We made it to Jordan! The heat is on!!! It was 104 on Tuesday and 102 yesterday. The forecast is more of the same for the next several days.

I figured with the heat, we’d get right back in the field but that’s not what happened. Jim’s anticipating today will be the day.  After so much time of being away from the wheat field, trucks and combine, it will be hard to get back into the swing of things. The routine was broken before July 4^th.

The trip from Lusk to Jordan was uneventful. It was horribly warm but we were fortunate not to have any truck engine or tire issues. Taylor thought the dually was running a little on the hot side and volunteered to drive without the air conditioning. I’m not sure, but I think she may have broke down and turned it on just outside of Belle Fourche, SD.

We drove a new route with the combine. This route is one we used to take quite a long time ago. However, when our harvest route changed, so did the travelling route. We had to bring the combine north through Chadron and the Black Hills rather than our usual route through Wyoming due to road construction with width restrictions. Driving through Rapid City and the Black Hills makes you feel like you’re on vacation! It’s so beautiful there.

Truck Stop parking lot in Rapid City

Broadus, MT scale 

Parked along the highway in Broadus waiting for us to take our yearly picture by the Powder River sign.

Taking a picture by this sign became a yearly tradition after Grandma insisted that I get my picture taken in front of it. I’ve got a picture of the girls in front of this sign every year since we started coming to Montana as a family in 1991.

2011 – Notice how much greener the grass is!

We made it as far as Miles City after leaving Lusk on Monday morning. Callie said what I was thinking as we pulled into Miles – it felt like we were coming home. Things don’t seem to change much from year to year; however, one thing is quite evident – main street is not as full of activity as it used to be. It seems the stores are closing and moving to the East edge of town. A few old familiar businesses are still around (thank goodness).

Main Street – Miles City, MT

The city swim hole (it really is a lake).

We got a motel room for the night due to the heat and lack of a breeze. Callie was disappointed, though, because she figured it was the one and only time she and Taylor were going to be able to sleep in the pickup. That began a long time ago when there was no way the girls could get into their bed in the trailer house on moving days. The usual sleeping order went like this: Jim and one of the little girls in the Pete, I and the other little girl in the trailer house (on our bed) and then Jamie and Jenna in the pickup. As the years went by, the progression of who “got to” sleep in the pickup changed as the older girls started staying home. Now, it’s finally down to just the two little girls and it seems we don’t often have the opportunity for sleeping in the pickup. It didn’t happen this time, either. I told Callie if she really wanted to, she could just sleep in it once we got to Jordan. But, it wouldn’t be the same because we weren’t on the road.

We cross the Yellowstone River as we head north for Jordan.

Munching on whatever I could find to try to stay awake.

This is a sheepherders monument. The sheepherder would build these out of boredom by stacking rocks.  Some are taller and larger than this one.

Cohagen, MT – not much here anymore.

When I see this (whatever it is), I know Jordan isn’t much farther down the road.

We arrived in Jordan just before noon and, as luck had it, we were asked to go to lunch with Pohney. Pohney was married to Charlie  (plane crash) and has been a dear friend ever since we began coming here in 1981. It was good to see her and it felt like we had never left Jordan. With good friends, it doesn’t matter how much time has clicked by – you can pick up right where you left off the year before!

The clouds began building in the afternoon but we just couldn’t get much rain from them. 

Being away from everything for nearly a week left this household in a chaotic state. I worked on getting the cottage back to “normal” and laundry caught up Tuesday afternoon. I spent all of yesterday getting caught up on mail, bookwork and trucking requirements. That seemed to take up most of the day but it certainly feels good when it’s done again. And…I am thankful that I had the time to do it. There’s nothing worse than knowing you’ve got all that to do plus be in the field.

Callie and I made a quick trip to the grocery store for necessary food items. I love going in there because I ALWAYS see someone I know. I was telling Callie as we were driving to the store that I don’t feel as much a part of the community as I used to. She wondered what I meant so I told her. Before I became the “hired man”, I involved myself with the people of Jordan. We used to be here at least six weeks – sometimes longer. Jamie, Jenna and Taylor went to school here until it was time to go home. And, I just became their temporary resident. We’d go to church, VBS, school activities and such. I was involved and knew people. Now that I’m in the field every day, I don’t get to see people like I used to. Sometimes, I’m barely in the grocery store.

When Jamie and Jenna were still with us, we’d be in the trailer park only five minutes before the cars and friends would start arriving. It looked like we were having a party.  I see a few of Taylor’s friends now but it’s nothing like it used to be. It’s fairly quiet. And, since Callie didn’t go to school here, she didn’t get acquainted with as many kids her age. She used to spend A LOT of time with Collette and her family. It’ll be a new normal for her to get used to. Taylor, on the other hand, is already making plans for a sleep over with her friends. I agree with Callie-coming back to Montana is like coming home again!