Happy Fall Ya’ll
Biking the Hiawatha Trail
Nestled in the heart of the Bitterroot Mountains, this iconic rail-to-trail route offers a cycling experience like no other. As you pedal along the historic Milwaukee Road rail bed, you’ll traverse awe-inspiring trestles and pass through several illuminated tunnels, including the famous Taft Tunnel, all set against a backdrop of lush forests and pristine alpine lakes. With its gentle gradient and well-maintained path, the Hiawatha Trail is accessible to riders of all levels, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a harmonious blend of natural beauty and cycling thrill.
I had to deliver Rost’s old crib to its new owner on the Montana-Idaho border so I decided to take advantage of my proximity to the Hiawatha Trail. My friend Becky joined Rost & me for the ride on the last day of the 2023 season. Perfect timing!
20 Months Old
Twenty months have already crept by. We’re approaching TWO and I could not be more excited. Rost is quite the helper these days and with summer winding down and a list of projects we’re trying to accomplish on the property still sitting on my desk, we’re happy for his help. Even if it does mean it takes us a little longer to complete them.
37th Anniversary of The Incident of 1986
Another trip around the Daystar. Another new adventure was taken. While I had initially had a backpacking trip into the Crazy Mountains planned, it was sidetracked & a new adventure was formulated that included multiple days of hiking in different areas and crystal mining. Xoxo.
Rocky Point
Rocky Point is a short little out-and-back hike along the water’s edge of Lake McDonald. My friend Breanna (and her son) took Rost & me out for a quick trek along the trail one night. Rost is a little rockstar on any hiking trail, especially when there are rocks to throw into the water somewhere along the way. I hope this bodes well for me as a future hiking buddy.
Fair
What event could possibly hold so many of Rost’s favorite things in one place? Why the Northwest Montana Fair, of course! Tractors, cows, horses, ice cream, and even more tractors!
Walking Missoula
Although Rost and I had just returned home from our most recent trip to the East Coast, Brian had a work conference in Missoula this week so Rost and I tagged along.
Over the course of a week Rost and I walked more than 50 miles around the city and ate Big Dipper ice cream nearly every day we were there. In my defense, it was 100 or more every day we were there. We saw lots of friends, got to check out the Missoula library, and finally swam in Becky’s pool! I was also able to squeeze in an abdominal MRI at my old place of work, Advanced Imaging, to follow up on the masses discovered on my liver and pancreas back in July. I am happy to report they appear non-cancerous and only require re-checks every 6 months for the foreseeable future. Huzzah!
Storytime at the Pool
We have the most amazing librarians at our Kalispell library. The children’s section in particular is spectacular. One of the programs they hold is storytime at the local outdoor pool – during the summer. We get to have storytime, and then some cool toys are brought out for a little playtime before the pool opens for the day. Rost takes after me in the fact that he is not a fan of cold water but we both still had a really great time playing with our friends and a special water-related story.
19 Months Old
Rost turned 19 months old while he and I were visiting my family & friends back in Pennsylvania. Don’t worry, you’ll only be getting these monthly updates until he turns two, then posts will resume back to life events.
Longview Lavender Farm
Not far from our house is Longview Lavender Farm. This family-owned and operated boutique farm is free to the public and houses a variety of lavender varieties to walk amongst.
Rost and I met some of our friends there to walk amongst the wonderful aromas of the plants. We also took home some of the most amazing lavender oils and other lavender treats from their well-stocked store. If you come visit us in Kalispell anytime during the summer months definitely request that a trip to this farm be a part of your tour.
