The cool respite lasted one day through the next morning and since it has been HOT. It just dropped to 89 from 90 at 7:00 p.m. as I write this post.

This morning, although I opened up when I woke, I had all shut and A/C on by 8:30 a.m. We are comfortable. The A/C and some small fans have kept temps in Wild Thing II 71-74F. Emmett and I take 2 long walks in the morning and then just short walks through the day.

I did ride my bike to town yesterday morning. There are two safe ways: one is a beautiful new bike path and the other is a controlled crosswalk across the highway.

I took the bike path. The RV park manager told me about it or I wouldn’t have known … no signage and it did not come up on the 2 trail apps I use. Not only does it go the 1 mile into Ronan but in the other direction the 11 miles to Polson. I’m not ready for that long of a trip but something to work up to.

A link to a bit of my return ride below …

I sped the video up and if you have volume on it sounds like I am on a speedway!

Speed ride!

I intended to ride into the grocery store this morning, but it got too warm too fast and it looked like we would get rain and maybe a thunderstorm. We did get a few sprinkles of rain but no storm.

The only thing I was completely out of was mayonnaise and I had all necessary to make my own so I did. I’m a bit low on milk so will see how things are in the morning. I leave here Monday morning so not super critical and more that I enjoy the bike and want to be riding regularly.

I can’t see these mountains from my site, but the dog walking area allows great views and they are always changing: color, clouds … mood:

The traffic noise and heat … not much I can do about either, but we are enjoying mornings in the cool and inside projects in the heat of the day.

9:20 P.M. Last outs. … sunset

We did have to leave Missoula on Sunday morning, July 11 so had back to back travel days.

The drive was only 56 miles so we left Missoula at the last minute before 11:00 checkout with 2 hours to make a less than 1 hour drive for 1:00 check in at Diamond S RV Park in Ronan, MT.

We stopped for lunch at NinePipes Lodge. There is a museum, coffee shop with stuff, a “saltwater” spa and hotel. I pulled somewhat past all of that to a gravel area where another RV was parked.

Hee… at first because of all of the hotel/spa/museum/shop stuff and the very nicely mowed grass I wondered about getting out with Emmett …

But the water was FULL of geese and so the grass was FULL of you know what, i.e. an incredible mess once I got closer, so no longer feeling guilty as I picked up after Emmett … we had a look around before I had lunch with this incredible view.

St. Ignatius is a bit further on with historic sites and a famous mission. I wanted to explore a bit and if it wasn’t Sunday would have stopped at an Amish General store.

I didn’t get photos because of country roads and traffic !!! There was an event at the airport: fly-in and pancake breakfast. A helicopter looked to be giving ride tours, a seaplane was parked and lots of folks enjoying pancakes!

Next stop was grocery in Ronan, Montana. I had reserved a week at a small RV park in Ronan. I was unsure about being able to bike into town so stopped to get a LOT of water and enough other items that I had to play Tetris in the frig and freezer.

But, on approaching Wild Thing II with my cart…

Well.

I don’t know … inland seagulls are an issue apparently! I had to laugh, though and sent the photo to my brother who lives on his boat and is currently somewhere between Boston and Halifax. Anyway, he is on the ocean :).

On to the Diamond S.

It is a nice, small, no frills RV park. I got a lovely back in site on the end of a row so no neighbors out my entry doors. BUT, the “bad” neighbor is the highway. It is the noisiest of any spot I’ve been in. Until this morning, though, it was so hot that except for walking Emmett, we were inside and closed up with AC running so muffled highway noise.

Emmett, Oscar and I all were exhausted from combination of heat and back to back travel days. Yesterday, Monday, I puttered inside, napped and recouped.

Late Monday, it clouded up. I had AC going all night but this morning with clouds and rain on the way plus a breeze … it dried out, stayed cool and I have all opened up and no AC … which means road noise but I am loving a respite from heat and also fresh air vs AC so will deal with noise.

Other good news about the park is that there is acreage to walk with Emmett. There is also crosswalk to get across the highway and take quiet roads into town so will bike about Wednesday or Thursday or ???

