Day 42 - Monday - Into the Woods, and the 8th State of this trip

Day 42 - Monday - Into the Woods, and the 8th State of this trip

For the past few years, I've worked as an instructor for H&R Block during the summer and fall, and really enjoy doing this.  I can't do it this year since we're traveling.  However, the company also offers virtual classes over the internet, and I decided to apply for a job as a virtual instructor, to see what happened.  Today I had a telephone interview with 2 of the supervisors.  I think it went well, but I made a point of telling them I'm traveling.  They indicated that I would have to be in an HRB office when I was actually teaching, but thought it might be possible, assuming they decided to hire me.  Now it's wait and see - I will know one way or the other by the end of next week.

That done, we closed up the RV and set out for the forest site.  Since it's such a short distance we didn't hook up the car - I drove it, and Vicky drove the RV.  Mini crisis!

I got out of the driveway onto the road, but Vicky didn't follow me!  I went back to find out the problem, and Vicky had stopped the RV half way up the hill and was concerned that water was coming out of our fresh water tank.  I asked her why she stopped in the first place, and she said the RV jack system was beeping at her.  This happens regularly when we first set out - it shouldn't, but we always check that the jacks are fully retracted before we set out, so I've learned to ignore it.  This was the first time Vicky had experienced it alone and she'd got out to check the jacks, and discovered the overflowing water.  Since we were on a steep hill and I'd filled the tank as high as possible because we won't have water where we're going, I figured that the hill was the reason for the overflow.  So we drove the RV round to the water spigot, filled up again and were on our way.  The jack system didn't even complain!

The site we'd picked out was available, so we parked it, lowered the leveling jacks and set ourselves up. This really is a beautiful spot and we're totally alone with nature - although we're right next to the forest road, I only saw one car on it all day.  This is why we wanted to camp out.  We spent most of the day on the computers - yes, there's service here!  Vicky completed an HRB training class she's taking, and I did the same as well as updating our records.

Later in the afternoon we went into Custer to do some shopping, and as we were returning, Vicky commented that we'd never driven west on US16.  So we did!  It's 37 miles from Custer to Newcastle, Wyoming and we drove all the way there - and back.  Te road goes past Jewel Cave National Monument - closed at this time of the day  but we'll come back to check it out, and through Hell Canyon, a spectacular but twisty drive with warnings to look out for bighorn sheep.  (we did, but there were none in either direction!)

After emerging from the canyon we found a total change of scenery.  We were in rolling ranch country, with views of the Rockies in the distance.  Soon we were in Wyoming, which is as well because that's what it looks like!  We found Newcastle, a sleep but picturesque little town, drove up and down Main Street and started out for home.  A sign told us that Pizza Barn had the best pizza in Wyoming, so of course we had to find it.  It looks like an old western barn and gas station, and the pizza was indeed one of the best we had.  We only ate half, having raided their very fresh soup and salad bar first - prime rib and mushroom soup is just as good as it sounds.  So we're set for lunch tomorrow.

As I said, no bighorn sheep on the way home, but we did make it back to the meadow before it was totally dark, and saw 7 deer on the way, including one about a mile from our campsite - maybe we'll have visitors overnight!  I think we're going to like being in the middle of nowhere!

Day 43 - Monday

We spent the whole day at our site in the forest, enjoying the tranquility.  Not a single car came by all day.  Had the leftover pizza for brunch, and left over steak and buffalo reheated on the barbecue, along with corn on the cob and salad, for dinner.

We're going to an TV convention in Gillette, WY in July and a friend has recommended we also go to Cody, which is close to the gate of Yellowstone National Park,  I did some research and found us a good place for the RV in Cody.  After booking it, we both looked for places to stay before and after Cody.  We'll have to do some more searching, but Vicky found a nice campground in Meteetse, WY which is where my beloved black footed ferrets were discovered when people thought they were extinct.  I'd love to visit that place, so we probably will.

Around 5pm I had a nice surprise.  A call from Eliane, one of the people I interviewed with yesterday, offering me a job as a virtual instructor with H&R Block.  For my first year, I'll only have to teach one course, which they'll choose from a list of 3 I gave them.  I have to teach it at least 5 times, but will be able to pick the sessions I want to teach, so it should fit in with our travels.  I'm really excited about this, and things will get moving soon with an orientation session (over the internet) later this month.

A great day - we seem to be having a lot of them at the moment!