…on my “house” front porch this morning…watching the sun rise over the mountains and through the woods!  It is a refreshing 66 now at 6 a.m. but took all night to get here.  The “problem” this time of year when it gets hot (90’s) is that sunset is 9:45 so it is not full dark until after 11 and sunrise is 5:40ish so short nighttime for cooling off. 

So – home again after 24 days, 2452 miles, $1192 gas (avg 3.29 gal) and $416 campground fees (avg 28/night) – PRICELESS!  I saw some areas of the country that I have not seen before, met new people, visited family and generally had a wonderful time and a nice break from “normal” routine.  Despite a couple of challenges – being sick, hydraulic glitch, heat a few days – a memorable trip full of fun. 

There are a bunch of things I should be doing this morning while it is cool – clean up the motorhome inside and out and I mean REALLY clean – amazing how much dust, dirt, pet hair, etc. can accumulate… not to mention the bug stuff collected on the front end and general road dirt all over.  The lawn and garden need mowing and weeding – strawberries ( I think the neighbors are getting those).  I have given fair warning to a number of spiders that took up residence on the front porch – to vacate or be displaced by my blower.  Tomorrow is going to be soon enough for the RV and yard also – today is to enjoy being home with a quick run to grocery for a few supplies – and maybe “moving” the spiders…

More later – now it’s time for breakfast!

Slept well – woke at 3:30 – still 70! – yech… wide awake so did my usual morning puttering and I’m ready to go at full daylight – probably 5:30.  I-90 to Missoula and then 93 to Polson – 35 home.  I’ll stop if I get tired or too much weekend traffic but I plan to shoot for home.

I did leave at 5:30 – 2 rest stops, a gas stop and home by 2:00 p.m. – Great to be home!  Photos after unloading and a cold drink.  94 here and I don’t think it peaked – supposed to start getting cooler tomorrow and be “normal” 80’s next week.

Hit 99 here on my thermometer – 100 in Kalispell per weather.com… a little warm for MT!

Bob has not been out and about since we left my folks on 7/3 so he has been enjoying his freedom… Karl agrees with me that it is too hot and after a brief look around has been inside the cool house.

First glimpse of the south shore of Flathead Lake at Polson and the road to my house.

A beautiful morning here in Douglas – mid 60 but warming up – heat all over today and tomorrow.

We got through the 4th better than we have in years!  No fireworks in the RV park, a short lived thunderstorm early evening and whatever was done in town re fireworks could not be heard in the motorhome. 

Still no hydraulics – still can’t find any fuses for the hydraulic system despite responses from rv.net and Virginia RV friend, Al Smith…   I crawled around again this morning in the cool – no joy…  So, will breakfast, shower and go and hopefully talk to a Winnebago shop later.

Arrived in Columbus, MT at 3:45 – plugged in… I have some info from the Winne dealer re fuse location and will take another look as soon as I cool off.  I am close enough that I could get home tomorrow if no glitches…  photo(s) later.

Found the inline fuses but they were all ok – reinserted but no go.  It is 97 so leaving things alone until I get home.  I am 408 miles from home – will leave at first light and see how it goes, if I get tired I’ll stop.  We are listing a bit to starboard but not too much for frig or us.  Good to be in MT!

Oh – have wine!!! stopped at Billings campground – they were full but their store had White Truck – yeah!

Did not get any violent weather last night but some spectacular clouds passed.  Left Colorado City at 6:30 a.m. and arrived Fort Collins at 10:30 – Denver was easy and since the holiday I skipped the bypass and came straight through – fun as I went right past Mile High Stadium. 

I have reservations in Douglas, WY KOA for tonight – 170 miles from here.  I’m headed out to walk Karl a bit – we are parked at the CO visitor center which has a very nice walk area.  So – if no construction or other delay – hope to arrive Douglas 3-3:30 latest.  Currently about 79 so very pleasant – will hit the heat in MT tomorrow probably. 

Arrived Douglas before 3 but having hydraulic problems – jacks and rooms… am now leveled on boards and checking a few things – also waiting for another RVr with same RV to maybe pick up email and phone me…  Tech support is closed today.  Everything else operational and althought not as roomy, life is doable as is – just annoying! 

 I solved one problem…clothes – I can’t get to a couple of drawers with the bedroom slide in…so did laundry – ha! have enough clothes reachable to get home!

Classic Wyoming daytime – wispy clouds, blue sky ………..Evening red sky over motorhome

Always a wrench to leave but a great visit and we rolled about noon from South Fork, CO bound for Pueblo this first day.  I stopped in Colorado City as there was a KOA and I got the last pull through so glad I stopped.  It is not a huge KOA and everyone nice plus a good field to take Karl so fine for this overnight.   So 4:30 – I am plugged in, set up inside – will walk Karl, wash bugs off the windshield and then something for dinner.

 It’s about 86 here but dry – thunderstorms forecast but so far they are north – better get Karl out before they hit this way, though.  La Veta Pass below left – Thunderstorm cell that passed us…

Last night …. last cocktail hour on the deck….cocktail flag flying!

Yesterday we visited friends of my folks, Rick and Michele, who raise goats on a gorgeous piece of property with a view of the front range.  The ranch is “off the grid” – they get some power from solar panels, but otherwise use wood and propane for cooking and heat.  The ranch is also home to 6 dogs, 4 cats and ??? ducks.  Their house is a hexagon, yurt/hogan type structure which was wonderfully cool and comfortable on a hot afternoon. 

Rick and Michele are avid outdoors people – hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing… Michele had just returned from a ski-mountaineering trip to Alaska and we got to see photos of that trip – spectacular!

New planters, new flowers – Michele, my mom   –   Bill giving treats to the goats

 Today, we visited the place where my folks get fresh eggs – a unique house – artisan/craftsperson uses everything, everywhere ….  the stairway came in to the house as a whole tree trunk.  Once in place, the steps were carved into the stairs.  There are rock walls,  trees, parts of trees, metal work welded from various scraps, the fence has all manner of stuff in it making it an all day event to just walk around and look…