I could live in this town!!!

Missoula, Montana!  When we first hit the city on Thursday after being in the remote locations of Red Lodge and Livingston, I hated it!!!  The traffic and hustle and bustle of a whopping town of 40K people!!  HAHAHA!  The KOA was like a small city---200+ sites, no privacy and it was HOT! 94 degrees! In Northwest MT!  I thought traveling 1500 miles from home would be much cooler but NO... HOWEVER, on Friday I decided to tackle the city and plan some fun stuff for me and the boys.   I had researched a doggie daycare before arriving to the area and found one I thought would be good for the boys--DogLogicinc....I made arrangements for them to try it out on Friday.  A half day (6 hrs.) was FREE!!!! And if everyone was happy they would go back Sat. while mom had booked a massage and facial!!!  Remember I NEVER said I was RUFFING it!!!  I am still very much a GIRL even though I am enjoying living the simple life....Someone will have to show me how to apply makeup again and do something with the hair......:) But I am surely not worried about that!!  So I hit downtown around noon on Friday and LOVED it!  What a great downtown area!  Many unique, local stores located right off the river walk.   I walked for 2 hours just taking it all in and then grabbed lunch at McKenzie River Pizza Co.  YUMMY!!  I then was able to head back to camp and take care of some chores before picking up the boys.  I hadn't received a phone call from the daycare so I was hopeful that all was going well!!  The actual word LaLah used was "excellent" when I picked them up which was a shocker for me. But sweet relief!! Cause mama was getting a ME-SAAGE!!!  AND the boys were able to partake in an every third Sat. birthday party at the daycare!!  CAKE FOR ALL!!   How funny right!  I hit town again to enjoy the largest farmers market for a small town I had seen.  Beautiful flowers, food and produce was everywhere.  So nice to see everyone enjoying being w/ their families and supporting the local farmers and economy.   I didn't buy anything but COULD have if I only had a what folks????? YES, a REFRIGERATOR!!!   I then headed to Cedar Creek Day Spa and had a relaxing massage and facial.   Love when they tell you your skin looks younger than you really are!  WHOO HOO!!!   I then had some great Grilled Chix Nachos at the Flathead Lake Brewing Co.  It is there I learned there is a Testicle Festival in Clinton, MT if anyone is interested in attending.  It did say you would have a ball there...:)   I picked the boys up and another successful day was had----lots of doggie cake was eaten!!

Missoula is very liberal and "hippie like" (actual verbiage from masseuse not me).  Although I feel like I already live in a similar place, with the addition of the University of Montana there---made the city feel alive and larger than it actually is.   The music scene and "youthfulness" of the town is very appealing.  Once again, another city I would highly recommend visiting....  Very different from Red Lodge and Livingston but worth including.  

We left Missoula this morning and are parked in Couer d' Alene, ID.  BEAUTIFUL area and the drive was incredible.  Only about 2.5 hrs away and no big passes to drive but the route was forested with BIG green trees and followed a river almost the whole drive.  Driving into Couer d Alene is breathtaking.  Lakes surround and connect the entire city.   And we are 2 nights in a dog friendly hotel---which at first felt foreign.  But after a nice walk in the 90 degree day we are all enjoying this air conditioning!!  I have learned I could really do without the TV....HA! and guess what they have.... A REFRIGERATOR!!!  But I don't even have anything to put in it!!  Oh well.....that will give me plenty of time to soak, pluck, file, polish, shine, etc.  :))

The boys are getting much better with living the nomadic camp life that we are currently living.   I have learned that copious exercise is the key to happiness for me and them.  We have been doing 45 min to an hr walk when we first get up.  Before coffee even!!!  They LOVE it!!   and I have started really enjoying it as well since I don't have to hurry off to work...... This has helped with them riding in the car, meeting other dogs and interacting with kids.   Last night, my new camp neighbors, Cameron and Lauren ( 2 and 5) asked very politely to come pet the boys.   They did great.  They even gave the boys a bone each and we made them sit for it---which shocked the kids!!  Yes, we are getting better with many new things!!

Folks may wonder why I am taking this route vs. all the National Parks, etc.   Well, I have been fortunate in my life to have been to Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier and up to Banff many times so I decided for the sake of time and money and to avoid the summer crowds---forgo it all together.  I wanted to spend more time in NEW places.  So far, everywhere I've been is new.....and I'm still proud of myself.....

Below are pics of me on the Missoula river walk, farmers market, Clark Fork river from the bridge, the clarity of the river (from 30 ft above!), a street in downtown, flowers at the market and the famous Missoula Carousel at the Park.