A Miserable Day for Maggie

As we were leaving the Deer Lodge KOA this morning and I took Maggie out for her pee walk, she took me straight to the office looking for Cass and her dog cookies.  I had the hardest time getting her back to the truck and when it came time to go, she sat down on the grass, ears lowered, and looked at me as if to say, "No way."  Roger had to pick her up and put her in the truck.  She was not a happy traveler today at all and if we didn't have such a short drive I would have drugged her.  We haven't done it in a while because she's been so good, but today I was ready to shove two pills down her!!

When we stopped for lunch we found a small cafe out in the middle of nowhere and pulled in to the large parking area. Roger went in to get a coffee and ask permission to park there and Maggie didn't like that at all.  I tried to get her to walk around and check out the good sniffs, but she sat down and just looked at me.  I tried pulling her and she slipped out of her harness and took off towards the cafe.  Nothing I yelled at her did any good - Stop, Stay, Sit, No, Bad Dog - nothing.  She just kept going with her tail down looking like a fugitive on the run. Rog had to catch her and carry her back to the truck.  

Now that we have parked for a few days, she is a happy camper once again.  She is minding, mostly, and enjoying being with us not in the truck.  She's finally relaxing but still won't get far from Roger.  I'm not sure she is speaking to me!

Today we drove northwest from Deer Lodge to Polson, MT which is located at the bottom end of Flathead Lake.  Once we got off I-90 we drove onto the Flathead Indian Reservation and I'm thinking we may just be on the north side of it here in Polson.  (From Wikipedia:  The Flathead Indian Reservation, located in western Montana on the Flathead River, is home to the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes - also known as the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.)

This reservation is not quite as derelict as the Crow Reservation, however.  Yes, there were some pockets of run down trailers and homes, but for the most part the homes were what I would call average.  There were cattle ranches and wheat fields and the tribes are building a big casino on the south end of the reservation.   The signs are in Engish and one of the local languages.  The ones for the towns have the name of the town in English followed by the Indian name followed by the translation such as "home of the broad aspen."  They were fascinating.  I got a photo that was legible but it was only with the two languages and not the translation.

The tribes have also built land bridges across the highway for the wildlife, which I gather is quite abundant here. 

This part of Montana is an outdoorsman's dream - hunting, fishing, off roading, etc.  There are mountains, streams, forests, camp grounds every where.  Makes you want to grab a fly rod and join the crowds.

To our delight and surprise the place we are staying for 3 nights is wonderful.  It is an RV resort - not a campground or RV park. It's well maintained, the sites are large, there's grass and trees, and a swimming pool.  We really lucked out and got an end site on the perimeter of the property.  We have a large grassy area with two spruce trees and we look out over an open field and an orchard to the beautiful Mission Mountains. 

When I took a walk with the Maggs earlier I discovered that one side of the park borders a golf course and another a field with horses.  It's so serene.  It's a small park and the hosts told me that many people live here all summer, but you wouldn't know it because there's no junky stuff outside the RVs.  It's a bit pricey, but, so comfortable.  We are talking about returning and spending more time here another summer.  

I found a place that sells huckleberry pie and Roger stopped for me so I could get a slice for dessert tonight!  He's a good guy!

Of course, no day goes without  an RV adventure - we are now having other electrical issues.  Remember the outside lights that stayed on?  Well, he fixed that by disconnecting the wires to the switch and pulling the bulbs out.  Now, the living room overhead lights are dimmer than normal and the panel with the switch for them gets hot when they are on.  So, after dinner we went up the street to a Wal-mart and bought a floor lamp and we will leave those overhead lights off until we can get home and get them repaired - along with the other things connected to that panel if need be.  

It was an overcast day with some haze we think might be coming from a fire.  Late today the sun came out but it's just been perfect.   Temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.  Expect the same tomorrow.

Tomorrow we go exploring.