Day 33 – PBR Reserve

MJB was up early as she readied for her bucket list item of fly fishing in Missoula, MT! She loaded all her belongings in the rental car, then with hugs and a fond farewell off she went to her own adventures. It was great sharing the adventures with her in the RV. More are in store fore sure.

Theresa and Kevin prepared for the departure to the last stop in the US before entry into the vast unknown of Canada! Credit cards had already been told of the trip destination, but Insurance companies needed to be called as well as cell and wifi service. Theresa made a call to State Farm for the CRV insurance and was told they would email a copy of a insurance validation card for Canada, nice! Next Progressive was called with the same request for the RV, but they could only mail or fax the card needed.... The generic insurance card would have to do, but they did say they would mail the needed card. Thanks a bunch but that will not be received until the arrival in Hemet a month from now, most likely!

ATT had several international options that seemed a bit confusing on the web so a call was placed to clarify. The option to pay $60 extra for free texts and some data and $.50 per minute cel was selected to lessen the sticker-shock of international communication.

Kevin would have to completely turn off his phone while in Canada.  Only Theresa's cel phone would have any coverage.

Theresa sent notes and calls to critical folks let them know that text is the best way to communicate but call in case of emergency.

Verizon was called for the mifi plan and there was just no option that made sense for a data plan, so campground mifi will have to work! The MiFi like Kevin's phone will not be turned on the full time in Canada.

Next Theresa attempted to reserve sites for 4 out of the next 6 campgrounds as the team travels Canada. The first was in Eureka, MT just 6 miles form the Canadian border. Asking for available sites Theresa was informed that the campground was full due to the PBR event. Theresa replied, “you mean like the beer?” The comeback was, “no, Professional Bull Riders” Like everyone knows about that! Well of course! Theresa then asked if there might be any other RV places in the area and got the recommendation of Silverado Motel Casino Golf and RV Park. Hummm a bit of everything... She made the call and luckily they had an open site so reservations for the one night stand were made. The next site was in Fairmont Hot Springs, BC Canada, that was a simple call with the usual info and card number to make the one night stay. The third site was in Banff/Lake Louise Park and required a log-in and an understanding of how to navigate the Parks Canada Reservation Service web site. A best guess at what was needed to meet the teams needs was made. The forth park in line was a 2 day stop at a Good Sams RV park but reservations were done via email, the request was put in so that was all that could be done there.

After a morning of getting all the ducks in a row it was time to hit the road. The route would backtrack by Flat Head lake and Glacier Park and then north directly into where the heart of the Red Zone fire alerts were! See the fire map.

Kevin wanted to get the RV completely fueled before entering the non-Pilot station Canadian Zone. A 4 mile detour was made to find a Exon/Pilot station close to Glacier. As Kevin pulled into the selected Pump stall he discovered the nozzle with an Out of Service bag over it. Crap! He rounded the Smitanic to the port and on the turn scrapped a bit of paint off the front starboard bumper when it contacted the dirt due to a steep dip in the turn-out Theresa cringed, but Kevin completed the turn to select another pump. Kevin started to use the Diesel pump with the Pilot card only to notice it said see cashier. Looking around Kevin realized this was a a combo of Pilot and Exxon. The pump that he had selected was not marked as Pilot. Surmising the issue he marched inside and discussed with the cashier, who was able to give Kevin the Pilot gas rate and activated the Exxon pump. Kevin started the pump but the RV was slightly sloped to Port so no gas was able to be pumped in. Gas does not run up hill even when being pushed by the pump. Kevin then tried the Starboard pump and it would not activate as it was not a master slave relationship as other truck stops. Kevin again went back in and the cashier said only $1.75? Kevin explained the slope issue and she responded that she would activate the other 'non-slave' starboard side pump. Kevin was able to top off the tank with another $50 of diesel.

Within a few miles of the destination a lake was marked as closed with a highway patrol vehicle blocking the entrance. Smoke was spotted in several spots rising from the mountains close to the road, this was not good!

With the vision off smoke flumes still in the near mountains, the destination of Eureka was found! The Smitanic slowly drifted towards the Silverado Motel Casino Golf and RV park. It was a small intimate park with about 24 sites, a laundry restroom showers and the restaurant that had nightly specials. Tonight's special included prime rib and salmon. Only water and electric were set up so that a quick exit in the AM could be made. The wifi was unreliable so the mifi was set up and used to do the daily updates and check on the next days trek into Canada.

After a nice call with Kiehl and Madison it was time to partake in the dining selection at the restaurant/bar. Expectations were low at the rather unpretentious establishment but were far exceeded when a plate with a enormous side of Prime Rib was place in front of Kevin. He started to drool.... Theresa opted for the Salmon and was not disappointed with the garlic laden delight. It was just too much as usual so a to-go box was filled with the excess to be savored another day.

Waddling back to the campsite, Kevin thought it would be a good opportunity for a drone flyover. The “guy magnet”, drone quickly attracted several onlookers who had just finished their day of installing fiberoptic's in the area. Here is the footage from the fly over!

Conversation about the upcoming border crossing with the fellow campers led to disposal of some fire wood as well as eggs that may be rejected at the crossing. The only other items of concern were firearms, hand guns, and ammo which Kevin and Theresa do not own.

With the daily post as well as several reservations made, Kevin and Theresa felt confident yet cautious of their inaugural entry into Canada.

Day 32 – Ashes Ashes all fall down in Wayne's World

All were up and moving by 7:30am to prepare for a day without the base of the RV. The RV was destined for the Gull Boat and RV Service center in Missoula to get the problematic slide repaired. 

The appointment was made 2 days prior as Theresa searched and found a certified Tiffin service center in Missoula. Calling that center Theresa was informed that the first opening they had was for mid-September, however one could try their other location in Idaho, or the suggestion of Gull Boat and RV Service also in Missoula. Theresa elected to call the alternate location in Idaho, and was given a similar response, “booked into October”. Out of desperation Theresa called Gull as the third choice, they at least had availability. RV Service must be booming! Kevin continued to be concerned as the repair place was first a boat sales, and repair, Then SCUBA shop, then travel trailer sales and repair shop. No Motor home sales, and therefore not really prepared for a slide repair on the Smitanic. Then Kevin thought to himself “If they are a boat repair place maybe just maybe they would understand how to work on a vessel named the SMITANIC”.

