Confession: I'm an over-packer.

Especially with clothes.

I don't think I've even once returned from a trip having worn all the clothes I brought.

Because I like being prepared.

But I don't like to unpack.

So I usually come home wearing the same damn shorts I left in and toting the same overgrown bag of clean clothes I left with.

That, coupled with the idea that "Hey! We're getting an upstairs! We've got so much room! I'll just bring it all!" means we had waaaaaaaay too much shit in this truck.

Whenever I take someone backpacking for the first time, I always make them empty out their packs so I can see what they've got. Nine times out of ten, I'll lighten their load a good bit.

--> Nine pairs of socks? No. You get two.

--> Why in the hell do you have three packs of baby wipes in here?

--> Dude. It's backpacking. You're not bringing your iPad!

Well, apparently, I needed someone to do that with me and the truck because as I started pulling stuff out last night, I realized just how much I'd overpacked.

--> Three pairs of jeans? It's summer, for crying out loud!

--> Two empty cases about the size of a loaf of bread with nothing inside, just in case.

--> Chess, backgammon, cribbage, and two more games that I can't even remember

--> Nine flashlights

We had so much crap in the truck that we couldn't see out the windows or find what we were looking for.

And all I can say is thank God for UPS!

I pulled into the parking lot at 7:30 this morning, and when I pulled out 20 minutes later, the truck was 107 pounds lights.

Now we're traveling light, and it's the only way to fly.

The ride to Missoula, MT, yesterday was gorgeous. Between California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montanna, Montanna is the clear winner in my book. Even the drive along the interstate is jaw-dropping.

We rolled into town right about supper time and checked into a little studio Airbnb in a former hotel built around 100 years ago. A short walk, and we were on the bus headed to the Kettlehouse Amphitheatre to see Jason Isbell.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but we actually left the show early. I've never done that in my life, but I needed to be up at 6:00 this morning to get all of our stuff ready for today's ride, and so I could be at the UPS store right when they opened.

Today's agenda is fly fishing outside of Yellowstone, which starts here in about two hours. Tonight and then until we get to Cody, WY, we'll be back in the camper.

Shipping all that crap home wasn't cheap, but I'm so glad we got it out of here!

And, who knows?

Maybe we'll make up the loss with better gas mileage.

[More pics later; got no reception]