It feels like late November or into December. I’m resisting playing Christmas music.

“Following the weather” hasn’t worked for me this year. We are in Utah now, heading for Arizona. It actually got up to 52 here today but that was a heatwave and tomorrow, where I’m headed the high is supposed to be 34 degrees. Meanwhile Marie in Tawas, Michigan tells me it’s 91 there today. Ok, that’s too hot, but what the heck is going on?

Heading for Idaho from Montana. This is “Big Sky Country”. Big sky full of snow clouds….

Beautiful….yes….

But…but….

We approach Monida Pass which is …hmmm…around 6,500 feet. (Monida=Montana+Idaho).

It maintains 31 degrees and sometimes there is rainy stuff and sometimes snow, but it doesn’t freeze.

But I’m not having what you would call a good time as I drive the pass. Thankfully the worst….over the pass…is only somewhere between 10-15 miles, and things get much better.

Snow in the mountains is so beautiful to look at, but not to tow in!

Dogs like it! That’s Joy rolling in it. Legs straight up in this picture.

Sorry, so blurry. Snapping a picture of the Utah sign as I wizz by. You can see there is some blue sky….but….

I took this a little while ago on our walk. I think the weird weather is following me! Or attached to me somehow.
However, it’s not as bad as hurricanes nor is it as bad as being in the midst of an earthquake, so I’m just going to try an appreciate the snow…and the cold….and keep heading south!
Yikes! I am getting ready to head toward Arizona from Tennessee for the winter and was debating whether or not I wanted to go west to Missouri and then work my way down to Arizona. My other route would be to go Texas to New Mexico and then over to Arizona period after seeing all that snow I may take the Texas route. I don’t want to pull my travel trailer in snow and ice. I am a solo woman rver traveling with my dog clover. I always enjoy your blog. Safe travels!
Hi Cheryl. The weather seems more unpredictable than it usually is.
Congratulations on going solo with your dog. I’ve found it to be a wonderful experience…despite crazy weather…and I think you will too. I never want to tow in snow or ice either! Very nerve wracking.
That is really weird weather. I am still sweating down here on the first day of fall and I hate to sweat! So looking forward to some cooler/dryer weather. Be safe my friend…..see you next year.
And you be safe! Looking forward to seeing you Sharron!
Wow! I wouldn’t want to be driving in that! Be safe!! And yes, Katie and I were camping the past 3 nights and it was in the 90s in the day…but I still got cold at night…don’t know what the low was…but it was so humid and damp that I was cold all night. Kind of glad to be home in an air conditioned house tonight!
Hope you find good weather soon!!
Hi Dawn, yeah the humidity…not my friend! I’m finding I’m very picky about weather. I guess cuz I got spoiled living on the Monterey Peninsula where for me at least, it’s just about perfect. It’s humid and/or over 80 degrees about three times a year. And under freezing about the same. This all makes me see what a good thing that is.
Love reading of your travels. Yes, it’s dang hot and HUMID in MI. I’m done with summer. Ugh.
Hi Denise….and I’m so done with winter!….she says on September 24th! 😁
Glad you are enjoying!
It is hard to imagine that you have traveled from sunny ,pretty Great Lakes down to snowy freezing temperatures,so quickly. I know the doggies love the snow but it makes traveling less fun. Good luck! We love your posts!
Hi Elinor….strange isn’t it? While I was in Michigan I was actually concerned it would be too hot, but it was only too hot while I was in Port Huron ( Hi Denise!). Though it was humid and rainy…very rain forest like most of the time. And now winter here before the leaves have even begun to turn. They say it will get back into the 60’s here. I guess it’s waiting for me to leave. 😊
I felt like I was driving right along with you..brrrr! In Monterey, on the first day of fall, like clockwork, the cooler weather crept in. Leaves are turning, mildly, like everything else about Monterey. Even the word ‘mild’ sounds ‘mild.’
Drive safely! Hope the milder weather finds you and follows you around soon! Much love to you and the furry family!
Hi Marian, yes, ‘mild’ is a nice word isn’t it. Soft and gentle. Mild weather, under normal circumstances can make life much simpler…easier…less stressful. And less expensive when you don’t have to worry about heating and cooling expenses.
Nice to hear from you. Hope things are going well with the new house!
So glad you are getting out of that weather…does NOT look pleasant at all!!! If you aren’t out of it yet, please be safe. As is Michigan, Wisconsin is sweltering, 90 degrees and feels like an oven.
Not sure when, but am planning to head to Arizona at some point. When do the desert flowers start to bloom? Hope to see you while I’m there! Happy trails…
Hi Pat, gosh all that heat just couldn’t last too much longer!
The desert blooms mostly in March and April I think? Some parts start in February too, I’m thinking. Depends on how much rain there has been and lots of Arizona had a lot this past summer so there might be some real nice desert blooms this spring.
January through May depends on your location in Arizona
Just confirming that southern Michigan has been HOT for the last week and we won’t get a break until later this week. On average, we have been 15 degrees warmer than my sister in Las Vegas, but I hope that means you will find good weather soon. After great weather on our trip from Vegas to MN, and very cool temps at the family cabin just south of Walker, I was not ready for this.
Hi Kitty, yuck I’m never ready for that. Honestly I think I’d rather have 45 than 90, but either one will have me seeking shelter.
I hate to even say this, nut I THINK in 3 days we’ll be into the 70 degree territory. I hope.
Good to hear from you. Was wondering if you ended up seeing the eclipse?
Yes! In Alliance, Nebraska, home of Carhenge, though we were about six miles south. We couldn’t get close to the Stonehenge replica made of old cars though rumor had it Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson were all there. My advice about an eclipse: never settle for less than totality if you can get in its path. We almost stayed in Boulder with family, I mean 96% should be good enough, right? Wrong. Those 2.5 minutes were amazing. No need for special glasses and 360 degrees of sunset colors at the horizon. The second the sun peeked out, it all changed – still a weird twilight, but not the same. And we made it to Carhenge on the way out of town – definitely worth the visit if you are close.
I’m sorry I missed you in Michigan. Life got a bit crazy just then as it seems to do fairly often these days. Hopefully sometime soon. We have had too many “near misses”!
Hi Kitty, so glad you got to see the eclipse. Johnny and Harrison would have been a HUGE bonus though!
We’ve been traveling that area the last 2 weeks
Beautiful country/sites and have been in all kinds of weather
If this is Kathleen H, yes I’ve seen your pictures on FB. It really is beautiful in these parts. Hey, congratulations on retirement!