Day 10: Gillette, WY to Billings, MT

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Billings, Montana, United States
Woke up in our Walmart parking lot to a drizzly, cold (40 degrees) day - Sara still wanted to walk, but I did not enjoy the wake up the exercise. Climbed the RV ladder to wash the rear windows and clean the brake lights - all coated in mud. All the other RVer's in Walmart had long gone (boondocking is supposed to be an overnight stay and I guess early back on the road) but that's not on our agenda! We rolled out after sleeping in, eating breakfast, reviewing our options for tonight's camping, and checking out directions to the local post office - sending a "Good Health" wish to Becky via a tiny Horse fetish we found at Crazy Horse Monument - stay strong, Becky! Then on the freeway, I 90 West - started out peaceful with drizzle rain, easy driving. Crossed into Montana and saw our first snow topped mountains. In case you were getting too jealous of our trip, check out that selfie and be glad you're in Atlanta or anywhere south of here - it is frigid cold, with drizzle flying sideways, and the wind is getting nasty - warning signs say 35+mph winds, but I think that's more like 50 mph. I'm saying that I had a grip on the steering wheel, holding it at a 45 degree turn in order to keep us straight on the road, and then the wind would suddenly let up, and you were overcompensating and swerving until the next gust hit!! Thank goodness the shoulder was wide on the right so I could cling to that when the big rigs blew by! I believe I will have blisters or caluses on my palms by tomorrow due to the grip on the wheel for 3 hours. We broke it up by stopping at Little Big Horn National Monument, planning lunch and a dog walk at 3pm. Bummer, no dogs allowed on the 700 acres and it was so windy, blustery cold that we didn't much want to get out of RV either. But it was a fascinating 10 mile drive across the site of Custer's Last Stand, seeing the rolling mountains, and Little Big Horn River - pictures will not begin to show you the awesomeness of the landscape! Left that site about 4:45 and had called ahead to Billings to schedule some RV maintenance at a local dealer - the first dealer said they were so backed up, they weren't even making appointments, so I was very relieved when the second dealer, Pierce RV's, agreed to take us in the morning, and then offered us a camping site in their lot, with water/electric hookups!! We were trying to get here by 6 pm when they closed so they could unlock the utilities, and thankfully the wind eased a little when we turned west, so was able to make better time, arriving exactly at 6pm. OMG, it's freezing here - why is everyone sending me reports of Florida and GA temperatures?!! We are beginning to doubt our sanity as we look ahead to Glacier National Park - they aren't answering their phones, but their recordings do list "which roads are open!" Dinner was wonderful because the heat was on and we had steak, sweet potatoe fries and broccoli = beginning to understand the convection microwave oven! We pulled out our heavier coats tonight and Linda is beginning to worry that she didn't bring gloves, wanting to go buy some! Must go to bed early as we are trying to be first in line for service tomorrow at 7:45 am (need oil change on the generator, and radio system has quit (hope that's just something we are doing wrong), and will get air pressure in tires checked for good measure and refill propane tank - need lots of fuel for heat!!!! And, another treat, noted a Costco only 3 miles away and Sara needs a food refill, so can't wait to explore Montana Costco!
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Comments

Maggie Diller
2016-05-11

So glad to be updated on your adventures! Tell Linda hello and stay warm!.

Sharon
2016-05-11

Gloves and hats are needed!

zoila
2016-05-11

Brrrr....sounds awfully cold.But the splendor of nature is all worthwhile. Stay warm and do buy those gloves.

2025-05-22

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