Day 45

Where there's a will ...

... there's a way.

Jeremiah says Lodgepole Campground is at 6,400 feet which is the highest we’ve ever camped.  

We had french toast and cancelled the bacon as the fire was dwindling.

I made cheddar roast beef sandwiches with clover sprouts for lunch. It came together quickly as I hat made cheese slices last night when I had it out.  Washing celery in the icy water made me cry. So miserably cold with that wind and it took forever for my fingers to dry and get warm.

Yep, taking pictures.  :)

We left the tipi flaps open with only the screen in and no liners last night to see if that would diminish the condensation inside so we could pack it up sooner.  It was humid and rained a bit during the night, but not a drop of moisture on the inside!  We were plenty warm as well which and been the other concern with leaving the flaps open.  Hot rocks were delivered by the boys after I was asleep.  

I was just finishing up the dishes when Jeremiah pointed out a sheet of rain coming our way.  We cleaned up camp and loaded up in the car just as it stopped.  It had only sprinkled, but now we were ready to go!  :)  

Now isn't that just about perfect.

We drove to Wisdom, MT and then a few miles west of there.  We returned to the mercantile to check for dog food.  Cynthia Baldauf, a photographer had some of her work for sale in there.   Almost every piece was quite arresting, nothing cliche or ho-hum.  Of course, that could be because it was all working ranch horses and including drafts.  :)  She had a poster of making hay with horses that showed using a beaver slide to make those giant hay stacks.  Now that I know what a beaver slide is.  :)

The structures on the right are used as forms and the slide loads it.

We went south from there through Jackson and drove up a road towards the mountains.  I'm starting to realize how important it color is in architecture.  Some abodes appear to have sprouted up out of the ground, or to have always been there.  They just fit in.  They are part of the land.

We got about halfway up and then turned around because the road was pretty snowy and plenty icy.  

And I like wood fences too.

And piles of hay.  Lots of hay.

And livestock handling facilities.

And roads.

And silos.

And irrigation systems.

And train tracks.  :)

We got back on 278 and headed east to Dillon where we got dog good and a few other groceries, gas and ice, and used the Safeway internet.  We got a bundle of “kindling” at the gas station.  I twas actually discarded house trim that had been cut up.  In Jeremiah’s economy it was nice kiln dried emergency stove fuel. Mom successfully staved of a migraine for the second time with magnesium and an herb combo she found.

We drove up 15 through the Pioneer Mountains getting back to camp well after dark.  I made pasta and red sauce that had to be finished over a whiteman’s fire.  I extended the salad with tomato carrots and leftover clover sprouts.  I roasted a couple marshmallows which I shared with the dogs.

He's gotten pretty good at it.

Ben Haumesser, he'll give you a run for your money!

5,854 miles in.

Day 44

I woke at 6:30am.  Mom suggested we go do chores with them to facilitate their time and ours.  I was concerned about the wisdom of strangers tracking through their barn, because of disease risk and disquieting the birds.  They agreed, yes come at 7:30 after they were through in the barn.  I fed the dogs and made oatmeal in the microwave … not used to microwave cooking.

John texted he was ready for us just before 8am.  He showed us the egg washing and grading machine and the packing process.  We talked for a while about that and our farm and situation.  John asked lots of questions about that.  He offered to quite chores and visit so we could get on the road.  I suggested they finish up while we packed the car, then we could talk.

We left just before noon after discussing education, every area in MT, land prices, business ventures, tourist spots, their farming story, etc.  They are very interesting people to talk to!  We had a 5 hour drive ending at Lodgepole Campground in the Beaverhead National Forest near Wise River and Wisdom, MT.  

I was taking pictures instead of driving.  :)

Wood is an amazing thing!  Lovely in life and death.

Sorry for the repetitive photo compositions, but I just love these colors!

We had mexican for dinner and a blazing bonfire with wood left by previous campers.  About 9, Mom started a conversation about how we make decisions, especially the time sensitive ones, in response to some frustration from us.  Jeremiah eventually tried to end the conversation so we could go to bed in a manner that Mom didn’t appreciate.  She and I discussed that for a long while.  There were a few conversations over the next few days along these lines of which I will not recount  Suffice it to say I was fairly straightforward in some of my opinions and was convicted on some difficult things as well.

Day 43

Behind Town House Inn

Up at 7am and started a load of wash in the guest coin laundry and gave Emily a shampoo.  I’ve never bathed a dog in a bath tub with a yogurt container and the shower head before.  :)  I switched the laundry to the dryer and had to run back upstairs for quarters …didn’t do a very good job of thinking ahead.  Then to breakfast.  Oh boy.  They had bagels, toast, muffins, cereal, yogurt, omelets, waffles, bacon, and biscuits and gravy!  Everyone in the breakfast room was quite talkative.  I met a rodeo cowboy housed to have a ranch in Hamilton and started a therapeutic riding program.  He now lives in Spokane, dealing in mid-range horses.  We talked about sorting competitions and he explained team penning to me and told me about a competitive mounted orienteering competition that he’d discovered.  

