First Out, Breakfast, Shower, Disconnect, Prep inside…

9:45 last walk before rolling

Grocery store shop.

10:45 on the interstate with 344 miles to Billings.

I hoped to drive past Butte before stopping … I ended up not stopping until Three Forks which was kind of on my list of places to explore. I stopped at a spot outside of town but next to a golf course and beautiful walk/bike path.

It was so nice that I decided to drive around town and if I liked it to stay there for a night. But … no “stay here” vibes so I went on.

It looked like I would arrive Billings 6:00 ish. Still light, but a much longer day than I wanted.

I stopped in Big Timber for gas … 98 miles short of Billings. There was a sign for an RV park. I looked it up and decided to check it out. It was after 4:00 and I was tired.

The RV park in Big Timber:

Holy Darn Cow. A river runs through it. Also a creek. And Kathy/Cathy … the work camper office person and I totally hit it off!

I planned to stay 1 night but ended up booking 3 nights.

It is the most beautiful RV spot I’ve ever stayed and not a resort … next to a river and far (4 miles) from the interstate.

Big Timber has a super cute downtown.

The RV Park has a long term stay option. Not for now, but Big Timber is on MY LIST for a maybe place to live.

Meanwhile, we enjoy 3 nights, 2 days. I am so glad that I did not try to get to Billings. The RV Park there is also near a river and good walking, but not as beautiful as where I am. Also, even though I arrived 4:30 ish, by the time I connected all, walked with Emmett, sorted the inside … it was after 6;30.

I will likely miss my “planned” early Sunday morning through Denver but staying in this beautiful spot … I just could not not stay.

With the exception of a few site moves and a 110 mile move from Columbia Falls to Missoula, MT, I have been sitting still.

I have zero complaints. Wild Thing II feels like home and both spots: Columbia Falls RV Park and Jim and Mary’s RV Park are pleasant places to be sitting still: good walking for Emmett and me, easy e-bike riding, well run and attractive spots.

I have had good and quiet neighbors, enjoyed cooking and baking …

(Above … Lemon Blueberry rolls: 80% fresh milled flour! Super happy with how they turned out)

And Fall whooshed in several days ago with very cool nights and mornings, pleasant afternoons.

My ultimate destination is southwest Colorado to visit my folks. I was there last December to move them from their home to a nursing home. It was bittersweet at best, emotionally and physically one of the most challenging things that I have ever had to do.

They have settled.

I intended to visit in May when I started my RV adventure but after Emmett had difficulties with the steps and I returned to Columbia Falls … then fires and heat kept me in Northwest MT.

I thought I might fly back but … leaving Emmett and Oscar … we’ll do the drive. I hope! My plans have not gone according to plan and although in hindsight it all worked best for Emmett, Oscar and me … it has left me a bit hesitant to say: This is what I’m going to do :) .

However, I will point Wild Thing II east and then south. I have no reservations. My primary goal is to stage us to go through Denver and Colorado Springs early on a Sunday morning when there is NOT a Broncos home game, i.e. shoot through the Denver metropolis with as little traffic as possible.

I have a small grocery list to fill here in Missoula on our way out. A store I’m familiar with. We will leave with empty waste tanks and full fresh water. If there are spots to overnight safely without hookups (assuming it is not warm-hot enough to need A/C) we will travel “on the cheap”!

We will see.

I also plan to stop and/or make side trips if the spirit moves me … the purpose of this time of RV life is to explore with no restrictions.

So.

We are enjoying some lovely early Fall days in a good spot while also looking forward to moving down the road.

I had initially planned on leaving Missoula (Jim ‘n Mary’s RV Park) on 9/23 … yesterday, but because of weather and a bit of “I just wanted to stay” … I extended until 9/30.

But, I was not able to stay in my original site. Since I had to disconnect and move AND since I wanted a few grocery items, I used the “move” necessity/opportunity to head into Missoula proper for a grocery run.

As per usual, I overbought and had a game of refrigerator Tetris. I am getting rather good at this game and all was put away in frig/freezer without much fuss.

BUT.

Even though ultimately I only moved sites with a run to town in between, it was still like a travel day with the disconnecting/reconnecting stuff AND with the park at the back of beyond at the grocery and load, etc.

So.

Today, as I the day after all of the above … recovery.

One of the joys of Jim ‘n Mary’s RV park is the abundance of flowers!

And the office offers arrangements of cut flowers in low key jars for $5. I LOVE snap dragons so could not resist. They lasted 5 days so $1/day for lovely fresh flowers.

Emmett and Oscar are both happy at Jim ‘n Mary’s …

As usual, I have met wonderful people!

Just today, I met 2 other solo travelers … both female, one in a Tab trailer and one in an Airstream.

The Airstream person and I had a number of shared things: sourdough baking being one! So much fun to share the experience of baking “on the road”. She is a fabric/sewing person utilizing Bernini technology, serger, embroidery … sewing meets tech. Add in RV life and the challenges of taking the equipment needed to do things we love to do …

A challenge for me in this season of my life is that I do not have people familiar with RVing and incorporating RV life with all of the things I love to do. So, it is wonderful to make connections with other RVs who have some shared interests as well.

Meanwhile, we are having a last (hopefully last) blast of summer heat … 80’s F with a forecast whoosh of coolness this weekend.

The evenings have been beautiful!

Even with highs hitting upper 70’s/low 80’s .. it cools quickly with sunset currently 7:30 ish.

I am absolutely loving RV life. A big part of that is embracing RVing in the retired state … my prior RV experiences were wonderful but there was always work in the background: deadlines, meetings, email, etc. The opportunity to travel in my home on wheels with no agenda, no “must do” in the background is beyond wonderful.