As the crew readied for the day and loaded the Toad they also had to sweep a coat of ashes from the toad. During the night it had been blanketed by debris and smoke from area fires that had filled the air. The car was reloaded with what would be needed throughout the day without access to the RV. Both the RV and CRV were driven the 7 miles from the RV park to the center. Kevin asked to talk to the technician who would be doing the work so he could explain the issue and discuss acceptable solutions. Wayne was summoned to the front desk via walkie-talkie. After introductions, Kevin explained the issue with the 3 problematic bolts popping and that what was really needed was to replace the series of rods that held the bolts. The bolt holes had become elongated which caused a greater stress on the bolts that held the connecting rods. In addition, the bolts needed to be grade 8 vs the grade 5 that were currently holding things together. (See Day 31 post) If the rods could not be acquired from the Tiffin service place or ordered in a reasonable time then the alternative would be to drill new holes or ream out the existing holes and use larger size grade 8 bolts. Wayne seemed to understand the issue and all the options As Kevin explained them. Wayne stepped away for a few minutes and then returned with a young lady and started to show the issue to her. He introduced her as the X-Parts person from the Tiffin service dealer ! She emphatically declared that the other center did not carry any Tiffin parts and it would take 7-10 days to get any parts like this shipped since it had to be transported via ground. Yikes! Not wanting to wait that long nor incur a larger repair expense, one of the alternative fixes would have to work. Wayne assured Kevin and Theresa that he would be able to complete the repair by the end of the day. 

Fairly confident that the RV was in good hands the three homeless campers headed to Wayne's suggestion for a breakfast place of Paul's Pancake Parlor. The food was yummy and plentiful. Theresa and Kevin shared an order and were more than full when they rolled out of the parlor. Kevin got a call from the service place informing him that the RV would be ready around noon! WOW, Wayne did that fast almost as fast as Richard! 

There was only one notable reminisce spot that Kevin wanted to be sure to look up while in Missoula. The Glorianna Apartments were owned and operated by Kevin's maternal grandmother, Betty who named them after Kevin's mom. A bit of research found an address, picture as well as a document that included this structure as part of a historical area of central Missoula. The address was on Spruce street so Theresa plugged that into her iphone. Arriving at the East Spruce address there was nothing with the street number or that resembled the picture. MJB said maybe there is West side to Spruce, brilliant! A very short drive back down Spruce and the once named Glorianna Apartments were spotted. Currently it housed a law firm as well as housing units. It also looked like a large addition had been added in the rear of the historical building. A sign in front also indicated it was currently for sale!

Kevin snapped a few photos in several directions so that he could send those to his mother. She will be pleased that it is still looking very much the same as it did when her mother lived there many, many years past, in fact it was really in Great condition.

With a bit more time to kill before the RV could be retrieved a nearby park was located so everyone (especially Zin) could stroll around a bit and stretch out! Just as the team was debating when to make a Walmart run, Kevin then got the call that the RV was ready!

Arriving back at the repair center, Kevin reviewed the bill which only listed some minor parts and a few hours of Wayne's labor. Kevin asked if he can talk to Wayne and review the work that was done. The response was that he was out at lunch at the moment and that someone else would bring the RV around. When the RV was revealed, both Kevin and Theresa immediately noticed that the slide was partially out in rear about 6 inches or so and the awning that covered the slide was loosely rolled. What? How is this a job done? Kevin also inspected the rod and bolts that were to ensure the proper grade of bolt was used. Fail again! The bolts had the grade 5 marking's not the 8. Keeping his cool, Kevin went back into the service counter and let them know of the issues. Within minutes Wayne came out to face the disappointed couple. He assured Kevin that he could fix the misalignment issue but he insisted that what he used were grade 8 bolts. Wayne would again call when he was done. The Walmart run was completed as well as a trip to a Fastener place across form the repair center. Validation that Grade 8 bolts were indeed what was needed for the slide application as well as how to ID the grade of bolts were confirmed. Several bolt choice were purchased as well as nuts and washers. Returning to the Service center Kevin handed over the bolts and insisted that Wayne replace the grade 5 bolts with those just purchased. Wayne returned to meet Kevin at the counter and declared that the purchased bolts needed to be longer. Teaming with Wayne, Kevin offered to run back to the Faster store and get the right size. It only took Wayne 15 min to install the correct bolts and bring the RV back out for a final inspection from Kevin.

Everything checked out this time and by 3pm the Smitanic with a now functioning slide headed back to the Jellystone park to be fully set up for the evening. Theresa dropped MJB off at the airport to pick up a rental car. The next day MJB will be on to her extended adventurers in Missoula which will include Fly fishing and exploring the area.

Day 31 – The Engineer and the Failing Grade

The trip to Missoula was only 120 miles resulting in little need for an early start.

As promised, Richard (the retired Engineer) stopped by the RV around 9:30 with his flashlight and cup of coffee, to see if the slide did retract. His timing was perfect as Kevin was just about ready for that activity to begin. Kevin pushed the In button on the slide console and …. nothing moved. No surprise for someone who elected to live on the edge the day before by putting the slide out. Richard quickly put his flashlight to work to examine the remains of the 4 bit fix. His report confirmed that indeed both bolts were inferior and had failed at holding the torque needed to open or withdraw the slide. Almost giddy he told Kevin he would be back with the right tools from his Rv in a few minutes! Kevin and Theresa completed the rest of the camp brake down, and removed items in the bay storage so that Richard would have clear space to work. When “Mr. Engineer” returned he was equipped with a very organized and well equipped tool bag that made Theresa jealous! Kevin proudly showed him the array of replacements bolts, washers and nuts that were purchased knowing the 4bit fix was indeed temporary. Richard examined the hardware and said “These are 5 grade bolts and what was really required for this application was 8 grade bolts, but we will make these work!” Richard continued to educate Kevin and Theresa. He went on to describe that “you can tell the difference by the marking's on the head of the bolt”. “5 Grade bolts have 3 marking's in a Y shape, and 8 grade bolts have 6 marks in a hex pattern”. See this link (https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/bolt-grade-chart.aspx).

Clearly all bolts are not created equally!

