Posts from the ‘RV Trips’ category

Home

We’re home.

Wild Thing is parked, unloaded, plugged in and the heat is on. It is not forecast to freeze but I just hated to roll in and shut her off! She took us safely to and fro yet again with no glitches at all.

The drive home was easy. It was gray, but dry road and actually very pretty with new snow on the mountains.

I felt great until I sat down for a late lunch and suddenly all caught up with me again. I have an afternoon meeting to stay awake for and then I think I’ll call it a day and start fresh in the morning.

We did all walk in the woods and Auggie has been out and about, but even he and Bear are currently snoring.

Onward.

Afterward

The day after the good news dawned clear…

…and beautiful!

It looked to be sunny!

Although we had a good night, I was in that “afterward” state of exhaustion. The weather said rain and I had driven down in the rain. Although all went well, it was more tiring than driving in clear weather.

I had a late morning meeting.

I decided to stay a second day and relax over breakfast, coffee… a slow start.

And then it snowed.

It REALLY snowed!

So, I felt I made a VERY good call to stay :) !!

Yesterday afternoon, as Bear and I were headed back to Auggie and Wild Thing…after the good news and after being too warm (Bear and I), and not having enough water through the day (me) and not having had a whole lot to eat either (me) and despite having good food on board, I decided that I really wanted a freezer pizza that I could just stick in the oven while I drank a gallon of water and maybe a glass of wine…

This is what happens when I go to the grocery store hungry…after an intense day.

And don’t forget the ice cream!

I did add some roast broccoli from home to today’s junk food lunch!

I haven’t bought this kind of “food” in a long, long time. I enjoyed it. I don’t need to do it again for awhile, but it really hit the spot!

I did manage to work half a day today and I think we all feel better. The Jeep is hooked up and we will head for home tomorrow morning pending clear roads – hopefully mid-morning to get home by noon or shortly after.

And the capper…a beautiful waxing crescent in a clear night sky.

Ready to roll

Just to clarify…Bear is not seeming to be ill. I did have the feeling that he did not seem 100% comfortable and so when we went for his 6 month Senior Wellness exam, I asked for a full blood test even though all other parts of the exam indicated healthy dog. The one number is VERY high and has been increasing over the last 8 months and it indicates something… Still, as of today, Bear is Mr. Happy Boy: eating well, maintaining weight, playing, etc. … mostly normal…just that niggling feeling on my part that he is not 100%. Based on some other history I made the decision to jump directly to a specialist.

But, today we enjoyed a very springlike day – that is Bear digging on Beardog Hill.

So much fun!

Meanwhile, after considerable dithering, I de-winterized Wild Thing. She is full of water which allows us to live with “normal plumbing”, i.e. shower, hot water – all running water enjoyment! This is versus kind of camping in her using bottled water and the rv park showers. I am unclear why I was on the fence about this because it does not take all that much time to winterize OR de-winterize, but at this point, I am VERY glad that I decided to de-winterize and we roll tomorrow with a normal rolling house!

And I am calm about all. I have little control over any of it so it is 1 step/1 thing at a time and I am focusing on just enjoying each day whatever it brings. Worrying is not going to change a thing and although it has taken a significant part of my almost 60 years to get to this point, I am grateful to be here.

Auggie was in and out of Wild Thing as I did the de-winterizing and a bit of loading.

I think, like me…and like Bear…He is Ready to Roll!

The run home

When we arrived in Dillon, it was so nice that I took Auggie out on leash and harness. He rolled in the grass and seemed to enjoy being out. I had windows open when we were inside and he had a good look around as well. I think we were all happy to be in sunshine with no wind and no neighboring rvs – it was a wonderful spot to spend the last night out.

I woke early yesterday and my head started working on the things I wanted to do to arrive home in good shape to unload and to winterize: I emptied the bedroom storage areas of unloadables onto the bed so that I wouldn’t have to extend the slides at home…I knew the toppers were nice and dry after the sunny afternoon and dry night – better for long term storage. I had just filled propane and looking at the weather knew that I did not have to complete unloading on arrival as I had one warm night and day to do that. There was enough water for my morning shower, dishes etc. and not much to be emptied on arrival. Gas was at a point that it would be very low as I got near home – perfect as I had some gas treatment to add before I put more gas in the tank and it is best on a low tank.

