So...I arrived in Dillon, and it's a bit dumpy. There are some sad looking casinos in town, and all the normal crap you'd expect in a town off the interstate. The camping option is a KOA. I called the police to ask about the park, and they said an officer would call me back.
Dillon also has a satellite campus of the University of Montana, so I went to check it out. Long story short, I talked to the girl at the residence hall desk who directed me to security who said it would be ok to either set up a tent on campus or to crash on the common room couch. Crash on the couch! I was super excited about this. I got an excellent BBQ dinner down the street, returned to the dorm and started to get set. The guard came in and told me that we had had some miscommunication. I could hang out on the couch a bit, but couldn't sleep there - I'd need to set up the tent outside.
Well, fine. I could still take a shower, and I hatched a plan to "accidentally" fall asleep while watching TV. But when I got back, the guard returned and told me he had spoken to his boss, and I wasn't allowed to do the tent, and I'd have to leave immediately. What a crushing change of events! I was all excited about my greatest lodging coup ever, but instead I'm tossed out onto the street at 10:30 PM.
Fortunately I had a message from the police, and camping in the park would be OK. So, that's where I spent the night.
If I had planned for the park from the start, I would have been excited to avoid the KOA. But in contrast to what I thought I had worked out....a big disappointment. Someday I'll convince one of these colleges to give me free lodging!
It must be the beard....
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