There are no fires directly threatening my home or property.  There are 4 large fires within 50 miles – all in different directions.  The Flathead Valley is full of smoke – sometimes it is up against the mountains, sometimes it drops down like a thick fog, sometimes there is falling ash – it is disconcerting to say the least.  From my house there are a handful of routes out of the valley – I have decided to take one – at least most probably…the motorhome is “down” the driveway, Jeep is hooked up, all I need is loaded and we (Karl, Bob and I) are “moved in”.  My thought is to go to Missoula – 110 miles south and just off the interstate: I-90.  It is a relatively inexpensive move in terms of time, fuel and park expenses – a park I know and like with good walking for Karl, good Wi-Fi for working – it is a low risk move to a spot that enables us to “jump” on the Interstate and head for the coast or east if MT conditions worsen.  While it is unlikely that the valley would burn, it is a bit scary to me to be surrounded by fire and potentially have the routes out closed – even momentarily closed.  And as an ORS friend said – “any excuse to go!” – well, yes !  I am not unopposed to a brief “trip” to the “big city” – the owner’s of Jim n Mary’s RV park in Missoula where I stay always laugh when I call Missoula the “big city” – all is relative…

The garage corner with snowblower, mower, blower, weed whacker, snowshoes….stuff – very odd – although it is VERY unlikely that a fire will wipe out my house, it is at least a possibility in my mind or I wouldn’t be “running”.  I have everything I need in the motorhome and I did pack some photo albums that have photos of my dad, grandparents, some child-hood stuff – “in case” but nothing else.  A funny feeling to look around and really be aware that there was a possibility – no matter how slight – that all might be destroyed.  What to take, what to leave – I stuck with what I normally take plus the albums (3)…

Some of the party are not affected…. Karl relaxing, Bob on the hunt!