Countdown to Alaska!

We got stuck a little longer in Montana than expected, a blizzard went through Lewistown and Great Falls. We stopped at a rest area near Circle and spent a couple nights there, then on to Great Falls, and then Shelby. Tomorrow we're planning on crossing the border into Canada.😀   We've been reading forums and blogs about traveling through Canada and Alaska. We've got the Milepost book and maps. We are excited to go.  I'm not sure how the cell service is going to be, but will post pictures when we can.

You can click on the pictures to enlarge them. 

Veteran's Memorial, Shelby, MT

North Park Campground, Dickinson, ND

While we were in Dickinson, we stayed at North Park Campground again. This time we were there for a month, and got their winter monthly rate of $350 plus $250 deposit, plus electricity. What you don't use of the $250 for electricity, you get back minus $30 base electric fee.  We figured we'd use our solar as much as we can to save that way.  We knew we'd be there for a couple of weeks, and it is cheaper to go the monthly route, so we did it that way.  This time we were in A3, across the road from the office.

Seven year full time annivesary

Seven years already! It doesn't seem that long. We've been to every lower 48 state and seen so many things. We're heading to Alaska shortly for the summer and really looking forward to that! Probably won't make to Hawaii in the motorhome though. 😆

Love you Dad

When we were in California in March, my brother called me to let me know our father wasn't doing well in the nursing home. He'd only been there since last fall after a hospitalization, but just didn't seem to come out of that. For a while he did therapy and could get around by himself, but things changed. We got back in time to spend 2 1/2 more days with him. My dad passed away on March 29, at the age of 94. 

Montana

More deer in Montana, flooding in areas also. For pictures of Montana, please click here. 

Montana statistics from netstate.com:

1. Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated Montana's top five agricultural products are cattle and calves, wheat, barley, hay, and sugar beets. Beef cattle are Montana's most important livestock product. Some of the country's biggest cattle ranches are in Montana. Dairy cattle, sheep and hogs are also raised. About 1/3 of Montana's agricultural income is provided by crops. Wheat is the state's leading crop. Barley and hay are important crops as are beans, potatoes and sugar beets. The major fruit produced in Montana is the black cherry.

2. Manufacturing:  Petroleum refineries are the major manufacturing activity in Montana. Lumber and wood products (finish lumber, plywood, pencils, prefabricated houses, telephone poles) rank second followed by food products (meatpacking, milk processing, milling of grain, soft drink bottling)and machinery for the agriculture, construction and mining industries.

3. Mining: Coal and petroleum are Montana's leading mined products. The state can also be an important source of gold, silver, copper and lead depending on the demand and labor availability.

Montana is the leading producer of talc.

4. Services: In Montana, it's the community, business and personal services sector (private health care, motels, law firms, and repair shops) that leads in services income. Ranking second are wholesale (food products, mined products, motor vehicles) and retail (discount and grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants) trade and government services (operation of public schools and hospitals, military bases, Indian reservations). Ranking third in the services industry are finance, insurance and real estate.

Snowy Wyoming

There was a lot of snow in Wyoming, but the roads were clear.  We had to keep an eye out for deer though. For pictures of the state, please click here. 

Wyoming statistics from netstate.com

1. Agriculture: Wyoming is cattle country. About 86% of the state's total agricultural receipts are generated by livestock products. 78% of total agricultural receipts can be attributed to beef cattle and calves. In terms of revenue generated Wyoming's top five agricultural products are beef cattle and calves, hay, sugar beets, hogs, and sheep and lambs. Beef cattle are, by far, the most important source of revenue in the state and in the livestock sector. Hogs, sheep and lambs, and to a lesser extent, dairy products (milk) and honey are also major livestock commodities of Wyoming. Among the states, Wyoming is a leading producer of sheep and wool. Wyoming also produces chicken eggs. Hay is the top crop in Wyoming. Sugar beets, barley, dry beans, and wheat round out the top five crops grown in Wyoming. Corn for grain, some greenhouse and nursery products, oats, and sunflowers are also grown in the state.

2. Manufacturing: Manufacturing in Wyoming is minimal. The state's most important manufactured product is soda ash. Ranking second is the refining of petroleum. Other manufactured products are metal containers, structural metals, dairy products, refined sugar and soft drinks, wood products.

3. Mining: Mining comprises a larger proportion of Wyoming's gross state product than that of any other state. Wyoming is the leading coal-producing state and a leader in the production of petroleum and natural gas. Sodium carbonate-containing trona is used to manufacture glass, soap and paper.

Wyoming is also a major producer of bentonite and other clays. 

4. Services: Unlike so many other states, Wyoming's chief services industry is not the community, business and personal services group. The most valuable services in Wyoming are government services (public schools and hospitals, military establishments). Ranking second is the transportation, communication and utility (oil and gas pipelines, railroads, telephone companies, electric, gas and water service) group of services. The third-ranking industry group in Wyoming is the finance, insurance and real estate group.