Jeremiah took the van to the carwash for a quick vacuum.  We wadded ourselves into the car and went to Christ Church in Missoula.  

Mike ushered us to a parking pot in the flooded lot and told us where to find bulletins and hymnals.  Inside, we met Kris and Suzanne.  Afterwards we talked to Beth and Taylor and his hisser Faith who sang wonderfully.  She was a recent graduate of NSA and had mentored with the music professor there.  Then we met John Walkup and his son, Chase, who are ex-Missouri organic soybean farmers.  They now own and operate Mission Mountain Eggs with around 7,000 birds and will be doubling their operation over the next few weeks.  Chase played piano quite well for the service.  We talked farming, Missouri, organic, Montana land, etc.  Don Running introduced himself and we spent quite a while talking with him and Mike.  Mike was quite jovial, especially for a NSA philosophy graduate and we enjoyed some good teasing to which Don contributed heavily.  Don tentatively invited us to lunch and then whole-heartedly after he talked with “his Elizabeth” who introduced us to their daughter, Ruth, who appeared to be around 10 years old.

Elizabeth appeared slightly discomfited at the thought of feeding twice her family for lunch  They were to have leftover soup, but there was not enough for 8.  I offered some of what we had.  Oh, but she had pizza dough!  That would do.

And it was no ordinary pizza!  Potato leek pizza with fresh soft mozzarella, goat cheese feta, and bacon with a small bowl of tortellini soup with kale and sausage in it.  So tasty!  Don and one of his sons are engineers so Don talked engineering as a career and in the realm of education with Jeremiah for quite a while.  Leah, who looked to be in her 20’s, was pretty quite, but Ruth told me all about her cat and how she blocks him with her foot to keep him from squirting in the door.  Don asked about my vet tech education experience because Ruth likes animals.  We told them all about our adventures on the road as they kept asking questions and were appropriately impressed.  :)  We left there around 3pm.

Killing time in the gas station parking lot ...

We drove back to Missoula and sat in a ahas station parking lot to decide where to go next.  Jeremiah wanted to go south.  When asked, I expressed interest in visiting the Walkup’s farm since he had invited us quite genuinely and I was interested in seeing their operation.  I did not pretend to know if that would be a good move for the interests of our trip.  Jeremiah was asking questions of priority in the trip and not really getting answers.  He was concerned that going to  the Mission Valley or Big Hole might preclude us from other areas we would rather see since time and weather will be beginning to be issues.  Joshua was half asleep and grunted a non-opinion.  

A phone call to John sealed the deal.  We were concerned now may not be the best time of them to have visitors with doubling their business and all.  I suggested we ask instead of making that decision for them.  Mom made the call.  They were very happy to hear from us, hoped we would come stain their apartment on the farm tonight, and Crystal had been disappointed that she missed meeting us at church.  They emailed us directions.

Joshua then chose to dissent.  I answered their call to confirm we had gotten their email and accepted their invitation and gave our eta.  Mom and I spent the drive to Mission Valley discussing the process of moving camp and deciding where to go.  She had ideas of how to pack the car and do meals to expedite that.  I saw making a decision the morning before on where w ere going, that we were actually going to move camp, and what time we needed to leave to get there at a reasonable time making 90% of those things happen well all by themselves.  We could then start preparing the night before an not sit int he car for a couple ours after we were packing figuring out where we still had time to go.  I guess I don’t feel micromanaging other people’s responsibilities usually has good results either.  We then discussed the amount of info required to make that decision, who’s responsibility it was to gather it, and what if others are okay going on less information.

They were at the farm to meet us and who us to the apartment.  We laid out sleeping bags on the floor, couch, and air mattress so as to not create any laundry.  They offered a heated shed for the dogs, but we opted to leave them in the car since they were used to waiting for us there and there were a few weak spots in the shed.  We agreed to meet up at 9am after chores to talk and visit.

We heated some soup cups in the microwave and ate out of the snack bag (veggies, hummus, etc.)  Mom starting crocheting a hat and I began some fingerless gloves out of brown wool sock yarn.  

Day 42

I’m getting a little better at ordering my mornings to ensure some quiet time with the Lord.  It really does have to be done first thing or else the rest of the day presses down around it.  A rock or stump near the fire ring works perfectly with the only distraction being corralling straying dogs.  By the time the next person is up, I’m ready for the rest of the day.  

