Ryan and Nikki tried to plan a large camping trip for Labor Day weekend but almost everyone already had plans. At the last minute, Lindsay and I decided to join them for one evening of camping but we didn't want to put on a lot of miles to go camping and Ryan and I really wanted to get some training in if we could. There were probably a hundred texts back and forth about where to go and camp but we eventually decided on either along the Madison River or at Harrison Lake (aka Willow Creek Reservoir). Nikki was the first off work so she was in charge of making the final decision and getting a spot on Friday afternoon. Well all the spots along the Madison were pretty packed so she settled on Harrison. Now in my defense for originally recommending Harrison, was that Lindsay and I had camped there Memorial Day weekend five or six years ago. The reservoir was full and it was absolutely gorgeous. Apparently by Labor Day Weekend, the irrigation demands on the reservoir have quite the impact. The reservoir was rather low and getting to the water involved lots of deep muck. The water itself didn't look all that great either so Ryan and I quickly dismissed any kind of swim. I had thought about bringing the boat but was glad I didn't.
The evening was pretty laid back and we enjoyed hanging out with the Buck's sans fire. Due to lack of sleep (a recurring theme), no campfire, and needing to Miles to bed, we headed to the camper pretty early. Lindsay and Miles took the upper bed and I slept on the lower bed. Well at some point that evening I awaken to very insistent "Peter, Peter, PETER!" I eventually awaken from my deep slumber and asked what's up. Lin said "Did you hear that?" I am pretty sure if my eyes weren't glazed shut with sleep I would have rolled them at this point. The "did you hear that" usually refers to any slight disturbance from anywhere within 100 yards so I wasn't too worried. I said no and rolled over to go to sleep.....but then I heard it. Something was IN THE CAMPER making a scratchy noise! At first I thought it was a bird that tried to nest in the stove vent, but the more I listened I realized this was no bird. By this point Lin is ready to crawl the walls so I got up and turned the light on and focused on the pest. As I was standing in front of the stove trying to figure out what to do it poked its head out of the stove! It was a mouse! How it got into the camper I don't know, but how I was going to get it out so we could go back to sleep was the bigger problem. While I stood there pondering the issue it kept poking its head out of the stove, taunting me. Finally I grabbed a pair of tongs out of the drawer and waited for him to stick his head out again, and WHAM.....I missed, but it had to be close. I realized I could try all day but I was not going to "Miyagi" this mouse. So I did the next best thing and cover the entire stove top so he couldn't escape! I informed Lin he was trapped, and we could go to sleep but only after convincing her there was no way the mouse could get to the upper bunk.
The next morning (after another short night) we got up, had some breakfast, and then Ryan and I headed out for our training ride. We rode a counter clockwise 40-mile bike ride from Harrison to Lewis and Clark Caverns, to La Hood/Cardwell, and back to Harrison. The ride from Cardwell to Harrison has some pretty good climbs, some of which are long and low gradient, and some of which are short and steep. Ryan was awesome, pulling me the entire way yet waiting for me when I couldn't stay with him on the climbs. The last five or so miles I was starting to bonk, but overall it was a great ride. When we got back to the parking lot at the Harrison High School, I found a pair of sunglasses for a baby (or a person with a really small head). They were awesome!
The evening was pretty laid back and we enjoyed hanging out with the Buck's sans fire. Due to lack of sleep (a recurring theme), no campfire, and needing to Miles to bed, we headed to the camper pretty early. Lindsay and Miles took the upper bed and I slept on the lower bed. Well at some point that evening I awaken to very insistent "Peter, Peter, PETER!" I eventually awaken from my deep slumber and asked what's up. Lin said "Did you hear that?" I am pretty sure if my eyes weren't glazed shut with sleep I would have rolled them at this point. The "did you hear that" usually refers to any slight disturbance from anywhere within 100 yards so I wasn't too worried. I said no and rolled over to go to sleep.....but then I heard it. Something was IN THE CAMPER making a scratchy noise! At first I thought it was a bird that tried to nest in the stove vent, but the more I listened I realized this was no bird. By this point Lin is ready to crawl the walls so I got up and turned the light on and focused on the pest. As I was standing in front of the stove trying to figure out what to do it poked its head out of the stove! It was a mouse! How it got into the camper I don't know, but how I was going to get it out so we could go back to sleep was the bigger problem. While I stood there pondering the issue it kept poking its head out of the stove, taunting me. Finally I grabbed a pair of tongs out of the drawer and waited for him to stick his head out again, and WHAM.....I missed, but it had to be close. I realized I could try all day but I was not going to "Miyagi" this mouse. So I did the next best thing and cover the entire stove top so he couldn't escape! I informed Lin he was trapped, and we could go to sleep but only after convincing her there was no way the mouse could get to the upper bunk.
The next morning (after another short night) we got up, had some breakfast, and then Ryan and I headed out for our training ride. We rode a counter clockwise 40-mile bike ride from Harrison to Lewis and Clark Caverns, to La Hood/Cardwell, and back to Harrison. The ride from Cardwell to Harrison has some pretty good climbs, some of which are long and low gradient, and some of which are short and steep. Ryan was awesome, pulling me the entire way yet waiting for me when I couldn't stay with him on the climbs. The last five or so miles I was starting to bonk, but overall it was a great ride. When we got back to the parking lot at the Harrison High School, I found a pair of sunglasses for a baby (or a person with a really small head). They were awesome!
That afternoon we headed into Ennis and checked out the fly fishing festival and ate lunch out. In the afternoon Ryan, Miles and I dropped the girls off to float the Madison while Ryan and I (and MIles) parked ourselves on lawn chairs in the river and drank a beer (yes, just one). Oh what a life! Great recovery drink too! After the float trip we pulled up stakes and headed home.
Oh yeah, when we got home I set a trap and caught the mouse too!
Oh yeah, when we got home I set a trap and caught the mouse too!