Once I made up the fouton with Coop’s bedding he felt right at home.  Maybe he thought we’d moved to the cabin!

Sunday morning he wouldn’t get up.  A lot happened to my little cocker in just a few days.  Lots of exploring and splashing, lots of new smells.  And he wouldn’t get up – days off are for sleeping in!

When I asked about going for a ride, he was finally ready.  We had good mountain breakfasts (oatmeal for me, kibble for him) and packed up.  Our vacation had been a success.  We had adventure, mystery, thrills and more than enough to eat 🙂  It wasn’t quite over, though, as we headed home.  Through Montana fall scenery that never quit,

we headed to Libby with a planned stop at Kootenai Falls. 

This late in the season I didn’t expect to see such a crowd, lots of fisherman and a kayak “convention”, but I still got some nice photos and, yep, more exercise!

This is where they filmed part of River Wild.  Will have to watch it again now that I’ve seen the falls.  There’s an impressive suspension bridge, and on such a crowded day there was a line to cross it, but Coop would have never gone for it and I was happy just to look.  I actually ran into someone I knew there – 190 miles from home!

Then home.  I must say I was happy to get here and could tell Coop was too.  And since we were technically still on vacation today we slept in late.  There is no place like home!

This is Payne Creek, which runs about 30 feet from the cabin.  Lots of drippy, rain foresty hikes to take here and Coop drank and poked around in as many pools as I’d let him.  I kept the poor guy on a leash the whole time due to recent bear activity.

Then we headed to the Bull Lake, about ten miles south of Troy.  I told friends at work I planned to see a moose on my trip, and, sure enough, saw a nice bull moose splashing along the edge of the lake.

I’d have missed see him if hadn’t been splashing.  Luckily there was a good place to pull off the highway and get a picture, a butt shot but awesome just the same 😀

I kept an eye out for him after we launched but the willows are thick there and we didn’t see him again.  Even the locals said it was a treat to see one.  As soon as we headed across the lake it started raining.  I was prepared and had a great time.  Coop got wet and I can never tell if he’s having fun or not 😉

We did a lot of driving around during our exploring, as in LOST, but the scenery was great and it was intended to be an adventure, so we considered our vacation a success!

Turned out to be a pretty day for the start of our road trip, despite the bleak forecast.  

We did drive through areas of rain and it was snowing on the higher hills but overall a nice day to start vacation!

This pretty spot was at Trout Creek, new territory for me.

The main objective today, other than finding the cabin, was to see the cedars at Ross Creek.  Well worth the stop.

Though chilly, it was a lovely walk, damp and misty, which seemed appropriate.  Hard to believe there was ever a fire danger in this lush, green valley.

Things grow happy and big here!

Coop had a good time and said “thank you!”

We did, eventually, find the cabin.  Coop settled right in.  The plan for tomorrow is to kayak and see a moose!

Labor Day weekend – the end of a long, hot summer. We all hate to rush it by, it will be cold soon enough, but still!!! It’s ending on a sad note in Montana with fires and smoke and continued worry of more. Losses have been great, including swaths of Glacier Park and one of her chalets. Still much to be grateful for and Coop and I had some fun and made the most of it.

Cherry picking is a summer staple!

Hanging out on docks is too!

As well as a rodeo and a couple of road trips!

We did some artwork, though I enjoyed it more than Coop did 🙂

We hiked on our favorite trail, cool and wet!

Hung out by the golf course – getting firewood!

We kayaked at sunset on the little lake!

We kayaked and picnicked in the smoke on the big lake!

We count our blessings, made the most of it, and it’s time to move on!