The beginning of day 3, Montana to Washington

I stayed in a place called Lolo, which was south west of Missoula, (which I liked quite a bit) I had decided to take a leisurely drive across Idaho on Rt. 12 which I assumed would be pretty scenic. (UNDERSTATEMENT...) So anyways, I started out driving out of Lolo around 11:30. 12 is the Louis and Clark Trail, which I thought was pretty cool so I stopped here and there to read the historical markers and such. I went to the site of a L & C campground called 'Traveler's Rest', a Nez Perce indian battleground and had just gotten to a National Park where there was something or other to see, I don't remember why I decided to go there...

I had just gotten there when I saw a flash of white and black fur cross over the drive to the parking lot and go up the hill into the woods... I called for him and tried to feed him and he wouldn't come out. I started up the car and pulled around an embankment and saw him come towards the food in my mirror so I got out and eventually coaxed him into eating more, playing a little and cuddling in the car with me after about 2 hours.

I don't know how he got there but where he was was pretty remote. There wouldn't have been anybody around there for a long, long time. It was very cold too and it looked like he had been abandoned several weeks ago. I took him to the nearest populated area, around Lolo Springs Resort where there were a handful of people hanging around the 'pool' and had to leave him there. It broke my heart but he was much easier around these people than he was with me at first so I hope somebody took him home and took care of him. Obviously I flew to Montana, had a rental car and about 3 days of travel, work and hotel rooms ahead of me. He would need shots, a bath and a huge carrier at the very least for me to have taken him home. I am really upset about it but at least I got him to relative safety. The nearest town after Lolo Springs was about 200 miles away in the direction I was headed and I was planning on traveling about 300 that day at least.

 I find stray dogs along the road all the time and I have actually saved a few by calling animal control and having them taken away. I know what they probably do with the dogs and I told myself last time that the next dog I found I would rescue for real. Keep it in the car, take it home and either keep it or find it a home. It really breaks my heart that I couldn't bring this lil guy home as a friend for Dewie to play with. Last I saw him he was tagging along with some guys who were probably going to smoke some pot on a hiking trail and playing with another dog that they had with them. He looked very happy. I hope he still is. If I could go back and get him right now I would!