Journey to Michigan...Gather Home

West Yellowstone, Wyoming was where we found a strong cup of coffee after waking in the frozen van (17 degrees) next to Mesa Falls near the western edge of Yellowstone National Park. It was the first week of October and there was a line of motorcars four football fields long to enter the gates of the park. The overlooks and information pullouts were jammed with tourists throughout. We couldn't wait to arrive at the north exit near Gardiner, Montana. A few miles below Gardiner, we stopped at a rural road bridge across the Yellowstone River for a dog walk and swim. The privacy level was high, only one fly-fisher, so we stripped down and plunged in. The Yellowstone flows to the Missouri River in NW North Dakota so, we followed it's descent in Seymour for the next couple of days. We then followed the Missouri River through North Dakota to Sacakawea Park in Stanton, ND for another quiet night of camping in the van.

Reaquainting With Seven Sisters

As of October 2, 2025 our Escrow was finalized, the building formerly known as Bodfish Bicycles and Quiet Mountain Sports is now called Gather Home. Which is, ironically, exactly what we did. I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and I have seven sisters (including inlaws) whom I seldom see. They all live in Michigan and we're hoping that they will all welcome a visit. We had our Transit van, named Seymour, loaded and ready for adventure. Our van camping expedition lasted for the entire month of October. Our first night was in Goose Lake State Park just over the state line in Northeastern California. Southern Oregon was quiet, desolate and beautiful as we drove Hwy 140 east to Jackpot, Nev. From there the hwy led North back into Oregon where we took a gravel road out across The Alvord Desert which led us toward Jordan Valley and the border of Idaho. A long day of driving, for sure. We headed into the hills east of Jordan Valley toward the mines of Silver City. Dust and dusk were conspiring to send me off on a double track lane for a place to "boondock". Incredibly, only a half mile up this seldom used path we came upon a flat overlook above the small town of Jordan Valley. Our second night out and luck was with us already.