January 15th, 2014
Happy New Year. Well I seem to be behind posting. I started this post right before Christmas. My goal once I get on the road is to definitely post more frequently and consistently. I could say not much is happening while I am waiting to hit the road, but the truth is quite the opposite. I actually am busier now than when I was working full time, no kidding. I have been informed that my fifth wheel was completed a few weeks ago and I still haven’t finalized my truck purchase. Next Saturday I will be flying to Oregon to finalize my choice and pick up my ride. I will be posting from the road on my progress and the trip back to finish the remaining details for my adventure.
Now for a little catch up on a few things that have happened the past few weeks…
Bob and Janet’s new home.
If you recall when I left off, I was in Montana establishing my new home and had just went out in search of a Christmas Tree in the National Forest not far from home. Our weather continued to be sub-zero every night, but getting into the teens during the day. Since my trip was planned to get things done, I didn’t pack as warmly I should have and found myself doing a lot of layering with what I had in Montana and the items I had brought with me.
The following day I went to the Montana DMV to acquire my Drivers License. Of course I was expecting an office much smaller than Southern California, but what I found in Stevensville was a pleasant older lady sitting behind her desk waiting for me. Not a sole in the office besides her, at least in the front. Wow, I thought I had gone to heaven. Twenty minutes (or less) and I was out the door – wahoo.
The next day we went to the Darby City Christmas fair at the community center of the same name. Now mind you this town only boasts a population of eight hundred, however at least a quarter of them were in attendance at the same time I attended. Of course everyone knew each other and it was a hoot. Also it was like the freeway in Orange County going South at the end of a work day, packed. Surprisingly enough I even knew a dozen or so myself and up until now I only visited this community a few times over the past ten years. I found a few handmade Christmas gifts to bring home and most of all I enjoyed the wonderful camaraderie of long lost friends.
Over the next few days we continued to experience very cold weather staying inside most of the time and venturing out on a rare occasion to run an errand, shop or dine out.
Driving to Missoula airport on the icy roads.
Eventually the day I dreaded, travel day, and back to Southern California to finish sorting, selling, giving away, donating and packing what remains at my home for my fifth wheel. Oh and buying, I still didn’t have a truck big enough to haul that fifth wheel up and over all the mountains I will be venturing. All for the trip of a lifetime.