Crawling through Utah

Utah is a long state to get through north/south. It seemed to take forever, but it's a beautiful state. We saw more deer, dead and alive, than we have ever seen.  For pictures of our trip, please click here.

Utah statistics from netstate.com:

1. Agriculture: Over 3/4 of Utah's agricultural income is generated by livestock and livestock products. Beef cattle and milk lead the way in this sector.  Other important livestock products are hogs, chicken eggs, and sheep and lambs. Wool, honey, aquaculture, and turkeys also contribute significantly to the economy. Hay is Utah's largest crop, grown to feed beef and dairy cattle.

Greenhouse and nursery products (potted plants and ornamental shrubs) are also very important to the state. The wheat, barley, and corn crops are also important. Leading fruits are apples, cherries, and peaches. Apricots and pears are also grown in Utah. Leading vegetables are onions, potatoes, and dry beans. Mushrooms and safflower are also grown in Utah. 

2. Manufacturing: Computer and electronics products, including communication equipment, computer microchips and scientific instruments, make up Utah's leading manufactured products list.

Ranking second is primary metals manufacturing, producing steel, aluminum and copper in the state.

Processed foods and beverages (dairy products, baked goods, meat products, snack foods) rank third.

3. Mining: Petroleum and copper are the most valuable mined products of Utah followed by natural gas. Uranium is mined when economic conditions make it profitable.

Utah is the only state that produces gilsonite, a pure form of asphalt used in dark colored printing inks and paints, oil well drilling muds and cements, asphalt modifiers, foundry sands additives and a wide variety of chemical products. Magnesium and natural salts are produced from the Great Salt Lake.

Utah is the country's leading producer of molybdenum and potassium salts. Other mined products include sand and gravel, clay, gemstones.

4. Services: The community, business and personal services group provides the most valuable services industries in Utah including private health care, hotels and ski resorts, law firms, engineering companies, software development and repair shops. Ranking second is the finance, insurance and real estate group. Population growth has benefited the real estate sector. A large banking company and several credit card companies have established operations in Utah. The wholesale trade (food products, mined products, motor vehicles) and retail trade (automobile dealerships, discount stores, grocery stores, restaurants) services group ranks third in the state. Most of Utah's services are centered in metropolitan areas of the state.

Cruising through Nevada

We had originally planned on taking our time through Nevada, but had to cruise through.  For pictures of our journey through the state, please click here.

Nevada statistics from netstate.com:

1. Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated Nevada's top five agricultural products are cattle and calves, hay, dairy products, onions, and potatoes. Cattle and sheep ranching is the primary agricultural activity in Nevada. Most Nevada cattle are sold to farmers in California, Idaho, Nevada and the Midwestern states. Sheep, hogs and lambs are sold to meat packers. Wool is sold to textile mills. Nevada supports some irrigated farms. Hay, to feed livestock, is the state's biggest crop.

Other crops are alfalfa seed, barley, garlic, mint, onions, potatoes and wheat.

2. Manufacturing: The most important manufactured products in Nevada are printed products (printing and publishing companies), food products (meat-packing, pet food, processed foods, coffee), concrete and machinery (electronic, computer equipment, appliances, neon signs, electrical machinery). Nevada also produces some chemicals, plastics and construction equipment.

3. Mining: The most valuable mined product in the state is gold. Nevada produces about 3/4 of the gold produced in the United States. Nevada leads in the production of silver too. Other important mined products are diatomite and barite. Some clays, copper, gypsum, limestone, lithium, carbonate, magnesite, oil, salt and sand and gravel are also produced in the state.

4. Nevada's service industries, concentrated in the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas, are very, very important to Nevada's economy. Tourism is the prime reason for this. Nevada's community, business and personal service industry accounts for about 1/3 of the state's total gross product. This is a higher percentage than in any other state. Gambling, amusement and recreational services (dude ranches, fishing resorts, hunting lodges) are the most important sectors. Other activities include the operation of private schools, hospitals, advertising and data processing firms, cleaning establishments, hotels and repair shops. The second-ranking service industry is finance, insurance and real estate. Nevada grew faster than any other state in the 1990s. Wholesale (automobiles, food products, minerals) and retail (stores, restaurants) trade rank third.

California winter/spring 2018/2019 pictures

Part of our winter/spring was spent in California. We were at the Big River BLM area when we got a phone call for an emergency back home in North Dakota. It is one place we would like to go to again. (Especially with the wild burros.)  You can see the previous posts. 

I made a photo file with all of the California pictures, you can access that here. 

California supports a large and diverse economy with the highest economic production among the states. If California were a country, it would rank around tenth in the value of goods and services produced. California's service industries, as a group, make up the largest part of the state's gross product.

1. Agriculture: California leads all of the other states in farm income. It's positioned as the agricultural powerhouse of the United States. About 73% of the state's agricultural revenues are derived from crops while the other 27% of revenues are generated by livestock commodities.

