August 6 - 12, 2018 The Dog Days of Summer

This week started out with the same routines. On Monday though we went to Bigfork to haul our trash and do our thing at the Bigfork fishing access site. We also stopped at the visitor center and grocery store in Bigfork. Since we  did not have the dogs  I also stopped at the UPS store in Bigfork to see about getting Steve's shots sent there. We left home with enough shots for 3 months - but we will actually be in the RV about 4 months before we arrive home. So we wanted to check with VA about getting another box of shots shipped to us before we leave this area.  I thought it would be easier than trying to get the shots shipped when we hit the road home.  This is also the day I got so frustrated trying to update the blog and just didn't do anything on it.

Sights we see at Echo Lake

Boat Trailer left in the parking lot for a few days

August 8

 

August 8

Tuesday arrived and I call the VA first thing in the morning  and they were great to work with.  We figured out how to have the shots sent to Bigfork UPS office. There were some wasps down by the dock in the doggie poop bag dispenser - so Steve sprayed them and only got one sting.

Deer - spotted on our walk

Wednesday - Steve did extra weed eating. We also changed the air filters in the air conditioner because we didn't think the new Air Conditioner was cooling great.
Thursday we did Laundry and got the oil changed in the pickup. While I was at the laundry - UPS called and said Steve's shots had arrived!  Boy, I love it when a plan comes together. We ate lunch at the Grateful Bread (quiche, toast and fruit bowl and split a smoothie). It was great!

Saturday Morning was lovely!

New water filter - Left

Saturday - we changed the water filter (from the well water).  Lots of difference


It has been unusually hot for Montana - it got up to 98 degrees here!  Saturday was 91 degree

 Some of the floats people use here.

 We are just trying to stay inside the RV when the temperature heats up!

Sunday we went to the Strawberry Lake Trailhead and to the Krause Interpretive trail.  It is always about 5 degrees cooler there - and so nice.

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Trying to Catch Up! End of July and Beginning of August

Well I got way behind in the blog. The last time I tried to catch up - I could not get the pics from the phone to the laptop and the signal was bad. So I got frustrated and gave up.
I am trying again today.

Steve did this weed eating!

Full Moon July 24

Sunset July 24

I left off about July 22 and mainly the routine is the same most days: Walk, Do our chores here at the lake,  then some days we do laundry or go to Walmart. Lots of days we take a nap. Some days we go exploring.

July 25

July 25 Above the RV

July 25 

Dog Tired

Some of the more significant things that have happened I will try to write about.

Me! Posing in front of the Echo Lake sign! July 26

Yellow Flowers on our walk

My blood pressure medication was recalled, so I had to work with my doctor's office to get a different medicine for that.  We have experienced air conditioner problems and dealt with that. We got a small window unit (think redneck) and put it in the dining room window (cardboard, duct tape, etc). But it kept us cool until the big unit arrived and got installed.  So the Air conditioner repair guy called on July 25 and said the Air conditioner had arrive in Missoula and should arrive at his shop the next day or two.  On Friday the 27th, we did preparation for the AC installation. We moved the RV over, took up our mat, put away our chairs, moved the picnic table and about wore ourselves out getting things ready.
The guy came at about 9:30 Saturday morning the 28th of July to install the Air conditioner unit. He was supposed to bring his son to help him but he didn't. Steve did what he could to assist. I had our dogs in their crates away from the RV to keep them relatively quiet and out of the way. Also I tried to keep them from barking their heads off. So the Air Conditioner was installed and worked good! Yea!
The next day (Sunday, Jul 29) was very busy with boaters, swimmer and floaters here at the lake.

Steve watching the RV Air Conditioner installation

Red, White & Blue Pickups in the Parking Lot

Float Tube with bull in the middle

Flowers we see on our walks!

When Monday rolled around we did our routine items, including picking up trash from the road and the beach area. We also took care of the Bigger Fishing Access site.  Then we had an excursion.
We drove to Holland Lake - another place we could have been camphosts this summer. We did a tour of the campgrounds there and it is nice. The main problem at Holland Lake is the distance to civilization! It is about 60 miles south of Bigfork and therefore about 90 miles from Kalispell where we get groceries etc. It would be a great place to spend some time camping though.

July 31 fell on Tuesday and it was Austyn's 16th birthday so we had a FaceTime call with her in the evening and watched her open her presents (long distance).  Also we defrosted the freezer and did other routine stuff.

Sunset July 31

The first day of August is when we call in the car count to the boss - so we did that. We also went to Kalispell and turned in our volunteer times-heets and went to Walmart for supplies. The rest of the week was pretty routine. On our way to town Friday - we gave a woman $20 for gas because she appeared to need help. Sunday the 5th of August was busy again with lots of people enjoying Echo Lake.

Displays at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Office in Kalispell