Sun., May 15, Wichita Mt. NWR to Tues., May 17 Salt Plains NWR/St. Pk., near Enid OK. We had been told this park was full over the weekend, yet when we arrive there is only one site taken--out of many. We set up along the river-- Salt Fork of the Arkansas--and watch White Pelicans fish in groups and see migrants darting from tree to tree. We are completely surprised when a Great Blue Heron appears suddenly from below the bank and drops a huge fish (14"-16") onto the ground. He picks it up and drops it a few times, and just as Charlie gets his camera ready to record the fun, the heron lifts it again, and down the hatch it goes--all in about three seconds. Remarkable. We drive slowly around the Auto Tour, three different times; it's mostly around marshes. Our favorite focus is a female Merganser with her brood--we think it's 18, or maybe a couple more--it changes every time we count. Other birds we see are Bob White Quail, Painted and Indigo Buntings; Prothonotary, Yellow, Black and White Warblers; Woodpeckers--Red-headed, Downy, and flicker; Orioles--Baltimore and Scott's; Tanagers--Summer. Along the roadways we see that Eastern Kingbirds have taken over the roadside fences. Our noise quotient is filled this time by trainer planes coming out of a nearby auxiliary airbase. So many planes it feels we're under attack! One more item I mean to include is that both OK and KS have about a 10% food tax--be it in a restaurant or at the store. I'm glad we aren't looking at that in MT.

Tues., May 18 - to Cedar Bluffs St. Pk. near Ellis, KS Long day on the road, and an extension of miles when the calculated route comes up dirt roads. No way--they are full of deep ruts and large puddles. Now in KS, the rolling terrain is a bit less rolling. We enter towns with shiny red brick main streets--probably have been there for many years--but they're quite bumpy for us. Main businesses are farm implements, of course; most other enterprises are looking vacated. We notice dozens of trains sitting on miles of tracks, all loaded with coal. Nothing moving. A few miles further along, we see BNSF engines--maybe this is the extent of their travels east. Cedar Bluffs (no bluffs that we could find) Park gives us a view over fields and it has huge campsites. We ride our bikes around the premises to see new flowers, check it out. Only a few campers. During the night it does some sincere raining, but not nearly as much as on the following day.

Wed., May 19 - to Swanson Lake St. Pk., NE. During this segment we experience enormous rain for a while. The Interstate 70 traffic forms clots--trucks passing, remaining on the outer lane, spraying large rooster tails. Newly planted fields are looking drowned. The campground, if it represents NE parks, is quite a disappointment. Roads into sites are gooshy with mud, and we leave substantial ruts of our own. There is one cemented Disabled site available and, since everything else is so muddy, we use my card (only a couple weeks left on it!) and take it. The water hydrants do not work. I am taking a picture of the sign-in envelope since it makes so little sense it's funny. Looking out the front window we see a small lake and some tall trees, and there is quite an assortment of birds to be seen--Red-headed Woodpeckers, an Eastern Phoebe, Common Grackles, Redheads, Western Grebes, Black-headed Grosbeak, Veerys, and more.

Thurs., May 20 - Bridgeport SRA, NE , Fri., May 21 to Glendo St. Pk., WY. Why is it, we wonder, that Regular gas in NE costs ten cents more a gallon than Extra? No mistake. Regular is $2.97--Ouch. (We find the same happening over in WY--prices are all over the map, but for the most part, lower.) On a better note, we see lilacs and other beautiful blooming flowers on the way. All along, though fields and grass have been green. Our campground is outside Bridgeport in an area of small lakes--on both sides of the road. Campsites are very large, each overlooking one or two lakes. There are numerous trees all around the park and most harbor a bird or two. We have no idea that the road we park beside is going to become a freeway as an increasing number of cars and trucks clatter by. Cruising?? I think we're the only ones camping here. Can't fail to notice the enormous carp in these waters--their fins stick up tall in the waters and they often slosh along the shore. We surprise ourselves when, having been on the road for many miles, we get out and realize that we failed to hook up the safety chains and electric cord. This routine happens each time we leave, but this AM we had been distracted by a plugged-up dump station and dealing with getting potable water onboard. No harm done this time, but it's another lesson showing that one can never be too careful.

Reached Glendo St. Pk. early Friday afternoon; it's divided up into about 8 different camping areas of primitive camping, and we had read about an area considered to be the most attractive--Two Moon. Found a nice woodsy spot on top of a cliff overlooking a lake and dam below. We have about three hours to explore the general area before the sky becomes dark and the wind blows meaningfully. It begins raining after dinner but takes till about 9:30 to turn into a nasty storm. At first, hail is pea-size, and soon it is a shade smaller than golf balls. It makes a deafening noise on the roof, and the result is substantial damage on the top, for which we travel into Douglas the following day for temporary fix-up materials.

Sun., May 23--Glendo St. Pk. to KOA Hardin MT. At lunch we look over possibilities for camping tonight and decide to stop at Hardin MT--the KOA looking best (all relative!) Looking ahead, Butte will be having snow for the next few days. All along the mts. in WY we have seen snow, but it's far from the ground. I - 25 is dished out and again we boom-boom heavily over the difficult highway. First night we have pulled the shades in many nights. It is quiet during the night.

Mon., May 24 to Garrison MT - Tues., May 25 - to Home. We wait till AM to determine our next roosting spot: snow is predicted for the highlands around Butte; we decide to take the chance. There is snow, but none accumulating. Wind has picked up in intensity, temp is in the 30s, every vehicle produces wild rooster tails--it's one nasty day out on the road! Despite this, MT is looking green--sort of a subdued shade. Our last night's stay is at Riverfront RV Park in Garrison. We remain inside because of persistent rain. Tuesday dawns gray--then suddenly the sun beams through--what a gift! We take I-90. A bit after Missoula we and many others are forced to follow a wide house being moved and we lose 20 minutes or so crawling along at 15 mph. Wonder what will happen when the road narrows to two lanes.

Our home looks wonderful and with Tammie's lively assistance we're getting ourselves organized.