Inside Missoula

Linda took us around Missoula and to Polly and Rob's house on the SE side of town. Their house has a lot of room with a couple bedrooms on the main floor and two more downstairs. It sits on a bluff with a great view over town to the mountains beyond, but yesterday they were hard to see with all the smoke around. It's an older home and they have joined the ranks of all homeowners who never have to worry about having something to do around the house. They've repainted inside, redone a bath room and some flooring, found hardwood under carpet and exposed it, and are half way done painting the exterior. (There's a painting party at their place Wed., which we're sorry to say we'll miss.) Masons were there working on a new patio and front walkway, both being done in stamped concrete. They also have a nice in ground pool in the back. Way to go.
We left and visited Jake's house in another section of town. Lost my bearings and can't tell you which area it's in. Jake bought a house with a detached garage and then rented out the house and lives in the garage. In the fall he's leaving for a nine month tour of Africa, travelling around the perimeter using local transportation. He's going to see it from the natives point of view.
From there we went to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Rob works there and likes it a lot. They have been instrumental in reestablishing elk herds around the country, especially in Pa., Ten., and Ky. The visitors portion of the building is well worth seeing if you're here and want to see elk.
We picked up some steaks at the store and headed out to Alberton for dinner with Chuck, Linda and Mia, a friend of their's 9 year old daughter they were looking after for the day. We had a great meal finishing up with ice cream cones on the back stoop. We've had a great visit with with them and can hardly believe we're leaving already. We'll see them again in Peru.