257 days to the Ride

Today I started the research on campgrounds along the route and was pleasantly overwhelmed with the number and variety of places to camp that include tent sites and cabins. This could be an affordable alternative to staying in motels all along the way. Yesterday I did some beginning research on motels and learned that we will probably average $75.00 per day in motels ($37.50 if we share rooms) vs about $36.00 per day if we camp. Still plenty of time for decisions and reservations to be made but it's been interesting to see the variety of options available. And, the descriptions of the views are awesome; especially in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. We've had some offers of lodging in Washington from SSMC and Sue McLaughlin so I haven't done much research on campsites/motels in the Seattle area. We can do that later.
I'll share my findings with Ralph, our official lodging planner, this week and give him something to ponder during those cold winter months in South Carolina where I hear the temperatures drop down in the 60's and occasionally even into the 50's (shorts and t-shirt weather up here).
That's a ping Ralph to see if you're still reading these "yawners" that I publish. Note to Ralph: don't forget to find places where McManus can get fresh NY bagels and cream cheese to go with his "regular coffee"
As the days grow short, the nights grow colder and the leaves turn to yellows, reds and golds I'm enjoying looking through all the books and websites and dreaming of the days when I make the "ViewMaster" of my youth come alive. Some of these catalogs and websites are like looking through the Sears Catalog at Christmas.