Filled the Plaid Mobile at the Bozeman Costco on the way out. Left it on auto shut-off while I re-cleaned the windows. The attendant noticed a major gas spill, suggesting that the auto shut-off was slow. Off on our merry way with the lingering fumes from the spill and a mental note to limit fueling to about 7/8.

Given the mind-numbing nature of the interstate, we took the Pipestone Pass alternate Highway 12 from Dillon to Butte, stopping at the top for a 45-minute hike.

Snow on Pipestone. A popular mountain biking destination with 25 miles of sandy trails on the Continental Divide.

Eli, Nancy, KC

Miles of Trails

Fresh Moss

After crossing the Continental Divide at Pipestone Pass, it's through Butte to the Highway 1 senic route  to Missoula via Anaconda and Philipsburg.

Anaonda Mine Tailings

. . . and the 500-foot smelter stack as the most famous landmark.

Leaving Anaconda, MT.

Anaconda miner's shack, much like the New Orleans shotgun house.

And if you want a garage, buy the shack next door.

Not all Anaconda houses are identical.

Eli was interested; Nancy, not so much.

Main Street Philipsburg, MT.

Damn, they WERE open.

Hurray, they WERE open. That's the Philipsburg Brewery.

Tie up the RV, partner. No, Eli was not afraid of this horse in Philipsburg.

Then on to Missoula, with the OK from Adventure Cycling to park behind their downtown HQ, and ideal location to stroll downtown and yet on the edge of a nice residential area with grass. We have hit peak color season, with every shade of leaf from green to dark red.

Biga Pizza's date and proscutto

Everyone from our daughter, Caleigh, to the casual man on the street in Missoula recommended Biga Pizza. With a glass of red and a Double Haul IPA from the local Kettle House Brewery, can't go wrong.

I replaced all of the Dolphin bulbs with LEDs, so no apparent worry about depleting the coach battery. Light the water heater and LP refrigerator, but a hydro flame furnace is more difficult. I could not get it lit, so to be safe, just turned off the gas. About 4 am with a definite chill in the Dolphin, I recalled that you cannot EVER see the flame when lit. So I got up, tried again. I heard a faint noise from the pilot, so turned the valve full on, and heat. As usual, operator error.

South side of the Clark Fork River. Splitting Missoula in half, the historic center is on the north side, the University of Montana (Grizzlies) is on the south and east of downtown, and both sides are bordered by a paved bike path.

Attractive, unknown building on the south side of Clark Fork River, Missoula, MT.

Trains rumble through all day and night, but not this one. Unit trains increasingly traverse from Eastern Montana to Pacific ports, supplying power plants in China.

October mornings in Missoula, just as in Bozeman, tend to be about freezing, so off to walk the dogs, and brew a fresh pot of coffee.

Then into Adventure Cycling and a warm welcome from Julie Huck, Membership Director. If you have an inclination to support bike touring, riding, and overall bike usage as your eco friendly gesture, then check out Adventure Cycling and lend your support.

Warning: Plot Point
Off to Costco about 1 pm to fill before heading over Lolo Pass, we saw gas dripping as we filled, despite not being nearly full. Long story short—split gas filler tube (goes from the gas fill to the tank, split from age after 30 years and not fix in Missoula. We were forced to return to Bozeman.

With 3 weeks planned off, we considered various options, opted to take the Subaru, repack, and left on the original plan west to the Pacific Coast.