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Sharing Our Story and Hiking Along The Yellowstone River – Day 24

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date October 2, 2019
Categories In In The News, Montana, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Sharing Our Story and Hiking Along The Yellowstone River – Day 24

The rain and clouds began to move out this morning so we were able to put on our hiking shoes and enjoy the beauty of the Yellowstone River.

Although it was still a little chilly this morning we put on our toboggans and hit the trails.

We started out on a trail in Riverfront Park around the beautiful Lake Josephine. Within a few minutes of being on the path we had to make a decision to turn left or right.

And now looking back, I am so happy that we made the choice to take the path to the right. Unknowing to us at the time, it lead us right along the Yellowstone River.

As we were hiking along, enjoying the views of the flowing water, we noticed a metal bridge ahead.

Because we had no plans of a completing a specific hike, we decided to see where this bridge would lead us.

Norm’s Island Park

At the entrance of the bridge there was a sign welcoming visitors to Norm’s Island Park.

norms island bridge — The bridge that took us to Norm’s Island Park, where we were able to hike along the Yellowstone River.

We followed a Billings Parks and Recreation Vehicle over this narrow bridge to continue our hike.

We decided to take the outer Island Loop so that we could continue to enjoy the scenes around the Yellowstone River.

The path took us through both wooded areas and clearings with gorgeous views of the river.

The path was dog friendly and we had the pleasure of being greeted by a few furry friends along the way.

But what we noticed the most was how much the trees had begun to change colors. The foliage had changed from bright green to yellow and even red in some areas.

Hiking along the Yellowstone River — We stopped to enjoy the beauty of the Autumn Foliage during our hike.

We both love Autumn, and this was a fantastic opportunity to take in the colors as we strolled along the Yellowstone River.

After we finished our hike we headed back to our camper which we didn’t realize, was also parked along the Yellowstone River.

Yellowstone River Bank

In the late afternoon the clouds diminished and the skies began to clear. So we decided that we would check out the river behind the small wooded area where we were camped.

And we are both so glad that we did! What we didn’t know was that we were parked at an area that gave us a magnificent view of the river and rock formations.

yellowstone river — As the clouds began to clear we were able to enjoy our backyard view of the Yellowstone River.

We walked along the banks of the river and were in awe at how crystal clear the water looked. You could see right through the water to the beautiful rocks below.

The river rocks were large, round, and colorful. It truly was a beautiful sight.

So much, in fact, that we decided to bring our chairs back to the banks of the river to enjoy a campfire later that evening.

But what we both enjoyed the most was the peace and serenity of the area. The air was crisp and clean and the sound of the water slowly hitting the banks was one that you dream about.

campfire at Yellowstone River — We simply enjoyed the peace and serenity on the banks of the Yellowstone River.

We are so thankful that the weather had cleared up enough to give us the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Yellowstone River.

Sharing Our Story via KULR8 News

But earlier this morning we had another fantastic opportunity. We were invited to share our story on KULR8 News, the NBC affiliate in Billings, MT.

KULR8 NEWS STORY ON OUR TOUR

As we rolled up to the station with our T@B 400 camper we were greeted by Dominic. And within minutes he had set up his camera and began the interview process.

We were asked about why we wanted to take what we call “Our one year dream journey across America.”

And our answer is simple. We want to live for experiences, not possessions.

dominic kulr8 news — Dominic filming our T@B 400 camper.

Then he asked us about what the best part of the trip has been so far. Both of us laughed, and at the same time we both said the people that we meet along the way.

At each stop we have met amazing people that we would not have met if we didn’t take this trip. From new friends that we met at our Harvest Host locations, to the people that we get to talk to at local coffee shops or restaurants, we have enjoyed each and everyone of them.

We continued our conversation, and he filmed both the outside and inside of the camper. Just like so many others that take the tour inside our 18 foot teardrop trailer, Dominic was shocked at how much room and amenities that it held.

sitting area — Dominic was amazed at the comfort and amenities of our camper.

And by the time that the interview ended, we were pretty sure that he was ready to head out on the road with us!

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 24 of 365
States Visited 4 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Billings, Montana
Miles Driven : 27
Total Trip Miles To Date : 3360
Total Gallons Used : 248.9
Biking Miles : 5
Biking Miles To Date : 76.3
Hiking Miles : 9.2
Hiking Miles To Date : 60.65

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

The Beauty Of DanWalt Gardens, And Our First Snowfall Encounter! Day 23

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date October 1, 2019
Categories In Montana, The Days Of The Trip
1 Comment on The Beauty Of DanWalt Gardens, And Our First Snowfall Encounter! Day 23

Day 23 brought us our first actual snowflakes of the trip, and made us extremely happy we chose to visit DanWalt Gardens on Day 22, when the sun was still shining!

