Memorial Day weekend we ventured to Polson, Montana for a weekend camping trip. Polson is located along the southern end of Flathead Lake. We have explored different areas surrounding Flathead Lake in past trips. Unfortunately, this trip got started on the wrong foot and was not as fun as we had hoped, but we still managed to have a good time. We try to keep in mind that not everything is going to work out perfectly all the time, and this trip was a prime example of that.
As with our other adventure posts, we like to keep them real. By this, I (Stella) mean that we tell you about the good, the bad and the ugly. We believe doing this is valuable for a few reasons. In this instance, our situation could provide some insight for other RVers to consider. I will begin by saying: the first camping trip of the season can sometimes be challenging, beginning with the unplanned purchase of a new vehicle and truck cap.
As our followers know, Larry and I relocated to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho September of 2024. And by pure happenstance, we strangely stumbled across the path of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado High Country 3L Duramax (diesel) truck with less than 16,000 miles. The truck was too good of a find (albeit unintentional) to pass up, and it has been a wonderful upgrade from the Tahoe that we traveled with for over ten years.
We ordered a customized A.R.E. Evolve truck cap with crossbars so that we can utilize our existing rack system for the kayak and paddle boards. And, we had ordered the cap within a certain timeframe so that it would be ready to go for our first camping trip of the season to Polson. This plan completely fell apart because of A.R.E. delivery delays. Two months after ordering the cap, we still do not have it. Not having the cap caused some unexpected challenges…
When I arrived home from work a little before 5:00 pm, Larry had the truck hitched to the camper outside of the house and was finalizing preparations. Since we did not have the truck cap, we already knew that we would be unable to bring the kayak but we had hoped, at least, to wedge both of our paddleboards inside of the trailer. And before I continue, if you are wondering why we didn’t put the paddleboards in the bed of the truck, that just was not feasible. After a few attempts, we surmised that only my paddleboard could be wedged to fit inside of the trailer.
The drive to Polson was uneventful; however, we did not arrive at the campground until 10:15 pm. We had never set up the trailer in the dark before. The day prior, Larry had mentioned that the battery for the LevelMate was dead but he had acquired a new battery for it. I was under the impression that he had installed the new battery. Nope. Trying to level the trailer (and get everything else set up) in the dark using a traditional level device sucked. That, combined with the Beech Lane Camper Levelers sliding on the gravel whenever Larry attempted to back onto them, further complicated the situation.Â
After multiple ridiculous attempts, Larry stopped everything and took the time to install the battery in the LevelMate and we slid rubber mats underneath the tires so the levelers would not slip. What novel concepts… Once leveled, we experienced another mishap when trying to unhitch. To make a long story short, we left the truck hitched over night and went to bed. We were both exhausted and frustrated. Needless to say, we both agreed upon three things: 1) We will never set up in the dark again 2) We will always utilize the rubber mats underneath the levelers even if it ‘appears’ they may not be needed 3) We will always ensure every component of the trailer is in working condition and ready to go before leaving on a trip.
We slept like rocks that night and awoke to a beautiful morning. We finished getting the trailer set up, ate breakfast and continued with the plan for the day: biking on the Polson Bike Transit Loop. We parked the truck at Riverside Park and jumped onto the trail from there. But just a short way down this path, it was difficult to find the actual trailhead because you have to weave through the middle of town, and there isn’t any signage for the trail until you encounter the starting point of the Carol Sampson Sherick Bike Trail. We were lucky to have even found it.Â
The trail is completely paved, with portions going through the town, a forested area, a farm field, and alongside US Hwy 93. You even have the option to continue biking alongside the highway, which goes to Ronan. We decided to bike a mile in that direction before turning around and backtracking to Riverside Park. Total miles biked: 15. The remainder of the day we enjoyed playing Othello and relaxing at the campsite.
The following day, the plan had been to stand up paddleboard (for me) and Larry would rent a kayak. I ended up being the only person going out on the water because Larry was feeling a little run down since he was still recovering from a cold. We parked at Riverside Park again, where I took off, heading west down the Flathead River. Funny, it did not occur to me that I was on the river (instead of the lake) until I began seeing circular patches of swirling currents. And when I turned around to head back to the park, it was even more clear, as paddling against the current was quite the workout.Â
I did not have my phone to utilize an app to track my distance, but the estimated paddle was around 4 miles. I was unfamiliar with this river, I was alone, and I had felt the wind pick up. I did not want to go too far out and then get myself into a bad situation. Despite the short paddle and not having Larry with me, I had a great time being out on the water. The remainder of the day we enjoyed playing Othello, making pie iron pudgies for dinner and relaxing at the campsite.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Larry and I always have specific aspirations for our adventures when paddling, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ahead of time, we plan out the desired distance (number of miles) that we want to go, and we try our hardest to achieve those goals. However, sometimes the weather gets in the way (i.e. wind), someone is not feeling well, or things do not go as planned for other reasons. As long as we are together, in the outdoors, the situation can be as fun as you choose to make it. And, some of life’s lessons were reinforced: preparedness, compromising, improvising, patience, and humility.Â
WHERE IS PADDLE & TRAILS HEADED NEXT?
- May 30-June 1: Priest Lake, Idaho
- June 13-15: Lake Wenatchee, Washington
- July 3-6: Kalispell/Seeley Lake, Montana
- July 25-27: Libby, Montana
- August 29-September 1: McCall and Cascade, Idaho
- October 10-13: Port Angeles, Washington
Love your new wheels. Even though you had a few issues you still had a great trip. Looking forward to more of your adventures.