Water boiled with nothing but pine needles and pine cones as fuel - By Mom

Jeremiah got up and announced we had 2 hours before we would get dumped on by a storm making its way across the mountain.  He left to gather stove wood.  That kicked things into high gear.  

Joshua left the tipi up as long as possible and we got almost everything else packed in between eating bagels and cottage cheese.  The storm stalled out and we used the extra time.  We were packed and in the van by the time it started to rain.  

Then the question became, “Where do we go?”  Some had interest in going to church in Missoula.  Some thought a hotel would go well with that.  Some wanted to go to Big Hole.  Some wanted to head to the Tobacco Root Mountains.  Some wanted to explore all options simultaneously.  Some wanted to make a decision and stick to it, not desiring the consequences of aborting one and trying for another at the last minute.  Some wanted to drive to internet to check out options.  Some wanted to not drive in the potentially opposite direction of our destination for internet.

I saw a German Shorthair run through the campground looking rather scattered even for a pointer.  Something told me I should grab him.  I argued.  His owner might be calling him from those woods and I could be wrong and mess things up.  About 10 minutes later another dog came through with the same orange hunting collar.  This time there were people.  They were looking for the other dog.  I got out and told them where Buster had headed and clambered through the woods looking for him.  He was found further down the creek.

We finally pulled out a good while later.  It was really too late to drive to the Tobacco Roots to camp, but it was unlikely we would find a hotel that met everyone’s standards for a price we were willing to pay.  If we spent much tim looking unsuccessfully it would put us in a bad spot for camping.  We headed south.  Jeremiah turned on the hot spot and started reading off hotel rates for each upcoming town.  These we compared to what we’d found in Missoula.  If we didn’t find something significantly better, we should go ahead to Missoula and be that much closer for church. 

We stopped at one place in Stevensville.  Decided Missoula was better.  In Hamilton we found the Town House Inn, connected to a gas station and convenience store, which a casino next door.  Their review were great and they had reasonable rates.  The problem we’d been having was that places that allow dogs usually err on the heavy side of the air fresheners and other unpleasant chemicals that Mom and Joshua are pretty sensitive too.  The Motel 6 lady had advised us that our best bet would be hotels that charge a pet fee as they would likely use chemicals on an as needed basis rather than as a matter of course and not charge a fee.  Some pet fees are as much as $50 in which case I’d opt to leave them in the car for the night.  However, I was hoping to give them shampoos.  Mom and Joshua went to ask to be shown a room while Jeremiah got gas.

They returned satisfied.  The pet fee was reasonable as well.  We parked, paid, and started unloading.  When we brought the dogs in to the lobby, everyone (manager, maid, and receptionist) appeared and got down on the floor to pet them.  Then they proceeded to turn the office inside out looking for the bag of dog treats.  They provided bowls and L.L. Bean beds of the dogs.  The room was very clean, well stocked, and no smells, chemical or otherwise.  It was around 6:30pm.

There was hot tomato soup in the cafeteria.  We brought in some food from the car as well and heated it in the microwave.  Everybody got nice long hot showers.  It took lots of scrubbing to get actually clean.  It had been 2 weeks since my last shower.  I washed my hair three times.  We spent the “extra” hour of the time change catching up wit the internet.  To bed around 11pm.

Day 41

Up at 8am and talked with God for a while.  I woke everyone else at 9am getting out of the tipi.  Reading in Ecclesiastes 6-10 about enjoying life because that’s all we have and know, finding joy in our work.  We are all going to Sheol, righteous and wicked alike.  Pondering what in these truths and principles has changed with the New Covenant.

Apple walnut pancakes for breakfast at 10:30am.  The fire went out halfway through which made everything take a lot longer.  Hummus, corn chips, veggies, and sliced cheese for lunch.  I made that guacamole with the last two avocados.  I fed most of one to the dogs because it smelled fermented.  Guac is only as good as your avocados and I’ve spoiled the last few batches I’ve made trying to salvage for frugality’s sake.   This stuff on the other hand, smelled so good I wanted lunch right away!  I skipped on the dishes in the interests of getting to Missoula earlier. 

We shopped at Cabelas, Good Food Store, Michaels, Barnes & Noble (books are lovely things), Sportsmans’s Warehouse, Natural Grocers, Montana Wheat, got the check engine light reset, and Walmart.  Going to Walmart at 7pm on Halloween in an interesting experience indeed.

Succulents in Good Foods.  I think my collection might have to grow when I get back.  Inspiration.

This is the size of our grocery receipt.

This is the size of a receipt for a bag of ice.  

We had pasta with broccoli, onions and alfredo sauce, leftover veggies, and apple sauce.  The fire went out just as I was starting on the sauce.  Same batch of wood as this morning.  It gets a D minus.  