For today, another chill and recovery day: a bit of RV bug removal and exterior cleanup, inside RV clean up (incredible amount of dust and dog/cat hair!), some meal prep AND it turns out that there is a huge Amazon warehouse close so as I looked at my buy list … a lot was available to be delivered before I am due to leave: Happy Day!!

It is 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 as I write this. I have enjoyed a good day of walks, minor RV chores and kitchen time in the cool if not the quiet.

Wonderful respite from sun and heat!

It is no secret that I very much dislike heat and I consider temps above 75F (24C) too hot. As I write this, it is 88F where we are parked in Missoula, MT. Tomorrow it is forecast to be 96F here and then a slight cool down and maybe some rain next week.

Unless something happens, I am headed a bit north tomorrow. Even though cooler tomorrow, having traveled today, I’d rather sit for another day versus back to back travel days. I am no longer of the go-go-go mentality and I don’t need to go.

Whatever … if I find out I can stay in my current spot, I’ll stay another day, otherwise we’ll continue on.

It was a good travel day. I left the RV park in Dillon slightly before 8:00 a.m. and did my big grocery shop at the Dillon grocery I like. I had planned on shopping here in Missoula, but thinking about temps … decided to do it in the cool morning.

By 8:45 I had shopped, stowed all I bought and we headed out of Dillon. Emmett and I had 2 walks at the RV park before leaving but we also stopped at 2 rest areas that had nice walk areas and 1 had a large fenced area for off leash. Emmett has decided that these pet areas are great for a bit of a sniff around.

After a pre-arrival stop for fuel, we rolled into Jim n Mary’s RV park in Missoula about 1:15 p.m. I was able to trade my pull through in the sun for a shady back in site. (Per the office persons an amazing amount of RVrs will not take back in sites!) AND, the site is right next to the laundry. And showers … I typically use my own shower, but as it is probably only an overnight stay I decided to hook up power only. I have water on board and came in with empty waste tanks but thought it might be nice to have a shower in a nice big stall for a bit of a change. The facilities here are particularly nice. I only used them once on a winter trip when the Winnebago was winterized, but took a peak while my laundry was going and the showers and restrooms are spotless and nice.

Back to arrival. Parked, plugged in, turned on house A/C, started my load of laundry and then sat in the cool.

Emmett and I took one walk so far … hot, but we went from shady patch to shady patch. Still, we arrived back hot and tired.

Oscar’s travel day was calm. He headed for his spot under the covers on the little sofa as soon as I moved his litter box which he now knows is the signal for traveling. BUT, no howling. Emmett rides mostly on the floor somewhat next to me and oddly does not go to sleep. Between heat, travel “stress”, prepping to move, parking, laundry and walks … we are all exhausted.

It is 6:16 p.m. We have had our supper. I would like to go to bed!

Gosh … dull post, no photos … RV life is sometimes just “regular life”.

July 8, my last full day in Dillon … I biked to a Mexican restaurant for an early lunch and had not only a great meal but the BEST iced tea! I typically do not order restaurant iced tea but I didn’t want soda or water … anyway, so good. It turns out they brew their own blend.

I messed up settings on my Insta360 X5 video from the bike so nothing … so sad!

To today, Thursday July 9. A bit ago, I made reservations at a campground in Ennis, MT for today through 7/14. Ennis is in Madison Valley … a river runs through it … YES, that river: Madison River.

Based on reading and the internet, Ennis was high on my list for possible new place to live.

Maybe I over-hyped it in my mind.

And it is a crazy thing about new places. I often connect immediately or reject immediately or some places grow on me. I drove into Ennis and just thought … I do not want to stay here. I was 1.5 hours early for check in time so drove around and then into the RV park to see what it looked like. And I drove back out and headed back to Dillon.

The drive to and fro is absolutely beautiful so no regrets. A scenic overlook between Virginia City and Ennis …

I didn’t want to get out as it was not level and I didn’t feel comfortable with just parking brake.

Continuing on to Ennis. I don’t know if I have words for why I instantly did not like the area. It was busy. There were a lot of cookie cutter neighborhoods on the fringe. I just did not like it at all.

