Missoula Part 2

 Judy.  Shortly after we arrived in Missoula, our friend John asked if we saw a great change here since last year.  Of course, it’s hard to say since Covid-19 has caused so much to be shut down. What I can say is that our experience is definitely different—not better or worse. Just different.

 

As we did with our proposed trip to Europe, we made all kinds of plans that didn’t happen. The Roots Music Festival where we had planned to volunteer was cancelled. Church is now, as it is elsewhere in the US, online, not in person. We gave up our membership to the YMCA after three months of being unable to use it, so no classes or workouts. I’m no longer comfortable wandering in and out of stores I visited last year. Although I never went swimming at Currents, the public pool, I had hoped to try it out this year, but that doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.

 

And yet.  

Sunrise from our apartment

 

Because we’re not busy doing what I thought I’d do, we’ve done so much more. We’ve hiked more than last year—usually twice a week, usually on different trails in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, a mere fifteen-minute drive from our apartment. Despite being in the same part of the park, each trail offers different views and flora. We carry our bear spray, but have yet to spot a grizzly or a rattlesnake--or a mountain lion, for that matter. Just beautiful views, shady forests, open meadows filled with flowers, and the songs of birds and chatter of squirrels. We see few hikers, but lots of mountain bikers, so mostly we have the trail to ourselves.  

View on a Rattlesnake Trail

 

We drove to Kootenai Canyon, where we hiked last year. It was as beautiful as we remembered, but very crowded. Afterwards, we went into Stevensville, the oldest settlement in Montana, for a food truck lunch and beer at the Blacksmith Brewery next door.

We knew we couldn’t stay in Missoula after August, so decided to check out Helena, which we loved, and will go to in mid-September. Coming back we took Raymond up a jeep trail to Garnet, a restored ghost town high on a mountain. Unlike many mining towns, Garnet had families and a school. Leaving, we had more incredible mountain views.  

Garnet

 

Another day we drove up the Bitterroot Valley past Kootenai and Stevensville to the end of the valley at the Idaho border on Lost Trail Pass. Not finding a restaurant with a patio on our way back (patios would not be useful here past September!), we opted for sandwiches from the Albertson’s Deli, and a picnic at the Blodgett Creek campground. Definitely going back for a hike along the creek!  

Raymond loves gravel roads

 

Our friends Susan and John met us at the Snowbowl Ski Resort for an outdoor pizza and a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain for a remarkable view.

 

If I get to the Farmer’s Market by eight AM, there are few buyers, so I can follow the one-way paths to buy the beautiful and inexpensive flowers and vegetables from the Hmong and organic farmers without worry.

 

Another weekend we drove north to Whitefish. The town was a disappointment—very touristy—but the scenery was magnificent as we drove past Flathead Lake many times, and hiked up part of the Whitefish Trail to the lake overlook.

Whitefish Lake

We lunched at Bonsai Brewery, which had outside dining and a great burger. And Ted loved the bitter. Coming back through Kalispell, we spotted a Chick-Fil-A, the only one in Montana, and treated ourselves to peach milkshakes. Going up and coming back, we passed my favorite mountains here, the Mission Range.

 

One afternoon we were relaxing while playing cards, and kept hearing helicopters. Finally, after a half hour, I went to the balcony and saw a prairie fire burning up Mount Sentinel, very close to us. It must have spread quickly, since by the time we looked, it was about two-thirds of the way up the hill. We watched as two helicopters flew back and forth, dousing it with water till it was out.  

Mt Sentinel Fire

 

We’d been so fortunate that there had not been western fires this year, but about the same time as ours happened, we began to get smoke here from other fires around the west. We could definitely use some rain.

 

If we’re not hiking, we walk most days. Almost everyone here has a mask that they put on as we approach each other, and, if at all possible, we tend to take wide swings around each other.

 

Chocolate mousse

On my birthday we took a chance and went to a restaurant, the Pearl Café, for dinner. We were pleased to see that tables were spread out, all diners wore their masks when not eating, and the waiter wore his all evening. And dinner was absolutely delicious. 

Although we seldom see other residents of our building, we do see Margaret, whom we met last year, and who takes her walk back and forth in front of the building, waving when she sees us.

 

Drivers continue to be courteous, stopping to let us cross the street, and the cyclists—which are everywhere—are considerate of pedestrians, for the most part. All the things we loved last year, we still love here.

 

John asked if we’d be coming back next year. Honestly, if things get back to some sense of normal, we’ll be overseas. But if it’s another year of staying in the US, why not?