Deep West: An Update

There is a lot I haven’t written about from the last week. I’ll try and write it all up soon. Trying to keep on top of my blog and anything else “normal life” related has been pretty difficult. The important thing is that I’m ok and doing fine. That’s why you’re reading this… Probably.

I’m in Missoula, MT. I’m at a very fancy KOA. This is my third day in Montana. Places all around here have been on fire. It’s more windy than I expected and apparently that plays into the whole fire-season thing. I’ll be crossing the Lolo Pass tomorrow and stopping in Walla Walla, WA. I’m excited to get a souvenir from there, because I feel like I’ve been hearing jokes about Walla Walla, WA since I was a kid.

I guess I barely stopped to take any pictures today, because this is my only on-the-road picture. I normally try to take pictures at least at every gas station I stop at.

Day 10(?): I’ll be better at this, I swear

Leaving Dubuque, IA for Lacrosse, WI.

I stayed at the Richard House last night.

I needed to find a place to sit and figure out where to go next, so I went into the Dubuque arboretum.

I figured I’d look around and then draw some plants, but I ended up meeting a bunch of sweet older folks and chatting instead. The ladies painting group, “The Broad Strokes”, let me sit in on their session. I ended up speaking to the husband (a former Navy pilot and professional motorcycle tour guide) of one of the ladies about where to head next. Everybody there was so genuine and kind and very happy to meet me, which I was so tickled by. I didn’t get to see much of the arboretum, but it was an interesting time for sure.

I ended up staying at a campsite near the Mississippi. The drive to Lacrosse was beautiful.