Adios Yellowstone, Hello Missoula!

The kids after our Upper Falls hike. (Entry 15)

Whew! What a packed few days we have had! When I left off, we were gearing up for our final day at Yellowstone. We tried to pack in as much as we can – the park is so huge - and started off by a drive out to the Northern section of the park and explored the Manmoth Hot Springs. The rock formations are so beautiful. While I feel like a broken record, it really is just too hard to describe the uniqueness of Yellowstone. I hope everyone has a chance to go there! Once again we forgot the stroller. Once again we got an added work out by each getting to carry a boy.

We saw as many sights as we could before having to head back to the campground to meet Mr. Randy, who was going to install our new pump in our washing machine. We got to see some awesome wildlife on the drive – a coyote, several bison and a BEAR! When you see a long line of cars pulled over on the side of the road in Yellowstone, you know it is something exciting and this time, it was! He was a grizzly and he was walking on all fours just moseying around. I am so glad we got to see one. From the car.

It took Shawn and Mr. Randy about 2 hours but eventually they figured out how to get our miniature washer and dryer out of the tiny little hole it was built into, and get it fixed. We watched it wash a full cycle and I was all but clapping when it started spinning and draining! Even though I can literally only fit two towels in it at once, at least it is working and my days aren’t planned around my laundry needs. Big win.

Once that was finished, we headed out for one final meal at the yummy Madison Lounge thanks to my in-laws. I ordered an exact repeat of the few nights before and loved every bite. It’s the kind of place that we would go to all the time if it was at home. Great vibe and great food.

The next morning we were setting off for Missoula, Montana. Our last stop before our last national park, Glacier, which we check into on Saturday. But not before a work out. After eating like a 16 year old boy for the last two weeks, I need to get back on track. The downfall of being on an extended vacation is eating like you are on an extended vacation! Work outs have generally been very easy to do because we packed a ton of stuff. Four sets of dumbbells, medicine balls, a TRX strap (so awesome if you haven’t tried it!), a stability ball, resistance bands, etc. Yes, we are a little crazy about exercise. But the hard part is the cardio. If I had to rank some of the top things I miss, my cardio machines would be right up there at the top. (But not before a tub. Yes, I miss the tub for myself, but I REALLY miss the tub for my kids. My boys desperately need to soak those little boy parts and Jude hates the shower!) Obviously running is the natural choice for cardio and while I don’t mind running a little, maybe 3-4 miles, it is SO FREAKING HARD here. The elevation just kills me. I should be able to run 10 miles by the time I get home with how hard I have to work at 7000 feet! (I should be able to. But I won’t.)

So back to the trip. So we took off for the 5 hour drive to Missoula. As I have clearly stated, I do not enjoy long periods of travel in the RV. It is hard on the kids. And by kids, I mean Jude. Thankfully on this day, the boys huddled up on the couch and actually watched a movie together. It was magical. With about an hour to go, Jude was asleep and Shawn and his dad switched places so that Shawn could experience driving his dads coach. I literally cannot articulate the quality and ridiculous beauty of my in law’s coach (I cannot bring myself to call that thing an RV). We were driving in high winds, about 30 MPH gusts that day, and we were being blown all over the road. When we stopped to get gas and his dad got out of his coach he said, oh wow. It’s windy. He didn’t even know. So when I talked to Shawn after driving it, I was not surprised to hear that he was in love. I took a ride in it for our final 30 minutes and it really is amazing the difference that the weight can make. Theirs weighs about 3 times as much as ours. Needless to say, we see a heavier coach in our future. That vulnerable feeling is just not enjoyable. So to all of you possible RV buyers in the future, pay attention to those details! Weight matters.

We got settled in here in Missoula, cooked up some tacos and called it a night. We got up in the 40 degree weather this morning bright and early and I was immediately reading about all of the cool stuff we could do and quickly formed a plan. Yummy breakfast spot downtown, walk to an amazing looking playground on the river, visit the shops and hit the ice cream parlor. FOUR HOURS LATER, we finally had to wake the kids up. It was almost 10am so we ended up eating breakfast at Noon by the time it was all said and done. It stays light out here until about 9:45 at night so they are admittedly going to bed later, but holy sleeping in. These kids are going to be struggling when school starts again! Breakfast was awesome. (Go to Catalyst if you ever find yourself in Missoula!) And we had a ton of fun walking the entire downtown visiting the playground and shops. It’s a beautiful town and I am constantly in awe of how all of the towns we see out west are so thoughtfully planned to encourage being outdoors. Runners, bikers, walkers, children – they just make it so easy and so inviting to be outside and active!

Luke’s bike got an unfixable flat tire and with Macy now riding around like she’s been riding her whole life, both boys are obsessed with riding as much as possible. So tonight we hit Target and bought a new bike. It’s never easy to take the kids to Target. You go four steps and they find something else to beg for. And of course Jude chooses to tell me he pooped when we are in the absolute back corner of the store. Why doesn’t Target have a bathroom in the back??!? I am ALWAYS IN THE BACK when one of my kids just HAS to go. It was funny though when Macy stopped me and said, “Wow, I know we aren’t in Richmond but it REALLY feels like we are in Richmond.” It’s amazing how a Target can do that to you.

So tomorrow we head to Glacier National Park for five nights and then we start our trip back home. I am not saying I am totally ready to be done with the trip, but I am getting there. This a small space. There are a lot of people. And a lot of time. You get to be front and center for every impatient fit.  Mine included. Mine especially included. Here’s hoping for a wide road, guardrails some extra patience and no wind tomorrow!

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