Russ Tveit, Judy Knoell and their rescue dog, Peanut, were our next-site neighbors in a Montana Fishing Access Site campground on the Yellowstone River. They were returning home to Hazen, North Dakota, and we where heading east on this autumn’s tour of America.
Russ, a retired contractor, has been RVing off and on for about 25 years. Judy began RVing when she met Russ about 10 years ago. “Couldn’t and wouldn’t do it without his knowledge, experience at travel and mechanical abilities,” said Judy, a retired science teacher.
They were traveling in a 1998 Shadow Cruiser pop-up slide-in truck camper that they use for shorter trips or when the plan to be gone from home for less than two weeks.
“We use our larger 5th wheel for extended trips,” said Judy. “The Shadow Cruiser is convenient for trips that take us to less accessible places such as back country roads and gas mileage is better than a big rig.”
Their favorite camping places include the Big Hole, Montana area; Makoshika near Glendive, Mont.; Minnesota River in Minnesota including the Pipestone area; North Dakota Badlands, Maah Dah Hey Trail, Cave Hills and the Shadehill; and Fort Sisseton areas in South Dakota. “Basically any place remote and scenic and not overly crowded.”
Photo: Judy Knoll, Russ Tveit and Peanut, their rescue golden lab, along the Yellowstone River in southern Montana. (Julianne G. Crane)