The plan for yesterday, which actually happened as planned!! - was to drive around the lake - Flathead Lake. It is slightly over 100 miles around and is a favorite local motorcycle ride as well as drive. We did it in the Winnebago…full kitchen, our own bathroom, room for Karl and best of all that big windshield to see the view. Winnebago instead of the bus as the much smaller motorhome would fit in the state park day lots and my “plan” was to park in one for lunch and take a walk by the lake.

I bought the Winnebago 3 years ago in July and had never had any type of motorhome or rv prior. It was the largest thing I’d ever driven, parked or backed up. I did some practice driving early mornings to Walmart and used the big empty parking lot as my training ground. The drive along the west shore of the lake as a day trip was my first “outing” and introduced me to the view - being up high and the large windshield means even the driver can see some of the sights. I remember laughing with pleasure at how much fun it was - a nice reaction as I was coming off a bit of “what did I do???” after buying the darn thing.

Yesterday’s trip around the lake and particularly the lunch stop at the park where I got my rv feet wet was a fun re-living of those first little trips. And it WAS nice to fix lunch and eat it comfortably … I was never all that fond of the picnic thing, but sitting in the comfort of the motorhome, pointed towards the lake - that I can enjoy. It was warm at nearly 80 and the walk with Karl was pretty short before he got too hot - but enough to walk in the lake, get a drink and sniff along the shore. We continued on and around the lake in the Winnebago. I drove so Bill could really look around - so he was the photographer for this post.

Yeah…on to Plan B - what Plan B is we don’t know yet… Fortunately Bill called a stop to the fun before 47000 pounds of bus dug in too deep and also fortunately he has tow service on his insurance and I had to leave for an appointment but reportedly the tow guy was very nice, very competent and when I returned the bus was back where we started and we are exploring a number of options and getting estimates for things… but for the moment, the bus lives on the nice solid driveway.

This morning is a new morning and it was a beauty. Pressed for time, all of this morning’s photos, including the stuck bus above are straight out of the camera - no software fun today…

Still adjusting to a different routine which is my excuse for a late morning post… that and playing musical motorhomes and riding around on the 4wheeler discussing possible options…this last at 6 p.m. last night fortified by a strong scotch each…it was a day - on to Plan B!

Bill took these photos - in Montana - they are before, in and just after Homestake Pass just east of Butte. He was limping along with blown out topper awnings at this point, but there was a bit of a break in the weather and he got his first glimpse of this part of Montana.

Homestake Pass has 2 summits 2 miles apart and between them is a valley with a huge rest area. Going west, it is a long pull up and very beautiful as there are rocky spires and cliffs to the north. And I guess because there is not as much stress going up, it has always seemed to me to be the “scenic” direction….going east an rv’r is pretty busy controlling speed… The eastbound rest area has many signs before it strongly suggesting that trucks and rvs pull into the rest area to check brakes before the descent. At the eastbound rest area is a large billboard that details how many truck drivers have been killed on the descent and instructions for speed. The descent is not horrible - my guess is that the road seems so good - 4 lane divided interstate, no hairpin turns …normal graded turns - that many large vehicles just took a long steep descent too fast. The current approach is to scare the bejesus out of everyone with the many dire signs and speed warnings - it has worked as there have been “a significant decrease in truck accidents” according to Montana Highway Patrol since they added all of the signage.

At any rate, going westbound is easier and the descent is spread out over many miles. Butte is only 1000 feet lower than the pass summit and the entire descent to about 3000 feet (from the 6375 foot summit) stretches the 100 miles to Missoula with some minor ups and downs.

Bill’s photos…

Everything feels a bit strange to everyone this first day…adjustments required by all…

Bob and Bill met for the first time. During one of our very first conversations - by phone - a little over a year ago, Bill told me that he hated cats. Then he realized I had a cat and back pedaled a bit. Still, he was clear that cats were not a pet he would consider for himself. Fast forward to my flight from FL to MT and then our decision to give this summer a try together in Montana where Bob the cat is in residence and adjusments were in order all around.

Bob is a heavy duty snuggler and has a purr that could wake the dead. He also takes his half out of the middle of the bed and I knew that between Bob and 6′4″ Bill - I would end up on the floor so I made Bob the above cozy bed of his own, on my side, with his blankie on top of a nice down mini-comforter. Last week, we started the transition. I stayed close to the edge and routinely gave Bob a chin rub when I woke in the night. Because his blankie was there, he seemed to take right to his new nest - even taking naps there. But Saturday night, our first night all together - he decided that he absolutely had to sleep next to Bill…NOT next to me - the person who has provided food, shelter and snuggles for over 6 years - NO, next to Bill, who doesn’t especially like cats and who just got here….perverse CAT!!!! I spent half the night grabbing Bob and putting him back on his blankie…

It was raining steadily when we arrived at the house Saturday. I had qualms about the bus being able to negotiate the driveway - especially the first turn on an uphill near the road. I zipped into the garage in the Jeep and ran back thinking to watch for Bill but he was already past the spot I was worried about… and then I heard what sounded like a horrible tree crunch but it ended as quickly as I heard it and then he was here.

We left the truck hooked up, put out the awning and unloaded just what Bill needed for the first night.

I took Karl for a walk later and found a little label with bus colors by a tree…thankfully, it is just a little label that can be glued back on - from the awning. No scratches, no dents…

Yesterday afternoon, the rain stopped for a bit. We got the truck unhooked, the 4wheeler unloaded and snug in the garage but decided to leave backing the bus into its spot for this afternoon when things are a bit drier. We took a brief tour of the property in the 4wheeler and then called the “work” over.

It has been cool enough to have the woodstove going with a small, crackly, cozy fire and we are just enjoying getting settled, getting computer (Bill’s) and phones set up - Bill brought the phone system we bought together in FL to use in place of my dying system.

We enjoyed the remainder of Sunday figuring out where to put what, where things are and generally getting our “groove” back. Karl was thrilled to see Bill who knows just the spot where he likes his ears rubbed but is sticking close to me - maybe a bit confused by the new arrangements.

Today is the start of my work week and I have some appointments in Whitefish. Bill has parts to order to take care of the awning toppers and windshield chip repair (a Montana given) to arrange. Hopefully, it will be dry enough late afternoon or evening to get the bus in its spot and the satellite tv working…I don’t have tv in the house so the bus is the tv room…

So far very good!

Approaching Bigfork where I was waiting to guide him the last 7 miles… Beautiful Bus! Karl and I were happy to see it and Bill!

And the gardenia???