Back From Vacation

Hey Everybody! We're back from seeing my sister and her husband in Montana. Here's a snapshot of a common scene in their neck of the woods. Could you imagine having such vistas moments from home??? Fresh snow had fallen the night before on the mountains you see in the background.

Our drive to and fro was long and butt-numbing. Thankfully audio books helped pass the time - David Sedaris was the best one to listen to - he's hilarious. We traveled close to 3,500 miles round trip - taking 2 days each way to get there (one day = 14 hours driving, second day = 12 hours). $300 in gas. Now we're re-thinking our declaration of hating train travel! I was concerned how well my back and bum leg would fare in a long road trip. I did okay - a little stiff and tight, but no worse for the wear. Joe was concerned how his fractured feet would manage the hiking, but he did well too.

Once we arrived and were tucked into Barb & Eric's wilderness, time became irrelevant and the days floated by in a lazy way. Daylight lasted from 5:30a.m. -11:00p.m., creating endless moments comprising what one would call a day. Joe and I slept in a cushy large tent with a foam mattress and down blanket, set next to their small octagonal home. Each day we found ourselves sleeping in later and later despite the light, and despite the noisy wood grouse. It's mating season, and the grouse apparently lures a mate by making a thumping rhythm with his wings against fallen logs. The sound is similar to a generator starting, but failing before it kicks in. Add to this the pounding of a Pileated Woodpecker, the courting call of the 2-note Black-capped Chickadee and the banter of the Swainson's Thrush and we had a full morning medley.

Eventually, we'd wander into the house and eat a ginormous breakfast - fried potatoes, toast, fruit from their orchard, smoothies - you name it, we had it. We'd sit, and talk, and finally mosey around to dressing for a hike. We'd hike through the afternoon, eat a lunch of gorp, home grown apples (Barb has an orchard of 30+ fruit trees) and PB sandwiches (even though we weren't really hungry), and come home to prepare yet another scrumptious, but huge meal. I'm certain I have gained several pounds as my pants are a tad too snug. We ate healthy food, and food fresh from Barb's garden, but we ate lots of it.

We met some of Barb & Eric's friends - delightful hard working people. And by hard working, I mean they do hardcore phsycial labor sun-up to sun-down. No going to the gym for an hour or two each day, their life is one big gym. Their talk reminded me of farmers discussing crops and feed, only theirs was geared towards their environs. They talked about what roads were snow-free, where the latest grizzly was spotted, how the gardens are coming along, what rivers are running high, which runs are still green vs. brown, etc...

Our last night included a major meal prepared over an open campfire. We made bread on a stick, roasted veggies, spicy beans, and later, we churned our own vegan peanut butter ice-cream in an old fashioned ice-cream maker (picture a wooden bucket with a crank arm). My sister did a little drumming for us, and we watched the sun slowly dip behind the mountains. Then the grouse started thumping ...