It took Richard all of 45 min to extract the remains of the previous fixes and insert and tighten the new bolts with several stories in between. One of the more important stories related buy Richard was that he was in a 12 step recovery program. The 12 step program had been sabotaged by this early morning intervention. Richard's 12 step program had been successfully practiced by him until today. The program required him to resist helping stranded RV'ers. His 12 step program had him repeat to himself “they will be fine, they can figure this out, wait to see them solve the problem themselves”. Clearly Richard had determined that his 12 step program would have to be abandoned due to the Smit's inability to solve a problem that has plagued them too long already. Richard stood with confidence as the slide was smoothly retracted with in 6 inches from complete. “Stop” he shouted. The he pulled out his tape measure and systematically measured the gap on either side of the slide to report it was “perfect!” With everything aligned, permission to pull the slide the rest of the way was granted. Kevin presented Richard with a bottle of wine as a thank you and assured Richard that good Camping Karma will be passed on. Richard then imparted wisdom upon the Smitanic team. “The holes in the shaft of the motor and gears is deformed”, “the holes in the square tubing is elongated”. “You need to replace all the square tubing, and drill out the shaft arms from ¼ inch to 5/16 inch holes”. “Use 5/16 inch grade 8 bolts with washers on each end, and nylon lock nuts on the end of each bolt”. “If you can not replace the square tubing you might be OK with the larger holes and grade 8 bolts thru each”.

No further attempt to deploy the slide would be made until a planned service appointment at Gull Boat & RV in Missoula would resolve the issue for good!

The Smitanic was cleared to exit Glacier and headed south on the West side of Flathead lake. Kevin had very fond memories of summer visits to his uncles cabin that was on the east side of the lake. The lake was massive! The opposite shore could not be seen even on a clear day! The view was stifled form the ever present smoke in the area, but none the less magnificent!

The destination of Jellystone RV park was reached just outside of Missoula, this was a full hook up site with laundry and wifi facilities that would definitely be leveraged!

Laundry was completed while pictures were uploaded and more blog posts completed. Once Laundry was completed attention turned to Part 2 of Norther Exposure. With smoke dampening the bucket list vistas, discussion of altering Part 2 began. Origninally Part 2 included a short stent in Canada to see Lake Louise, then back down to Vancouver, and into Washington state, and on to Oregon. More investigation will be needed to determine the value of staying with original plans with the levels of smoke and haze in those areas.

Before any research would be conducted the team turned to preparing the evenings meal. Dinner consisted of Chicken wraps with giant chicken breasts that would have Cameron dulling. Wonder where is he now? 

An early start was required for the next days start in order to get the RV to the 8:30 service appointment.

Day 30 – Hiding behind a Thin Veil

As planned, the crew drove the Toad to the visitor center to take the bus from Apgar Visitor Center (VC) to Avalanche Creek shuttle stop and then hopped on the shuttle that would take them the remaining miles to Logan pass.  Equipped with water, sunscreen, hats, and snacks, the three began their first hike along the High Line Trail.

The High Line Trail was indeed a challenge for anyone with fear of heights. It was, however, not as difficult as it looked from the road. The trail began easy enough, downward, then climbed up to where the trail was merely a narrow ledge of rocky mountainside. This portion of the trail had a cable rail for those to hold onto for the faint of heart. The trail continued up and down along the rocky ledge with various flora and fauna surrounding the area and amazing views above and below. Many groups were encountered along the trail. On several occasions the team had to find a ledge to pause allowing oncoming traffic to pass safely. Many more pictures were taken along the trail as the smoke veil lifted every so slightly. The trio continued their hike along the trail until they reached a gentle falls - and a great place to pause, snack and gather strength for the trail back. They estimated they had walked approximately 5 – 6 miles total upon their return to the trail head.

Once back to the visitor center, the hikers took a short break. Theresa and Kevin decided to tackle the Hidden Lake trail. MJB decided to take a longer break and then tackle the trail. This trail was noted for its 1.5 mile (500 foot gain in elevation) climb to an overlook of a beautiful lake. Hikers could continue another 1.5 miles down to the lake but then, they'd have to climb back out of that as well! Since the crew had already tackled one taxing trail, they opted for the overlook only. The hike up consisted, to a large degree, of boardwalk with high steps along the way. MJB met Theresa and Kevin not long after they had reached the top and were on their way back down. “Can't stop now,” they told her. “You're almost there.” At the top, the hikers were each rewarded with views of the valley below, mountain streams forming small falls, and at long last, a gorgeous view of the lake valley.

Kevin and Theresa waited at the VC for MJB. Zin had been in the RV since 10 AM, so Kevin decided to hop on the shuttle ASAP so he could get back to the car and let Zin out before any undesirable deposits were made in the RV.

Theresa headed back up the trail to meet MJB, but she was not that far behind and was pleased that the laborious trek provided such inspiring scenery and a sense of accomplishment. How many people ever witness this part of the earth?

Theresa and MJB climbed aboard a shuttle as the driver announced that this would be a direct trip to Apgar VC so there be no need to transfer at the Avalanche Creek shuttle stop . Hooray! Since Kevin had taken an earlier shuttle he would likely need to transfer at the Avalanche stop. MJB and Theresa thought it would be funny if they arrived at the parking lot prior to Kevin! Tee hee hee.

The bus MJB and Theresa were on made stops to drop off and pick up passengers along the way. At the Avalanche Creek shuttle stop, another larger transfer bus was waiting for passengers as MJB and Theresa sat enjoying the scenery in their own shuttle which would be shortly on its way. MJB spied Kevin in the waiting bus! Kevin left at least 30-40 min. ahead of Theresa and MJB and now sat waiting at the transfer point while the two women continued to Apgar ahead of him! Theresa and MJB decided to wait in a strategic spot at the Apgar VC and wave to Kevin as he walked past to surprise him. Kevin lamented about the long ride down the mountain, the fact that the transfer bus was required to sit for 40 minuets to allow for others, and was simply glad he didn't have to drive it.

The hikers were sore and quite famished. Dinner was “Parker-Burgers.” They never got tired of those! Theresa also made some cowboy-potatoes and snap peas – all on the grill.

Here are some videos from the days hike:

As crew finished their meal, another set of campers, Richard and Rhonda, walked by. They said hello and noted the North Carolina license plates on the Smitanic. Conversation continued about the day's adventures by both parties.

Richard was an engineer by trade. His fix-it instincts were heightened as Kevin mentioned the recent slide challenge. Richard was amused by the 4 bit fix and promised to check back in the AM to see if the slide would come in. Theresa offered the fellow RVers a glass of 14 Hands wine. They gave their approval!

