GPS Fun

We were awake very early this morning - time change issue? We had to poke around so we didn't leave too early but it's been tired out today!  I normally have no issues with staying awake on the road, but I was fighting it today.  It was warm and the scenery at times quite boring.  I don't know how Roger managed to stay awake as he was up even earlier than I.  We anticipated warmer weather today so we put on short legged pants and short sleeved shirts.  I didn't realize that the bruises just below my knees that I got from that fall a week ago were still so big and beautiful!  We have enjoyed the warmer day, though.  

Last night we got to try out the furnace.  It works very well and is a lot quieter than our previous one.  Only one problem we have is that the register in the bedroom isn't getting any heat. The bathroom right next to it is, but no hot air is flowing to the bedroom.   Rog will have to check it out on his next "day off."

Today we got to use the air conditioner.  It, too, is quieter than the last one, and seems to be doing a pretty good job.  Like the last one, though, the thermostat just doesn't jive with the room temperatures.  We've got thermometers every where - kitchen, bedroom and living room.  They all say different things and the thermostat that controls the heating/cooling on the wall in the hallway has a different reading.  We have to play with it to get a comfortable temperature and we end up with some ridiculous settings.  

Last night when we were looking for a wall outlet to plug in my iPad we discovered that we have two USB ports in the wall in the bedroom.  That was a nice surprise.  We've searched and can't find any more.  Why the bedroom and not put one in the living area?  Silly.  

We had a bit more disturbance inside today but we did have some rough roads and going into Theodore Roosevelt National Park visitor center we crossed a horrendous cattle guard.  It was a pretty intense.    I believe we are officially in the west now - cattle guards, sagebrush, and cottonwood trees.



We did stop for a few minutes to get pictures at the scenic turnout of the TR Nat'l Park, but didn't stop for a real visit.














We had lunch at a Montana roadside rest.  Again - no pets allowed in the picnic area.  "Please take your pet to the designated pet area."  Of course, there are no tables to have lunch in the pet area.  So, we just found ourselves a table in an enclosure and Maggie stayed behind us.  What are they going to do?  Kick us out?  

We followed the Yellowstone River most of the afternoon and that put us back on the Lewis and Clark Trail for a while. 

Lots of beautiful ranches/farms in the river valley being irrigated by river water. 






Our GPS has messed us up once again.  She told us to get off exit 141, and just as we got on the exit ramp we saw a sign that said that the KOA exit is 135.  Too late, we were off the interstate. We figured we would just go ahead and follow her directions and see the town on the way (Miles City, MT).  It seems there is a railroad overpass in the center of town we needed to go under. It is only 11.5 feet high.  We are 13.5 feet high.  Oops. Fortunately Rog spotted the warning signs in time to avoid it, and then we had the frustration of getting out of the center of town with the RV and back to the interstate.  Sal is telling us to go down 3rd Street and Google Maps on the phone is telling us to go down 4th Street.  KOA signage says turn on 4th Street in half a mile and then at 3rd Street it shows the KOA logo with arrow to turn on that street.  We were in a bit of a tizwaz by the time we finally got here.  I'm afraid I vented at the guy in the office (the owner, I think).  He says he is having issues with the city about his signs.  He either has to take them down or leave them, but he can't move them for some crazy reason without paying the city some exorbitant fee.  He says he pays $2400 a year to let him put them up, but they are hassling him when he wants to make it right.  Anyway, it was pretty crazy getting here.  

And then - he says we don't have reservations.  I told him I did it on line.  Apparently the computer assigns a spot when you reserve on line.  Somehow someone was in that site and he had to spend some time but finally found us and gave us another site.  The park is packed tonight, so that would have been a real adventure if he didn't have some extra ones for late comers. 

Lots and lots of families on the road and camping for their summer vacation.   One little guy about 7 came over to us when he saw Maggie and brought her a small ball.  He told me that he had a big dog and when it tried to play with it he choked on it and maybe my little dog would like it.   Also, the dad came over and told us that our spare tire was bouncing around loose under the RV.  Sure enough it was!  Rog had to tighten it back up. First time that's ever happened to us.  It was nice of the guy to let us know.  RVers and campers are always looking out you if they see something amiss.  

I went back to get my phone to check the reservation confirmation email and, lo and behold, there are instructions on it not to use exit 141 but go to 135 because there's a low clearance issue in town.  Duh, if I had read that we would have saved some grief.  I saw the subject line of reservations confirmation and didn't take the time to read the whole thing. I've learned another lesson!  I did go into the office and apologize for venting my frustrations at the poor guy.  

The park is a typical KOA and is filled with cottonwood trees. The ground looks as if it has been snowing.  It's not a great park, but works for a one-nighter.  BTW, one boundary of the park is the railroad track!  When Rog was looking at the GPS he commented that our destination looked as if it were sitting on the railroad tracks.  Well, close!



Tomorrow's destination is a campground on the Yellowstone River about 20 miles south of Livingston, MT.  We will be there two nights as it is time for a day of rest.  Weather doesn't look like it will be terrific - rainy and cold, but maybe the forecast is wrong.  Today we had a high of 88 - we haven't seen that since we left Iowa a couple weeks ago.