Off-the-Grid

Whoa! We've been off- the- grid, out- of- the- loop and incommunicado for a few days. That means no cell phone service in the National Forest campgrounds we squatted in across northern Montana and Idaho, and few places along the way to stop to hook into wifi, at least not at times when it was convenient for us. You can imagine my excitement when we got to Leavenworth, Washington, and I had FIVE bars on my phone. Right now we're doing laundry at Just Plain Laundry in Plain, WA, and conveniently, the wifi from the neighboring hardware store stretches over here so I can keep track of washers while I'm updating. I feel like we've reentered civilization, and it is good.  We camped last night at Lake Wenatchee State Park just a few miles from this little town situated in the southern Cascades, just off Hwy. 2. We will stay put for another night so we can get caught up on a few things.

 

 Montana

When driving across central Montana through the Judith Basin that lies between the Little Belt Mountains to the south, the Highwood Mtns. to the west, and the Judith Mtns. to the east, one is compelled to think of synonyms
for the word VAST:
panoramic, extensive, expansive, sweeping, limitless, boundless

  All of them apply.

 

 

Last Sunday (20th) we stopped for a break from all the immensity in the little town of Stanford. It's the county seat of Russell County, named after the artist of the Wild West, Charles Russell. Stanford's main street was decked out in Fall/Halloween displays. Not many people around or businesses open - it was Sunday afternoon - but there was some activity at the Pump House, the local tavern and adjoining restaurant. A local greeted us with, "It's a beautiful day in the Basin!" Indeed, it was. Breezy, with a chill, but sunny and cloudless.