What Itch-Kep-Pe Park and a Walmart Taught Me

Itch-Kep-Pe Park is in Columbus, Montana, right up against the Yellowstone River. It is a free city park camping spot with all the dry-camping amenities in a lovely space. We stayed one night, and our Happy Breadbox RV was right at home with the "Hugeites RVs" and "Tenters." 

I loved that it was free and run by donations. I loved exploring a river I never knew existed, and then I learned that folks could stay free for up to 10 days (some information said 14 days)

I noticed folks staying there for quite a while, settled in and making home. And I heard the annual Musicam's Rendezvous will take place at the park in August. And I kept coming back to the awareness that families live here. 

My learning continues...The following night we tried to overnight at a Missoula Walmart supercenter and were rejected (city ordinance). Undeterred we went to another Walmart Super, still in Missoula, and were welcomed. This one had a city ordinance sign, and also had a gigantic touring bus, a horse trailer/camper and small/medium/large RVs hunkered down with a small camper with flat tires where someone evidently lived.   

One of Bear's jobs is to get me up, out, and walking the roads, so the next morning we walked the parameter of the supercenter and found on the street behind this giant, three large motor homes that were residences. And I'm telling you, those buggers weren't gonna move without help.  I became aware of my ignorance and privilege all at once. We had a long walk that day. these people at Walmart and Itch-Kep-Pe were not joy camping to see the sights; they were surviving. I'm still sitting with that; I don't know what to do with it. I know it's important to not rush away from it. I now know some important stuff about homelessness that wasn't really on my radar before. There is a Rolling Homeless population of people who live in dangerous circumstances. 

Of course I'm going to research this. Just because the issue has recently come to my consciousness doesn't mean nothing has yet been said, done, or problem solved.  Hard for me to realize, but true!