All of this running in my head over and over…I finally gave up on sleep and got up. I was showered, had my breakfast and was puttering when Bear started acting strange. At first, I thought maybe a seizure but then he threw up and I think he was just uncomfortable and concerned about making a mess. We went outside and had a normal walk, but on return I was thinking to help him on the steps – they are tricky as they are not always the same height and the openness, he sometimes stumbles. In the middle of this, Auggie decide he would go outside. He had not even tried previously – he’d stand near the door and sniff but showed no interest. Whether the previous day’s outing or just that it was mild or he was finally ready …out he went. We were nowhere near a road or other rvs and he seemed to be having fun running around so I was in and out calling and making sure he meowed back but otherwise let him explore. Finally, I went out with Bear and Auggie came up to us. Adventure over!

I think it was 7:00 a.m. by this time … a full early morning.

Final preparations and we were rolling at 8:00 on the dot.

From the road:

The Montana side of Monida pass…

Same spot as above but looking to the west.

Leaving the icy rest area. Walking was tricky there but the highway was fine – better than it looks in the photo…my windows were SO dirty!

Mission Mountains approaching Polson, MT.

I always anticipate this first view of Flathead Lake. The highway is above Polson and you come around a bend to a vista of the lake…and it also means we are almost home.

On the road home…

…and Bear knows it also. He stood up as we turned onto our road.

A good run home at the end of a very good trip.

We’re home

I’ll catch up tomorrow on the last day of travel… but, briefly (or as brief as I can be :) !! ) :

The last day’s drive was beautiful and went quickly with only a few spots of gusty wind and no snow or ice (except for a rest area) … some wet patches but the temperature was mid-40’s to 50’s so no slip-slidey worries.

Auggie was out and about immediately. He checked the house briefly and then out again but thankfully came in before dark. Bear was more casual about the return – obviously glad to be home and he settled on Beardog point while I did prelim settling and then went inside. After I unloaded as much as I had the oomph for we went for a walk in the woods and then both of us sat on Beardog Point for a bit. It is sloppy after some wet snow but it was over 40 and I was warm from the back and forthing of unloading so it felt good to sit outside in the air with my dog.

I am about 3/4 unloaded. It is not even to freeze tonight and Wild Thing has a fresh supply of propane so I unloaded until I was tired, set up the heat and called it a day. I’ll finish tomorrow, winterize her and maybe a bit of post trip clean up as well. She and the Jeeper are filthy inside and out.

That’s it for tonight. I don’t even have enough energy to make my turkey dinner – that will be tomorrow also. Grilled cheese for tonight and then early to bed.

Thank you everyone for coming along, for your comments and emails and for the good thoughts and prayers. I am ever grateful for a safe trip as well as an incredibly fun trip.

Dillon, MT: the day before Thanksgiving…the turkey is IN the oven

We left Pocatello at 8:30. It was windy but nothing compared to yesterday and on the road…not an issue.

Gray clouds, but blue spots also..

Clear sailing!

Approaching Monida Pass.

Monida Pass is not a “scary pass” as in it is a wide open kind of pass…no tight curves or drop offs. It is known to be windy, but wind was not a problem as we approached today. And per the DOT reports, by the time we got there the road surface was wet and not icy.

It did get a bit foggy for a few miles at the summit.

But then…Montana!!!

And shortly all cleard.

And we “sailed” into Dillon where it was sunny and 52F and no wind and just beautiful.

Home in Montana.

…and the turkey in the oven…

I LOVE Montana.

Almost home.

***This trip! – this trip has been the BEST rv trip ever in my nine years of RV trips. I loved that I was able to do this trip long and slow. I loved spending TWO weeks at my folks. Srsly, this trip has been so good. I love that Bear and Auggie did so well and have been relaxed. This Thanksgiving, I am just so thankful that I was able to do this.

Happy Thanksgiving!