Jeremiah dumped the coals in the fire pit for Joshua.  

I finished the sauce over the whiteman’s fire, realizing I’d put in twice as much milk as I should have.  Tiredness.  Again dishes got stowed in the back of the car.  Joshua says the orthodontist says that for 20 minutes after you eat, your moth produces the acid that feeds the plaque.  Brushing teeth before the 20 minutes is up doesn’t do much good.  Blast it!  My bed calls.  I think it was close to midnight.

P.S. I making up for the picture overload in the previous days.  :)  (Insert one more good excuse here.)

Day 40

The plan is to do exploring and people-meeting (the boys call it shopping) in Stevensville and Hamilton.  I made millet cereal for breakfast.  We like it with raisins and walnuts, and some milk and/or yogurt over the top.  Then BLTs for lunch.  I hate making lunch and then having to wait to eat it!  It didn’t rain this morning and that made me very happy.

Happy by-product of Jeremiah's experiments.  Freestanding copper coil faucet.  Such a zen faucet I've never seen!

We got on the road around 1 pm and our first stop was the yarn shop.  It was actually a vintage/antique store with a yarn shop in the back.  This lady shops around for clearance yarns and tools and then resells them in her shop.  She had really good prices.  I spent some money.  End of story.  Until I make something with it.  We spent a long time there talking to Joan, a self-proclaimed liberal hippy from Berkly, CA, originally from England and then Canada.  She described Montana as a bunch of independent tea partiers, who didn’t pay people to do anything.  They either figured it out themselves or knew someone who could do it.  She couldn’t fathom why anyone would want guns other than for hunting.  And then climate change …  

On the road again ...

We drove down 93 to Hamilton and stopped at the auto parts store to get the check engine light tested.  Bad catalytic converter.  Well now, since the guy who did our exhaust just sold us a new one … Jeremiah called him later in the day.  They said to have the light reset.  If it came back on, replace the upstream and downstream oxygen sensors.  If it came on again, they would warrantee the cat.

I went to the bead shop next door while all of this was happening.  I talked to Katie a bit on my way over there and told her all kinds of things which saved me from being tempted to write them on here.  Sorry guys, but I think she just rescued me … and you.  :)  The bead store on the other hand, is worth telling about.  Bins and bins of all kinds of beads, chains, findings, wire, tools.  Oiy.  I was glad I’d already spent my wad on yarn.  No more decisions.  They had jewelry-making stations set up so you could create and buy at the same time!  The other side of the store was a gift shop with pottery, cute aprons, woven towels, etc.

Jeremiah dropped me off on Main Street to go “shopping” and went to get the oil changed.  I went in a couple clothing stores, The Closet and Bella’s Boutique.  The Paper Clip was half office supply and half scrapbooking and art supplies.  Stone Cottage was an arts and crafts co-op, mostly local with great stuff.  Would love to have that available for Christmas shopping!  Then to two art galleries and had interesting conversations there.  Not sure why, but my gallery conversations are always memorable.  

We went to Albertsons and got a pot of mums and a Ghiradelli’s bar for the gas angels and delivered that.  The kids were home looking out the window, but wouldn’t answer the door.  Mom left it outside the window near the driveway with a note.  We had all recommended just leaving it in the first place since it was dinner time again.  The kids ran out and retrieved it as soon as we left.  We wondered if “mom” every saw the chocolate.

Back in Hamilton, we found some internet.  I downloaded and watched the last Farmstead Meatsmith’s video.  If you haven’t found those already from my link on Facebook, you should check it out.  But only if butchering pigs sounds interesting to you.  :)  Seriously though, this guy is very informative, philosophical, and humorous.  http://www.farmsteadmeatsmith.com  This is why everybody should raise at least some of their own food.  Or eat somewhat locally if you can.  Or at least think about all this stuff.  Again, watch the videos.  http://anatomyofthrift.com

I read this article too:  http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMyCa35_mOg

We got to camp at 8pm.  Joshua started a whiteman’s fire and I got dinner ready to cook, then worked on trip notes until I got the “fire’s ready” call.  We roasted hot dogs on the grill and set a pan of green beans and onions to steam.  I dressed the beans with butter, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, a little extra basil, and some lovely balsamic vinegar.  

Yes, I do like food.  :)  Then comes the discussion about overeating and gluttony even when you’re skinny.  Been thinking about that lately.  Should I eat all I can just because I can?  This question kinda plays into the Meatsmith’s approach.

We roasted some marshmallows and Mom read us an article about the impending ebola epidemic and medical martial law.  Great bed time story.  :P

To bed around 11:30pm.  The boys cooped up the coals and put them in the stove in the tipi.  I woke up and delayered again.