A week after we moved in, Dale and I got to escape our world of boxes for a Fourth of July trip to the Montana! With a 6 day weekend, and two days of 10 hour drives on each end, we enjoyed 4 days of Montana Summer. Each time we go here, I'm struck with the singular vacation experience of a vacation to the Rockies. For example, as soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with a beautifully mild day with barbecued burgers eaten on the back porch deck with a view of the valley below. Warren and Wendy, Dale's folks, live on a mountian on the outskirts of a national park, and the view below includes a lake and an island.
We visited old co-workers at the local Community College and played games that first day. Saturday was, of course, reserved for fishing. Although I don't really have the stomach to kill my own food--illogical, I know--Dale had a great time racing his parents to the count. I did catch one fish, as my contribution to the event, and took pictures of Dale catching, de-hooking, and holding several fish he caught. My favorite part was watching the raptors. As soon as we pulled into the lake, I saw them, and wondered how big they must be. Warren identified a bald eagle being chased by a golden eagle. It wasn't just a matter of intimidation, because that Gold eagle continued to chase every other bird over an 8 inch wing span out of her territory for the next 45 minutes. She called and dived and climbed and made such an appearance that I named her Blondie, and decided I MUST have her to take home with me. Just wait, she will be mine.
The end count was 70 fish between the four of us.
We were fortunate enough to obtain some Nascar tickets for that night, but the games were closed for rain, to the great disappointment of all. Some day we'll make it, and these elusive games will all of a sudden make sense to me. Dale says he just likes to watch them crash... which seems a little gladiatoristic to me, but this is the same woman speaking who did enjoy a rodeo.
The fourth of July passed watching fireworks from a neighbor's lakehouse view, as all of the neighbors with teenage kids put on the show.
Dale's birthday was July 5th and passed relaxed, taking home many of his childhood belongings to be a part of the home we're building together. This may sound like an itinerary, and if so, read it again, but imagine it in forests of evergreen trees and sparsely populated national forest land.
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