So it’s time to move on. July 13.
Below is my last sunset in Ronan, MT.
And it’s effect on the mountains to the east….
I haven’t mentioned my tires much recently, but I’ve continued to have problems with them, more specifically, with leaky valves….would you believe?
I check the air pressure before I get ready to leave, and sure enough, WS’s curbside tire is low and air continues to leak out of the valve after I check, until I’m able to get the valve cover on again. There is a Les Schwab in town, and that’s where I head.
They come right out to help me and I explain the problem. They get started removing the tire in less than 5 minutes.
What I’ve learned in the past is that these tires that I purchased at Camping World last July were balanced with sand, also called powder. This substance has a tendency to get into the valve, even valves that are made for powder balancing, and it causes the valves to leak.
Caleb at Les Schwab, is surprised that these tires were balanced with powder. He tells me that usually is done with huge tires. He asks if I’d like them to remove the powder and balance the tires with weights. Yes please, since I’ve been having leaky valve problems consistently.
The job is completed a half hour later, and JR’s tires are checked and topped off. I go inside to pay my bill. Caleb consults the computer and then looks up, smiles, and says “no charge”. Huh? “No Charge? Why?” He says “It’s not worth it”, holds the door open for me and wishes me happy trails. Thank you Caleb and Les Schwab!!
In Williams, AZ when I went to a different tire store and they removed one tire and put on a new valve stem, the charge was $20. I was expecting much more than that for this service. Hopefully this will put an end to my leaky valves. Time will tell.
On down the road we go. Highway 93 turns right onto 200 and we travel a total of about 85 beautiful miles. First the Flathead River and then the Clark Fork River wind along beside the road. There are mountains everywhere, and some amazing cloud formations. (No pictures, sorry, driving). I see a bit of rain, but less than 5 minutes total throughout the drive.
Promptly at 1pm we arrive at Birdland Bay Resort.
It’s lovely here and my site is beside the bathroom/shower/laundry, which is perfect right now, since I won’t have far to carry the laundry.
Laundry building to the left of us.
Large size campsite!
I’ve only done one load of laundry over the last month so I will leave the mounds and heaps of it to your imagination!
I’m still taking it easy and my back is getting better and better.
Reminding myself to Take It Easy!
A wrong move now, or even too many right moves could set me back by weeks. On top of the back pain thing right now, I’m also experiencing a lot of joint pain and old broken bone related pain which is really unusual for me. Possibly from not moving enough? So I’m slowly increasing our walks, and this is a beautiful area to do that.
Thompson Falls is a cute little town and I’m anxious to see the falls. On July 15 we drive into town and I park near the Gallatin Street Bridge. No vehicles allowed on it but it leads pedestrians to Park Island.
We are on the island, looking back across to the mainland.
I’m looking for the falls…but first we find a spot where Joy and Shiloh can take a dip.
Here they are in the Clark Fork River. They are interested in the ducks.
View down the river.
Next we see the dam, and the ‘fish ladder’, build so fish can go up river as they are meant to.
But where are the falls? I see a lady who seems to be a local telling some other people about the dam. I ask her where the falls are.
“Oh there aren’t any falls” she tells me! “No falls in Thompson Falls?” I ask, rather surprised?
Nope. It’s all been rearranged and there is an old dam and a new dam, but no falls.
Well Darn. Or damn. 🙂
Back at Birdland Bay we take our walks and find some pretty sites which I’ll share below.
Joy
A birds nest I found on the ground.
Now I’ll be looking for birds….
Wandering Spirit 
You might look on Amazon for a product called ‘Penetrex’. Sells for about $20 for 2 oz, but it lasts a long time. It’s really helped my painful knee and arm.
Thanks Pat, I’ll check that out!
Can you please include the cost per night at the places you stay.
Thanks,
Lou
Lou it’s $30 a night here, but the weekly rate gives you a free night, so $180 for 7 nights. Diamond S was $150 a week.
Glacier National Park was $80.50 for a week with my geezer pass.
Hi! I just found your blog a few days ago and I am loving it. I too am a retired nurse, part time-full timing in a Scamp 13. I go for long periods then come home to visit with sons and mom (91). Your pictures and descriptions are so nice, thanks for doing this blog. Hope the back heals up soon! Jess
Hi Jess, and welcome! Thank you for the good wishes for my back. It’s coming along, just sooo slowly. I don’t know how much of my stuff you have read but I too visit my sons, ( but they are in different places) and was going back to visit my mom but she passed away last year at age 90.
I’m glad to know you are out there too, in your little egg. Beautiful life, isn’t it?
Does this help with sciatic pain? Tonight has been particularly agonizing, and I am ready to try anything!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Hi Judie, on Amazon it does say that it works for sciatic pain. It has some really good reviews too. I might try some when I do my next Amazon order.
