Everett, WA to Missoula, MT

Things got back on track on Friday. We got up early and I cleaned the coop while Mike started loading bikes and camping gear. Right at 8:00 I started making phone calls and was able to find a kennel on the 5th try. The boys were going to Tails a Waggin’ kennel in Bothell. And not only were they willing to kennel them together and feed them two different amounts of food but would play with them and make sure they had fun. Perfect, should have called them first as they were on our way out of town.

Of course it started to rain, hard. Because it always rains when we’re packing the truck. We finally got the hell out of dodge around 10:30. We dropped the dogs off, grabbed lunch and were on I-90 by noon. Thank goodness!

It poured pretty much all the way to Ellensburg. Then we were clear until Coeur d’Alene, rained through Idaho and then clear again into Montana. The temp climbed steadily from 65 at home to almost 95 when we hit Montana. We made it to Missoula around 9:30 pm local time. Had some dinner at Tower Pizza (in business for 37 years) - excellent pizza by the way.

Then pitched our tent at the Missoula KOA. Our tent spot was surprisingly quiet and private considering how busy and packed in the campground was. An you’ll never hear me complain about free showers! The guy in the office was predicting 105 for the next day - thank god we were leaving early.

The KOA was Rufus’ first photo opp of the trip - it was just too crazy getting out of town and across WA and ID to stop at any funny stops. Oh well, more adventures tomorrow!

- written Sunday, July 22