When Ellen and I floated the White Cliffs section of the Missouri River a few years ago, we arranged for a school teacher from Fort Benton to drive our car from Coal Banks to Judith Landing. It worked well and we were able to help out a poorly paid teachers. We know, because we both put in our service time with high school kids.
Surfing the net for Williston High School was not a problem. Our email was sent out to the principal of the school and we immediately got a reply. He said his retired school teacher wife would be interested in doing the shuttle. He had a few questions about the details in the first email. Then later he asked about airfare and motel accommodations. Hmmmmmm. The principal, two retired teachers, and one teacher, finally put it all together. That Williston High School was in Florida, not North Dakota. Too funny.
I contacted the real Williston High School and the principal forwarded our request to his staff. No one responded. He tried again and again no one responded. In fact, I received a phone call from the superintendent of the district questioning my request. I just wanted to help out a teacher by paying them to drive our car 2.5 hours from Fort Peck to Williston. That would be 5 hours of driving and I was willing to pay per diem plus $100 and gas expenses. If I saw that email when I was teaching I would have jumped at the opportunity.
The same request went out to several school districts in the general area. All of them very small districts. I even tried the Chamber of Commerce in Fort Peck and in Williston and never received a reply.
Finally, a commercial shuttle business 22 miles from Fort Peck indicated he could shuttle us for $3,300!
Ellen wondered out loud if that included champagne.
Recently, we received a phone call from an elementary school teacher that said she was interested in helping us out. She left a contact number and we have tried it several times since and have not heard from her.
We are now with plan B. Once at the campground near the bridge on Highway 85 just west of Williston, we will put-in. Ellen will stay with the gear and kayaks. I will walk into town and catch the train to Nashua and hitchhike the 18 miles to Fort Peck. It will be the cheaper, longer, and the more risky option. Leaving Ellen alone in Williston is not a great idea. Having Ellen negotiate the 18 miles from Nashua to Fort Peck is a higher risk.
I like riding trains. My running shoes will be on me.
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