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.

I would stay longer but the laundry room here is out of order and I am out of clean clothes! Plus, without a tow and on a 2 lane highway, 60 mph, no shoulder … I am not brave enough to ride my e-Bike into town.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Door Dash is available from one of the groceries so I was able to get an order of a few things I was running short on … Coffee was the most dire!!

I am moving to an RV park on the edge of town that is walk and bike able to town and has working laundry. I wanted to explore Dillon more. And the new park is treed. I love the wide open space and views at Countryside, but it is getting hotter … 84F today.

Emmett after our after lunch walk. I laid down on the bed to cool off. He joined me briefly and then moved to the cool floor which also happens to be right under the main blast from the air conditioner!

You can see the mountain in the background which is my view out the “passenger” side. What is also nice is that the way the sites are angled, my neighbors do not block my views and it doesn’t feel as close as it might.

And a bit hard to tell, but a nice amount of grass on my entry side. Emmett and I sit outside in the cool mornings. I put the awning out, but wind tends to come up in the afternoon and today it REALLY came up as we had two lines of thunderstorms with wind whoosh through.

It has been a wonderful stay here and I might be back. I have reservations at 2 small towns not far away so will be meandering in the vicinity. Will see how I feel after exploring the next 7-10 days and what weather does also.

As usual, have talked to some wonderful people here including the park owner. I stayed here many times in the Winnebago, but current owner is new and is prettying up the grounds. There are no amenities for kids so it is all adults and very quiet. Lots of dogs but I am happy to say, everywhere I’ve been so far people clean up – yea! It is not that hard and makes for a much nicer experience walking around.

See you in a new spot tomorrow!

I have always been a bit “bah-humbug” about the 4th of July. While I appreciate celebrating the birth of the nation, I am not a fan of fireworks … visuals ok but not the noise. But I sure don’t intend to view whatever shenanigans the “government” decides to host and/or participate in.

There … grump over. Thankfully, neither Emmett nor Oscar are bothered by the sounds. It doesn’t get dark enough for the “show” until after 10:00 p.m. and we will be closed up and snuggled in bed by then anyway.

It is 7:10 a.m. as I write this. 50F with blue skies and singing birds. We are enjoying a quiet morning.

It was a cool night with rain off and on early and then clear.

We all slept well and woke to a beautiful morning. There is grass all around the perimeter so Emmett and I can get in a long walk and not be close to other RVs. There is also a nice large area in the middle and and easy access on the west end right near where we are parked for shorter outings.

I enjoyed every moment outside looking at the mountains, the sky and clouds. I got out my chair to enjoy a morning coffee outside and then did some RV chores.

By 2:00, it was mid-70’s outside and warmer inside … time for A/C for Emmett and me … the heat wimps.

I was back and forth between working on trip logs and puttering in the kitchen.

Holy Cow … lots of memories surfaced on the drive today from Missoula to Dillon.

One thing that keeps surprising me is that in the Winnebago, driving mode with slides in was different than parked mode with slides out.  In the Bigfoot with no slides, all is the same with the exception of things being stowed for travel:  Oscar’s litter box, some kitchen counter items and my dinette charging station.

And then the RV park:  Countryside RV Park.  There is another park close to town and I spoke with 2 couples at Missoula who always stay there and say it is nice.  It looks to have trees and “town” is walkable.  Countryside is rural … kind of semi-rural now, but still.  It is “Big Sky”!! even with a few more houses around. 

I was at first thinking that I should have booked at Southside (town adjacent) but now that I am here, I am so happy to be here. It is 4 miles to town on a “frontage road” which is a 2 lane 60 mph state highway.  I drove it from a lovely grocery:  Town and Country Foods.  They had some great breads including locally made bagels.  Also some local made tortilla chips … tortillas also, but I bought a lot of tortillas in Missoula.

If I can make the trip on my e-bike I might try to stay longer.  Right now, I am due to leave Monday the 6th.

Photos and more tomorrow.

And bonus … Oscar only howled briefly before moving from the little sofa to his cabover bed.  Progress!!