“Sue? Sue? It’s time to say goodbye.”
It’s Michael at my door. He promised after dinner yesterday that he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye this morning.
“Oh, Michael. I hate to see you go. I’ve enjoyed your company very much. And dinner was fun.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it.” Then he adds, “Maybe we’ll see each other again. I come back here every August . . . early August.”
He pets Bridget and Spike and gets in his truck. I wave him goodbye. Michael is going to a place his mother loved on the east side of the Glacier Mountains. She died last spring and Michael is going to spread her ashes there.
I enjoyed being served dinner yesterday.
Michael slices bratwurst lengthwise and stuffs them with sauerkraut. Then he puts triangles of pepper jack cheese on top. He has a grill he hooks up to his propane tank. Accompanying the bratwurst on the grill are yellow onion halves he’s brushed with oil. I’m surprised how good the onions come out. The bratwurst doesn’t surprise me at all. Those three ingredients together are bound to be good!
A simple meal with wine enjoyed outside at dusk with interesting company.
I’m so proud of Bridget and Spike. They’re angels! They are so quiet in their pen that I forget all about them. I do notice Spike licking Bridget’s ears. When he does that, it means he’s happy. And he’s always happy when we socialize.
Today looked like it would be a scorcher.
Then, strangely, a powerful wind blows through the canyon and it becomes pleasantly cool. It’s been hammering us ever since, bringing in the smoke from the Idaho fire to the southwest.
Looking south from the shore in front of our campsite
It is so smoky that it’s hard to make out the RVs at the park across the lake. The crew and I are inside to get away from the blowing sand and smoke that stings our eyes.
The weather is unpredictable on Clark Canyon Reservoir.
I watch the boaters hurry to shore and secure their boats on trailers.
Now the crew and I are the only campers, except for a truck camper on the other side of the campground and the camp host. I didn’t take many photos today because of the weather.
I’m glad I have internet connection to keep me occupied while keeping out of the wind.
rvsue
Canine Corner: “I Was Only Doing My Job” by Spike
I shoulda’ stayed in bed.
“I got rvsue in trouble today. Early this morning the Bridge and I went out to do our business. Usually we go right back inside, have a little kibble, and hit the sack. Well, this morning I was feeling frisky so I decided I’d patrol the campground. You know, sniff out any intruders, strange dogs, stinky campers. I’m doing such a great job that rvsue comes along, picks me up, and carries me all the way home in her arms.
Then later the lady camp host comes by and says, “You know your dog was wandering around the other end of the campground this morning.” I pretended not to hear but she sounded kind of grumpy toward rvsue. Wandering! As hard as I work! She should count her blessings I’m here on the lookout for trouble. Some people got no gratitude.”
So GLad you have Spike to keep EVERYONE in line.. 🙂 Enjoyed this post as all of them Sue.. Thanks for taking us with you, I can close my eyes and think about being there with you guys.. God Bless
Great to hear from you, Larry. God bless you, too.
Sue, I’m loving hearing the crew’s perspective!
Good to know! I’m glad.
Good Job, Spike ! The gals just DON’T appreciate us guys doing our jobs!
signed the Hound Herd
First thing ya’ know, the Hound Herd’ll be followers of my blog!
But we have been since day one!!!!! We like to keep track of they’re fav Buds’!!!!!!
Signed, the Hound Herd!!!!
What no pics of dinner? Glad you had a good time.
As for Spikey…he was just patrolling making sure it was safe for YOU!
We ate those brats so fast there was no time for photos.
Yeah, Spike’s a good boy. He didn’t cause any trouble.
Hey yeah!!!!! No pics of that great sounding dinner???? You’re slippin’ kiddo! Was that served with a red or a white wine?????
Oh dear…wandering? We had one that liked to do that…I would not let her in the house for a long time after she “wandered”…when she decided to come back, it worried her, cause the other dog WAS in the house (the one who WOULD NOT wander)…heh, after I figured she had worried long enough, I would let her in…it then would be a LONG time till she ran off again. She had been a rescue dog so likely had wandered a good bit before we got her. Of course that was in houses, not in RVs…that would have been a different matter. It is strange how dogs vary like that…our other dog would not have been inticed away, no matter what. Does Bridget go with him when he wanders off?
Bridget has always been clingy. She would never wander off. I’ve noticed a change in her over the past few months. She doesn’t put up with some of Spike’s selfish ways and she isn’t always at my feet any more. No wandering like Spike though. Glad of that. One wanderer is enough! As you know . . . .
You’ve met some interesting people–I’m wondering how you seem to make friends so easily. When I’m at a campground I’m a bit hesitant to approach others–don’t want to interrupt their vacation. You seem to make a friend at every stop.
How do you do it, Sue?