Day 29 – Living on the Edge

All Smitanic occupants held their collective breaths as the driver side slide was brought in. A unison sigh of relief and an accompanying cheer sounded as the slide was retracted completely for the day's drive.

Most of the route today would be on 2 lane state and county roads. It would change directions from Westward to North and then into West Glacier, MT. The scenery changed from fence-lined ranges to tree-lined lakes. Along the lakes were waterfront houses with docks protruding into the water. Images of long, serene stays on the shore of these calm waters with colorful sunrises and sunsets danced in all the retirees' heads! Kevin recalled good times with his family spending summers on Flathead Lake at his Uncle's home. Ah... the calming effect of water!


The drive continued to wear on Kevin as the winding roads left little clearance between the RV's mirrors and any oncoming large truck or other camper. The thought of managing the appliances and AC with the planned 30 amp connection for the night's accommodations would just add to the frustration. Theresa offered an alternative KOA that would be full hook up but a bit more expensive. She called and sure enough there were plenty of spots available because of the reduction in campers due to the area fires. She called and cordially cancelled the 30 amp site without any fees, hurray!

Kevin had fun feeding carrots to some of the horses.

The KOA had all the amenities and also included a restaurant and ice cream stand! MJB cheered! The premium site was quite spacious and adjacent to an unoccupied horse pen. It also happened to be next to the firefighters' incident base for those brave folks challenged with managing several raging fires in Glacier.

All slides with the exception of the problematic driver side slide were deployed. That gave just enough room for single lane passage thru the main corridor of the Smitanic. Since the stay was for 3 days Kevin opted to the contrary of MJB and Theresa to go ahead and deploy the slide. All held their breadths as slide successfully was deployed. Theresa checked the status of the 4 bit fix and it seemed to be holding. Who knows if the retraction will work when they plan to exit in 3 days. Time will tell. Kevin was living on the edge!

Eager to plan the 2-day limited stay in the park, the crew stopped at the visitor center. There, they were supplied with maps and suggested hiking trails. Theresa also spied a recycle bin where she could dispose of the Smitanic collection of bottles, cans and paper.

For dinner, MJB was impressed with Theresa's preparation of seared Ahi Tuna coated with a spice mixture brought from a spice store in Blowing Rock, NC.

After supper, the diners succumbed to the draw of the Ice Cream Stand and all meandered through the park to the stand. A muscular teddy bear of a guy was scooping up 1 or 2 scoops in a cup or cone. All ordered a well-earned selection and Theresa shared a vanilla scoop with Zin.

Kevin was able to record 2 Phantom flyovers – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and Glacier Park.

Day 28 – A Mighty Wind

It was another bad air day as the Smitanic packed up and exited Billings, MT.

Waving a fond farewell to the senator, the voyage today would gradually increase in elevation a good 2K feet. With steady 23 mph head winds from the WNW, the gas consumption was a whopping 3 – 5.5 mpg vs. a 7- 9 mpg as the Smitanic pressed forward.

The Montana landscape had a wide expanse of grassy plains dotted with grazing black angus, sheep and equine. The day's drive was 220 miles and took about 5 hours to reach the Butte KOA. The park was conveniently located next to the visitor's center. Adjacent to the KOA was a pleasant-looking walking path that paralleled a stream as well as I90. 

Upon setting up the RV's full hook up, the slides were cautiously deployed. As the problematic driver-side slide came out, Kevin had a premunition that something was amiss with the '4-bit-fix'. He crawled under the slide and inspected the defaced quarter to find it was intact and holding snug; however, when he gently felt the opposite end, the head of the bolt melted into his palm. Ok...now this must be dealt with ASAP!

It was Saturday, and the next major city where repair would be available was Missoula. Theresa looked up Tiffin service places. Surprisingly, there was one with very good ratings and an online way to make a reservation request. Since all departments were closed at the time, this was all that could be done for the situation. The crew would simply have to cross all fingers and with the help from the statue of Mary of the Rockies looking over the RV, perhaps the slide would retract in the AM for the drive to Glacier. If it did retract successfully, it would remain stationary until service in Missoula could be arranged. 

There was just enough time before dinner for some email triage and a short walk on the trail by the stream. Temps were forecasted to fall in the low 40's for the night, so the space heater was set up for MJB. Kevin plugged in the engine heater to help with the early morning cold starting of the Diesel engine. Kevin had learned that if the temp is in the 40's, the engine does not easily start without having had the engine warmer running through the prior night. 

The next day would be a long 240 miles to Glacier National Park, a Bucket List item for MJB.

Day 27 – The Singing State Senator

Narration here. 

The haze was still lingering, but the smell of smoke was absent. This might just be the new normal. Theresa cooked up bacon and eggs outside on the grill to avoid heating or smelling up the RV. Kevin began his laptop triage while MJB and Theresa headed to the camp's laundry facilities.

Kevin also took this opportunity to perform an update of the firmware on the Phantom Quadcopter and associated controller. The steps to upgrade the firmware needed to be followed precisely to ensure the next drone take-off was not out of control. This involved logging on to the DJI website to identify the correct version of Firmware to down load and extract. Once downloaded and extracted, the firmware needed to be copied onto a sim card and a USB thumb drive. The sim card was then inserted into the Quadcopter and the Quad was turned on. Landing lights began to flash, the camera began to flop around on the gimbal, and buzzes and beeps were emitted from the Drone. Kevin monitored this display to determine the proper landing light colors and flashes and listen for the proper (one long and three short) beeps indicating that the firmware update had been completed. After 12 – 15 minutes the tell-tale signals were identified. Kevin powered down the Quadcopter, removed the sim card, placed the sim card back into the laptop and read the text message that was written as part of the up grade process. “Upgrade initiated.” “Upgrade Successful.” This was accompanied with a date and time stamp. Kevin then copied the upgrade messages to the proper directory on the laptop for future reference if needed.

He then followed the same procedure using the USB thumb drive on the controller. Again, Kevin monitored the controllers light display, buzzes and beeps for another 12 -15 minutes. At last, the controller provided the proper signals indicating that all was completed. Kevin followed the same procedure of removing the thumb drive, inserting it into the laptop to read the text messages and to save the information into a directory on the laptop for future purposes “IF NEEDED”. There was no test flight to confirm there would be no rabid Quadcopter response. This will be performed some other day. Stay tuned for that.

