We got up around 8:30, entered the blog posting for yesterday, and slowly started the process of connecting the trailer.
Progress was slow because we had an enjoyable conversation with a recently retired couple from Iowa. They camped next to us. They're traveling with a new Nissan pickup truck (just a week old) and a sleek T@b teardrop shaped trailer. It was fun to share experiences and destination plans.
We also had a nice visit with a young couple from Bryant, Arkansas who camped next to us on the other side. They have two young children and are recent full-time RVers. Recent is the operative word here. They picked up their brand new trailer yesterday! This morning proved to be a bit intimidating because it was the first time they had hitched up a trailer. We shared some suggestions.
The discussions with our neighbors were a treat. We had no regrets for a late departure.
The Route
We traveled 138 uneventful miles on I-94 to Miles City, MT.
Along the Way
The weather was quite warm (94°) with a constant breeze. It was hazy.
Farm fields and ranch ranges covered gently rolling hills. The sights captured the essence of the classic western song "Home on the Range".
CC's Family Cafe
We stopped for a late lunch at CC's Family Cafe in Glendive, MT. We picked the place because there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. We learned why and learned a lot.
CC's is a local favorite. They have a large selection of down home cooking options. Our choices were delicious.
We noticed they displayed pictures of many Miss Montana Scholarship winners and asked why. It turns out the contest is held in Glendive. Local businesses are given the privilege of displaying the pictures on a rotating basis.
The stop got even more remarkable when we saw the couple that sat next to us at the Pitchfork Steak Fondue last night. What a small world!
Glendive has a population of about 5,000. It's the agricultural and ranching hub of eastern Montana. In January 2015 it was the site of a major oil spill from a pipeline which also contaminated the drinking water.
The Campground
There are very few camping options along I-94 in middle and eastern Montana. We took what was available when it was time to stop driving.
We're at Big Sky Camp & RV Park just outside Miles City. It's small (24 spaces) and rugged. We brought our own ambiance, so it will work just fine.
Another Conversation
This was quite a day for talking with strangers. We drove into Miles City to get a sandwich for dinner and stopped at an Arby's. Out of the blue, a man sitting next to us asked how far we had driven today and a conversation began.
His name is Steve. He's a 73 year old rancher. His ranch of 2,000 cattle is nearby and he loves to talk! We learned about his family, his youth and his ranch. He's a really nice man who could probably spin some great tales over a campfire. He assured us everything he told us was true. It really didn't matter. He and the stories were entertaining and a great way to end the day.
Small world, indeed. Cool. Once upon a time twenty years ago, I stayed in a B&B at the other end of Montana. There, I discovered that the old woman running the place had once lived near a hatchery off Main St. in a small town in Ohio, Shelby, and been a friend of Catherine Winans.
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