The Walmart Tour
Trip Start
May 17, 2010
1
20
Trip End
Oct 10, 2010
Where I stayed
National Forests & Walmarts
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Our Walmart tour began in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We had set up our tent about an hour out of town in a small county park. Looking at the clouded sky, we thought there was chance it might rain so we pitched the tent under a picnic shelter. About 20 minutes later the skies opened and released a torrent of water that made Niagara Falls look small. With the 100 mile an hour wind blowing the rain horizontally into our shelter, our tent and all our worldly possessions were thoroughly soaked within about five minutes (we later found out that it was the monster ten year storm and that storm and flood warnings had been in effect, had we only turned the radio on we might have known this). So we packed up and headed into the nearest city. We had designed the truck so that we could sleep comfortably in the back if necessary (with curtains and all), and had done so earlier when it was too windy to pitch a tent. So the accommodation was not as bad as you might imagine. We certainly had it better than another couple who apparently had also been caught in the storm. Walking past a small Suburu, we noticed a sodden tent crammed on the back seat while the occupants in the front each had a sock placed over their eyes, presumably to shield them from Walmart's bright fluorescent lights. At least we had a bed and curtains.
Over the next ten days the storm chased us through five states and even another country. We camped when we could, but ended making Walmart our home a few more times. When we arrived at Niagara Falls, we decided that we well and truly deserved a break. So we checked into the Hampton Inn for a couple of nights, hoping to ride out the storm.
Comments
What a great adventure. Those pictures are wonderful too! You have seen more of this country than I ever probably ever will. I just hope you come back soon and do it again.