The smoke in Helena is so bad that the air quality hazard is up on the Weather Channel app. I've never encountered anything like feeling you're in the middle of a fire but not seeing flames. I opened the window to our bedroom and said to Shawn, "it's like waking up next to a campfire, the smoke is so thick and smells so strong". Now if you know me, you know that I buy these little bundles of wood and burn them to get that smell, so imagine my shock when I wake up and for miles around my city it's smoke filled and with that same pungent smell. What saddens me the most is the land that will be scarred for quite some time as it heals. I hate to think of how the fires are displacing my beloved forest creatures. Since I've moved to Montana, a full year ago now I've seen three moose, a mountain goat, a massive heard of deer in an open field (and occasionally right in my front yard or meandering down the middle of the street in downtown Helena) and a ton of elk.
I had my first nail biting experience when two weeks ago this Saturday Shawn and I went for a drive in his 2010 Nissan Xterrra that is completely paid off mind you. We were exploring a random road as we often do, when all of a sudden the road disappears and we are driving in a washed out road with no ability to back out or turn around as we are completely surrounded by dense forest all around us. This road went from smooth and car safe, to MAYBE meant for a dirt bike or four wheeler. For miles and miles we were tossed around trying to navigate razor sharp jutting jagged rocks, worrying that any moment one of the downed tree logs that kept getting stuck under the truck, or super sharp rocks were going to pierce the gas tank or some other vital undercarriage car part as we literally kept being slammed down on the rocks for MILES to the point that the side curtain air bags deployed on us on one of the unforgiving and particulary ugly portions, and that is saying something. Later we would examine the vehicle to find a massive dent on my passenger door side by the underside of the truck, so imagine how hard we had to slam down to dent metal.
One of the most difficult things was that our road literally disappeared on the map and on our gps phone apps, so we had no clue how far we had to navigate this practically impassible road. Two hours basically. Now it's not like we planned to go off roading, no we truly didn't. Shawn and I both have extensive intentional off roading experience and know better than to go off alone without backup on an untraversed road in a vehicle that was almost unable to make it through. Shawn was in a tee and shorts and Birkenstocks, and I was just in leggings and a tee and flip flops.
Now Shawn is an experienced back country hiker and camper going on annual ten day Manventures as he and his friends refer to them, parking at a trailhead and packing in their gear for a eight mile a day trek, so he would get out and scout a mile ahead to see how best to drive his truck through this evil road. Once as he was getting out of the truck to check a nasty part of the road he gashed his forehead open and had blood pouring down his face, and he just blew it off, he's made of tough stuff. At one point when I was lucky to get signal I posted on Facebook "Lost" in case we didn't manage to get out in the truck and had to hike out in bear infested back woods without bear spray someone would know where to at least start looking. My friends would later post, "Really, or Seriously"? I was like "who jokes about that"?! I don't cry wolf folks! At one point we had to go over this thrown together rotted, termite infested log bridge over a raging river, with a vertical climb right after it, and I just looked at Shawn and said "go as fast a possible"! Long story longer we finally made it out and we realized we had went in one gigantic circle! I told Shawn I'd like to hike back in there and put up hazard signs saying "Turn back now, not fit for vehicle" or "last chance to turn around" or "lift kit and back up required"! So luckily the truck still has full coverage and it's in the shop getting fixed, but we are looking at almost three to four weeks before we get it back.
I was approved to be a Big Sister and may have connected with a Little Sis so I am really excited about that. Shawn and I went to Malta, Montana this past weekend to see my sister and her two sons and her daughter-in-law and Robbie's new son (he now has two little girls and a boy). There is NOTHING in Malta except mosquitoes and the Edgewater motel which was actually alright, rustic like the Village Inn at Glacier National Park, except the Edgewater had a flat screen and a/c, but I loved the Village Inn more, for the view and it's lack of electronics and mod cons. Truly, who knew I'd love that so much.
It looks like we are headed to Las Vegas, as I've never been and Shawn is a pro on the tables apparently, so that should be a lot of fun, perhaps they have bingo, I do love bingo, especially if I am playing for kitchen toys. I hear they have some great shows in Vegas also so we'll have to check those out as well.
All is quiet and peaceful on the homefront, and I really couldn't be happier. I hope the same can be said for you and yours.
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