Meeting the Hutchinson's

Hello Everybody,

Let me reintroduce myself after having missed 3 days. My name is Jeroen and I’m trying to keep a daily blog, which obviously is not going the way I planned. So I’ve got some catching up to do. Here we go.....

Arriving at Harding KOA the sun was shining at full strength, and we were given a beautiful spot with a patio, a nice pick-nick table and a “porch-swing” and an almost perfect level one as well. Having parked the RV we could use the awning (zonnescherm/luifel) for the first time. And using the awning has a history. In 2015 when we did our East Coast road trip, we did the pick-up of the RV in New Jersey, at a company called El Monte RV. We got a nice RV, a bit smaller than the one we are now driving. And during the explanation at that time, given by the rental guy, we were told that the awning was not working. And doing the trip in mid-summer we would really like to have one. I had already imagined myself sitting underneath it, sipping a cold one and watching the sun set. So I tried to get this picture across to the not so friendly El Monte employee. Who really was having a blue Monday morning, still trying to fight down the hangover he clearly must have gotten from a Sunday Night out in the town in some sleazy bar. If you ever been to the down town New Jersey area, you know what type of bar I mean. Anyhow, the picture I was trying to paint for him in order to persuade the man to give us another RV, one with an awning, did not work. There were about ten more behind a fence. But no matter how I tried. He would not do it. So now having an awning feels like luxury. Every chance I get it has to be used.

Back to the KOA at Harding. When getting out of the RV we stepped on to the nice terracotta red concrete patio. Suus went to lay down for a bit, while I did do an effort to start writing our blog. But the sun won. We ended up doing a little laundry and relaxing most of the time. I made a stroll in the sun around the campground which was located right next to the Yellowstone river. I’m not sure but it looked like the water level was low, at least the river was calm and the banks wide. The surrounding mountains were yellow, and I found myself walking on stones………next to a river…….I had a feeling I was on to something……. Nope, I could not figure out what it was. Having strolled for half an hour I returned to the campsite. I just had my first encounter with Yellowstone river and hope it won’t be the last.

We turned in nice and early, since the next day we would have a 1 hour drive from Hardin to Billings up to the Hutchinson’s family. Chris, Jennifer, McKenna and Caleb. Jennifer is a lammie sister that Suus really was looking forward to to meet. The morning was a simple one, as all are. A little bit of stretching, yawning, some more stretching. Snuggle a bit and the finally pull yourself out of bed to have a coffee and a tea. The sun had decided to wake up as well, and the 3 of us started the day. Unhook the water and electric. Pull in the slides. Including the one leading to our pool. And off we go. Of course us being us, we took a little longer than expected but at 11:00 o’clock mountain time, we were on the move. First on the ToDo list was breakfast. Since the breakfast with Jill at Perkin’s was nice, we decided to go to a Perkin’s again. And we were not disappointed. We both had the same as the last time, and we both enjoyed it. Next on the ToDo list, buying some shorts for me. Since the sun had slung a lasso around our towbar, I needed to get out of the long jeans. And I did not bring any shorts. So we went to downtown Billings to a mall called Dillard’s. First shop we went to I tried on my first pair of short. Which were nice, but now that we were there let’s be sure that this is the one. So walking through the men’s department both Suus and me were holding up pairs of pants an across the store, asking each other wat we thought of the shorts we held up. Hey, who cares that we got funny looks from the other shoppers and the personnel. We would only be here once, so who cares?! After having tried on 4 pairs my choice would be the first one. Somehow it always is, but you keep trying on more. Just for that “what if” feeling. We walked the mall a bit more, hoping to find some souvenirs. Unfortunately we did not. In the meantime Jennifer had let us now that she was running a bit late so we had some extra time, and I still needed to go to a barber. But first, Walmart. Suus wanted to buy some presents for McKenna and Caleb. And Easter is coming weekend, and you can’t go wrong with candy. As we already got to experience first-hand when we were in Sioux City and went to Palmers. Walking out of the Walmart to our surprise there was a barber. No I should say a hair salon. I walked in and asked if they would also do men. The look I got from the lady behind the counter was one that suggested I wanted something more than a haircut, but she probably thought; he is foreign, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Next possible appointment 14:00 so I took it. Downside, we had to kill 25 minutes. But hey, we were at the Walmart! We took a leisurely stroll going from isle to isle. From groceries, to clothing. From garden to sports. From hardware to hunting. Oh Yes….hunting! Here in the state of Montana you can carry a gun, own as much as you like. And you can buy them at Walmart. Alongside all other equipment for hunting you can possibly think off. Bullets are bought of the shelf, just as easily as a bag of potato chips. It is a good thing I do not live here. The time had come to go and get my haircut. A haircut at the Walmart. Think about it, getting a haircut at Albert Heijn.

We got back into our waggie and set the GPS to the address Suus had gotten from Jennifer. Only a 10 minute drive to their house. When we arrived we were really warmly greeted by Jennifer, Chris and Harper their dog. We were invited to stay a night at their place on their drive way, and even offered us a hook up to power and water. What a hospitality! I can honestly say that I’ve never been greeted with such open arms by people we had never met. Chris came out and helped me to back up the RV onto their drive way even before we had said hello. Once I had turned off the engine and we got out of the RV Jennifer gave us both a very very big hug. Chris helped me with the water and the electric. As if we came over every weekend. Chris was just finishing up the yard work so we went in to the house and the girls did not stop talking as of the first moment they hugged. Sat at their table I was looking around their beautiful house. As Chris finished his yard work and joined us.

Chris and Jennifer had arranged a BBQ, and boy……did they. Chris went all out with his famous potatoes, and superb tenderloin steaks. I did however have to swear I would never reveal Chris’s secret on the grilled potatoes he made, and had the privilege to witness the full process. And remember this is Montana where you buy guns together with groceries. So I did. But I will try to duplicate this when I get back home. And about the steaks, I do not mean the Dutch size steaks, I mean the American size steak. The ones that make you growl, and howl at the moon kind of steaks.

We had ice cream as dessert with warm apple-pie thingies. Ann had moved from the dinner table to the comfy couch watching COPs. Let me tell you, when you’re traveling in an RV you do not miss a couch, simply because you do not think about it. But when you then after almost 3 weeks get to sit in one…….heavenly chillaxing! We talked and talked some more until the ladies were exhausted, and we retired to our RV. For a good night’s sleep. Just as I’m going to do now.

More to come tomorrow……….