Dougs Adventures in the North

A few months ago Doug got the opportunity to go to Idaho and move houses from the factories in Boise, Idaho to Wiliston, North Dakota for the oil boom going on there.  A lot of Dads from our area have relocated up to the oil fields for work, and come down every three or four weeks to visit their families.  We are lucky that Doug gets to move houses and keep our business going by moving homes up to the oil fields.  The small towns in North Dakota have been over run by workers coming in and setting up travel trailers anywhere, even though there aren't any utilities to hook to.  The city planners have had to enforce ordinances that require the men to live in organized mobile home parks instead of renting a small plot of land from area farmers for their travel trailers.  Doug says it reminds him of the pictures of the gold rush in the 1800's when so many men traveled west and pitched their tents anywhere they could.  Thankfully, the new ordinances are requiring manufactured homes to be brought in and that gives us work.  Even though it takes him away from us for a long while, we are so grateful that he is working.  Doug posted some pictures of his travels on Facebook that I was able to copy and share.  He has had good weather so far and has been able to get quite a few loads done.  Yesterday was his first significant snow storm of the year and I guess it really came down on him.  Being so far away from home isn't so bad for him because we have family that live in Southeastern Idaho and my Dad is also driving truck hauling steel from Pocatello into Canada and they keep tabs on each other.  Last night Doug was able to spend the night with his sister Katie in Pocatello and go to church with them today.  He really enjoys seeing them and playing with his nieces and nephews.  I really appreciate knowing that he has someplace to go with family there and that he can go to church with them.  Thanks for sharing your home with us Katie and Brett!  Here are a few pictures of Dougs travels before the snow hit. 

This is Dougs truck when he is delivering the home in Wiliston, ND.  This
is only one of many parks they are setting up for the oil workers.  They will have
utilities, and paved roads yet to come. 

They have over 300 homes to move from Boise, ID to Wiliston, ND so
the toters often run together.  Doug says he has never run in a
convoy of houses in the 16 years he has pulled them.  He is enjoying
himself being on the road and working with these guys.

This is Twin Bridges, MT.  A very pretty town. 

This is a "man camp" in Wiliston, ND.  Doug says that the farmers rent out
spaces in their fields to the oil workers, which is great except that there are no
utilities and some farmers allow too many trailers on their properties.

A sunset in Arco, Idaho.

Another view of the park Doug is moving homes into in Wiliston, ND

Usually when Doug has a flat the tread comes off and flies into traffic
or the tire rolls off into the wrong direction of the borrow pit.  This is the
first time the tread has "flowered" up like this and the tire stayed on. 

This is a company taking down an oil drill.

This is a finished well.