Five years ago…if you had told me that I would someday own an RV and LOVE rving, I would have said you were nuts.
I own an RV and I LOVE rving!
I even love a 200 mile round trip just to take the beast to a dealer for repair. I don’t love needing the repair, but it was operator error ( Damaging steps ) so I can’t blame the rv. I also didn’t “LOVE” the Jeep hookup yesterday as it was 6 below zero while I was doing it. Don’t let that sunshine fool you – it was cold! And things that normally swivel and extend didn’t want to do that. A hammer and a few choice words convinced them otherwise. The good news was that I wasn’t all hot and sweaty after the hookup…
I packed a lunch, my camera, my laptop – loaded Karl…no steps…I’m glad I’ve kept up with my strength training – and off we went. Destination, Missoula – 100 miles south.
The stop light in Bigfork…too bad about that view, huh?
Although cold, it was clear and sunny and a gorgeous day for the drive which skirts Flathead Lake for 35 miles before going through Polson, Montana and then a beautiful valley with the Mission Mountains to the east and the Bitteroots to the West.
Between Bigfork and Polson, I stopped at a pullout along the lake to allow 2 following cars to pass and to do a safety check.
We continued on. I had planned on a lunch stop south of Ronan, but the pullout there was not plowed. I ended up going all the way to the dealer in Missoula and having lunch in their parking lot. I unhooked the Jeep, checked in with service, transferred computer and camera to the Jeep, took a walk with Karl and then we started back towards home.
The Missions were beautiful – loaded with snow. A thin cloud layer lay about a third of the way between their jutting peaks and the valley floor. I didn’t stop – there are times when I just like to look.
**Added 7:30 a.m. 1/27 – I just visited fellow Montana blogger Montucky – he headed to the city yesterday also, albeit from a different direction. His post in the link is a gorgeous capture of the Missions – worth the click!
I did stop at a scenic lookout just before Polson. It is not somewhere I’ve ever stopped before, although it has the first view of the lake and the entrance to the Flathead Valley.
Home is 39 miles north of Polson. We arrived there in time for a walk before sunset.
It’s so beautiful where you are.
I love road trips. Wish I could have gone with!
Thanks for the mention, Ann! Very nice shots of the lake! I’m glad you also capitalized on the beautiful day to get in a road trip! What a coincidence that we both went to the city. By the way, about noon I parked my Jeep at the corner of Higgins and Main. When I returned, there was a red Jeep parked behind me: by any chance the coincidence didn’t go that far, did it?
Lovely country, most excellent pics! You live in (arguably) the best part of Montana, Ann. I spent a little over a year in Westby… which is as far east as one can go in Montana without being in North Dakota. I could literally throw a rock into NoDak from my house in Westby… and could walk to Saskatchewan without breaking a sweat in the summer. I think you live in a better place, LOL!
Even with the cold, it looked like a lovely day for a road trip. I love the pictures of ‘Karl the co-pilot’!
That’s quite the copilot you’ve got there;)
Buck,
Thank you. Eastern Montana is a harsher place, that’s for sure. I love the landscape – truly Big Sky but I catch a bit of it here too.
Pat and MPM,
re Karl the co-pilot…actually he is Captain, Bob is First Officer…I am merely the pilot and supply officer whether it is at home or aboard the rv.
Oh Ann…thanks for the road trip today!I love Road Trips!
The pictures are beautiful of the lake and it is for sure … once you have seen Flathead Lake… you will never forget it…and Montana!
Glad you and the “Captain” had a safe trip!
Hooking up the jeep just must have been swell in that temperature…need a blow torch
I dropped by yesterday from Alison’s blog, and then I saw you over at Buck’s. I love your photos and your pets.