Not really, since the eclipse was headed south east and I’m headed west, but I’ve been singing that song by Cat Stevens in my head for a few days now. When the eclipse reached its max of about 89% where I was near Billings, Montana was about the time I stopped for gas. I think I just wanted to connect with others in those moments. I listened to public radio while they tracked it across the US, getting reactions, and you know, it was the scientists they spoke with that seemed the most affected and the most awed. Or at least they had words to describe how they felt. It’s hard to explain how it makes you feel, isn’t it? It reminds us that it’s all so much bigger than…our lives…our problems. The universe is a big….clock. A big time piece…running…always running with perfection, and the next eclipses are already scheduled on into infinity….
We have little to no understanding of it….why it’s there, how it works…who’s out there….
wow. This is amazing stuff…
But anyway….the truck….Joy Ride…is doing FINE! Over the past three days we have been gradually rising in elevation and there has been no sign of a problem. She’s riding smoothly and there has been no misfires, knocks, chokes, coughs, or sneezes. Not even a sniffle. We are over 4000 feet now, in Big Timber, Montana, and I’m beginning to relax a bit.
I’ve written 2 five star reviews for the Bismarck KOA, one on the KOA site and one on the Google Maps site.
Meanwhile, the changing terrain never fails to amaze me.
In our travels, we have quickly ( in my turtle sort of way), gone from water wonderland, with green everywhere, to the North Dakota and east Montana bad lands and plains, open or farmed land, with hay just bailed for the most part, where trees are a rarity.
The stubble that is left after the hay is cut.
Now we are in the mountains, that rise higher and higher….it all just takes my breath away! What an amazing land we live in!
America the diverse and beautiful.
Silos…not so beautiful, but they have a lot to do with that line about the amber waves of grain.
Shiloh, sees someone….couple of someones actually…..
Curious friends we meet on our walk this morning at Forsyth, Montana.
Our campsite just for tonight, at Big Timber KOA in umm, yes, Big Timber, Montana.
What’s this, trees and grass! And shade! Like an oasis.
Tomorrow the plan is for Anaconda. Yes thats a Montana town. Then finally, Wednesday we reach Ronan, where we are going for the Casita Rally!
Bye beautiful horsies!
Wandering Spirit 
Okay, Micky, now that’s stuck in my head…moon shadow, moon shadow! 🎼 Thanks a bunch! 🤣
I know Maureen….I’ve been waking up with it, going to sleep with it and singing it to the dogs…but just that one line. 😂😂😂
I told Ulf about it and he put the song on his FB page, so a lot of us are going to be singing it!
Earworm! But it is a great old song, there are far worse earworms. 🤓
Montana! I remember driving through that state on the way to B.C. and listening to Big Sky Country by Chris Whitley. Definitely a fitting song for that state… great memories and great song. :). The eclipse was not very spectacular in MA due to the cloud coverage, sadly… and only about 65% totality.
Hi MG, yes even Montana itself is so diverse, going from flattish prairie and farm land in the east, to the Rocky Mountains with the likes of Glacier National Park included farther west.
No the eclipse wasn’t very spectacular by me either….not dark, but just a weird kind of light…but it’s just that it happened, and we knew when it would happen down to the tenths of a second everywhere…that just blows me away!
Thanks Marcia. Me too!
I’m glad to hear that JR is running well.
This is why I love road trips so much, the constantly changing landscape, and because you never know what you’re going to see next!
Hi Dawn. Yes every day is new and different!
Fun to see you again when we parked our big rig (you downsized A LOT more than we did in going full time on the road) next to your casita in Forsyth, MT. We last saw you in Bishop, CA, while we were camp hosting there. Flirt says “HI!”
Hi Jan! Really enjoyed talking to you guys yesterday! Love your painting!
Flirt reminds me so much of Joy through most of her life… such zest for life and so much love. She’s still the same but just doesn’t have that much strength to exhibit it anymore!
We stopped in Anaconda right after you left! Did the Whispering Willows Spa treatment! WOW! Hope your rally is fun. Take care! RAIN yesterday. Hooray!
Hi Jan, oh the spa…that must have been nice!
Got a little rain here too…folks here said that for them it was better than the eclipse. Wish I could have brought them some of the Michigan rain.
For our road trip to Idaho to see the eclipse…we reserved an intermediate car for the adventure. When we arrived at the rental desk, they were washing a bunch of cars (including our intermediate) so offered a truck with Idaho plates instead. After waffling for a few minutes (should we wait for the car? Should we take the truck?)
We settled on the truck. A silver Ford F-150 4×4 with eco boost. 🙂
And it was actually the perfect vehicle! We tackled dirt roads on BLM land easily, took a nap before the eclipse in the big back seat, then seat up beach chairs in the bed to watch the moon passing over the sun.
Too bad we have to return our big ol’ truck tomorrow. She’s quite a different ride from my little sports car, that’s for sure, but my oh my she was the BEST for this trip.
hugs
Laura
Hi Laura. That worked out well! I didn’t realize you got a Ford F-150 Ecoboost. Didn’t you find it comfy for a truck? And isn’t it nice to be riding up high?
Glad you were in such a great place for the eclipse. Your pictures are beautiful!
We have a very beautiful country!! You do such a wonderful job describing it as well as photographing it!!
I am so glad the truck is working just as it should!!🙂
Safe travels as you head to the rally!!
Thank you Gerri. We have arrived safely in Ronan, Montana. The Rally starts next week but I’m happy to be here now, and just sit relatively still for a bit. The Mission Mountains are the backdrop here. It’s like a different world than we were in just so few days ago. I know the word ‘amazing’ is overused….but….