Rolling...

A through-the-windshield tour today.

We hooked up the circus train this morning: motorhome/Honda CR-V/cargo trailer.  It has been over 3 months since we've been in a state where this is allowed - we took our time with the process.  The Aspect with the cargo trailer on the back is like a sports car.  OK, not really: it is like a motorhome with plenty of get-up-and-go.  The Aspect with the CR-V and the cargo trailer still has plenty of pulling power, but it feels really, really long.  In actuality, it is a couple feet shorter than the truck (Big Red) pulling the HitchHiker and the cargo trailer.  For some reason, it feels longer.

After 4 nights in the Post Falls area (holding off due to crappy weather to the east), we are ready to hit the road.  We pulled out of the RV park carefully, and made our way to the Interstate.  Knowing that we will be dealing with varying elevations, I plan to keep us on I-90 as we make our way east.  We passed the lovely Lake Coeur d' Alene...

Not a lot of I-90 through northern Idaho; looking out the windshield...

Checking the "All Honda CR-V Channel" in our back-up monitor...

Some fall colors...

Of course, there would be road construction...

I think the sign said "8 Miles of Road Construction"... it didn't say it would be on a steep up-hill grade with a 25 mph speed limit.  Some semis weren't able to do 25, so we all got to take our time.  The plan was to make about 300 miles today, so 40 minutes of slow up-hill driving isn't a big deal... well, except for what it does to the fuel mileage.

We pulled off at a rest area just beyond the construction.  Joan got a photo of me (and the "circus train") when I went back to check the Honda.  All is good.

After walking all around the rig, checking tires, hubs, electrical connections, etc, I took over the camera for an Aspect and tows glamour shot...

By this point, I was feeling a bit less tense about double towing... some call it triple towing, but it is one rig, the Aspect, towing the Honda, which is towing the cargo trailer.  Double.

I have no doubt this guy was feeling less tense about towing...

I'm also guessing we have a few more amenities.  ;-)

Down the road a ways, more construction that turned the Interstate into a two-lane...

The speed limit was 45 mph, not just through the curves...

Joan took this shot - lots of pretty streams as we roll through Montana...

Well, not through... but into...

Nice scenery.  The road alternated between rough as a cobb and not too bad.  And, the occasional wildlife crossing...

What is that on top of those mountains?

Yeah, that is why we hung out in Post Falls/Coeur d' Alene for a few days: to miss that evil white crap, below freezing temps, and wind.  It was sunny all day on our drive today.

We pulled into an RV park outside of Butte.  It looked decent on Google Earth.  In reality: not so much.  But, it is going to be cold tonight, and we were looking for an electric hook-up.  Well, we weren't looking for an over-priced hook-up, but here we are.  It was convenient to the Flying J, where we filled up the gas tank and topped off propane.  One stop shopping.

I had called ahead at this park - the young lady told me "We have plenty of sites, just come on in."  Yeah, they have plenty of sites.  Not much choice that can accommodate our length (without unhooking).  The first site she gave me wasn't long enough.  The second site would have probably been OK... if there wasn't a pickup truck parked in it.  She gave us a third site - further back in the park.  Not even close to level.  When we put down the jacks, the front tires were off the ground... Joan put out blocks...

So much for "All we have to do is unplug and get rolling in the morning."  Little Iz was looking out the door - she thinks the green stuff out there is grass.  It appears to be some kind of leafy spurge that might eat cats - it glommed onto my foot as I walked by it.  Glad it's only over night.

We are above 5,300' elevation tonight.  Yeah, it's gonna be chilly.