Home of the brave

Hello Everyone,

I hear a lot about how the US has a terrible health care system, but that's got to be wrong because I've been here for a couple of days now, and haven't once seen anybody riding a motorcycle who was wearing a helmet. And I've seen a bunch of people riding motorcycles. They must have great health care if they are comfortable enough to not protect their noggins, believing that the hospital will be able to put that egg back together in the event of a crash.

Snarky observations aside, I'm very much enjoying Montana. I'm staying with friends of Nick's here in Missoula, who's town motto is, shamefully, not "Make Some Moula". They've got a great place on the outskirts of town, close to a national forest and some great, flowy trails.

Rob, one half of the couple, and I went out yesterday evening into the hills for a couple of hours. The sky was a little hazy, which meant that the sunset was gorgeous. My understanding is that the haze was created by raging forest fires elsewhere on the continent. Who says this global warming business is all bad? That sunset was beautiful.

The hills here are what you might think of when you picture Montana. Rolling rather than sharp, with meadows and pine forests along the slopes. It's hot, but not any more so than when I was in the Kootenays.

After the ride, and after their two young boys were put to bed, we sat on their large, west-facing open deck in the back, drank beer and watched the birds fight amongst themselves as the sun set behind them.

The only downside has been Arthur's injured leg. He's still limping, and so couldn't come on the ride. As usual, he gave me the sad eyes when I left him, but was completely content to stay in the cool, comfortable house with all the food that was being prepared for dinner. Still, he was very excited when I got back and tore around the yard, injured leg be damned.

Wes

Photos

I haven't been taking many pictures lately, but here are a couple of my goofball companion. In the first, he is sniffing along the edge of a neighbour's yard, while a doe and her fawns snack on some grass under the shade of a trampoline. Deer are extremely common in this neighbourhood, having figured out that it's safer than the forests with their bears and coyotes. Arthur did notice them eventually, but I kept a strong arm on his leash.

In the second, Arthur stands guard in a house he's only recently been in. This is the door to the backyard, and he's likely staring down a dog in an adjacent yard.