During the delicate drone operation, a park employee stopped at the campsite and began to layout a sprinkling system that ran the full length of the site and wound under the picnic table that Kevin was working at. “Are you planning to turn that on?” Kevin asked. “Hehmm,” was the reply from the park worker. “I am busy right now and would like to request this be done another time or day,” demanded Kevin. “Besides, it is supposed to rain tonight anyway,” Kevin went on to say in a softer tone. A blank stare was returned. Kevin realized he may not have made his point. Kevin then walked to the office to continue his attempt at requesting the site not become a pre-rain wet environment. “You know he is only doing his job,” was the desk attendant's lecture. “I appreciate that and would like to request a modification to his task on site 15,” Kevin slowly replied while thinking to himself, “Why do the procedures not allow for modifications when the site is currently occupied and paying quests are outside in the area of the mobile sprinkler system?” “I will see what I can do,” was the attendant's response. Kevin left the office with little confidence that the area was not about to be soaked by a young man with a 'just doing his job' mentality. Let it also be known that this particular camp ground, Yellowstone River RV Resort, was the most expensive of the trip, and yet did not support full hook up, as well as it put two RV's in the same spot to share the same electrical hook up. The first RV in the site gets the 50 amp the second one is left with either 30 amp or a simple extension cord to feed the electrical needs of an RV. Kevin and Theresa do not recommend this camp ground to anyone.

Kevin than took the time remaining as laundry was still in process, to re-align the car top carrier on the toad. The car top carrier had shifted off center due to the constant wind and highway bump vibrations. Kevin also used the time to tighten the bike hitches on both the Toad and Smitanic due to those same highway bumps and vibrations play havoc on all systems.

Once the Laundry was completed the team continued more home front tasks in the comfort of the coach's AC as temps outside climbed to near 90. It was well into the late afternoon before any thought of a bike ride or walk was even considered. A new state was added to the brag map and weather was checked before any decisions were made.

A cool front was predicted to move in with an accompanying storm that evening. Cloud cover had started to bring the temps down a bit. In preparation for the predicted high winds, rain, and lightning; all bikes, awnings, chairs and the grill needed to be secured in case of any potential strong rains or winds.

As Kevin and Theresa secured the bikes on the Toad they were serenaded with some pleasant folk music coming from another site nearby. After everything was ship-shape they then opted to take Zin for a walk and investigate the singing.

A distinguished gray-haired man was sitting on a picnic table with his guitar just singing some of his favorite tunes. He had a very pleasant voice and seemed to have quite a repertoire of country, folk and gospel tunes. Introductions were made to discover that, Dave Rust, the retired Math Teacher turned School Superintendent, was now a North Dakota State Senator who enjoyed singing and playing the guitar in campgrounds! For fun, he sings with a group at various events.

He and his wife of 46 years, Claudia, were heading to Oregon to visit with their daughter. Kevin captured some of the entertaining conversation and singing in video (add links).

The conversation was cut short so that dinner could be completed prior to the approaching storm. Tomorrow would continue into the Big Sky Country with a stop in Butte, MT at a KOA.

Day 26 – Battle at Little Bighorn on a Bad Air day

Narration Here.

The day's route was a mere 160 miles down I90 into Billings, MT. With a 10 AM start it would not take much of the day to drive and then set up and do things at the campsite. The wind was blowing fairly strong out of the west, sending smoke from the numerous Montana fires into the area. Had it been a clear day, over 50-100mile of rolling pastures and winding rivers could have been seen. Instead, a disappointing haze left visibility not much beyond 1-2 miles.

About 100 miles into the day Kevin saw a sign for Little Bighorn Battlefield. Maybe that would be an interesting place to stop. Theresa did some quick research and found it was a National Park so it would be free with Kevin's Senior Pass and it looked like it had RV parking. Coooool. With time to spare, it was worth a try.

Kevin made the exit and cautiously followed the signs directing to the historic area. At the entry gate, he presented his pass and inquired where to park or turn around the beast. The ranger handed Kevin a map and stated that if the immediate RV parking was full, the vehicle would need to continue on all the way to the end of the drive where there was a parking lot and turnaround. “Ok..... cool, That should work” Kevin replied with caution somehow knowing the young lady at the gate had never navigated and RV into the area.

Kevin slowly passed the full RV parking spots. Drat! Theresa looked at the map and noted that the road to the battlefield had some numerical points of interest along way. After the visitor center was passed, the road narrowed to a minimal one and one-half lane road with no shoulder and occasional parking pullouts for the points of interest.

Panic set in as the view of the long road ahead seemed to not have an end, nor any visible turn around point. A brief stop was made at one of the areas dotted with markers. Some markers were red head stones for Indian losses and lots were white markers for the US Army losses. The national park offered an audio tour available on the web so visitors could listen via phone as scenic points are encountered throughout the park. Theresa started to play part of the tour but shifted her focus as a large charter bus was heading back in the RV's direction. Somehow, the bus had managed to get turned around... but where? The bus passed the parked Smitanic with inches between mirrors. Thank goodness the driver was conditioned and well trained for close encounters. For those less trained there would not be enough room for 2 RVs to pass on this road, and it will be tough to pass any oncoming traffic. The Smitanic travelers did not want to see any more casualties added to this battlefield!

Kevin pulled out slowly and managed to maneuver the monster up and down the curves and hills. Theresa closed her eyes as oncoming vehicles slowed and moved over as much as possible to let the Battle Wagon sneak by. Finally, the end parking lot was spotted. It did exist! The RV and toad barely cleared the curbs of the parking lot. The Battle not yet over! Kevin caught his breath. Theresa scouted an oncoming tour bus! Kevin elected to flank right and hold his position, only to do battle
latter when he is on the run and not stalled in the parking area, until the bus was past.

Hoping there were no more oncoming buses, Kevin cautiously began the trip back down the road to the park entrance. Several oncoming trucks, cars and occasional RVs were skillfully passed and with a half mile to go, a single free-range horse crossed the road halting all traffic in both directions. The steed finally galloped into the field and was joined by the rest of the small herd that crossed under a tunnel. Guess he was making sure it was safe for the others. He was the STUD and proved it.