Waking Up To A Bit Of Snow…

Although we were able to miss the big snow that fell in western Montana, we didn’t quite escape it altogether.

As we woke up early Tuesday morning, the truck and camper were both sporting a dusting of light snow.

the first snowfall on the journey — 23 days into the trip, and we have our first snowflakes of the journey! The snowstorm to the west certainly re-arranged our trip a bit. But the good new is, we should still get to see Missoula and Helena as we head up on the Idaho side in a few weeks.

It’s funny to think that we are 1652 miles from our home in Ohio, where Autumn should be starting to bring on the first frost of the year. Yet, we are in the cold and snow, and Ohio is in the midst of an unusual late-season heat wave into the 90’s!

You just never know with Mother Nature.

The Beauty of DanWalt Gardens – A Billings Treasure

We mentioned this a little in yesterday’s update, but really wanted to give it it’s due with today’s update.

One of our most enjoyable things to do on this trip is visit gardens of all types and kinds. As two people who love to garden and write all about it, we can never get enough.

DanWalt Gardens. — Situated on a few acres on the south side of Billings, DanWalt Gardens is filled with all kinds of perennials, annuals

We are always looking for new inspiration for our own garden and landscape at home. In addition, we are always looking for gardens to feature on our This Is My Garden Site too. (In fact, DanWalt will be an upcoming feature article on our TIMG website)

One thing is for sure, this trip is giving us a great chance for both!

main walkway at DanWalt Gardens — The gardens at DanWalt are home to many weddings, receptions and parties during the spring, summer and fall months. And it sure is easy to see why! Everywhere you look the landscape if overflowing with color and texture.

From city gardens, to botanical, community and private gardens, this country is filled with so many flowering treasures.

And after strolling through the grounds of DanWalt Gardens, it is certainly one of them!

The History Of DanWalt

Situated on the south side of Billings, the gardens at DanWalt are filled with thousands of annuals, perennials and hanging baskets. And even a chicken coop too!

The garden was started by two gentleman back in the mid-90’s who simply began to grow vegetables and flowers in their backyard. And yes, they were named Dan and Walt!

After hosting a local benefit dinner party on their beautiful grounds one weekend, they began to get requests for more events. And from there, it took off.

Now the venue is home to weddings and events, and even includes an outdoor bar, pavilion, and a commercial service kitchen.

A few years back, Dan and Walt decided to step back, and the gardens have continued to flourish and grow under new ownership.

Talk about gorgeous – look at the size of this Dahlia! The asters were in full bloom as well while we were there, and made for a beautiful stroll around the property.

We actually ran into one of the new owners, Clint, while walking about. And you can certainly tell how proud he is of the property, and the history of the gardens.

Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to finally clear and warm a bit, and it should be a great day for hiking and biking along the Yellowstone River!

After all, we need to get some Montana biking miles in. Happy travelling! Jim and Mary.

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 23 of 365
States Visited 4 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Billings, Montana
Miles Driven : 43.5
Total Trip Miles To Date : 3333.5
Total Gallons Used : 248.7
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 1.25
Hiking Miles To Date : 51.45

Hiking The Rimrocks In Billings, Montana – And Yes, A Little Sore Tonight! Day 22

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 30, 2019
Categories In Montana, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Hiking The Rimrocks In Billings, Montana – And Yes, A Little Sore Tonight! Day 22

It might be a bit cold here, but that certainly wasn’t going to stop us from hiking the Rimrocks in Billings, Montana today.

Although there is as much as 5 feet of snow to the west of us in Montana, the Billings area is snow-free for now.

In fact, the crisp cold air today felt amazing as we hiked along a beautiful trail at Zimmerman Park on the edge of Billings.

So good in fact, that we went for 8.1 miles. And guess what? We are feeling certainly feeling it in our legs tonight!

There was beauty to find all along the trail. These baby pine cones were just starting to form, and their color was simply stunning.

Hiking The Rimrocks On The Zimmerman Park Trail

The Zimmerman Park trail runs along an area known as the Rimrocks in Billings.

The sandstone bluffs that surround the city and make up the Rimrocks are thought to be at least 70 million years old. About as old, coincidentally, as we feel tonight after hiking them! 🙂

All joking aside, it was actually an amazing hike and a great day. All along the trail, there are hundreds of little rock outcroppings that overlook the city below.

And each one gave a different view and perspective of the city and landscape that stretched beneath us. It was a great mix of open trail walking, combined with a bit of rock climbing as well.

bunny on the trail — There were no sightings of rattlesnakes or Elk on the hike, but we were greeted by this bunny who seemed not to care at all that we were just a few feet away.

