...And here they are -- the Mission Mountains. This is the vista from the "Hostel of the Rockies", located on a campground owned by Renate Heygster, an energetic lady with a German accent. "Every evening we get this beautiful view of the mountains changing colors with the setting sun."
Next to the campground was a horse pasture. Sometimes the horses would come over to be admired by visitors.

Only a handful of campers were staying at the time, and only one other person sharing the hostel, which was one of those eco-friendly constructions built out of tires, aluminum cans, and partially sunk into the earth. (More info in the link above).

"You must go and see the Mission Church", advised Renate.

The St. Ignatius Mission Church is reknowned for its murals and frescoes, painted in the early part of the 20th century and "worthy of European cathedrals"

The next day was a Sunday -- meaning I'd been on the road for a week -- so I attended the church service (even though I'm not a regular church-goer). The service was nondenominational and it was interesting to see how some of the church's iconography incorporated the region's Native American imagery.
A neighbor (no pun intended)
A couple days later, two women arrived at the hostel on recumbent tour bicycles. They were from Vermont and were traveling across the country, having first flown out to Seattle with the bicycles.

We discussed travels and adventures and puzzled over why "Everyone Else" decides to "settle down".

"I don't get it", said one of the women, in her 40s and athletic-looking. "There are so many things to see and do in this world... why do people just quit?"