We're baaaaaack....

What a great couple of days in Glacier. We dropped the boy off Sunday and then headed towards Glacier. We ran into a lot of smoke on the way due to the Marias Pass fire just south of the park but it cleared up as we headed down from Logan Pass.

When we made camp at Avalanche campground we ended up next to about 5 or 6 musicians. What a nice way to spend the evening, listening to live music in Glacier. We slept to the sound of them playing next door, it was nice.

Monday we took the new shuttle to Logan Pass and hiked 1.5 miles to the Hidden Lake Overlook and then the additional 1.5 miles down to Hidden Lake. It was absolutely beautiful. We both ended up falling asleep on the shore for an hour or so but it felt fabulous just sleeping in the warm sun with our feet in the cool water and a nice breeze.

The shuttle system in Glacier is great and they have it down to a science. Plus we got to talk to other park visitors while riding. I heard some great things said about the back country chalets and the park in general.

Tuesday was spent packing up camp, grabbing some breakfast, taking photos at Avalanche Gorge and doing a little shopping. And then of course we had to stop for huckleberry ice cream on the way out of the park.

Another great trip to Glacier - thanks Moose!

And we're off....

The wedding was beautiful, the day was wonderful (so happy for Heather) and now Moose and I are running off to play.

We'll take the boy to Great Falls to catch his flight and then continue our drive north to Glacier for a couple of days of hiking, camping, relaxing and chilling out in one of the best outdoor playgrounds I know of.

Breakfast this morning with friends and then we'll be loading the cooler and the tote and the tent and sleeping bags and running shoes etc. etc. into the car and we're off like a herd of turtles, like a stampede of snails even. Don't you wish you were going too? We'll be at Avalanche Campground, meet us there. ;)

Sailing

A good mechanic is hard to find...

but once you do it's like the sky just opened up and spilled sunshine.

A week ago I received a gift certificate in the mail for a free oil change at a local garage. I thought "what the hell, the oil is about due to be changed in my car" so I made an appointment.

After having my car on the rack for an hour the mechanic told me that I basically needed to rebuild the front suspension on my car. The most important repair being new inner and outer tie rods (don't you just love it when I talk car?) at a cost of $500, for just the tie rods and labor! When all was said and done I ended up with a laundry list of recommended repairs.

Feeling completely frustrated about the entire experience I decided to get a second opinion. I took the car to my parents mechanic. I explained what I wanted him to check and mentioned that I wasn't paying $500 for a $300 job (after having done some research on the cost of parts, the "pickle fork" needed to remove the tie rods and how long the job should take).

He called today and it turns out that all I need are the outer tie rod ends and he recommended changing the serpentine belt. All of this will cost me less than half of what the original "mechanic" (and crook is probably a better word) was planning to charge me.

Side note: my parent's just got their car back from this mechanic after having the AC redone and it was $200 less than they expected it to be.

I'm definitely going to give this guy a chance and if he proves as trustworthy as has been reported so far (by several different people) then I've found myself a new mechanic. Better than gold sometimes.

P.S. I recommended that Moose call him regarding the radiator on her car. We'll see what happens.

There's a Moose on the loose

Moose is here! Yep, she made it in one piece with only one traffic stop (not bad for her).

The week is jam packed with activities: burgers and beer at York Bar (if I haven't taken you there, remind me to do so), wedding "things" (not mine, someone else's *whew*), her "boy" is flying in and then flying back out again, and then finally on Sunday we leave for Glacier Park (I know, I don't get there nearly enough).

It should be a fun week and I'm so glad she's here. I don't see her often enough so having almost two weeks to hang is great! Glad to have you home girl.

Motorcycles, redheads and Reckless Kelly - some of my favorite things too....

Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, well my hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Box Hill they did ride

They will be in Missoula August 5th, wanna go?

A sure fire way to beat the heat

Hop on the back of a motorcycle and ride to the top of McDonald Pass!

"Rachie, you feel like blowing off some steam?"

I was down for blowing off a little steam, things had been stressful lately and it was time to let loose a little.

The four of us decided to hit Teasers (the local strip club). The night started off innocently enough. Sitting around a table having a few beers and a Long Island Ice Tea, not really paying much attention to what was going on and not on the receiving end of attention either.