More To See In Billings…

I love days like today. When you get on a trail and you simply want to keep going and going. The cool air keeps you refreshed, and you never know what you will find around the next bend, or when you climb over the next rock.

Billings actually has quite a few hiking opportunities, and we hope to be able to see a few more before we head out.

One thing is for sure, we both can see why they call Montana “Big Sky Country.” You really can see for miles and miles, and it is all beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, we also had the incredible fortune of visiting a hidden garden gem in Billings called DanWalt Gardens.

But it’s time for a little resting up tonight – so we will cover that in full detail with tomorrow’s daily update!

You can check out more on Billings and the surrounding areas at Visitbillings.com. And as always, if you have suggestions for us to see when we are in your neck of the woods – be sure to email us and let us know!

Happy Traveling! – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 22 of 365
States Visited 4 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Billings, Montana
Miles Driven : 20
Total Trip Miles To Date : 3290
Total Gallons Used : 243.35
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 8.1
Hiking Miles To Date : 50.2

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

You can follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Meeting of Fate at Wibaux Palace Cafe – Day 21

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 29, 2019
Categories In Montana, The Days Of The Trip
12 Comments on A Meeting of Fate at Wibaux Palace Cafe – Day 21

Call it fate, coincidence, or luck, but our visit to the Wibaux Palace Cafe this morning was one that was simply meant to be.

And like most great things in life, it happened purely by accident.

We arrived in Wibaux, MT last evening to stay at our Harvest Hosts location, Beavercreek Brewery.

It rained most of the afternoon and we were glad that we were staying in the parking lot across the street from such a wonderful and lively restaurant.

We hurried through the rainy parking lot and made it a night of watching college football and grabbing a bite to eat in the warm and dry environment.

At the end of the evening we nestled back into our nuCamp T@B 400 camper to get a good night’s sleep before heading to Billings in the morning.

beavercreek brewery — We love to stay a Harvest Hosts locations, like Beavercreek Brewery in Wibaux, MT.

Our Breakfast Plans

However, those plans changed a little when we woke up this morning.

You see, we typically will make breakfast in the camper. And today we had planned on making eggs, potatoes and toast.

But after we woke up to publish our Sunday Update on our Old World Garden Farms website, we decided to look for a local coffee shop, cafe, or diner to enjoy a warm and hearty breakfast.

Yes, of course we could have made breakfast. However, we wanted to conserve our propane gas, as we knew that we were headed for colder weather for the next few days.

And because we would not be hooked up to electric, our only heat source was the propane tank that ran our Alde radiant floor heating system.

streets of Wibaux — The main street of Wibaux, MT which was very active last night, but super quiet early this morning.

Well, at least we both agreed that it was a fantastic excuse to enjoy a breakfast in town.

After a quick Google search we decided on the Wibaux Palace Cafe. And the best part of all, it was a short 1 1/2 block walk to where we spent that night.

As we headed down the street, there wasn’t a person in sight. After a very active evening in this little quaint town, the morning crowd was all but absent.

And never in a million years would we have imagined what was about to happen.

Wibaux Palace Cafe – A Story of People Gathering Together

palace cafe dining room — The cafe is nice and cozy and the perfect spot to eat a homemade breakfast.

As we opened the doors of the cafe, we were happy that we made the choice to have breakfast there.

The front lobby is one of an old hotel that first opened in 1915. And just off to the left of the lobby was the entrance to the Wilbaux Palace Cafe.

It reminded us of an old diner and we immediately fell in love! This cafe was exactly the type of establishment that we talk so much about in our day to day travels.

The one that the locals love to hang out and that are owned and run by the members of the community that we visit.

And because we arrived on the early side of the morning, we had the place to ourselves.

inside Wibaux Palace Cafe — We love to eat at local restaurants that are owned and operated by the residents of the towns that we visit.

Which we didn’t know at the time, was a sign of fate.

We had the pleasure of first speaking with Lataea who took our order. And within minutes we were striking up a conversation Sherri and Trudy.

I am sure that it is quite obvious by now, but neither of us have a problem talking to strangers. In fact, that is what we love about this trip.

We get to meet so many people that start out as strangers, but end up as friends in a matter of just a few minutes.

So as we were waiting for our breakfast to be cooked by Jeff, we had the pleasure to tell the staff about our trip around the country and how we ended up in Wibaux for the night.

We loved to hear all the suggestions from the staff about where we should head next. And we even received a recommendation for when we head to Houston, TX, to go to The Original Kolache Shoppe.

breakfast chicken fried steak — We even got to try real, homemade, Chicken Fried Steak which is what Montana is known for!

