Brydn's 2003 Travel Journal - Montana: Metamorphosis

Brydn's 2003 Travel Journal - Montana: Metamorphosis

PG 65

I leave behind my old truck and drive off in an F-150. I finally get out of Helena, Montana. The equipment gets set up in Missoula, Montana. I head out for a couple days of camping at Jonsrud fishing access.



I almost know I'd be getting this truck the day I see her; no plates, a CB, 4x4 traction, a CD player, and brown paint. Good Buddy's Pawn Shop gives me directions to city hall so I can get 20 day tags. I transfer the load of equipment from "Ruthy" to "Hellena" and tie it down. I leave Ruthy out front of an empty lot by the Pawn Shop. Steve says he'll help go back and take her to the wrecking yard. "R.I.P.." Tragic. She's gone so far. She never does make 250,000 miles on the odometer. Now she's metamorphosed into a truck I thought or knew I'd have from a year ago. I drive to the court house and get tags. I get to Fort Harrison. I check the load, the water, and the tires. I drink a cold one. I get to the Prospector's Shop. Check the load. I get out the maps, adjust the mirrors, and test CB ( It needs work ).

I drive up over the pass. Steve says I should have been looking backwards. That's where the view is. I try to stop in Garrison and drive right past it. There's maybe 5 buildings left. I U-turn around and get back on the freeway. I stop in Drummond for a root beer, a GatorAid, some beers and a bag of ice. I eat the left over green olive pizza. It has so much salt it's making me thirsty.

I get into Missoula about 8pm. I find the Fairgrounds. The manager, Toni, is having a staff meeting around a picnic table in back. She gets me the keys to the roof. Her husband, Jim, shows me the VIP room above the grandstands. He wants a TV put in across the room. Toni opens the mutual building where the equipment is delivered. I carry my computer and the box of masters out of my truck up to the roof. I carry up my camera and the 4 VRCs. Then I run out of energy poop steam. I lock up the roof and leave. I stop for gas and to buy ice. The attendant lady gives me a Missoula map. I forget the ice I bought. Steve says to try camping at the Jonsrud fishing access. By now it is getting dark. I hear the strange sound of bugs hitting the truck body and windshield. I get to Jonsrud but pass the camping area and travel up a wash board dirt road about a mile before I can turn around. I park in a day use area not knowing it. I play a little guitar, drink a beer, and fall asleep in the cab. My new big truck had lots of room for "sleeping in a car." I can't figure out where the camping spots are because it's so dark. There are two girls camping in front of their cars headlight. This was about all I could differentiate in the dark. I read the owners manual to my truck for a couple minutes with my flash light. I wake up at 4am and read awhile longer. I sleep until 8am, remembering that the Ranger usually stops by about 9:30am.