The Smitanic then encountered a dude in a family van that took the center of the 1 ½ lane road. The Smitanic slowed and drifted to the edge of the road and paused. The van driver began to emote using hand jesters and body language. The captain of the Smitanic assessed the situation and quickly confirmed the Smitanic had supplies to last more than a week. The standoff would easily sway to the fully stocked Smitanic. The captain of the Smitanic then relaxed and waited for the next move of the ill prepared van driver. The van driver realized he, like Custer, was fully out numbered. The best response for the van driver was to smartly retreat. The van driver, much like Custer's response, was to egotistically advance in a feeble attempt to challenge the odds. As the van driver advanced he was shouting in full frustration the most challenging vocabulary he could muster. Finally, the retreat of the park exit was reached! The battle was over and the Captain of the Smitanic had earned the honor of General having survived the encounters of Little Big Horn. The crew was relieved, but was also a bit disappointed that more of the park's significance could not be explored. All the pamphlets and park info were reviewed to at least get some of the info. That would just have to suffice. 

The rest of the drive seemed trivial after Kevin's Last Stand in Little Bighorn. The next two nights would be at the Yellowstone River RV park just off I90 in Billings. Hook up was easy as there was only electric and water on the reserved site. Supplies were needed (mainly wine) so Theresa and Kevin found the local Walmart.

Tomorrow would be filled with chores like laundry and other to-do list items that had been put off for far too long! Perhaps there will be time for a walk or bike ride in the area...that would be nice.

Day 25 – First to Find

Narration here.

The sun highlighted the colors of Devil's Tower and the surrounding red cliffs made a perfect postcard shot for MJB. She sent this to her mom using the Touchnote app on her iPhone that her nephew JC told her about.

After the the shot the RV was made ready. Everyone (even the on-looking neighbors) gave a cheer when the driver side slide was successfully retracted with one smooth motion.

The route would return to I90 for a scenic drive thru rolling hills that were home to antelope, sheep and cows. The sky was quite clear so there was a view of the Tetons in the far distance. There was even some snow caps spotted.

Deer Park RV campground in Buffalo, WY was very nice. It included large pull thru sites, a pool and even an after-dinner ice cream social (bring your own bowl). MJB researched some geocaches and found a relatively new one within walking distance.

While Kevin edited his drone video, MJB and Theresa went in search of the hidden treasure.

MJB indicated that no one had yet found this new geocache, so if found, this would be a 'First To Find' in the geocache lingo. This is a rare occurrence and just happened to be another one of MJB's bucket list items. The two seekers set off in the direction of the cache as tracked by the Geocaching app on MJB's phone. At one end of the RV park, a Private Property sign stopped the two from continuing in their current direction. The only way to get to the cache was to go out of the park and around the barbed-wire fence that surrounded the Private Property. On the way out of the park, two fawns were grazing next to the park entrance. Guess Deer Park RV campground was appropriately named!

At the RV entrance, there was a sign marking a trail with an arrow. The trail seemed to head in the right direction so that was the way to go next. That trail looped back away from the target cache so the two backtracked to the sidewalk and once again set course guided by the iphone app. The app indicated the hunters were practically right on top of the cache. The area was searched high and low then... ah-ha...there it is! It was a small pill bottle, camouflaged and labeled as a geocache!. MJB was delighted to be the first to sign the log, capture the proof in a selfie with Theresa, and log a “found it” message as well as post a picture of the find in the Geocaching app. No Muggles were seen in the area (a Geocaching term to indicate non-Geocachers in the area that might wonder what the hunters are doing).

Once back at the RV, dinner was prepared and MJB and Kevin both proofread and added more details to previous blog posts that Theresa had written earlier that day. Pictures and Kiehl's narration audio files for the posts were all uploaded using the campground's semi-reliable wifi.

As the crew was finishing dinner, Kiehl called to discuss wedding plans and engage in general banter with his folks and aunt. This was a welcome alternative to the park's ice cream social that no one really needed anyway.

The next day's drive would again be on I90 into another new state, Montana!

Day 24 – Sturgis and the 4 bit fix

Narration here.

It rained the entire night, but let up a bit as the light of day seeped into the interior of the RV.

An early start was needed so the Smitanic crew could stop in Sturgis for the Motorcycle Museum before completing the days' journey.

The Park's narrow gravel roads had serious ruts, and the night's rain made them even more daunting as Kevin maneuvered the beast to a safe exit onto the highway pavement.

The windshield wipers never rested all the way into Sturgis. Theresa had called a local RV park to ask where a large rig with tow might be able to park for an hour or so. The suggestion was a local grocery store lot across from the Knucklehead Saloon which was quickly located on Theresa's phone.

Armed with umbrellas and rain jackets, the soggy crew briskly walked the 5 blocks to the Museum entrance. It was a seemingly small building but the displays covered 2 floors and housed a large array of vintage motorcycles complete with a self guided audio tour and placards that described each bike. 

Kevin drooled over the chromed OCC Bike Razor custom chopper, built by Paul Sr., as he admired all the detail in the tank, wheels and frame. What a piece of art! Downstairs had more vintage machines as well as a history of and memorabilia from the annual rally that hosted close to 1M motorcycle enthusiasts this year on its 75th anniversary!

All enjoyed the museum. As the three tourists strolled down Main St. back to the RV, Kevin lamented that this year's rally was missed, but there is always next year.

Kevin will return to Sturgis with a Harley with or without a passenger. Bucket list yet to be completed.

Onward and into Wyoming...the “Equality State”. This name was earned due to Wyoming being the first state in which women had the right to vote and hold public office.

The rain lingered during the entire I-90 section of the route but did subside as the “Close Encounter” Icon (Devel's Tower) became visible towering through the clouds.

Reservations had been made the prior day for a KOA at the foot of Devils Tower. What a fantastic location! The campground had all the amenities including a nightly showing of the Richard Dreyfus film – Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. Theresa could not get the alien melody to stop playing in her head.  Kevin did another Drone Fly over as well.

Water and Electric were all that would be connected for the single night stay. The jacks came down and next out came the slides. Normally this is a non-event. Not this day. Kevin pushed the buttons inside for each of the 4 slides. The 2 rear slides were deployed first, then the driver side living room slide was next. Kevin pushed the out button. Immediately he saw the end away from him (the back) go out but the edge next to him (the front) did not go out ... he stopped. This left the entire room twisted. Kevin's next thought was to bring it all back in for realignment and diagnosis. Upon his command the slide came in to where the back aligned with the front end, but when he continued to bring the slide all the way in, a 'pop-pop' was heard from the the slide-out. This was not good. His thought was that one of the bolts of the slide assembly system had been snapped off. A similar situation happened when the Smitanic was in Hemet last year and two bolts had been replaced.