We enjoyed chatting to each and every one of them. And when Jeff brought out our breakfast order, he even let us try his special sauce!

The Story of Fate

The breakfast was absolutely delicious! And we even got the chance to try homemade Chicken Fried Steak. This is one dish that Montana is known for. And boy, it didn’t disappoint!

But as we were paying for our meal at the counter, fate struck.

We gave our new friends our business card so that they could follow our journey around the country. And as Trudy flipped it over to see the Old World Garden Farms logo on the front, her jaw dropped.

She asked us if we were the same couple that blogged about a little farm that started many years ago. We laughed and told her that yes, we had a website about our place back in Ohio.

Trudy from Wibaux Palace Cafe — Trudy is the owner of the Wibaux Palace Cafe and a long term blog follower of Old World Garden Farms.

But it was what she said next that simply amazed us. She told us she remembered that we wrote a story a long time go about GMO crops and chemicals being sprayed close to our garden and bees.

That is when we realized that she had been a follower to our website for many years!

She popped out around the counter of the diner and gave us both each a huge hug.

We couldn’t help to be amazed that we had met by fate in this tiny little town. And with the off chance that we skipped making breakfast in our camper and decided to eat breakfast the Wibaux Palace Cafe which Trudy owned.

It truly is a small world!! There is nothing more special about this trip than getting the chance to meet both our blog followers and new friends as we travel across the country!

Happy Traveling! – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 21 of 365
States Visited 4 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Billings, Montana
Miles Driven : 260
Total Trip Miles To Date : 3270
Total Gallons Used : 242.22
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 42.05

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Hello Montana, And Hello Snow! An Epic Snowstorm Changes Our Route

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 28, 2019
Categories In Montana, The Days Of The Trip
8 Comments on Hello Montana, And Hello Snow! An Epic Snowstorm Changes Our Route

“Of course there is an epic snowstorm hitting Montana the week we are going to be there!”

That was the quote uttered laughingly from Mary as we made breakfast in the camper early Saturday morning.

We were watching the latest updates online from the Weather Channel. And when the lead story started out with “A record smashing historic September snowstorm will bring heavy snow to much of Montana,” all we could really do was laugh.

And as you can see by the map courtesy of the National Weather Service above, it is one big snowstorm!

At the time of the broadcast, we were in Medora, North Dakota and were getting ready to hike a bit more in the Teddy Roosevelt National Park. After which, it was time to head on to Montana.

snowstorm in Montana — Although there was sun in Medora, there is a lot of snow where we are heading next.

And that we did. By night’s end we settled in just over the border in a little town called Wibaux, Montana. (On the subject of Wibaux, stay tuned tomorrow for one incredible story from this neat little town!)

Luckily, it was just a wet and cold 49 degrees in Wibaux, with no forecast of snow.

But we knew one thing for sure, we needed to make a few changes to our travel plan in the coming days to stay out of harms way.

An Epic Snowstorm Changes Up The Travel Plans A Bit…

It was bound to happen. When we first designed our state by state travel route, we did the best we could to try to stay clear of the worst chance of rough weather.

epic September snowstorm — As we cross into each state, we always try to get a pic with the state line sign. As you can see, the storm was making it a bit difficult in Montana. After many cold takes with mistakes like this one – we finally managed to get one in.

But when you travel for 365 days straight around the country, it is nearly impossible to avoid some type of bad weather.

After all, Mother Nature is in charge. And it certainly can’t be sunny and warm all of the time.

Changing Up The Route

One of the best things about out trip is that we left it wide open for change. And this week, due to the storm, it was time to make a little adjustment to our Dates For The States.

So we sat down late Saturday evening for a little planning and re-routing.

Our original plan was to come into Montana and spend a day or two in the Billings area, and then head across to Bozeman and Missoula, and eventually up to Glacier National Park.

We are really hoping to still make it to Glacier Lake for views like this!

Well, that is certainly not going to happen with the snowstorm. With Billings safe from the snow and extreme cold, that portion of the trip will stay in tact.

But after that, we have decided to head on down into Wyoming mid-week to start our time there. The hope is then to head on as scheduled to the next state, Colorado, the following week.

And then, as we continue on back up through Idaho, to hopefully be able to take those days back and cross back into western Montana to see a bit of Glacier and Missoula.

Only time will tell if the snow and weather cooperate. But one thing is for sure, we are just going to go with the flow.

Having Fun With It All…

One way or another, we are going to see and enjoy and experience all 50 states. And most of all, make the best of every day and have fun with it!

epic snow — We had an incredible time hiking in Medora this past week.

Can’t wait to see what we find to enjoy in Southeastern Montana during the early part of this week!

And hopefully, by the time we reach the state of Washington, we will be back on our original schedule.

