Trip To Alaska Page 4

Day 5 Idaho Falls ID to Great Falls MT Sunday 02 April 2006

I-15 Idaho Falls, ID to Great Falls, MT 356 Miles

Today's Trip

Wow, if you have ever wondered why they call the state of Montana "Big Sky Country" then just take a ride North up I-15 from the Idaho Montana border. The AAA map shows it as a "scenic drive". Well yes it is, but that is a slight understatement! It was breath taking! Wonderful mountain views and yes, once again, snow but I am not complaining any more... :-) I would imagine that the same drive in summer is even more fantastic with the snow melted and greenery everywhere.

Drove 356 miles today, that is the longest leg so far. Still running in the neighborhood of 4000 to 5000 feet most of the way but the altimeter pushed above 6000 on a mountain pass or two. The 12 year old Ford F350 took it all in stride and besides being blown away by one of those V12 red colored Dodge Ram monsters that get 5 miles to the gallon in the mountains we did Ok today and kept up with everyone.

It was daylight savings time change today so we now have gained two hours since we left San Francisco. I am in the Mountain Time zone now.

Tire wear on the trailer is causing me a concern. I put four new tires on the trailer for this trip and they are showing significant wear already after only 2000 miles. I have always run auto tires on the trailer but due to liability issues in California the tire dealers will no longer mount auto tires on trailers. Trailer tires are rubbish in my mind and I think I am seeing the results of being forced to mount these so called "trailer tires". I am staying in Great Falls for a couple of days and will check around to see what options are available for trailer tires in Montana. I have never had wear issues before. I have changed trailer tires for dry rot or sidewall separation due to age but never for tread wear. I'll look for some radials. Any tire wear experts out there? Read the next page for the "tire story".

Spending the time in Great Falls at Dick's RV Park. A very nice place with a hefty $6 discount for Good Sam Members and close to I-15. One tip though. Both my Garmin GPS and MS Streets guided me into a closed entrance and then on to a one way street. The park operator is well aware of the problem and told me its been wrong for almost 10 years now. He has written numerous letters about it to the various map makers but nothing has been done about it. Call ahead and get the directions and have a street map of the area when you call. As in all things its easy when you know how but having the "lady in the bonnet" tell me that she is "recalculating" and I need to make a U turn on a one way street, didn't go down well with me at all. But, later the yellow tail merlot allowed me to tell you about it in a much better frame of mind.  :-)

Hey Anna and Richie, love my XM radio. Channel 7 cause I'm of that generation! :-) Discovered it displays when the baseball games will be aired too. Very cool.

Wildlife report. Saw two coyotes charge across the road almost right in front of me. They did not use the crosswalk. Also saw a HUGE buffalo on a small mountain top. Pretty sure it was a tourist trap kind.

Somewhere in the mountains                                                I always wanted to see "Frost Heaves"

Ranch close to the summit                                                    Notice almost no traffic on this Interstate

Tire problems on Left Front Inboard.(1L for UAL'ers)            Another view of 1L

All setup in Great Falls

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