Unexpected Detour

The sun is shining...

We sit in a motel in Bozeman, Montana, this evening... an unexpected detour.  Several weeks ago, Roxanne had to have a change in diet due to early stages of kidney problems (she is nearly 14 years old!).  She has eaten little since.  While her spirits are up, she is alert, and she seems happy to be traveling, she refused even her favorite foods this morning.  Fearing pancreatitis, we stopped in Lovell.  Because they were unable to take her, we ended up at the Gallatin Vet Hospital in Bozeman (a great clinic... thank you!).

The good news is that Roxanne appears to simply have a low-grade infection and difficulty adjusting to the new diet.  A good dose of antibiotics and an appetite stimulant, and she should be good to go.  By the time we left the vet office, however, it was late afternoon.  We decided to stay here at the MountainView Lodge and Suites (http://www.mountainviewlodgemontana.com).  They have been extremely gracious and accommodating to us and our Golden girl.

It has been all rain since a few hours before we hit Amarillo.  We spent our second night in Curt Goudy State Park near Cheyenne, Wyoming, ducking in the camper shortly after set up due to an enormous thunderstorm that lasted the entire night.  We broke camp in a steady downpour.

Our first campsite... Curt Goudy State Park near Cheyenne, Wyoming

We had not expected to be camping so soon, particularly since Roxanne has more and more difficulty handling hot weather... it is the reason we push so hard to move north into cooler climes.  After our arrival in Amarillo, however, the temperatures have not been above 70 degrees until this afternoon.  My motto has always been that the vacation truly begins when we pull out the sweatshirts... I am happy to report, vacation has begun!

Last night we spent in the Porcupine Campground, deep in the Big Horn national forest.  We had a spectacular view of the beautiful, albeit cloud-covered, mountains.  Once again, however, thunderstorms drove us into the camper.  A deluge followed.  After midnight, however, the skies cleared and the moon came out from behind the clouds.  By six this morning, we had to close the black out shades on the east side of the camper so we could get another hour of sleep.

Porcupine Campground in the Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming

We are grateful that the sun is shining.  We missed seeing the Rockies all through Colorado and Wyoming because of clouds.  This afternoon, however, we finally see snow-capped peaks.  Halleliuja!

We are especially grateful that Rox has been given a clean bill of health to continue on our adventure.  Time to regroup, take some much-needed showers, and head for Canada tomorrow!  Woohoo!