No matter the weather, we are getting to see the back roads and sights of America. And even more, meet some amazing people along the way!

Here’s to getting the chance to have an Epic September Snowstorm be a part of our story.

Happy Traveling, Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 20 of 365
States Visited 4 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Wilbaux, Montana
Miles Driven : 46
Total Trip Miles To Date : 3010
Total Gallons Used : 221.32
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 42.05

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Hiking Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Medora – Day 19

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 27, 2019
Categories In North Dakota, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on Hiking Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Medora – Day 19

After a wonderful stay in Dickinson, North Dakota, it was time to hit the road and visit the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

As we headed west on 1-94 we were in awe of the beautiful landscape that surrounded us.

There were fields of cattle on both sides of the highway. And as we drove a little further all we could see hundreds, if not thousands of round bales of hay scattered throughout the land.

But as we approached the Theodore Roosevelt National Forest, the topography began to change drastically.

Large rock formations began to appear out of nowhere and in the distance you could see the beginning of the North Dakota Badlands area.

And what a magnificent view it was! Canyons formed by years of deposition and erosion filled the area.

But what caught your eye the most were the various colors in the layers of rock that remained.

Painted Canyon at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

In fact, this area is what they call Painted Canyon. It actually is one of the most notable and photographed places in North Dakota. And it sits at the south unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Not only does the park have a magnificent overlook area that everyone can enjoy. But it also has a moderate hiking trail that leads through the canyon to get an up close and personal view of the rock formations.

So we decided to get in a few extra steps by hiking this path.

The sign at the top of the path indicated that it was a moderate trail with uneven surfaces and steps.

And they weren’t kidding! There were several deep and rugged steps that lead to towards the bottom of the canyon.

hiking in theodore roosevelt national park — Hiking down Painted Canyon along a narrow path.

Although they weren’t too difficult to navigate down, we knew that we would have to eventually take them back up to finish the hike.

So we continued down the narrow path and stopped to enjoy the views along the way.

As we were taking in the beauty of the trails and canyon, we decided to hike up to an overlook area to get an unobstructed view of the badlands in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

It was simply breathtaking. And by that I mean the hike up there and the views!

top of painted canyon — The views are simply breathtaking.

After that steep hike up to the top, we sat on a bench to catch our breath and were amazed at the stunning landscape before us.

It was extremely peaceful as we were the only two hikers in sight! Therefore, we took a few extra minutes and sat in silence to appreciate the beauty among us.

A Salute To Theodore Roosevelt in Medora

Medora, North Dakota is known for it’s Musical performance. Every year from May to September, they produce an outdoor musical that is proclaimed as the Greatest Show in the West.

The amphitheater holds almost 3,000 seats and the entertaining performance is an ode to patriotism and Theodore Roosevelt.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to attend this event, or the pitchfork steak fondue dinner, as we arrived in Medora in the off-season.

Teddy Roosevelt tribute — A tribute to Teddy Roosevelt in Medora, ND

However, we were lucky enough to be here just in time to attend one of the last performances of the year of the Teddy Roosevelt Salute To Medora.

We ate a quick dinner at an Old Western Saloon, where we again met some amazing people from all over the country.

We walked across the street to the Old Town Hall Theater not knowing what to expect from this one man performance.

And we couldn’t haven been more shocked and amazed! What we got to experience was the world’s best Theodore Roosevelt Repriser, Joe Wiegand, who provided us with an amazing and entertaining account in the life of our former president.

Our campsite in Medora, ND with a magnificent view behind us.

From how the Teddy Bear got it’s name, his hunting experiences, political encounters, to how life was in the White House while raising 6 rambunctious children we got to hear it all from a man that embraced his performance as Teddy Roosevelt.

At the end of the show, we both were amazed at his knowledge, memory, and quick witted responses as he interacted with the audience.

Not only did we learn a lot of information about the conservation efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, but we were also thoroughly entertained as well.

You never know who you might run into while traveling!

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 19 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 4
Stayed In : Medora, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 63
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2964
Total Gallons Used : 219.56
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 1.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 42.05

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Visit To Fluffy Fields Winery & Friendly Dickinson, North Dakota – Day 18

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 26, 2019
Categories In North Dakota, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on A Visit To Fluffy Fields Winery & Friendly Dickinson, North Dakota – Day 18

As soon we rolled in with our little camper to Fluffy Fields Winery, we knew we were going to end up loving our overnight stay. And from there, it only got better!

Situated on the outskirts of Dickinson, North Dakota, Fluffy Fields reminded us both of our little farm back in Ohio.

Now, one little difference was quite apparent, Fluffy Fields certainly has a lot more grapes planted in their vineyard than our 4 little rows back home.

