During evenings at West Yellowstone we
talked a good bit about future plans and travels, and both agreed we
wanted to return to Europe earlier than present scenarios permitted
(not until 2016). We had already discussed at some length the kind of
vehicle we wanted for future European travels, and we found a likely
candidate right in Bozeman, a few hours' drive away. So we took an
administrative day, actually two, and exploring the Bozeman short
Sprinter, converted for camping and touring, only reinforced our
resolve to return to Europe sooner than later. That evening, while
searching for comparables in order to make an offer, I came across
another Sprinter, this time a Roadtrek “Agile” conversion,
very similar to but smaller than what we had in Europe in 2009-2013
(the Grey Wanderer).
Alas, it was in northern CA, a thousand miles
away. But the mileage and condition were sufficiently
compelling that we dropped our snowmobiling adventures temporarily,
literally dropped the trailer and snowmobile off at a storage center
in Idaho Falls, and sped back to CA, first to Menlo Park, and then north, where we purchased the new (to us) vehicle. Now, a week later,
it is in storage in CA, and we are back in the Bigfoot, and back in
Idaho, and later Wyoming and Montana, looking for snow this warm and
dry winter in the Rockies.
OK, so we're crazy. Friends and
relatives already know this. But, it's a logical conclusion for
people who love touring Europe (and other places) as much as the USA,
and who like longer-term moving around, in, um, relative comfort.
Anyhow, after the snow gives out in the
Rockies, we'll be back in CA, making a variety of alterations and
additions to the Gray Wanderer (better than Grey Wanderer 2.0),
readying the Bigfoot for four months' storage, and then heading east,
for Lexi's graduation, and to ship the new European camper to Antwerp for
three summer months in Europe, primarily France. We'll keep it in
Europe and use it as often as we can in the fair seasons, splitting
time between it and the Bigfoot for North American adventures.
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As we left, West Yellowstone was gearing up for SnoWest's
big gathering--hundreds of trailers and snowmobiles coverging
on this little place, which is, really, the center of western
snowmobiling |
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Just in case you've ever wondered what a snowmobile confab
looks like... |
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The return to Middle California at least afforded an opportunity
to see Princess P again, here telling Grandma she "shall not pass" |
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| And to celebrate Rebecca's birthday |
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| Vicki, with the Gray Wanderer |
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The morning of our return to snow country...P tries on Grandma's
snowmobile helmet |
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