(June 2005) - I met Helen (in her mid seventies) at the Lochsa Lodge (Idaho) registration counter (Lewis & Clark Hiway #12/ 60 miles west of Missoula, MT) as I sought a cabin for the night too.
Unpacking our vehicles in the muddy parking lot, we learned from each other that we drove the exact same picturesque route from McCall, ID that soaking rainy day, were road tripping alone from CA, were the youngest daughter in a dysfunctional family of 3 females and raised only sons.
Later that evening and the next day during a delightful early breakfast together, I met Tara, her 90# furry traveling companion and learned Helen often tent camps on her road trips, but never without her 45 Magnum pistol under her pillow. She added she's licensed and it's a must for the 240 acre cattle ranch she owns alone in northern CA. She said just flashing the holster is usually enough to discourage would be trespassers. She then shared with me how her husband died of brain cancer at 41 and how she added a teaching degree to her statistics degree to raise 4 sons by teaching elementary school. Whew!
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