We Backtracked a Bit Today

We backtracked a bit today - something we don't like to do and as a rule try not to, but when there's only one way in and one way out it gives no choice.   We managed to be on the road about half an hour before the rain started which made the landscape look different than when we drove the route in the opposite direction.   No doubt about it, though, western Montana has some awesome scenery.  It is just so beautiful - mountains, rolling hills, wheat fields, ranches with grazing cattle, sheep, and today we even saw goats!  They've got the title to the movie right - "A River Runs Through It."  Everywhere you look there's a beautiful river.  I can't adequately describe the beauty.

Then there's Butte, MT.  The town sits at the base of a mountain that has been strip mined for copper since the late 1880s.  I don't think there is any copper coming out of there now, but there is so much of the mountain gone.  The tourist flyer we got at the campground office lists lots of sites to visit here - all related to mining history.  Roger said that when he went on the search for fuel he ended up going into town a bit and it reminded him of old steel towns in western Pennsylvania - not very nice or prosperous looking.  

I mentioned yesterday that Roger spent the morning washing the truck.  It looked so good when he was done.  That new paint just sparkled in the sun.   Then we hit the storms this morning and the big trucks splashing dirty water all over and it looks so sad now.  Guess he's going to have to find another place that will allow him to wash it again.

It's cold today - with the rain and thunderstorms the temperature hasn't made it to 70 anywhere we were.  We ate in the RV at lunch and were wishing for a way to have a hot lunch! Tomorrow's forecast, though, is for sun and mid 80s so we will be going back to summer.  It's a good thing - Rog only brought one pair of jeans and they are getting a workout the last couple of days!

After the last day on the road and her craziness, I medicated our Maggie today.  It kept her a lot calmer in the truck, but she again didn't want to get in.  She hopped in for me OK, but I left the door open while I went to get the lunch totes off the picnic table where I left them, she jumped out and ran back to the RV stairs and went inside and tried to hide.  I had already closed up the sliders so she had no where to go.  I had to carry her to the truck.  At the lunch break she was better about getting in, but still hesitant.  Hope this is a phase and not going to be an always thing when we travel.  

Tonight there is a rig in the RV park that is simply amazing.  It is a Freightliner cab with a platform on the back where the "smart car" sits and attached to the hitch is a super long 5th wheel.  All vehicles have the same maroon and gray paint scheme and it really is super looking.  Pretty darn big and pretty darn long.  A sign says "Private RV.  Not for Hire."  Wonder if there is someone famous in there or if it's just some rich full-timer touring the country?  I find it more impressive than some of these huge motor coaches.  I can't get a picture of it because I don't want to violate their privacy, but it is so awesome looking.  We aren't the only ones impressed, though, as we keep seeing people walking past us to surreptitiously check it out.  It's like a parade of people with their mouth's hanging open!  Very funny.  

Sometime today I lost one of the new earrings I bought from the Navajo gentleman in the Wyoming rest stop.   :-(

Tomorrow we go to American Falls, ID just west of Pocatello and will have two nights there after two days of driving.