July 17, 2012

Sunday Rob, Kim, Jim and Joyce Posik decided to go fishing at the Nature Conservancy at Flatt Ranch just south of the RV Park. I went with them to observe and capture all their catches on film (or flash drive). It was afternoon by the time we got going. The river (outlet from Henry’s Lake) was at least ½-3/4 of a mile from the parking lot across a meadow with marshes that required a meandering path to the water. I was taking a chair to sit on since the banks of the river were tall grass and shrubs. Joyce immediately caught a fish. I thought she was just tangled so I wasn’t able to get a picture. After a short while everyone shifted to the right to avoid casting into the wind. Too windy for me. I dragged my chair back to the car where I waited and read my book.

Joyce Posik, foreground, Kim in back. Joyce's hat must bring her good luck. She seems to always catch a fish.

Courtneys left Monday to join Stan and Jerre in Dillon, Montana. We said good-bye as we picked Kim up at about 8:30 to go fishing. First stop Trout Hunters, a local fly shop. Rob wanted to get some neoprene knee socks. He had admired those Joyce was wearing. Jim and Rob also found a few flies they couldn’t live without. Next stop was just down the road at “the log jam”, a spot recommended by the clerk at Trout Hunters. There were too many cars in the parking lot so we left to go down to Osbourne Bridge. No one was there. After suiting up the four of them trekked down to the water to wet their lines. Joyce again caught the first fish. No picture again. I was able to sit in the car and watch and read. After a couple of hours with little action it was time for lunch. Kim suggested a local place where one of her colleagues from Linx also works part time. While there it started to rain. Then it turned into a deluge. By the time we were through with lunch the rain had passed and we left to return to the rv park. Just after we turned off the main road on the way to the park we spied two bull moose grazing off the side of the road.

Tuesday Jim and Joyce left to head home and Rob and I headed for Dillon. Nice weather, beautiful drive. Driving along, minding our own business, enjoying the beautiful scenery when....

About 7 miles from Dillon an explosion rocked our coach. It sounded like a cannon went off in the coach. Rob pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Once again luck was with us. This section of road was a straightaway with clear vision in both directions. Just a few minutes before we were on a 7 degree curvy downgrade with no place to pull over.

A quick inspection revealed a blown left front tire. Rob went out to put out some orange triangle markers behind the coach. I couldn't find a truck tire dealer in Dillon so I called Stan and he told me there was a Les Schwab dealer in town. I was able to find their phone number and was dialing when Rob came back and said the Sheriff had stopped and given him three names. Funny tht Google couldn't find any. Les Schwab looked for the right size tire, found one and came out within 20 minutes. “Bob” was able to jack up the coach, remove the tire and replace it with a temporary and have us on our way within 1 ½ hours. We had already planned on replacing all the tires at Les Schwab in Junction City, Or, when we have the coach serviced in August. Bob told Rob to have them send the temporary tire back when we replace the tires and there would be no charge for the tire. He had to continue on to take care of a tractor so he said to go on to the RV park and get set up then go into the store and take care of the service charge. Rob did that and came back to the park after about an hour. He had them price the replacement of all the tires while he was there. Their price came in at $1000 under the price from Junction City. Friday the tires on the Yukon and the coach will all be replaced at the RV park. We don’t even have to take the coach into the store and no charge for the service call to replace the blown out tire.

Bob setting jacks, Rob supervising.