As noted above, I was early for check in and checked out the RV park which had the smallest, tightest spots that I have ever seen. The grounds were landscaped nicely and as advertised it was adjacent (walkable/bikeable) to town. I just wanted to be gone so I turned around and headed back to Dillon (74 miles).

My old spot was not available but I have a nice shady spot for 2 nights and then I’m headed back to Missoula for a night.

The other wrinkle in the travel is that Ennis was to be 101 and 103 on Saturday/Sunday. Dillon is forecast to be mid-upper 90’s as is Missoula.

Currently, my plan is to leave Dillon very early on Saturday, do a big shop in Missoula before noon check in at Jim and Mary’s. Then leave early Sunday for a slightly cooler destination north of Missoula.

Stay tuned!

***Lunchtime in Virginia City

First, last night another round of “weather”: thunderstorms, rain and a little hail but not as much wind…

Storm on the way.

But, lovely sunrise this morning…

I took this photo from the area across the creek where Emmett and I were walking … and thought: how fortunate I am to have this time, this chapter in my life to travel, to explore and to enjoy … with no real plan.

I have met so many kind and thoughtful people who shared their stories and also made sure that all was good with me. It is hard to find words with how much this all means to me.

So, the e-bike! As a new rider with childhood memories of fearlessness, it is a new experience to feel so cautious.

Last night, I made my list of today’s things to do … this is never a must do, just a semi-plan.

• Get bike off rack
• Add X5 360 camera mount
• Go to Sweetwater Coffee Shop
• Scout a good walk for Emmett and me

I had a bit of anxiousness about heading out on the e-bike. All for naught as it was a wonderful outing!

I had the summer cold brew special to go with 2 macaron … all delicious!

My brother, who lives on his boat and has had lightweight folding e-bikes for years, suggested the milk crate and high-vis backpack. My crate collapses for storage and the bright orange backpack is actually insulated so good for getting cold stuff.

The coffee shop run was SO.MUCH.FUN !! A lovely little shop. The coffee and macaron were delicious. Coffee was a roast from Montana Coffee Traders (Kalispell and Whitefish roasters). The shop actually felt much like a small version of the
Whitefish Coffee Traders coffee shop.

I also bought some of the coffee traders special blend for Sweetwater Coffee shop and some orange pecan granola. It was a successful morning outing!

Once home, Emmett and I took as long a walk around the RV park as we could. Emmett also got a mousse treatment for the beginnings of a seborrhea situation.

Then it was all hands inside with A/C on and an afternoon of some RV cleaning, meal prep, nap and blog/video/travel planning.

From where we are now to where we were … over that bridge to the “right” (west) is Countryside RV Park.

I made another e-Bike trip to a grocery store to pick up a few items I missed when we moved/stocked up yesterday.

I am ridiculously proud of myself for getting back on the bike to get a few grocery items. It was 83F but I did the trip and was comfortable!

Much progress today :) !! See you tomorrow.

We had one last storm last evening … the windiest of them all. Wild Thing II was rocking and bucking in the wind. I had put all outside things away, closed up and we rode it out. The only thing was, I had not walked Emmett before the worst started at 8:30 so we had to stay up until things calmed enough to go out. BUT, there was a gorgeous sunset.

This morning (Monday, 7/6) we packed up and headed 4.5 miles to Southside RV Park which sits on the edge of Dillon so I can ride my bike around town and also hopefully take Emmett on a walk around the college. The RV park is very nice but there is not much area for a long walk.

We do have a creek and a back and side yard, though!

And Mama duck and her ducklings.

Laundry done! Well, washed and dried…

Not a bad view to look at while folding!

After laundry nap … I took one also.

I did a bit of planning both my bike and walk around town planning as well as a look at some other cities on my way to the next stop.

Meanwhile, Oscar and Emmett watched the birds and the creek. There are a lot of Magpies and Crows. They walk right up to the RV which causes a lot of excitement.

It is just past 7:30 and I am running out of gas! Time to do the dishes, last out with Emmett and call it a day.