Day 13

It saddened me some to leave Glacier.  Mostly, because I knew it marked the beginning of the end of the adventure, but also because it gave me a taste of that wild, that Wonderlust that always calls.  That pull away from traditional life and toward freedom.

Nonetheless, we got up early and prepared the Endeavor for the journey South.  Systems and fasteners, checked and all seemed sound.  We decided to stop at the Ranger station on the way out.  Harris had finished his Junior Ranger book, and Grant and Alex had finished a special Junior Ranger assignment that gave them a special badge for the centennial celebration of the National Park Service.  All were pleased with their accomplishments.

It was very slow going headed South to Missoula.  There is traffic like I have not seen before in Montana.  It was interesting to see various bumper stickers reading things like "Montana Native", or "Montana is full, I heard North Dakota is nice."  It seems the "discovery" of Montana by outsiders has the locals none too happy.  The traffic surely ads to the frustration.  I decided to stop at the Costco in Missoula to procure a generator.  I also got other various supplies for the trip.  Missoula seemed to suffer from the traffic affliction as well.  While I performed that task, I dropped the rest of the crew in down town Missoula.  There is a park with an old restored Carousel open for all to ride.  The children had been given tickets for a free ride at the campsite on the way up.  They were elated.  They could not stop talking about how much fun they had at the park. It's incredible how children can get so much joy from such simple things.

Amy drove the rest of the way, as I was tired and fell asleep in the Navigators chair.  We again, traveled through the rolling foothills of Montana.  We dialed up a Podcast we are fond of on NPR.  Story Corps.  It is the stories of otherwise normal people and their stories.  This episode featured a soldier who was the only surviving member of his Platoon, after a road side bomb struck in Iraq.  It was memorable because you could feel the anguish and guilt in his voice at being the survivor.  He discussed his draw toward suicide.  I cannot imagine such a hell, and I hope he is able to make sense of it all and press forward with his life.  It is a task easier said than done I am sure. We headed South along the Gallatin river in Montana and arrived at our campground.  It is a nice smaller campground on the banks of the Gallatin river.  There is some road noise and many mosquitos, but a relaxing spot nonetheless.  The kids bickered as they were tired from the day before. To our joy, they had an open site with electrical hookups.  The Endeavor could charge her battery banks and prepare for the next stop.  I will return the generator.  We ate supper and told campfire stories. The children are ready for bed indeed.

Tomorrow, the Endeavor plans to link with an Allied ship, piloted by Amy's brother and family, the Corps of Discovery.  The combined crew should have a world of a time in Yellowstone.