SISTERS ON THE CURB

There are a number of ‘sub’ groups of Sisters on the Fly: Sisters on the Try who want to try one before deciding to join; Sisters who bicycle, Sisters and their Misters, among quite a few others.

For the first time, we took advantage of one of the sub groups – Sisters on The Curb. Sisters who have room invite any member to park at their house or property for the night. This very handy for us as we travel along toward Minnesota! Our stay for our first night was in Missoula at Karin’s house.

And there is a little story. Karin had texted that she and her husband would not be home until late, but park in front of the trailer on the street in front of their house. As we started to back in to what seemed would be an somewhat uncomfortable incline for sleeping, the

neighbor (Breezie) was cleaning her motor boat for departure for a weekend on a nearby lake. She said we could back into her driveway as she would be gone. As we began the maneuver to do just that, a woman in car towing a small trailer stopped to say that if we need a curb, we could use hers up the street as they were going to the lake. All of a sudden we had three choices of where to park for the night. We stayed in Breezie’s driveway and had a quiet, comfortable night.

Now, let’s go back to the beginning.

Susan and I were up before 4:30 a.m. to get started by 6:00 to beat the traffic on I-405. Pulling out of our driveway at 6:30 was not bad considering all the final things needing done even though we had packed, showered and fixed lunches the evening before.

Pleasantly, there was not much traffic and we drove smoothly through town and onto I-90. You know when you are in Eastern Washington when the picnic tables at the Rest Stops are built with some protection against the wind.

And when Snakes are part of the wildlife.

You know when you arrive in Idaho when the gas price is 50-60 cents cheaper than at home!

And you know when you are in Montana when the highway speed limit is 80.

And there are white crosses all along the highway signifying where there has been a fatality related auto accident. Go figure!

See the story HERE

We thought we would find fresh cherries at the ‘little town’, but the only store was a tumble down and the surroundings very iffy looking. We stopped for a stretch break and to give a birthday call to Jeremy, but drove on for the cherries.

This is not the store, but an interesting old building close to it.

The rope swing. I cannot quite figure out this one unless it is simply to hang and swing back and forth. One would not want to drop off into the shallow, rock filled river nor swing across to the nearest bolder.

Our phone call to Jeremy from the river rope swing as I am still wondering why a rope swing.

We found cherries that we intended to give to our curb hostess at the next highway exit just short of St. Regis. There were whimsical and fun displays to entertain the customer.

Sorry, I could not pass up any of those. Oh, and we each got a huckleberry milk shake. We ARE in huckleberry country.

Dinner would be in French Town in the fairly new Old Bull Brewery. I have biked to this town several times in the past when our friends Vikki & Ray lived nearby. They have recently moved to Spokane and we will happily see them on our visit as we head back home. French Town is not much of a ‘town’ and more like a pocket mall. There are more places there since I was here last.

Live music at the Old Bull Brewery.

Interestingly, the Brewery apparently orders the food from adjoining places and it gets delivered to our table: one from the pizza place, one (mini tacos) from the Bar-B-Que place.

The outside seating was around beer kegs as tables.

Shortly after dinner we arrived at Karin’s place with the helpful, cheerful neighbors!

A Post Script to Montana — at $3.69 gas is $1.00 to 1.25 cheaper that we have at home (Seattle with the highest gas prices in the nation!).