Saturday September 19, R&C’s, Missoula

What better start to a day for a Kiwi than watching the All Blacks beat Australia. Richard had a delayed broadcast of the match played during the wee small hours and Matthew Orton and his two children joined us. Matthew lived in the neighbouring farm to ours and we have known him since he was 2, so just great to catch up with him as well. He and Richard work together renovating houses in Missoula. There was huge excitement with the win after a very dismal season for the AB’s, Richard is prone to go into a decline when they lose!!!

Casey had a wedding to attend at Seely Lake, just over an hour north east of Missoula, so we all set off in Ruakiwi early afternoon with Moana very happily sitting in her carseat in one of the rear seats.

Dropped Casey off at the wedding and after a lunch stop in the village we headed north. Richard’s mate has a cabin deep in the woods just out of Condon, a grizzly bear had broken in and smashed windows and frames so R needed to measure up for replacements. Ruakiwi had no problem negotiating the dusty gravel road winding through the woods. It was so pretty as we passed little crystal clear creeks bubbling through the trees.

The cabin was just like out of an old story book, at least 50 years old, with log walls, no electricity or running water. Old sofas lined the walls on one side, floor to ceiling book shelves with old books and one corner was the workshop with old tools and bushman’s gear…Ian was positively drooling. A steep narrow staircase wound up to a bedroom area with a double bed and some bunks. A huge wood fired furnace heated the whole place. The soft light was pouring through the windows creating a glow from the wooden walls and ceilings and dear little Moana with her ringlets was the perfect model for me. I had a wonderful time, inside and out as Ian and Richard checked it all out.

Down by the little creek they have recently built a log cabin sauna, a huge fire is in the corner and they throw water on it to get the steam, then jump in the creek to cool off…ideal winter entertainment. Felt lucky to be able to see such a place.

Collected Casey from the wedding then back to Missoula all feeling quite weary after a long day.