Crawling under the bay, it was confirmed two bolts were missing from the assembly. This meant the gears to bring the slide in and out would not turn. Kevin search around in the other bay under the slide to find a bolt in the middle was missing as well as the one near the front. They removed all the items from the bay to look for the 2 missing parts. One missing part was a cotter pin that was completely sheared off and the other was a bolt that was missing a washer and nut.

It was time to make a call to Good Sam's Roadside assistance to see if a mobile RV repair person could come to the rescue. The service request was logged and there would be a call back with details of the repair schedule and contact info. In about 20 min, Kevin got a call that the repair person had been dispatched and would be there in 75 min. Knowing that the mobile folks carry only parts they need for a specific job, Kevin thought that if he would have the parts ready when the person arrived, that would streamline the fix. Theresa searched for a nearby hardware store and called to get the hours of operation and to see if they carried the type of bolts that were needed. They were open until 5:30 and yes, they had bolts.

Just as Kevin and Theresa were hopping in the Toad, the Mulligan RV repair truck pulled up. The repairman, Charles, claimed he was in the area when he got the call to respond. Kevin quickly described the issue to the young man and asked if he might have a suitable part. Charles crawled in each bay to make his assessment. In his quick evaluation, he said, “let's do this in 2 steps. First let's put the old parts back so the slides can be brought all the way in, and then we will see if we can replace them.” With Charles in the bay watching for the correct bolt position, Kevin bumped the slide motor to turn the drive arm so the hole for the bolt could be lined up. Theresa relayed instructions to help coordinate between Kevin and Charles. Charles used the bolt that Kevin found and a small screwdriver from his truck to temporarily allow the slide motor assembly to bring the slide in. As the drive arm rotated, however, the top of the screwdriver snapped off leaving the blade wedged in the hole. Ooopps! “Let's try bringing the slide out one more time and I will watch to see if the blade will clear any obstacles on a full rotation.”

After that successful test, Charles reported, “It's wedged in there pretty good and it will hold for quite some time, just don't use the slide.” Kevin crawled in the bay to see the 'temp fix'. Unsatisfied with this as a solution, he inquired if the temp items could be removed and that proper replacement bolts could be purchased and then inserted by Kevin and Theresa. Charles was very accommodating and got the temp solution removed. His Macgyver instincts took over and he made one more trip to his truck. He returned with some potential bolts and 2 self-tapping metal screws and asked if we had anything that would serve as a chunk of metal to receive the end of the bolt and act as a washer and lock nut. Theresa thought a bit and shouted, “How about a coin?” Charles replied, “Sure, that will work if you have 2 quarters?” Theresa and MJB used all the quarters on laundry 2 days ago but, thankfully Kevin had put some change in a coin container in the RV. “Yeah, here is 50 cents! (4 bits)” Charles went to work relentlessly trying to pierce a hole with the self-tapping screws into each quarter. After 15 minutes, he had one done, 10 more minutes and the other one was ready for assembly. He was pretty delighted with his plan and once again with tools, hardware and the defiled 50 cents in hand, he crawled into the cargo bay to apply the fix to one hole and then the other. Within 15 minutes, he was ready for a test. Charles stayed in the bay to watch his creative solution. Kevin cautiously pushed the slide-out button, the slide moved both sides in unison! Then upon instructions from Charles (related by Theresa) Kevin pressed the slide-in button. The slide came in and was fully retracted! Success! Charles was so proud of his 50 cent fix that he got his phone and took video as proof to a buddy back at work of this ingenious solution. Kevin repeated the test once again, with success. Charles claimed the solution was holding so tight that in his opinion, the slide could even be used for the remainder of the trek! All were very pleased with this report! Kevin reaffirmed that mobile RV repair folks are the best, because they have real road experience and know how to fix all sorts of issues.

With the slide issue 'fixed......,' there was still time to, A) drive to the local hardware store and pick up some spare bolts, washers and nuts in case the 4 bit fix failed down the road and, B) hike the 1 mile paved trail around Devils Tower.

The hardware store trip was accomplished in 30 minutes. All hiking items and cameras were gathered and the three explorers ventured into the National Monument. Kevin's senior pass was used to gain free entry. Boy, that was a good investment! The trail lead up to the base of the massive non-errupted volcano formation. A bus unloaded a group of folks who quickly swarmed all over the low lying rocks for the perfect photo opp. The Smitanic crew captured some boulder climb shots and then moved on to the less traveled loop around the entire monolith. About half way around, two climbers were spotted hanging from ropes attached to a midway ledge. The full circumference was made and the hikers determined that the view was significantly different every time one would gaze up. The views out into the lush valleys below were breath taking as well. It is no wonder this has been on MJB's bucket list!

Returning to the RV, Theresa noted recycling bins inside the National Park gate which was next door to the KOA. She took 2 full bags of bottles, cans and plastic and deposited them appropriately. She noted how amazing it was that RV parks do not provide recycling bins!

With fairly good wifi, the evening was consumed with blog updates, picture uploads and catching up on email. Since a route destination would next take the crew to Glacier National park, MJB checked the status of several fires in the area. The park will be called to see what affect that may have, if any, on the plans in that area.

Day 23 – Never is heard a Discouraging Word

Narration here.

The skies looked like they would be cloudy all day so the plans for biking on the Mickelson trail would be postponed for later in the day if it cleared up. Kevin unloaded the bikes off the CRV for the 4th time in 2 days, stowing them on the rack on the back of the Smitanic. Kevin had chatted with a fellow camper the day before who claimed that Custer State Park was a very scenic drive. He claimed that the buffalo were out roaming, and they may even get up-close and personal. This sounded like a great choice for such a soggy day.

The Custer State park entrance was just up the road from the RV park where a sign warned vehicles of to be aware of an upcoming tunnel with a restriction of 10ft high and 8ft wide. No RVs could make that! Once Kevin saw it, he wondered if the CRV with the Yakama storage on top would make it. He held his breath and... made it! One of the park options was a wildlife trail that seemed to be the best bet for a buffalo sighting. Getting there required threading the even more restrictive tunnels on Needles Hwy. The rock formations (phallic in nature as MJB proclaimed) were impressive and required multiple stops for photo oopps. The road then wound down and opened up to a more rolling range... ah this is where the buffalo will be! Several deer in the tree line were spied as well as an occasional antelope and mounds with prairie dogs. Perhaps the buffalo were avoiding the rain and keeping cover in distant pastures? Up the next rise, cars were parked on both sides of the road as a small herd of bison sauntered across the road not realizing that they were the subject matter for today's blog post! Snap, Snap, Snap as the camera responded to each press on the shutter button to record the fact that the team was within several feet of a real life Buffalo.

