This log is current to April 2, 2006

February 17, 2006 in Cody, Wyoming
We drove 1,200 miles from southern Arizona to northern Wyoming, expecting lower temperatures, but this is ridiculous. This morning it was -16F. By noon it was -8F. We hated firing up the brand new Gypsy Wagon in those conditions.

In West Yellowstone, it was -42F, for cripes sakes!

We are here briefly because Don is writing Senator Al Simpson’s biography and we are interviewing people who knew him in youth. We have new and fascinating stories for the book -- which, although we have more than 600 pages in draft, is still a long way from completion.

We are also considering relocation of the Gypsy Wagon Expedition’s worldwide headquarters to Wyoming or Montana, assuming it thaws out!

February 24, 2006 back in Arizona
Freezing temps, ground blizzards, snow, and 2,800 mildx of winter driving. The expedition participants are officially exhausted.

February 27, 2006 in Arizona
We continue to consider relocation of our Expedition headquarters to Wyoming or Montana. Our current target is Red Lodge, Montana, an historic 2,500 person town in southern Montana.

We found this photo on the Internet It shows the town in the dead of winter. There is great skiing on the mountain.

Red Lodge has an international flavor and hosts international games and music festivals.

Herman Utermohle, Don’s grandfather, was born in Germany in 1868 and was married in this town in 1916. In some haunting way, relocating here would seem like “coming home.”

Red Lodge is near the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. The drive from Red Lodge to the Park may be the most dramatic in the United States.

Not for those suffering acrophobia, the road from Red Lodge to Yellowstone climbs from 5,500 to 11,000 feet above sea level. An avalanche closed the highway last year, but repairs have been made and it will open when the snow melts off, likely in May or June.

Although mountain peaks in the Himalayas reach nearly three times the height, when we toured the Red Lodge area, our minds flashed back to experiences in Kathmandu, Nepal.

March 4, 2006 in Arizona
A blast from the past!

We were so impressed by a classic car rally in Yuma that we posted a few cars as full sized photos in our Arizona gallery.

To see more of the 895 cars that participated in the Midnight at the Oasis classic car rally, Click Here.

We attended a Pow Wow, and were glad we did. It was the 26th annual gathering of the Strong Hearts Native Society.

It occurred in Winterhaven, California in early March 2006 and was based on the fundamental values common to Native Americans throughout North America. They are honor, respect, tradition and generosity.

To see more photos, please visit our California photo gallery. Or, click here.

March 12, 2006 in frosty Arizona
After having no rain for 140 days, the skies opened up. Naturally, it was on the day of the big air show in El Centro, California.

Becky, always a good sport, bundled up in layers of coats for the show (notice the mud on her shoes).

The show was limited because of rain. It was hard to believe that from this place near the border of Mexico, we could see snow on the mountains.

During breaks in the weather, we were got a few shots of airplanes -- always of interest to Don, a pilot.

During his Senate days, Don was permitted to take the controls of an F-15, an F-18, a Harrier, and a B-52 bomber.

During the B-52 flight he accidentally said to Denver ATC Center (instead of the copilot), “I can’t figure out how this thing works.” You can imagine how the controllers felt when hearing someone aboard a nuclear bomber says they didn’t know how something worked.

Even though he flew an F-18 above the speed of sound, his biggest thrill was flying an F-15, like this one at the air show, at a sustained 6.5 G’s -- backing off just shy of passing out.

They’re baaack! Remember our recent trip to El Golfo, Mexico? Good thing we didn’t go swimming. They’ve recently caught numerous Great White Sharks just offshore.

All the sharks were above 700 pounds. One snagged in a fisherman’s net was 2,200 pounds.

Notice to our friends in Jackson, Wyoming. Don’t worry. This isn’t the beach we’re taking you to next month.

March 21, 2006 in Arizona
These are busy organizational times for the Expedition. Hoping to establish a new international headquarters, the Gypsy Wagon is on the road this week. The 3,000 mile r/t journey is taking us from southern Arizona to southern Montana, to check out this house (far right). You can see that we would receive information via satellite dish.

The interesting 2,300 person town of Red Lodge is northeast of Yellowstone National Park, at the foot of the Beartooth Highway, which tops out at 11,000 feet.

It’s living for the hearty, but then Don’s grandfather was married here in 1916, so it must be alright.

March 25, 2006 in Red Lodge
Unless something goes wrong with the deal at the last minute, it’s a done deal -- although actual relocation will not occur until July.

Our travels since December 11, 1999 have surpassed a quarter million miles. See Statistics.

March 28, 2006 in south-central Montana
Don’s back is still a problem, so before aiming the Gypsy Wagon down the 1,300 trail toward Yuma, Arizona, we stoped in Bozeman, Montana for a CAT scan.

We have agreed to purchase the new Expedition headquarters in Red Lodge, pending resolution of a little Radon problem. Still, we it was nice to be back in the desert after a long two day drive.

April 1, 2006 in Yuma
It is almost certain now that we’ll be moving the Expedition’s headquarters to Montana in late spring.

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