Friday, June 30

RVSue and her canine crew are camped ten miles south of Superior in western Montana.

~ ~ ~

Reggie, Roger, and I arrive at GLM Automotive for our 9 a.m. appointment.

“Do NOT pee on those tires, Reg.”

Alec gets right to work on the Perfect Tow Vehicle.

Here’s the bill:

Description: Installed Timbren rubber stops for rear suspension. Bled power steering system. Rotated tires and inflated to 65 psi. Checked and cleared codes.

One hour of labor: $70
Timbren kit: $230
Total cost: $300

This link takes you to a product similar to what was installed on the PTV:

Timbren GMRCK15S Suspension Enhancement System

I haven’t hitched up yet, but when I do, I’ll report if the Timbren makes a difference.

Oh, and one more thing . . .

The steering wheel doesn’t shudder any more. Yippee!

~ ~ ~

Heat wave!

Temperatures rise to highs in the upper 90s and it’s humid. This goes on for several days. The crew and I are okay in the morning, but by 2 p.m. we are melting.

I search my Montana Benchmark atlas and online to find a campground or an RV park where we can have electric to power the air conditioning. The only acceptable choices are $40 – $50 a night.

No will do.

Usually, when we need a cool camp, we go up in elevation. I thought we would do that in Montana. I find out it isn’t so easy here. Most of the campgrounds are along the rivers that meander at low elevations.

For instance, the town of Superior’s elevation is only 2,744 feet.

One afternoon we are miserable.

I pour buckets of cool water from the campground spigot into a big basin. I soak my feet and splash water on myself. Reggie and Roger take turns standing in the water.

Temporary relief, but not enough. That evening the camp host tells me he got a reading of 102 degrees on his thermometer.

The next day . . .

I wait until the afternoon and then I pop the crew into the PTV.

“We’re gonna’ find a place where we can sit in Trout Creek!”

I drive us up Forest Road 250 past Trout Creek Campground.

I’m hopeful because the road clings to the course of the creek.

Surely there’s a place where we can get in the water . . .

A few miles up the road, we find access to the creek!

I park the PTV in the shade and grab Reggie and Roger.

“This is gonna’ be so great! You’re gonna’ love this!”

I hook them to the ends of the 25-foot tether. We scramble down the bank to the water.

“Someone has made a little pool!”

The water is clear and cold and wonderful!

Sitting in the pool, the water comes up to my rib cage. At first Reg and Rog are hesitant. With a little encouragement Roger comes to me, stepping on the rocks. I pick him up and gradually lower him into the water next to me.

He’s on a rock so the water is up to his “waist.” He leans against me with his front paws on my lap, not moving a muscle, and I hold him securely. He just stands in the cool water while I talk to him.

“Ooh, isn’t this nice, Rog?”

Reggie is jealous.

His jealousy motivates him to venture into the water. He steps gingerly on the rocks until next to me. Roger goes to shore and Reggie takes his place, but only for a few moments. Then he heads for dry land, too.

(I wish I had photos of the crew in the water. Between the slippery rocks and managing the pups, I didn’t dare bring the camera out to the creek.)

One could camp here (see photo above) in a van, a small Class B, or a truck camper. There’s a small fire ring. I could probably tuck the BLT into this spot but I’d have a tough time making it level enough. My primary reason for not camping along Trout Creek is the lack of internet.

The breeze coming off the water is cool.