Archive for ‘June, 2009’

Western Wings

Birds on the pond at sunrise.

Photos taken 6/13/2009: Western Wings RV Park (Roberts, ID), walking with Karl before we left for home.

Dazed and confused…a little bit

One minute Bob, Karl and I are at home in “Wild Thing”, rolling around the countryside seeing new things, working, walking in new places…establishing routine wherever we are parked. We all slip into the “rv” routine with ease and change from a pattern of living in our quiet, somewhat isolated spot to living right next to others. And the others sometimes change from one day to the next, sometimes stay for awhile or we stay for awhile.

We walk, Bob and Karl go in and out, I work, I cook meals, I take photos, I write – same as at the stationary house.

And then one day we are back.

Wild Thing is parked in her spot. She’s cleaned up and put to rights.

The grass in the yard and the woods has grown a foot, the front porch was draped with spider webs making the house look like the Adams Family had just vacated. But the porch is now clear and in a day or so the yard will be mowed and trimmed, some flower baskets will be procured and the house will look like it always looks in Summer.

For me, coming back is always a bit disconcerting. As I get closer to home I start thinking about the house and its rooms and its general comforts. Coming in the driveway I am relieved to have the driving done, glad to be home, looking forward to getting settled and rested.

The house always looks so “home” when I walk in.

But this first day home is also a bit of a shock in the suddeness of the return to quiet, solitude and the home routine. I really don’t know why the return has an unsettled feel to it. Every trip I think that it won’t happen this time because I’ve done this a few times before and now I know.

But today and I am a little bit dazed and confused.

Not Bob. He is making up for lost outside time by spending most of his time outside…lying in the tall grass.

A bit of digression. I received several emails and a comment about being careful with the wasp removal. Ha! … I am an experienced wasp remover-killer…Please try not to hurt yourself laughing:

Part 1: Mad as a Hornet

Part 2: Taking Back the Front Porch

***A word of warning regarding this last in the series – to Buck and any other beer lovers…I used cheap beer, the kind no self-respecting beer lover would drink.
Part 3: More Wasps

Back from whence we came

Home! – just.

The house is wonderfully cool. Outside is a bit warm at 84 – ironically it kept getting warmer as we moved north. A good day on the road seeing those sights I love most and arriving home without doing damage to anyone or anything!

I’m stalling doing the unhooking and turning around and minor unloading… and evicting of spiders and wasps from the front porch. Sooner it is done, sooner I get my shower – off to do.

Later or tomorrow with photos, etc. Thanks to all for coming along and for all of the good wishes and prayers!

Going Home

I feel like I’ve written ad nauseum about my love for Montana and I think it gets even “worse” when I go away in that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” kind of way. I have lived in northwest Montana for 15 years and the love has had its cycles as all love does. My other love of exploring sends me out and about and I always enjoy the adventure but there is also that ache for the place that is the place right for me.

“Home” – it is different things for each of us I suspect. I feel a lot of at homeness when I travel in the motorhome as I have the companionship of Bob and Karl, this rolling home which is comfortable and familiar no matter where it is parked, the company of family and friends via email and blogs. I love the routine of traveling this way and spending time in different places.

But there is always the “pine” for Montana and my small spot there. I tamp it down so as to enjoy the experience of where I am – else, why go? But on the way home, especially as I get to those places that have reminders of home, the excitement grows. The return trip is always so exhilarating and wonderful and I like to draw it out and enjoy that feeling of knowing that I’m on my way home. It is an odd paradox of wanting to be there and yet wanting to take my time and enjoy the getting close.

This morning, I am 404 miles from my house. I am at Western Wings RV Park. I believe that its main reason for being is as a shooting spot (clay), but there are level sites with water and power and a self-check in/out system. There are 2 of us here. I found it two years ago travelling to Colorado to see my folks. There is nothing else around – Roberts, ID is not a large town and it is some distance away. I took a lot of photos last night and am just off to catch sunrise over the pond and then be on my way home. Photos from here after I get home. But what a place to spend this night before the run to home…quiet except for the birds, so isolated and perfect temperature – I left blinds and windows open.

I’m on my home road: I-15 over Monida Pass, turning west on I-90 and 93 north from Missoula. This part I know and love and the miles go by almost too fast when I’m going home.