Norris Hot Springs, MT - Waiting Around to Fly (Belgrade, MT)

If I took myself seriously, I would be applying to grad school for something to spend 20-30 years feigning interest, enjoyment and amusement at.
Not blogging about nonsense.

Water of the Gods.

The hot spring pool is closed on Tuesday’s.

Yesterday was Tuesday.

I should have guessed, the Gods are resting on a Tuesday.

I considered going in anyway, but there’s extra signs, and the whole “sticklers for rules” thing has me weary. 
Today, I'm ready for them.

I’m getting anxious to get the camper. I'm not a big "planner", but I planned on being gone by now.

Every time I close the truck door on Rodney, he looks at me like I’m not coming back. 
I think he can tell I'm a little off.

I got him a bear bell to wear on his collar, but I’m still too nervous about him sneaking off in the night to let him sleep outside. 

It will be better for both of us. 

While I definitely didn’t get my $36 worth, it was nicer to wake up here, and walk to the pool, than it was to wake up at Walmart.

Hardly any fairy tale stories start with waking up at a Walmart. Unless you’re a Walton. 

Then... you wake up at a Walmart, “start” your Tesla, and drive to the party you’re throwing with Lance Armstrong. 

Not that I’m judging. I would totally throw that party.

They have some sort of communal garden here.

And lots of hand-made signs. 

“We have snakes in Montana!”

“Wetlands are for Birds, Not Dogs or People!”

And my favorite, “No Loose Dogs!”

The last one is drawn like a rushed graffiti, so it’s hard to know whether a camper just went rogue or whether they dissuade the promiscuity of family pets.

Still, it’s nice to have a shower and electricity to run the beard trimmer along my neck. 

I'm out of (forgot to bring any) soap, so I use the hand soap dispenser from the sink to hit the vitals. 

It’s not till after lunch the next day that I go to the restroom again and realize I forgot to take it out of the shower. 

Which makes me realize, most people must carry little hand soaps around with them for when they use the bathroom and there isn’t any hand soap. Smart. 

The hot spring water is about the same temperature as a Texas pool, so pretty warm. 

Rodney gets nervous after being left in the shade for 5 minutes and tries to join me, along with the chair he was leashed to. 

It’s not until this point that I realize it is time for some Rodney-care, and take him around... to get a little loose.

One of the communites offers that we seem to have a good relationship. 

(Yea, he’s got a noose around his neck... and you need thumbs to open the food container)
“Oh, thanks! He’s the best dog”

Everyone loves his bell, Rodney especially. 

Still, treats and gifts won’t feed the soul. 

Realizing you need to make a change, committing to change, and doing things differently are three different things.

We are on step 3, but it’s still not clear if we are doing better or just different.

With that in mind, we load up, take a couple pictures, and stay exactly where we are. 

It’s mid afternoon, just warm enough to feel like Summer, and I have beer in the cooler.

Today is the 4th of July, dammit. 

Besides, Rodney is tired enough to nap until his feet kick, so I feel like he’s taken care of for the moment.

I’m going to sit and send good vibes that Graeme is getting ready to call and tell me the camper is ready.

Either way, at some point, we will need to decide where to sleep.

Big Decisions.

If you have a garden and 10,000 signs touting your home-grown produce and karmic beliefs, please don’t serve Pace Picante as your own, personal “Hot Mama” salsa. 

Definitely don’t charge $5 for a 1/4 cup it...

It’s just bad karma. I think?

To be fair, it seems like 90% of the guests are here to sit in the pool and drink beer.

But it's too late. I've decided to be annoyed about my expectations not being met, and I make the Big Decision that we are leaving.
I'm told that Ennis has a great, small town fireworks display.
Ennis defers, sending me to Virginia City.
After stopping at the "Check Point" to receive my list of rules and to make the honorable donation of $1 to the Fire Gods, Rodney and I park with a clear view of the hill that is supposed to birth the fireworks.
We wait an hour.
Then the fireworks start.
They are normal fireworks.
I've blown up too many things to think that watching other people blow stuff up is wild entertainment.
Rodney must have had a similar youth.
Nevada City is a couple of buildings (108, to be exact) outside of the small town of Virginia City (I don't know how many buildings).
At night, it looks like 3.
But one is a hotel, and I'm ready to pay what seems like an insane amount of money to sleep in a bed for 1 night.
I've forgotten to take pictures, but it's quaint (Trip Advisor, people... this isn't a travel blog).
Sort of like a museum, sort of like an "architecture group" that goes around renovating houses so they all look the same. Only here they're all in his yard.
It's actually really interesting, I just haven't had coffee.