Me, too. This hobbling around stuff is getting old! ;->
It has never worked for sciatic pain for me but is wonderful for other aches and pains. A little goes a long way. : ) I have found cold helps some with sciatic pain and use clay packs bought a Walmart that you put in freezer, they last a long time slowly releasing the cold so no 20 min on and 20 min off like ice. I have a coupe that I have had at least 8 years.
I use a package of frozen peas and carrots for an ice pack. They conform to the needed shape. I don’t much care for frozen peas and carrots, so no chance of eating them by mistake! ;->
Good morning, Micky. What a great campsite!! So glad you are beginning to feel better. Funny about the Falls…the other night I stayed in a place called Falling Waters..noted for their 72 foot falls, falling into a 200ft deep sink hole. I found it..the sink hole was definitely there, and pretty awesome, but not even a trickle of water!! What’s with that? Haven’t posted any of my trip on my blog yet, as I have to figure out what to do now that my “travel blog” has become my “poetry blog”. I’ll get help with it once I get to Wisconsin next week. Have a great time, and be careful with your back!
Hi Pat. Water seems to be scarce these days. 😕
I’m anxious to hear how your travels are going and how you are liking it so far.
so are you thinking of starting a second blog then….one for your travels and one for poetry?
Hi again Micky. My travels are going great. I love every minute..the peace and solitude. Ended up a couple of times at dead ends or places I was forced to turn around. That backup camera I installed was a life saver! Then when I arrived here in Tn, one of my stabilizers wouldn’t lower, but a neighbor came over and managed to get it down. I have to check today to be sure it is really working..may have to find a repair person..but, of course it’s under warranty. I’m here with my ex’s sister who has cancer. She’s not doing well. I’ll take her for her chemo treatment tomorrow, then plan on leaving on Thursday, mainly so she will get the rest she needs…she’s one of those who thinks she needs to play hostess no matter how badly she feels. I know exactly how she’s feeling, since I’ve been there twice myself..though mine has been in remission for thirteen years now. It’s hard to see her going downhill…
Yes, I’m thinking I’ll need to start another blog..just don’t know how. What do you think? I don’t want to give up the poetry outlet now that I’ve found my voice again. I know it’s not very professional since I’ve not studied writing except in high school..many moons ago, but it’s so good to be able to express my thoughts and feelings…and others seem to actually enjoy some of it.
You take care…looking forward to your next post!!
Glad to hear you are enjoying the peace, Pat.
And yup, there are still the same old problems of life…can’t get away from those can we?
Well, if you feel like keeping up two blogs…I don’t know. Of course ‘keeping up’ can mean as little or as much blogging as you wish, since it’s your blog and you are free to do what you want. Love that ‘free’ word! 😃
Remission for 13 years! Congratulations!
Hi Mickie! Looks like you’ve landed in another beautiful area. The campsites there look huge. As usual your photos of the river and mountains are just gorgeous. I’m so glad to hear that your back is feeling better. That is one thing that I am concerned about while camping—the possibility of a serious illness or accident. I hope that you don’t overdo it and do too much laundry at once!
Chris, Guinness and I have a tiny trip planned for a couple of nights at “Hoodview c.g.” at Timothy Lake in the Mt. Hood National Forest. It will be nice to get away from our unpacking our stuff in our ” new” home, and get to see some of the sights around the local area. Hopefully our son and granddaughter will join us.
Guinness sends his best regards to Joy and Shiloh.
Sharon
Hello Sharon and Guinness! So glad you are planning an adventure! I hope you will let me know what you think of Hoodview Campground. With the lake and the mountains sounds like you have picked a winner!
Yes illness and accidents are always a concern, and all the more when solo…and with fur kids depending on me. But…just believing that all will work out to the good and not letting my imagination run wild is what I try to do.
Snuffley noses from Joy and Shiloh to Guinness!
Micky, around 07-09-2016 you wrote, “As it turns out, there is another solo woman Casita friend here at this RV Park. She would prefer to remain nameless on this blog for now.”. Is it safe to identify her now? Would we follow her blog? Hope your back is all better by now.
Cat Lady
Hi Cat Lady, yes she is ok with being ID’d now because she has finished the job she was doing. It was ‘Arizona Eileen’ whom I met last winter in Quartzsite. She is well known among the Casita Community because for one thing she wrote ‘ Casita Travel Trailer A-Z Owner’s Guide’. She updates it yearly and it’s a big job. ( it’s in CD and download form, and it’s an absolute must for every Casita owner…way better with the info that comes with the trailers.) She needed peace and quiet to get that done so wasn’t telling her location. She came over to visit when she needed a break and we went on a few outings, but otherwise she worked all day everyday.
She doesn’t have a blog but you can visit her website at http://www.lovemycasita.com
It was really nice to get to know her. She likes that little RV park and is still there.