But with a large vegetable garden in back, and an apple orchard and fruit bushes planted nearby, it just had a similar feel.

meeting new friends along the way — Kevin Kinzel of Fluffy Fields Winery not only graciously showed us around, he let us sample some new wines they are creating too.

And to boot, they had even converted an old grain bin into a Binzebo, a project we still want to tackle someday as well!

But as incredible as the views were, as always, it is the people we meet that make the stay memorable.

As we have travel through many of the back roads and small towns of North Dakota, we have been blown away by the welcoming friendliness of nearly everyone we meet.

And nowhere is it more evident than in Dickinson, North Dakota.

From our incredible Harvest Hosts stay at the Fluffy Fields Winery, to making wonderful new friends later in the evening at a downtown eatery, we can’t say enough about the hospitality of this beautiful city.

Traveling Via Harvest Hosts – A Stay At Fluffy Fields Winery

For those that don’t know about Harvest Hosts, it is both an incredible and amazingly inexpensive way to travel the country. For a small annual fee ($79), you get to park and camp at over 860+ farms, wineries, breweries, golf courses and museums around the country – all for free! (See: Harvest Hosts Membership)

Harvest Hosts has been a wonderful way to see the country without breaking the bank!

I mean, who doesn’t want to wake up overlooking a vineyard. Or the 18th hole of golf course. Or even a rolling farm filled with sunflowers.

Which, by the way, are all places we have been able to wake up to on this journey already. And all thanks to Harvest Hosts.

Fluffy Fields

Deb and Kevin Kinzel, the owners at Fluffy Fields Winery, are two people after our own heart. Not only do they love to garden, but they are also big DIY’ers.

The Frontenac Gris grapes are just now being picked at the vineyard.

As we arrived, Deb was our front picking grapes, and told me a bit of the story.

It all started when Kevin started making wine from kits. And as the passion grew, so did the planting of more and more grapes. Until finally, Fluffy Fields Winery was born. See : Fluffy Fields Winery

Today, it is a beautiful little vineyard built from their own hard work. With the help of their son and daughter, they have turned it into something special.

Kevin even took time out to take us back for a little tasting of two new wines he is making. One of which, were from Haskap berries, which can best be described as a near-blueberry fruit.

And judging by the sample, it is going to be a winner!

On a side note, I am starting to worry that when we get back to the farm in a year, we are going to want to grow so many new plants, we may need more land!

Making A Few More Friends In Dickinson…

As darkness fell, Mary and I decided to head into Dickinson to check out the downtown. Kevin and his son had recommended a little place called Blue 42 for a little dinner.

As we sat at the counter (something we ALWAYS do so that we can meet and talk to locals), we instantly struck up conversations with two families sitting on either side of us.

And of course, by the time we left, we had recommendations for our time in Colorado, and a whole new group of folks we can now call friends. Talk about a friendly city!

It just never gets old meeting great people. Never. One more day in North Dakota, and then on to Montana!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary .

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 18 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 3
Stayed In : Dickinson, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 122
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2901
Total Gallons Used : 214.88
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 2.2
Hiking Miles To Date : 40.45

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

The Largest Scandinavian Festival in North America – Day 17

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 25, 2019
Categories In North Dakota, The Days Of The Trip
6 Comments on The Largest Scandinavian Festival in North America – Day 17

Today we attended the largest Scandinavian festival in North America. But we only knew of this event thanks to an email that we received just a couple of days ago.

As we were sitting in our teardrop camper earlier this week we decided to dedicate some time to answering comments and emails on our website.

We love reading the suggestions on places to see and experience while we travel across the country.

In fact, we have a page dedicated to a map of the states where our readers can leave recommendations based on their hometown, or states that they have lived or visited in the past. We even have had offers to stay in the driveway or homes from various followers throughout the country.

And today, we followed one of those tips. We had the pleasure to experience the largest Scandinavian festival in not only the country, but in North America. All because of an email that we received earlier in the week.

After we posted our Day 14 day update on eating Knoephla soup, the famous North Dakota dish, Caryl sent us an email.

She asked us if we were going to attend the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, ND later in the week.

Because we were already in North Dakota, our first step was to investigate where Minot was located.

largest scandinavian festival — Norsk Hostfest is the largest Scandinavian festival in North America

After we looked it up the location we realized that we were less than 2 hours from there.

Then the next step was to find out what the Norsk Hostfest was all about.

The Norsk Hostfest Festival – The Largest Scandinavian Festival in North America

When we googled Norsk Hostfest we quickly realized that this was a HUGE event.

In fact, it was the largest Scandinavian festival in North America. Therefore, we decided to investigate a little bit further.