Then I was informed that it was time to hit the rail. Do you know what that is? I didn't but as C__ dropped a dollar bill down in front of me I soon found out. The stripper with the long brown hair slid up in front of me and I got my first girl on girl action. She was uhm....very friendly.

I was under the impression that we weren't allowed to touch the girls but apparently women are actually encouraged to do so. Next it was K__'s turn as the girl moved over in front of her.

We were trying to get the girls to pay attention to the men but it didn't matter how many dollar bills we dropped in front of them. The guys only got a little lovin' before the girls moved on.

After hanging out at Teasers for a while we bailed and ended up at the river. A little alcohol, a little hot weather, a lot of darkness all blends together nicely for skinny dipping don't you agree?

I'd say steam has definitely been blown.

Mmmmm....you have to try this:

• Really good ciabatta bread


• Roma or Beefsteak tomatoes


• Fresh leaf Basil


• Fresh Mozzarella cheese (packed in water)


• Butter


• Sea Salt (very important - if you don't use sea salt already it makes everything taste so much better)


• Pepper

1. Butter the bread first - it keeps the bread from getting mushy

2. Lay fresh Basil leaves on either side of the bread - be generous

3. Lay sliced Mozzarella on one side of the bread, sprinkle lightly with sea salt

4. Lay sliced tomatoes on Mozzarella, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and pepper

5. Cover with the top slice of bread

VIOLA!

If you use fresh ingredients this is soooo good and so easy. Finished off with a Blackberry Cabernet sorbet (from Ciao Bella, yummy) - perfect for hot summer days!
(Moose, I have to make these for you while you're here)

Solo weekend recap

Water? Check! Bug spray? Check! Camera? Shit! (hike back to the car for the camera)

A good place to stop

First view of Snyder Lake

Ahhhh, sitting by the lake with my feet in the water. I have to admit that I feel a little protective of the pictures I take in Glacier, especially the ones of hiking destinations. I work hard for these photos and kind of feel like a person needs to earn the view. On the other hand I really get a kick out of sharing them...

so enjoy!

Some reflection time

One blister and a mild case of heat exhaustion and I was back out the next day

Heaven's Peak

Hanging out at Logan Pass

Heading back down

Road music:

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and uno cards
I'll be your best friend and you'll be mine Valentine
Yes you can hold my hand if you want to
'Cause I want to hold yours too
We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds
But it's time for me to go home

I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
but it's time to be a big girl now and big girls don't cry

Second to last stop before going home

Leave me here every day, all my life

Forecast for today

103° - baking in the hot, hot sun!

I absolutely love this weather. It can't get hot enough for me.

Possibly some hiking in Glacier Park this weekend. Get tons of sun and find some falls or a lake to cool off in. Camp out under the trees, hang with my friend Bob and chill. Mmmmm....a perfect weekend.

Have good days kiddies!

Daylight has found me here again
You can ask me anything, but where I've been
Things that used to matter seem so small
When you're looking for a soft place to fall

Don't misunderstand me, baby, please
I didn't mean to bring back memories
You should know the reason why I called
I was looking for a soft place to fall

Looking for a soft place
Nothing more than a small taste
Of a love that ended long ago
Looking for a place to hide
A warm bed on a cold night
I didn't mean to hurt you
No, no, no

Looking out your window at the dawn
Baby, when you wake up, I'll be gone
You're the one who taught me after all
How to find a soft place to fall

A band of bighorn sheep rams race across the snow at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park on Monday morning. People hiking the trail behind the visitor’s center were treated to glimpses of mature rams as the herd moved around alpine meadows. Karen Nichols photos/Daily Inter Lake

Going-to-the-Sun is officially open for the season and the new shuttle system is up and running. I think a weekend trip to the Park might have to happen to check things out; make sure everything is as I left it.

And....

bootcamp is over (until next Tuesday)! I completed my first rotation (yay me!) and am ready for the next. I'm looking forward to a Thursday off though, time for my foot to heal a little before getting back out there hardcore.

That's all the news that's news - you know all the rest: Bush commuting Libby's sentence, Obama raising a record amount of mula, terrorist attacks, travel alerts for the 4th, etc. etc. - whatever happened to happy news? Oh yeah, that's up above ;)

Have good days kiddies!

Bad girl