I don’t know. I guess it’s my manner. I talk to people like I’ve known them for years. Plus I’m usually a slob so people know I have few pretenses.
Sue, you know how much I like and admire you, but here I have to agree with the camp host. When we are in a campground of any kind, our HoundHerd are always on leashes with us at the other end with baggies of dog poop! Nothing I hate worse than finding a pile of poop in our path! Sorry, but I felt it needed to be said. Hope I didn’t piss you off or hurt your feelings!
Well, the camp host lady felt bad as soon as she said it. She started backpedaling saying, “I know you always have your dogs on leashes. I wondered if something happened to you.” One person trying to handle two dogs means that sometimes one, namely Spike, gets away. It is a challenge keeping them on leash all the time, every day, no matter where we are.
I know it’s not easy! Every morning I have to walk all three guys, cause Chuck sleeps late,and the leashes get tangled and twisted around my legs making it hard to walk so I have to stop and untangle everybody and start again! LOL! But I wouldn’t trade the three of them for nothing…. they all mind so well! It’s just easier when Chuck is awake and he walks two and I get to walk slow with Scotty! 🙂
After 10 years of travel with dogs an’ cats, I learnt that some folks is gonna call ya out. “Where’s yer leash, ya gotta have a leash”. Usually from a self appointed campground “cop”. In the case of a crowded campground, I always leash up even though I have the best pets in the world. In the case of an empty campground…..have fun kids.
In this case the campground was empty except for the truck camper, the camp host, and the people out in boats (day people). I know what you mean, Billy Bob. If no one’s around, give the dogs a break. I don’t know about yours, but the crew is pretty regular. Once they do their morning “dump,” they’re good to go so the likelihood of them leaving crap somewhere is slight.
I know the camp host is just enforcing the rules. Funny thing is…. dogs belonging to day use boaters ran around our campsite all weekend. I didn’t mind, but it drove the crew crazy!
What a coincidence! People moved into the site next to us just now and the cutest little doxie came running over. The crew has gone WILD!
“All who wander are not lost.” Spikey was on a mission of some kind, right Spikey? Someone has to guard the campground! Jack is half Spikey and half Bridge. I can let him off leash, but he always keeps an eye on me. Now, Lizzie…she was the one who would take off. Scared me half to death one time when we were camping–she took off into woods after a deer as I was putting them in the car. I was beside myself, so what do I do? I send Jack to get her, then I cry because I have two dogs missing, now, in the middle of nowhere. I had hurt my knee and couldn’t climb down the steep incline, but I had the whistle I trained them to listen to in case we got separated enough that they couldn’t hear my voice. I blew it once every couple of minutes. Ten minutes went by, and here they came back Lizzie wagging her tail like crazy. (Jack only learned to wag his tail at age 9) 🙂 Oh, I was so relieved! Like a kid, I wanted to spank her, but I hugged her instead. Jack is far more reliable off leash than Lizzie ever was. He’ll walk right along with me, not wanting to wander. But, he left to rescue Lizzie.
I always have poop bags on me in a campground, so he never messes, and I don’t let him off leash unless I’m out in the woods by myself somewhere. People are less tolerant of big dogs. It was a funny thing, though, both Jack and Lizzie were equally as gentle, and not barkers. People are never afraid to approach Jack, but they’d always ask me if Lizzie was friendly.
How nice to have dinner cooked for you. I think you must have a magnetic personality. I went weeks without talking to anyone other than when I was in a store buying something–never got any dinners cooked for me that’s for sure! It’s your charming demeanor. 🙂
I remember how biting the sand could be when the wind blew–I was afraid it was going to sand blast the paint right off my truck in Texas. I ran into fires right down to the road in Idaho. Oops, I’m sorry, Sue. I think I just wrote a blog, not a comment!
There’s no word limit for comments! The more, the better, I say. I know the feeling when your dogs go off and you wonder if you’ll ever see them again.
Charming demeanor? Magnetic personality? I can hear my sisters and people who’ve known me for years . . . choking with laughter. I’m not magnetic. I think I’m approachable, believe it or not. At least when I’m not in one of my loner moods.
The PTV has ash particles on the hood. It’s supposed to be raining. I wish it would rain and clear the air some.
Sorry to hear the smoke and wind are forcing you inside in such a lovely place. Hoping for better for you tomorrow. Canines are canines and some of them like to sniff the place up and can wiggle out the minute you turn your back.
I had to take the crew out this evening for their nightly walk, even though the smoke is really thick now. If they don’t get their walk, they won’t settle down at bedtime. I think there’s a smaller fire to the north, too. I want rain!