The 4 day event is dedicated to everything Scandinavian. In fact, they call it Pure Scandimonium!!!

Within the facilities of the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, the halls are transformed to represent the history, culture, and art of the 5 Scandinavian countries.

Oslo, Norway — A musical program in the Oslo Hall, dedicated to the country of Noway.

Although the Scandinavian countries include Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the nations of Finland and Iceland are also included in the broader definition.

Therefore, each country is greatly represented in this historic tradition.

In fact, each country has a huge exhibit hall that is named for each country’s capital.

The Food of the Scandinavian Festival

Of course, whenever we think of festival, we think of food. Although we had already had the pleasure to experience Knoephla, both of our minds wondered what authentic cuisine that we would experience while we were in Minot.

So as we walked into the entrance to the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, we immediately let our nose guide the way.

Our first stop was in Stockholm Hall. And immediately we came across food booths.

It was so hard decide what to eat. The room was filled with not only food vendors, but also patrons and performers who were singing.

The tables were filled with tthose who were eating, so we slowly walked through to see what the food looked like.

After about 5 minutes, we decided on a Viking on a Stick. It was a large meatball that was breaded and deep-fried. With one bite in, we knew that we had made the right decision.

Although we decided to try the native cuisine, we made a pact to split each dish so that we could try a variety of things throughout the day.

So we continued to walk the halls and ended up trying beef stew and bread and Knoephla as well.

After that, we were full and there was no way that we could try anything else. Although the bread pudding and potato dumplings looked delicious too!

The Viking Village

So we continued to walk around the halls and found ourselves strolling outside to the Viking Village.

Here you could experience what life would be like during the Viking period. There was a cooking demonstration over a fire with foods that were often made during this time.

And no, beyond popular belief, most of them didn’t include meat. However, when they were able to hunt in the fall, the cuisine would change from porridge and roasted turnips to beef and poultry dishes.

viking cooking. — A cooking demonstration representing how a Viking would prepare a meal.

Then there were demonstrations of weapon making and archery skills that were simply amazing.

The Viking Games

But the most fun activity that we witnessed today was the Telge Glima. This was where we had the pleasure to witness the Viking Games of strength and endurance.

Although it was more of an entertainment show, we both enjoyed the demonstration of games that the Vikings might have experienced many years ago.

The games were those of strength. Some that we could imagine being done at our family reunion, and some that definitely could not.

Regardless, we had a great time watching the games that required no more than a rope as a finish line or a wooden stick that signified the winner.

Viking games at largest scandinavian festival — If you want to see a video of a Viking game from the Norsk Hostfest, check out ***our Instagram page.***

It brought us back to a time that reminded us of our childhood when a simple game of Kick the Can could last for hours.

So thank you Caryl for the suggestion! We had a blast!!

If you have any suggestions of what we should do or experience while we are visiting your area, please feel free to send us a comment on your state via: State by State Tour Map.

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 17 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
Stayed In : Minot, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 238
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2779
Total Gallons Used : 205.85
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 2.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 38.25

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

How We Set Up Camp Each Day In Our T@B 400 Camper – (With Video) Day 16

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 24, 2019
Categories In North Dakota, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on How We Set Up Camp Each Day In Our T@B 400 Camper – (With Video) Day 16

When you are traveling to all 50 states in a single year, and 48 of them are via a teardrop camper, learning how to set up camp quickly becomes a big part of your life.

And that is just one of the reasons we absolutely love our nuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop.

In the first 3 weeks on the road, we have found ourselves in a lot of different camping situations.

Some nights, we are completely off-grid at a remote location. In the camping world, it is known as Boondocking. And with the solar power of the camper providing all the power we need, we actually love it the most.

There is no hooking up at all, just unhitching and enjoying the views! Just last Saturday, it allowed us to enjoy an incredible evening at lake Little Moreau. (see Camping Off Grid At Little Moreau)

But we also stay at campgrounds quite a bit too, with access to full hook-ups for water, electricity and sewer. And setting up camp is of course, our very first task of the night.

Just How Do You Set Up Camp With Your T@B 400?

Lately, we have been getting quite a few questions about our T@B 400 camper, and more specifically, asking just how easy it is to set up every time we pull into a campground.

So we thought we would show you with a few videos in today’s article just how simple it is. Believe it or not, it only takes us about 5 minutes to go from pulling in, to completely set up.

setting up camp — The hook-ups are all quite easy to get to on our T@B 400.

Mary and I have developed a pretty good little system between us.

My job is to handle unhitching and leveling, while Mary opens up the camper and hooks up the electric and water. Usually by the time we have done each, we plug in our sewer line hook up together – and that’s it!

