Archive for ‘May, 2009’

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I’m glad I went and I’m glad I decided to come home. A few things not done at the house with the impromptu take off, some minor motorhome things and the final decider being the weather due to deteriorate. Since I was only 50 miles from home, after much dithering, I decided to return and take care of all from home base.

It was a wonderful weekend in a beautiful spot with beautiful weather. I am refreshed.

Maybe Karl and Bob picked up on a little bit of my disappointment at cutting things short. Neither wanted out when we got home. Usually they both want out whenever I stop and when I open the door to home they are out and about immediately checking out their territory. Today, they delayed and then after getting out, got back in again while I was unloading a few things and cleaning up.

Funny boys! I assured them we would roll again.

A surprise on the way home – the cherry trees were in bloom. The east shore of Flathead Lake is home to many cherry orchards. The blossoms were gorgeous against the backdrop of the lake.

More Polson

A beautiful morning.

Father, daughter and dog enjoying. We met briefly yesterday. Mom is along also but this morning Dad and daughter walked the collie, Carlie. I think they are all having a grand time.

It was such a beautiful morning and I am so enjoying the lake view AND a few things I forgot at the grocery so we stayed – there is a wonderful Safeway here.

Above is the view from the Safeway parking lot. When I first came through Polson, it was not long after I moved to the Flathead Valley from Los Angeles. There is a MacDonald’s here that has an even better view. It was astonishing, coming from L.A. where a view like this would command $Millions.

Looking from Polson, northwest towards where the RV park is located.

Polson is on the south end of Flathead Lake and the southern end of the Flathead Valley. Polson’s position on the lake often leads to warmer and milder weather than around and north of the lake. Although there are some condo and housing developments on the lake, there are also some wonderful older neighborhoods and a lot of public access as well as a public marina. The main highway stays close to the lake and the majority of the hotels and restaurants are of the diner and motel vintage. I don’t know how long it might stay this way, but I enjoy the mostly low key mix that this area has at the moment.

After our grocery run, I set up the office outside and write this afternoon, From Under the Awning ;) !

I’ve worked a bit, walked a bit and watched the clouds pile up against the mountains, but so far, it is blue sky over the lake and the valley. Karl has enjoyed the nice grass, shade from the just leafed out birch and breeze off the lake. It is 59F currently at 2:00 p.m. – VERY pleasant as far as the crew of Wild Thing is concerned!

Bob retired to his dashboard spot in the sun. Rving is exhausting…

Yes, nose prints and drool marks on the windshield. I am one rvr who spends as much time washing the inside of the windshield as I do washing bugs off the outside!

Wild Thing rolls

Karl, Bob and I are here…

Polson, MT – actually a mile north of Polson at what used to be the Polson KOA and is now Polson Motorcoach and RV Resort…LA – DI – DAH!!! It is still a KOA although not sure it will stay a KOA. This RV park, a mere 50 miles from my house is the place that I spent my first overnight in my motorhome, Wild Thing, on August 16, 2005. I returned a bit later when I had the Jeep to “practice” with a car in tow.

This trip – an impromptu trip – Polson was a backup destination for the first night out.

Yesterday – Thursday, I took the Jeep to a dealer service spot for an oil change which was accomplished quickly, but a leak in a seal in the differential required a return trip. As the seal repair was a 2-3 hour thing vs a quick LOF, I thought: “I’ll tow the Jeep with the motorhome, get propane, fuel, work in the motorhome while the Jeep is being serviced”, which progressed to “as long as I’m taking the motorhome out, I might as well GO somewhere”.

So…..

The current Walmart sits across from the Jeep place. The Jeep place does not have room for the motorhome and Jeep to maneuver. Wild Thing landed at Walmart, I unhooked the Jeep and delivered it across the street, whereupon WT and crew went off to acquire propane, fuel, groceries and some valves for the water heater – I do NOT travel without hot water!

Water heater valves acquired and hot water in the offing we returned to Walmart just as I received a call that the Jeep was ready to go.

By now it was after noon. WT, Karl, Bob and I had rolled at 8:45 which was about 30 minutes later than intended, but still…

St. Regis was the intended destination, but Polson was the backup.

Approach to Polson.

Karl on the dash and the view beyond.

Bob likes the recliner.

I like this spot. I like the view, the change of scenery, the change of routine, being “on the road”.

I think we’ll proceed to St. Regis tomorrow, but that will be decided tomorrow.

Wild Thing rolls.

More on light

Tuesday, I took photos in Somers between rain squalls. Dark clouds on the east side of the valley were offset by blue sky and puffy white clouds on the west side. The air was crystal clear. The afternoon sun through the clouds and the clear air with the dark backdrop to the east made the colors of everything their most vivid.

In comments for that post, reader and blog bud Buck (Exile in Portales) asked about the altitude here. It is just under 3000 feet on the valley floor/lake level where the Tuesday photos were taken (per NOAA). My house is about 200 foot higher (per my GPS). Buck lives in New Mexico, home to many artists who comment on the New Mexico light. Buck explained his question with a theory that altitude contributes to an artistic light.

I certainly believe altitude has something to do with quality of light. I think humidity plays a roll as well. On Tuesday and again today with these photos, the clouds also come into play. The sun in today’s photos is again at an angle opposite the dark clouds. There is that light that happens when bright sunlight has dark clouds as a backdrop.

Where is our physics person???

Whatever the explanation, I love light like this. The light, the colors, the clouds rolling, the wind blowing… the uncertainty…intriguing.

A room with a view

Every year there is an Osprey nest in this dead tree. Today I saw one of the Osprey.

Maybe next time there will be blue sky to really show him or her off. My bird book says the male and female look alike. A second Osprey was hunting. This one was fluffed from the wind on what looks to me a precarious perch. Maybe the nest is full of babies… I didn’t hear anyone. If there are babies and they are all asleep, I’d be as far away as possible too…

Photos taken at Wayfarer’s Park, Flathead Lake on May 6, 2009