Sue,
We had a good rain here a couple of days ago and it did almost nothing about washing the smoke out of the air. I’ll be getting out of it tomorrow when I head south. I think that is the only answer, the Halstead fire is nowhere close to contained and will burn for a long time yet.
Hi Ed,
Those fires keep producing smoke so the rain couldn’t help. I know you’ve been suffering with it for a lot longer than I have. I can understand you wanting to get away from it. It doesn’t look like we’re sitting in thick smoke until I drive into town, and then coming back, as I approach, I see how bad it is.
I was told by a clerk in Dillon that there’s another fire north of here, so added to the one to the west and the one to the southwest, we’re going to have smoke for a while yet. I’ll be checking your blog to see how you get away from it. Good luck!
Sadly I didn’t! I moved from one fire to another, or I should say multiple fires. It is not as bad here in Jackpot, NV but it is smoky. I think the entire west is covered with smoke.
It sounds like you enjoyed your dinner a lot. I hope you two run into each other again.
It could happen, maybe not next year, but some time. I might be going through here on the way back from Glacier NP some year . . . I know I want to see the Madison River again, and Brooks Lake, and . . .
Your dinner sounds wonderful! I am going to try grilling the onions.
We have two rescued cocker spaniels. One is very fear aggressive and when we walk with them we always have to watch out for dogs not on a leash. They are running up trying to be friendly, but causes extreme problems for us. That is the reason we always like to see people using the leash law. How we wish we had friendly pups like yours!
I know what you mean. Ever since Spike was bit by a “friendly” dog, I worry about other dogs approaching. Or Spike approaching other dogs.
Another thing I found so strange with our wanderer, is she never was even treated the least bit aggressively by dogs that threatened us or the other dog…she was small, and had a long feathery tail and wagged it like mad…somehow that seemed to keep other dogs wanting to be friends with her!!
I always appreciate when someone else does the cooking. Sounds like a good meal and company. The smoke and sand are a bummer. Hope that changes.
Spike, you just keep that grumpy lady in line.
Food cooked by someone else and eaten outside… makes me happy. The wind is gone this morning. The smoke isn’t as heavy on this end of the reservoir, as it was last night.
I forgot to mention how wonderful those brats sound! I am definately gonna try them, and grilled onions too! YUM! Glad you met somebody interesting who can cook too! 🙂
I’ve cooked for others all my life. Now I really enjoy having someone cook for me.
Hi, Sue. Hubby and I read your post last night. (Actually, he read it to me). He was laughing so hard at Spike’s blog that I had a hard time understanding him as he was talking. Glad that you had a nice dinner with a new friend. I know that, if ever our paths crossed, I would cook you up something yummy and have a glass of wine at the ready. It’s really too bad about all the fires that continue to put that haze in the air. Skies just don’t seem as blue some days. Hoping that rain falls where it’s needed and that people start giving more thought to the dangers of fire. Enjoy your day.
What a nice comment. Hi, Karen… I’m glad you enjoy hearing Spike’s view on things. I’ll take you up on the supper if our paths ever cross.
The smoke is still here. I was going to investigate a ghost town near here, but not in this smoke. The crew and I will stay home and take it easy, so we’re hardly suffering! Enjoy your day, too.
Oh Spike….my good morning laugh as I read through even just the first paragraph and I have a huge smile and just have to chuckle! You just crack me up….and so true, they should be glad they have you on the lookout!!! ~cozygirl
PS…Saukerkraut is great for the soul!!
Michael invented the bratwurst, sauerkraut and pepper jack cheese combination with what he had on hand. Camper’s soul food!
I’m currently visiting my son and his family in Hamilton, one hour south of Missoula, and the smoke is terrible!
Hi, Kathe,
You’re not far from where I camped near Norris on the Madison River. I’m sorry you’re in smoke, too. The wind has come back here, and right now it’s blowing in a good direction to clear this pocket of air near the reservoir dam. The wind direction changes a lot so it’s only temporary. I hope it clears up for you.
On the news just now. 62 fires in eight states. One young woman firefighter was killed in Idaho when a tree fell on her. Be careful everyone.
A very sad situation, so young.
Really enjoying your posts as per usual. The addition of the canine viewpoint is very cute and refreshing!
Thanks for letting me know, Marcia!
Here in the Denver area, we’re getting all the smoke from the fires in Nevada, Utah, Pacific Northwest,etc. It’s pretty bad here & it amazes me how far that smoke can travel.
Sure am enjoying the canine viewpoint. Can’t wait to here what Spike & “the Bridge” will have to say next!
How fast can you evacuate? The fires are incredible and “where theres smoke…theres fire?”
Stay safe:)
If you must drive where/when there is ash, please change your air cleaner more often. This is a public service annoucement.
Good advice. I changed my filter more often in the smoke AND in the desert where the wind was relentless.