In terms of revenue generated, California's top five agricultural products are dairy products, greenhouse and nursery products, grapes, almonds, and cattle and calves. California grows over 200 different crops, some grown nowhere else in the nation. Crops include grapes, almonds, strawberries, oranges and walnuts.California produces almost all of the country's almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts. It leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries. Only Florida produces more oranges.The most important vegetable crops grown in the state are lettuce and tomatoes. Again, California leads the way. Broccoli and carrots rank second followed by asparagus, cauliflower, celery, garlic, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Only Texas grows more cotton than California. Hay, rice, corn, sugar beets, and wheat are also grown in large quantities. Livestock and livestock products include milk, beef cattle, eggs, sheep, turkeys, hogs and horses. Dairy products are California's most valuable products followed by cattle and calves and chicken eggs. California is the second ranked producer of livestock products behind Texas. 

2. Manufacturing: California ranks first among the states in manufacturing. Electrical equipment, components, and military communication equipment are California's leading manufactured products including electronic systems for aircraft and missiles. Other products are audiotape and videotape, lighting equipment, and telephone equipment. Manufacture of computer machinery ranks second in production, followed by food product processing of baked goods, beverages, canned fruits and vegetables.

3. Mining: California is also among the country's leading mining states with producing a greater variety of mined products than any other state. Oil is the number one product. California mines all of the boron that is produced in the United States. It's the leading producer of diatomite, sand and gravel, sodium compounds, and tungsten and among the top producers of gold, gypsum, magnesium compounds, molybdenum, perlite, potash, and pumice.

4. Fishing: With 840 miles of coastline, it's probably not surprising that California's commercial fishing operations rank the top spot among the states. With a catch larger than any other state, Tuna is the most valuable fish caught by the fleet. Swordfish is the second most valuable catch. Halibut, herring, mackerel, rockfish, sablefish, salmon, shark, sole are also important to the industry.

Abalones, crabs, shrimp, and squid are also counted as part of the California commercial fishing industries catch.

5. Services: The service industries of California, like most states, generate the highest portion of the state's gross state product. Community, business, and personal services form California's leading service industry, including private health care, law firms and engineering companies, hotels and entertainment companies, and repair shops. Real estate, finance and insurance form the second-ranking service industry in California followed by wholesale and retail trade in food products, medical supplies, motor vehicles and petroleum products.

Our Arizona winter/spring 2018/2019 pictures

We spent most of our winter in Arizona this year. (See previous posts.)  It was colder than normal we heard (of course) and windy. But, it was much warmer than the northern states.  I made a OneDrive file for all of the pictures. You can access them here. 


You can click on the pictures to enlarge them in a new window. 

Economics from NetState.com;

1. Agriculture: Arizona's agricultural output is pretty evenly distributed between crops and livestock. About 47% of Arizona's agricultural production is in livestock. The other 53% is in crops. In terms of revenue generated, Arizona's top five agricultural products are cattle and calves, lettuce, dairy products, cotton, and hay. Arizona's biggest crop is lettuce, comprising about 20% of the state's total crop production. Arizona is also a leading cotton-producing state ranking 10th in the nation. Hay and greenhouse and nursery production each generate about 1/2 of the revenues provided by cotton. Cantaloupes account for about 2% of the state's crop revenues. Other important crops are barley, potatoes, and wheat. Beef cattle, including calves are the leading source of Arizona farm income, followed by dairy products. Some hogs and sheep and lambs are also produced in the state.

2. Manufacturing: In terms of value added, Computer and electronic equipment (computer microchips) and electronic components, including communication systems, are Arizona's most important manufactured goods. Transportation equipment (space vehicles, helicopters, turbine engines, guided missiles) and chemicals are also important. Other products produced in Arizona include fabricated metal products (structural and sheet metals, window and door frames), food products (soft drinks, baked goods, animal feeds, dairy products), machinery (for metalworking, electronics, agriculture) and primary metals. Arizona is the nation's leading producer of copper.

3. Mining: Copper is, by far, the most important mined product of Arizona. As by-products of mining copper ore, large amounts of gold, molybdenum, and silver are recovered. Other mined products are coal, sand and gravel, and crushed stone.

4. Services: The United States has become a service economy and many states, Arizona included, generate most of their revenue through service industries. Spending by tourists and retired people contribute significantly.

Community, business, and personal services (private health care, hotels and resorts, law firms, repair shops) generate more revenue than any other service sector. Arizona's hotels and resorts receive significant business from tourists during the winter. The finance, insurance, and real estate group ranks second in the services sector. Real estate (office buildings, resorts) is the most important.

The wholesale (farm products, mined products, motor vehicles) and retail trade (auto dealerships, department stores, food stores) group ranks third in revenue generated. Government provided services, such as public schools, public hospitals, military establishments and Indian reservations are important as well. Ranking fifth in contributions to gross state product are transportation (American West Airlines, Union Pacific Railroad), communication, and utilities (electrical power).