I’m pumped. And a little bit nervous.
I used to go wilderness camping regularly (I seldom stay in campgrounds – boondocking is my preference), often to the general area of southwest Montana’s Centennial Valley where Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is located. But I believe it’s been two years since I’ve been there because back surgeries, long recoveries, personal circumstances and life in general got in the way.
But that’s about to change.
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge with the Centennial Mountains in the background.
Later this morning I’m leaving for the Centennial, with my camping trailer in tow of course. My itinerary is flexible and so is the amount of time I’ll be gone but my expectation is that it’ll be 3-5 days, depending on weather and quite a few other variables.
I hope to post occasionally from the road but I’ll be using a hotspot to access the internet and some of the places I intend to camp don’t have a cell signal. So that’s one wild card but there’s another. I’ll be using a new laptop that I haven’t yet mastered. It’s showing quirks where I didn’t know quirks could exist, so we’ll see how that goes.
If I can post from the road, they’ll be short posts and possibly they’ll be travelogue as much as bird and wildlife oriented.
For my readers who are RV campers and safety oriented, I offer the following.
On a camping trip to the same Centennial Valley area back in 2011, the rough, rocky roads while hauling my heavy camping trailer caused me to have four flat tires! – two on my pickup and two on my camping trailer. I had a 5th flat tire on that same trip but that was 380 miles north of the Centennial on our northwest Montana family farm. Both my pickup and trailer were relatively new and still had stock tires on them, so I paid a heavy price for using low quality tires on rough roads.
It’s up to a 50 mile drive, mostly on those same rocky dirt and gravel roads, to get to the nearest tire shop in Lima, MT so for much of that trip I was dealing with the considerable angst of flat tires and their aftermath. And that was when my bad back was still in pretty good shape. Having to change that many flat tires now would be an unmitigated disaster.
I have good tires on my pickup but I’ve learned that the tires that came on my new camping trailer are known as “Chinese Exploders”, apparently for good reason.
My camping trailer being fitted with new “shoes” at Discount Tire
So last week I bought new E rated (10 ply) Goodyear Endurance tires for my trailer. They weren’t cheap and trade-in value, even for nearly new used tires, is next to nothing.
But peace of mind is worth a lot.
Ron
Note:
Getting this trip launched has been a nightmare. There have been multiple delays caused by unexpected changes in the weather forecast for that area of Montana, another delay when I decided to get new tires for the trailer and then two days ago the worst happened.
After 24 years of reliable use, the AC unit in my house died (corroded compressor). It was a miracle but within 30 hours of the unfortunate demise of my old AC unit I had a new one installed and working (as of 5 PM last evening).
My bank account took a huge hit but it had to be done. Thanks to Whipple Service Champions for a rush job well done, and for giving me an upgraded (more efficient) AC unit for the same price as the one I intended to get, when that one was unexpectedly out of stock (a $1500 savings).
Best of luck Ron on your camping adventure. I foresee absolutely NO flats this time. You deserve some smooth sailing.
Wishing you well on your adventure. I’m sure all the unexpected emergencies will prove to be worth it = = = peace of mind concerning your home while you are away ==and more piece of mind knowing that you will make the round trip without truck/trailer problems.
Have fun!!
Stay safe, may this adventure be one of your best ones.
Take Care,
Kaye
Woo Hoo.
I am doing happy dances of hope for you and hope this long awaited trip is WONDERFUL.
Good golly, that’s a lot of aggravating circumstances to endure as you prepare for a long overdue getaway! But a few days in the woods enjoying your new home-away-from-home, spending quality time with the birds and other critters and the Big Sky, will make up for it. I’m not even entertaining the idea that weather will be anything but cooperative! 😉Happy trails, my friend❣️
So excited for you to be out doing what you love, Ron! Wishing you a safe trip with good weather, level stopping ground, and cooperative birds (and tires). 💜
Have a great trip! Wishing you good weather, safe driving, no computer glitches! Very glad you won’t be driving on those Chinese Exploders!
Look forward to reports!
I appreciate all three wishes, Carolyn. Thanks
Looks like an opportunity for exciting adventure Ron. Excellent idea to upgrade those tires. Bad enough having a problem with ordinary car tires on a trip, but for your rig there it would be a serious problem. I have been to a large majority of our states, but never to Montana. Looks like a beautiful area to visit. Have fun, get lots of great photos, and be safe.
I hope you make it to MT sometime, Everett. Especially the western part.
Hope it all goes well! Weather has been ugly at times here – looks like it will be decent at least until the weekend. We’ve missed the worst of it so far but still have plenty of “pick-up-stix” to do. 😉 Better the AC went before you left than coming home to it!
Brother Mike here from Seattle for a quick trip – will fly out Thurs. as that seems to be the bet day weather wise for him.
Judy, I’ve been reading the MT weather and forecast exactly as you describe it. Even the “window” for the rest of this week seems to be closing a little. Figured I’d better get going while the going is good.
I hope you have a great trip and that all the “worst-case scenarios” have been completely prevented by the recent experiences. (I hate it when the AC decides not to work exactly when we are having the hottest temperatures! Happened to me last summer. Not fun)
Sue, I had no idea my AC was as old as it was. I guess I got my money’s worth out of it.
Have a great trip Ron!
I hope to, Mark.
Good luck on your trip! We can’t wait to see the results.
Thanks, Joanne.
Darn you Ron. Was quite content this morning, then I looked at that first photo in your post. Now, I have this heartfelt and nearly overwhelming desire to pack up the car and hit the road. Oh, the longing.
“But peace of mind is worth a lot.”
You got that right. Chinese Exploders!!! Having the proper kit is the only way to go on such adventures.
24 years on an AC unit is not bad. Ours gave out at 26. Got a good heat pump system now, but it did put a significant dent in our bank account as well.
Congrats on getting out on the open road with that new trailer. Computer and other niggly stuff aside, I hope you have a wonderful time. Looking forward to hearing your reports from the field, be they birds or travelogue. Safe journey!
“Oh, the longing.”
I get that, Michael. I’ve been looking at that photo too often for too long.
Best wishes for a no-flats trip. Enjoy your time out there!
Thanks, Duane. No flats is one of my biggest hopes for this trip.