With that mission a success, the next stop was back to Hill City to pick up a 'if it fits, it ships' envelope with mail from the home front. Theresa and Kevin had been anxious for this delivery as it contained the all-important invitation to the wedding of their son, Kiehl, and his fiance Madison!

The mail was triaged by Kevin. Theresa spent the time while there was 4-bar reception to do more down/up loading for the blog.

On the drive back to the RV park, it was unanimous that this area had lots to offer and could easily occupy weeks of exploration. Kevin thought Clanton's would enjoy riding their new Harley thru the curves in Custer Park, although they may feel a bit exposed if they met up with a buffalo herd. Theresa noted that she would not recommend staying at the Horsethief Campground, because of the park's road conditions, poor wifi, and location from the main Hwy. There were many, many other parks that seemed to be a better fit.

There was just enough time before dinner to get a short ride for 1 hour on the Mickelson trail which 100 miles long  from end to end with a $3 daily use fee.  It was constructed along old RR tracks and follows a stream that meanders thru the valleys of the black hills.   It was a mixed feeling to get back acquainted with the pedals not to mention the seats of the mountain bikes.  The trail out was a gradual up hill which would be good news on the way back.  The return to the start coincided with a new rain front moving in for the night.

This was the final night at the park so a bit of the evening was spent stowing items that had been brought out for the 3 night stay. The route for the next day would include a stop in Sturgis for Kevin. Though it did not meet his bucket list item of attending the infamous annual motorcycle rally, it at least would give him a sense of what that spectacle is about. The route then continues for a close encounter of the KOA kind in Devils Tower, WY.

Day 22 – Item One (on Theresa's & MJB's Bucket list) – Check!

Narration Here.

The CRV idiot light for low tire pressure illuminated on the way to Mt. Rushmore so that issue would need to be dealt with after the Bucket List item is completed.

Kevin could not do a drone flyover as this was a "no drone zone"

Theresa's jaw dropped, and Kevin detected a tier in her eye with the first glimpse of the presidential rock sculpture. Parked and entering the park was even more impressive as a marble path led down a flag-lined archway with a clear view of the four faces on the mountain at the end of the path. 

Goose bumps were felt on the presidential trail as the meaning and symbolism of the monument would not be denied. Steps led to a museum where the construction and history of the patriotic landmark was explained in great detail. Many pictures from all angles were snapped thru out the day. The engineering that was deployed during the years of construction was mind boggling. There were no lasers during the day to direct the tools. The sculpture made plaster scale models that the workers would use to measure and then transfer the measurements X12 to the rock they were chiseling. At the end of the tour a must have proof T-shirt souvenir for Theresa was purchased. Patriotism, and engineering marvel consumed this moment!

With every inch explored, the bucket list item could be check off both Theresa and MJB's list.

A gas station was located just on the edge of Hill City that had an air station so Kevin checked the CRV tires. All were well under pressure so Kevin systematically added air to each tire. The conclusion was that the extreme heat of the badlands followed by a cool down in the Black Hills may have caused the low pressure. Or perhaps a delayed affect of I40 :)

There was a need for a good internet connection as well as lunch. A quaint bar and grill was selected that had an upper patio that would provide 5 bars on the Mifi. With full tummies it was time to head back to the campground to let Zin out and do some laundry. The very slow campground wifi was hijacked to complete the upload of the days multitude of photos while 2 loads were washed and dried.

The focal point for tomorrow will be picking up the Smit mail (if it is in)from the Hill City PO as well as a bike ride on nearby trail.

Discussion to add another Bucket List item for MJB of Devils Tower in WY was examined. If one of the days planned for the Black Hills could be used for this new destination then that would work. A KOA near the natural wonder was located as well as a route that would also include a stop in Sturgis for Kevin.

Day 21 – Gone Flat

Narration here.

The heat was already cooking the RV at 8am when the first sign of life made an exit to assess the temperature. Over morning coffee the inside of the Smitanic was readied for the slides to be drawn in, so the jacks could be stowed for departure. The power was left on until the last possible moment to maintain any cooling the AC could provide. The guest, Cameron, had packed up his tent and was starting to meticulously load all his gear strategically on his bike. MJB gave him some juice and a hard-boiled egg while Theresa made a PB&J, apple and granola bar for a snack for Cameron down the road. Mom's do these things ya know! Cameron was ready to exit and noticed that is front tire was a bit flat. Off came all his belongings as well as the tire. The tube was examined with some water in the sink to find a small leak which was patched. The tire itself also had a non-trivial gouge in it that could easily let more debris in to cause another flat. The spot on the tire was patched using the universal repair tool known as Duct tape on the inside of the tire. Kevin pulled a spare tire from the bike parts he had brought. “Here Cameron”, “Take this spare tire just in case you need it before you can replace the bad one with a similar size and brand” Kevin demanded. “Thanks, it would help me get to a bike shop if this one comes totally unglued” replied Cameron. The now patched tube, and duct taped tire were replaced and ready for countless, yet limited, more miles into the adventure. Hugs were exchanged once again as well as an assurance to share the link to Cameron's donation site. The adventure is made very special by the people you meet!

The exit from the Badlands was followed by the entrance to the Black Hills. The RV seemed to strain on even the most gradual climb and the engine temp approached the 'red zone' on the dash. As Kevin manually shifted up each grade he monitored the temp, tack ,and speed as he managed the curves and then applied the engine break on the descents. This was a short day mileage-wise but Kevin was exhausted once the destination of Horsethief Campground was reached. Weary from the drive and longing for some AC relief as well as a cold beverage all systems were hooked up so that the three voyagers would enjoy the next 3 nights in comfort.

After a brief rest and some lunch it was time to go explore one of the many local attractions, The Crazy Horse Memorial was a short drive from the park and would only take 1 hour to meander thru the displays and exhibits. This monument is a work in progress and has a huge plan for the construction of not only the mammoth rock sculpture but a medical school as well.

This monument is an impressive landmark for miles in all directions!

Parker Farm steaks topped with grilled onions and mushrooms were enjoyed for dinner along with snap peas and mashed potatoes.

At last the team was rewarded with showers and a cool night of slumber.