So here is a look at today’s set up for each segment. Somehow, (because she is much smarter than me) Mary talked me into doing the set-up while she shot the video. Only after finishing up did I realize it. Yep, smart woman. 🙂

How We Set Up Our Tab 400 Teardrop At A Campground

We got into our campground in late afternoon, and it was a perfect time to shoot a few videos of each phase of setting up.

Our home for the night is Hillcrest Acres in Bismarck, North Dakota. Which is one of THE nicest campgrounds we have stayed in to date.

A quick set-up means more time to enjoy things like a campfire!

And quite honestly, we have been really fortunate to have stayed in really great ones all along the way so far – but this one is super clean, friendly, and with great hook up options.

So here is a look, step by step, at our 5 minute set-up of the camper.

Step 1 – Unhooking and Leveling

Step 2 – Hooking Up Electric Service

Now on to the water and sewer to finish setting up camp.

Step 3 – Hooking Up Water

Step 4 – Hooking Up Sewer

So there you have it! As you can see, there isn’t much to it at all, and it really makes traveling so much more enjoyable! Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary.

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 16 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
Stayed In : Bismarck, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 31
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2541
Total Gallons Used : 188.22
Biking Miles : 16.2
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 2.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 35.75

Biking Along The Missouri River and a Newscast Interview- Day 15

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date September 23, 2019
Categories In North Dakota, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Biking Along The Missouri River and a Newscast Interview- Day 15

After a relaxing morning of doing laundry and getting caught up on some writing for our websites, we decided it would be the perfect day for biking along the Missouri river.

The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. And the temperatures were headed to 80 degrees. Something that isn’t typical for a late September day in North Dakota.

So we headed to Keelboat Park where we knew there were walking and biking trails along the Missouri River.

But before we could unload our bikes, we had one obligation. We were set up to be interviewed by the local CBS affiliate KX News.

KX News Interview

In the parking lot of Keelboat park we met Nicci Johnson, the digital media reporter for KX News.

And within minutes we were talking about our trip around the country while traveling with a NuCamp RV T@B 400.

Sometimes we forget how unique our little camper is until we see the expressions of those who have never seen one.

And today was no different. Nicci was mesmerized at not only the size and shape of the teardrop camper. But she also was shocked at how many amenities that it held inside.

kxnews — Nicci from KX News preparing to interview us in our T@B 400 trailer.

So after a quick tour of the camper, she set up her camera and we completed the interview. You can see Nicci’s interview here : Touring The Country

However, it wasn’t just an interview. Just like when we meet other people across the states that we have traveled, Nicci went from a stranger to a friend in minutes.

Although we love to share our story of downsizing and living a simple, yet meaningful life, it was just as amazing to hear her story.

After a rough start to adulthood, she started her career later than the typical news broadcaster. And her focus now is on promoting the positive stories of life. She does this both through her own experiences and those of others.

talking with strangers — We love talking to strangers that want to know more about our camper and trip.

Her stories are a true breath of fresh air as compared to the typical news stories of tragedy that we are used to viewing.

So after we wrapped up the interview, it was time for us to get in some exercise by biking the trail along the Missouri River.

Biking Along The Missouri River in Bismarck, ND

We started out biking along the Bismarck Trails from the parking lot of Keelboat park.

Although the river water was higher than normal due to the massive amounts of rain that has fallen in September, the views were spectacular.

The river flowed gently and the trees canopied the bike trail beautifully.

As we rode towards the community ballparks, we were amazed at the shape and condition of the extensive bike trail.

The paved path was smooth and free of any cracks and debris. And the parks that we rode through were kept in immaculate shape.

biking across the Missouri river — The bike path winds along the Missouri river and through beautiful parks.

The grass between the tall cottonwood trees was bright green and mowed perfectly.

As we continued our ride around the Dakota Zoo path, we could see the employees of the Parks and Recreation department working to put up a fence in yet another park area. This time it looked like they were working around newly developed, sand volleyball courts.

As we stopped to take a water break, we talked about how much Bismarck has to offer their community. And it doesn’t end with their miles upon miles of walking and biking trails along the Missouri River.

Along the way we also passed several well maintained playgrounds for the kids to enjoy. And some were 100% handicapped accessible.

Not to mention the tennis courts, basketball courts, and baseball fields that we came across. And we even saw a community garden along the way as well!

We both agreed that Bismarck would be a wonderful place to live, at least in the summer!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 15 of 365
States Visited 3 / 50
Stayed In : Mandan, North Dakota
Miles Driven : 68
Total Trip Miles To Date : 2510
Total Gallons Used : 185.92
Biking Miles : 16.2
Biking Miles To Date : 71.3
Hiking Miles : 1
Hiking Miles To Date : 33.25

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.