July 16, 2026 (Thu.) – Monkeys, Hail, Toothaches & Rainbows!

Today was travel day as we made our way from Columbus, MT to Butte, MT.

Lynn had a rough night thanks to a stubborn toothache that woke her at 2:00 a.m. But travel day waits for no one, so she was up at 05:00 as usual — only to discover another giant moth in the RV. Yikes. It was far too big for her to deal with, so it became a “Kirk problem” for later. Kirk was up at 08:30 to start the usual pack‑up routine while Lynn spent the morning on the phone with her mom’s new doctors, sorting out health needs before cell service disappeared on the road. Needless to say, the moth was nowhere to be found by the time Kirk got up.

While Kirk worked outside, our camper neighbors were out too — and one of them had a monkey on her shoulder! A motorcycle‑riding monkey! He also discovered a frog sitting on the rocks near the RV hookups! How random…Once Lynn finished her calls, she headed out immediately because, really, how often does one meet a woman traveling with a monkey?

“Julep” is a two‑year‑old capuchin: adorable, sweet, and very interested in blingy hats and sunglasses. She even sat briefly on Lynn’s shoulder before returning to her mom. The woman needed help with her motorcycle battery, so Kirk jumped in to assist, but our charger wasn’t compatible. While the battery troubleshooting continued, Lynn got quality time with Julep, who sat on her lap, tried to steal her AirPods, and even rested her head on Lynn’s leg. After 30 minutes of attempts, they called it quits and loaded the bike into their trailer.

By 10:30 a.m., we finally hit the road — later than usual, but absolutely worth it. When else do you get to meet a motorcycle‑riding monkey? The drive to Butte was 185 miles, about three hours, with an ETA of 1:30 p.m. With Lynn’s tooth still throbbing, she called Aspen Dental in Helena — the same company we used in South Dakota. They had an opening Monday, even though Helena is an hour from Butte. Dental care on the road isn’t always convenient, but she booked it anyway.

The ride was great: beautiful scenery, no rest stops, a few oddities and wide open roads. We arrived at the Butte KOA right at 1:30 p.m. Site #548 was technically long enough for the rig, but there was no way the truck would fit too. Thankfully, the staff closed off the campsite in front of ours and let us park there for the duration of our stay. Excellent customer service.

By 2:30 p.m., we were settled and ready for lunch — PB&J sandwiches Lynn made earlier. We usually eat them in the truck, but today we waited until we were parked. Rain and thunderstorms rolled in, Lynn’s toothache persisted, and we both settled in for a nap.

At 5:00 p.m., we ventured out to Walmart to restock supplies. Thunder boomed loudly inside the store — the kind that makes you pause mid‑aisle. On the way back, the GPS betrayed us again, sending us down dirt roads toward private property instead of the main route. Annoying, but we did stumble upon a fascinating old cemetery with weathered headstones, so the detour wasn’t a total loss.

Back at the RV by 6:45 p.m., we learned we had missed a massive rain and hailstorm while we were in Walmart. People had blankets draped over their trucks to protect them from the hail — and judging by the size of the ice chunks, it was a smart move.

Dinner at 7:00 p.m. was soft and simple for Lynn’s tooth: Chef Boyardee ravioli. Nostalgic, comforting, and exactly what she needed. At 7:15, a beautiful rainbow appeared, and we finally rented Avatar: Fire & Ash for a reasonable price. Kirk had been waiting months to watch it — though we both promptly fell asleep because it was long and we were exhausted.

At 8:00 p.m., we stepped out for a quick walk and caught a gorgeous sunset. Then finished watching Avatar.

An interesting day from start to finish — monkeys, hail, toothaches, and rainbows!

Weather – (Butte, MT) – High 82*, Low 57*. Winds 1-8/16 mph. Rain = 60% (0.15″). Slight humidity.

Traffic – None. Slight delay due to lane closure but nothing drastic.

Food – Nothing to report.

Notable – Julep the Motorcycle Riding Monkey!, Rain, Hail, Rainbows, Toothache.