I am very grateful for this opportunity at this time in my life.

We were at Columbia Falls RV Park from 8/25 until this morning … extending and extending. I like being there and especially like having the Yukon.

BUT, the reason for buying Wild Thing II and all I’ve done since is to travel. And honestly, much as I felt at home in Columbia Falls, I was ready to move.

This morning I took the Yukon back to storage, disconnected, did the inside stuff to ensure things were not taking flight on the road and off we went.

We left the RV park shortly after 10:30. Made a stop at Murdoch’s to top off propane (cooking and heating!), a stop at Bigfork Harvest foods for a few items, a walk and lunch at Wayfarer’s park and then on the Jim ‘n Mary’s.

I topped up fuel at a truck stop just a 1/2 mile further than Jim ‘n Mary’s … I like having a full tank on arrival so no need to worry on departure, plus if there would be a park power failure (has never happened in all my years RVing), I would have gas to run the generator. The generator will not run when gas drops below 1/4 tank … this is an idiot-proof thing so the “idiot” does not run gas so low that the rig will not start!!!

Ultimately arrived Jim ‘n Mary’s about 3:45 … quick check in, a Chewy’s box waiting which I loaded directly into basement storage and then to our site. Not an end, but a nice pull through with plenty of space between us and our driver/passenger neighbors.

We are here for 4 nights and the “plan” is to head towards Del Norte, CO on Monday … slowly … travel day and then sit for 2-3 days. All depends on weather and how we are all feeling.

Oscar did great today! A little complaining when we started but he rode most of the trip in his bed in the cabover.

Emmett was his usual calm self.

Emmett and Oscar have had their supper and are “out for the count”! I will sup light as I am “running out of gas” also … typical in and out disconnecting and on arrival connecting. It was 75F on arrival and I took my time but still managed to overheat.

Forecast is for overcast, cool, slight chance showers and thunderstorms until Sunday afternoon. I have full pantry and frig/freezer and plans to make cinnamon rolls and pizza.

We are in Autumn mode and loving it.

Columbia Falls RV Park one morning.

Sourdough bagels!! So good to be back to my “normal” baking routine. Six of these went into the freezer for my “on the road” enjoyment.

Autumn vibes.

Emmett and Oscar having a “boxing-play” time!

Ok … so, right next to the Columbia Falls RV Park is a wonderful store for beef primarily but also pork and seafood. It is called Perfect Cuts.

I placed a special order for some tenderloin, ground beef, ham slices, pepperoni and breakfast sausage so as to have Montana beef, etc, for as long as possible. I noticed the above as I was waiting to pay for my order … HEE!!!

Super nice people at Perfect Cuts, excellent options and I very much like their sense of humor.

Time for my supper.

It is hard to believe that it is 25 years since the 9/11 attacks.

There are events in history that are of the “where were you when” ?

For me those are:

1. When JFK was shot
2. 9/11 Attack

#1 dates me of course … I was in 3rd grade. I happened to be in the nurses office and heard the announcement on the office radio and the nurses discussion.

#2 2001. I was 46. I was hosting a church prayer group function at my home in Whitefish, Montana. As I was making coffee and preparing to serve homemade scones to the small group, my brother phoned and asked if I knew what was happening. He was concerned specifically as he was supposed to be in a meeting in WTC1 and thought I might be aware via our mother.

I told the group and we turned on the TV.

Twenty five years later, it is incredible to remember, to review, to relive the events of 9/11/2001.

It is heartbreaking to be in a time of an incredibly corrupt, un-American, un-lawful and embarrassing “administration” and its enablers.

I seriously hope that the upcoming midterms turn the tables on the current administration and we hopefully remember 26 years from 9/11 with a more American leadership.

Whatever happens, I will never forget.

So.

My sourdough starter did not survive the last weeks in the cabin and then into the RV … cabin frig plus lack of baking.

I bought a King Arthur Baking sourdough starter and it did well, but I struggled with baking consistently in the heat, feeding/maintaining as well as managing the mess/cleanup. I discarded the starter and kind of stumbled along with a few freezer/bake from frozen things from the grocery.

And then … the breadmaker experiment.

Bread from the bread maker was good but ultimately, to make sourdough, I would only use the “dough” part of the machine and after juggling things, I got to thinking that I’d rather have my stand mixer for the “dough” part.

I returned the bread maker and retrieved my stand mixer from my storage locker.

In the process of setting things up under the dinette, I moved the Delta 2 and all of my USB charging as well as a few AC needs (Dyson vacuum) are set up and easy to access and charge all.

Ultimately, another step towards streamlining life as well as allowing me to make my sourdough items in Wild Thing II.

So happy!!

Above are a “dump” roll, aka Ciabatta roll. I used commercial yeast plus some of my discard starter as I’m getting a new King Arthur starter going.

My very new fed starter 8:11 a.m.

New starter looking good.

I used it and just a wee bit of yeast for bagel dough.

Shaped bagels.

Sunday morning bagels!

I am very happy.

It is a bit of a shuffle in my small kitchen/counter area, but I am sure that as time goes on, it will become easier.

I have been ridiculously unhappy with store bought goods and so am crazy happy that I have found a spot for the mixer and flours.

AND … for some time I have been looking at grain mills and all of the information regarding milling flour and using home milled flour. I thought to get a mill when I decide on a location and buy a house, but …

A Nutrimill Harvest mill is on its way to me.

I have grains.

The mill is scheduled to be delivered on 9/8. :) !!!