Bitterroot Valley to Quartz Flat – Montana – July to August 2023
Monday July 24, 2023
Today is a hot day – 98 to 100 degrees. Clifford and I spent the weekend at the Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival south of Hamilton in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, and this morning we are leaving for Quartz Flat, a campground between Alberton and Superior, Montana, along I 90. I get up early, but I can’t do much without making noise, so I wait until Clifford is up before finishing packing. We are the last to leave the Hardtimes venue. I thought we were going to camp at my sister Nancy’s place a few days, but Clifford has decided not to because of the mosquitoes in the area. He has become very sensitive to insect bites, so we are going to Quartz Flat, which will be a higher and dryer spot, and hopefully fewer mosquitoes.
It is a long hot drive across Missoula and west on I 90 to Quartz Flat, especially with construction and gusty wind. We arrive in the late afternoon. I am disappointed that the outside row above the Clark Fork River is now reserved sites, but we pick a spot right across the road with a big “back yard” and get set up.
We camped here several years ago when we were moving from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Wallace, Idaho. That was just an overnight stop in a Uhaul truck. This time we will be camping a few days. I am beat by time we get set up, as the drive and the heat are quite energy draining for me.
Tuesday July 25.
It is much cooler here today, only 82. What a relief! Today is a day of settling in, as Clifford puts up ham radio antennas and I organize food and clothing. Along with that, I do a tai chi class, email, and later Clifford and I play music outside.
For the next few days the temperature remains in the 80’s, which is very nice after the 90+ days. We have a day of home repairs, taking care of all the little things that need some maintenance on Cougar.
I begin to get back into my daily routine and we both have projects to work on. I walk around the campground taking a few photos. Even though I can see the river below, it is a long way below the campground and no easy way to get closer as far as I can tell.
The temperature is creeping up, but still in the 80’s until Saturday July 29 when the high jumps back up to 95. I had planned on listening to a webinar of interest, but I can’t get internet to cooperate. Instead, I join a class with Lee Holden (Qigong), which is interesting, but the heat makes me drowsy and I end up falling asleep. Not a very productive day.
Sunday July 30 is another 95 degree day. We make a trip to my daughter Ang’s place to look at the lab that is being prepared for Clifford. It is small but he is pleased to see the progress. We hang out in the shade a while drinking cold lemon water, then head to my daughter Merri’s place for her husband’s birthday celebration. Merri has prepared great ice tea and snacks. It is fun, despite the heat, to snack and drink the delicious cold beverage.
Although the next several days are not very productive due to the heat, the mornings are cool and I walk early before it gets hot, and then sit in the shade to write in my journal and work on other projects.
Finally Friday August 4th is cooler with a high of 86. We have to do a bit of running around today – including the Alberton post office before meeting our friend Lori at the park. Then we go Merri’s for snacks and to play music together – Celtic and Irish music with Merri on flute, while I play fiddle and Clifford has his dulcimer. Lori is our audience and photographer.
Toward later afternoon, Clifford, Lori, and I head back out to Quartz Flat and Lori sets up in the campsite next to us. She has a unique array of nylon tarps for space and shade outside her camping vehicle. She leads an interesting life traveling about the world, so it is fun to catch up on things. She and I visit a while before we all head to bed.
Saturday August 5th there is a dramatic drop in the temperature with 69 degrees as a high and rain in the afternoon. Much of the day is spent visiting with Lori and in the evening we share a delicious wild rice dinner that Lori prepares for the three of us.
Between Lori’s campsite and ours I see a pine cone sitting upright in the rain. I find this to be quite interesting and amusing, and can’t resist taking a photo.
The next day the cooler temperatures and light rain continue, which is such a big change after the mid 90’s just a few days ago. I take photos of mist above the river before Lori and I have morning coffee together. She leaves soon after, as she has places to go and people to see.
Today is an “at loose ends” kind of day. In the evening I pack some stuff in Cougar in preparation for leaving tomorrow. We are heading to Alberton to stay at Ang’s place for a few days. It will be good to see her before I leave next week on the Hawaii adventure with my daughter Becka, which I am very excited about.
