Day 3 - 2024 Minnesota Trip - Missoula to Terry Montana 534 miles

It was a challenging day for us today. We were on the road by 7:30 this morning and we were making hood progress until 12:30. Janice was driving and a fellow in a truck signaled to her that we had issues with our towed vehicle, our 1998 Honda CRV. I went to the bedroom. and looked out the back window and saw lots of smoke coming from the Honda. Fortunately, you were near an exit and we were able to pull over. We raised the hold and could tell the transmission was very hot. 

We were only a mile from the town of Timbers Monrana. I called and talked to 

500 miles. Missoula to Terry, MT

We may have broken the Honda. We are not sure what happened but a guy pulls along side us while I was driving and mouthed there was smoke. Sure enough, the Honda was smoking. A fluid had leaked and was burning. Since it was in neutral, it should not have done that. We had to leave it in Big Timber, MT. We will have to figure out how to get it back to Roseburg and weigh our options to get it fixed or not. 

Miles City stop before Terry and we got gas, I found $50, and got propane all while wearing my Harris Walz hat with no episodes. The camo and American flag may have thrown the locals a bit, but they didn't seem the maga type. Surprisingly very few t rump signs, but not a lot of Harris ones either. 

We are in a nice spot, no traffic, no trains, only crickets.

Janice

Putting on some miles

Crossing rivers, highways, and trains, the expanse of our country seems endless. We made it to Missoula after getting a new battery for the Honda. Wow, $20 in sales tax in Washington state.

Kasey let me drive through the mountains and all the associated lane closures, narrow detours, and steep graded while he took a nap. Apologies to all the people behind me because I chose to keep to the speed limit. Fines double in work zones. No pictures. Kasey was asleep. No sooner had I taken the wheel but 2 phone calls came in for me! No calls for days and now?

Anyway, the Big Sky Brewery made for a good stop. Plenty of parking and places for the dogs to walk.

Comet says What about me?

Minnesota, here we come.

We made our way out of town by 11 am. A little later than we had hoped but as it goes, things happen. The car would not start and then the tow bar would not function. We got it all worked out in time to hit traffic in Portland. Yuck. How do people live that way. It took us a little over 3 hous to get to Portland and an hour and a half to get through it. 

But we made it to Boardman and the Burnt Field Brewery for some fine dining, trivia, and phone staring.

The boys loved the walk, the river, and the temperature. A nice sunset before returning to the rolling cabin. Not a bad spot. We heard the train a few times, but restful.

TTTT (Take time to travel)

Janice

Minnesota Trip - Day 1 Roseburg to Boardman 336 miles

We are off! After a very successful Umpqua Watersheds "Watershed Wednesday" with our friends at Oregon Wild we woke up on Thursday with the motorhome packed  except for the refrigerator. We didn't put any pressure on ourselves and left without our usual departure stress. It is always sad to leave our home, even when we are excited to spend time with Family in Minnesota. We were on the road by 10:30 and got to Boardman by 5:30.

In 2021 we went to a place called Burnt Field Brewing. Brewing https://www.burntfieldbrewing.com/ 

Janice was helping with a burrowing owl project in Umatilla and our host took us here. It was still in the pandemic and we ate ourside. Boardman is a cute little town.

Tonight we ate dinner inside. We played a movie trivia game while we waited for our pizza. We had a delicious dinner and then took the Boys for a walk and a swim in the Columbia.

We hoped to be able to see Kamala Harris and Tim Walz interview on CNN but couldn't plug my computer in anywhere so I read excerpts when we got back to the motorhome.

We hope to be at my sister Lynn's house by midday on Sunday. I am excited to see everyone and to spend quality time together. One thing that is becoming more evident to me each day is that we need to make the most of every moment, cherish the good times, celebrate our connections and forgive and ask for forgiveness when we stumble. 

I love being on the road with Janice, Lincoln, Tad and Comet. Tomorrow we hope to make it to Bozeman Montana and have time to do some hiking with the Boys. Everyone is asleep now except me. Do many thoughts...