huckleberry pie that she baked. Evening meals were prime rib, halibut and steaks. As you can see, we ate well.

Day 114 - Marion Montana to Deer Lodge Montana

September 7, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 233
Total Mileage to Date: 8867
Mileage to Home: 1228

Today we are continuing our journey home. Today’s route took us south on Montana US 93 from Kalispell past Flathead Lake to Missoula MT. In Missoula we topped off the propane tank at Bretz RV for $0.99 per gallon. We then travel east on I-90 to Deer Lodge Montana. Deer Lodge has a Conoco / Pacific Pride Card Lock station with a large parking lot in back for truck and RV overnight parking.

There is even free WiFi here.

I filled up the coach with diesel and we will spend the night here dry camping. So far there is one other RV and two trucks.

Day 110 – Marion Montana

September 3, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 61
Total Mileage to Date: 8634
Mileage to Home: 1461

Last night we dried camped at a pull off on US 93 between Eureka MT and Whitefish MT. In the morning we proceed to the new Super Wal-Mart in Kalispell to purchase in a few supplies for the remainder of the trip to home.

We are now at our friends’ home on McGregor Lake in Marion Montana. We will wait out the Labor Weekend here and then continue our journey towards home.

Our updated ETA home is September 14^th. This is subject to change of course, especially on how quickly the service on the coach proceeds at Charlie’s Service.

Days 108 and 109

Day 108 – Radium Springs BC

September 1, 2010

Nothing new to report today, just more relaxing, cleaning, laundry and working on the trip’s DVD.

Day 109 – Radium Springs BC to the USA

September 2, 2010

Today’s Mileage: 185
Total Mileage to Date: 8573
Mileage to Home: 1521

We cross the US Border today and are now back on US soil about half way between Eureka and Whitefish, Montana. Tomorrow we will continue to Marion MT where we will spend the Labor Day weekend at with our friends on McGregor Lake.

Over the years of RVing, we have found it best to be setup before a holiday begins and stay put until after the holiday traffic is over. Campsites are difficult to find, especially on long holiday weekends plus driving a big rig in holiday traffic is not fun either. Labor Day is also a holiday in Canada and being this close the Canadian Border there is bound to be added traffic from the Canadians.

It is nice to be back in the USA again and be able to use my Verizon Data Card out in the middle of nowhere to connect to the internet.

Tuesday, we will resume our journey home.