Saturday, June 10th, 2017

Today dawned sunny, WINDY, and quite cool- some would say, downright cold!  We were told we wouldn’t be able to take a particular route, due to tunnels that our RV wouldn’t fit through.  We needed to give ourselves enough time to take the overland route.  Unknown to those who advised us, there was construction on the way and the going was very slow.  At the roundabout in Browning, we got a little turned around so we had to call and ask for directions.  We finally arrived, and the wind came up, the clouds opened and our lake ride/hike became just a mini cruise.  We opted not to get off for the 2-mile hike. 

We boarded the charming, historic vessel, Sinopah,

 

the oldest wooden boat in the fleet.  Our captains talked about the rich Blackfeet tribal history surrounding the Two Medicine area.  One of our guides was trying to point out and name all the mountain peaks surrounding the lake,

 

I think he was pretty new at this, cause he fumbled a lot and he said it was his summer job.  Considering the season just started, I’d say it was a safe bet that we were one of his first trips.  Turning right back after the hike option, we perused the gift shop, had hot chocolate, and ate lunch in the RV.

The hotel at the Two Medicine area was built by the owner of the Great Northern Railroad.  The park was named a national park in 1910 and building of the railroad began in 1903.  The owner of the railroad saw the potential for the area to be a tourist attraction, so he built the hotel.  I think it was completed in 1913.  It was a sight to behold! 

 

Massive tree trunks are the support for the lobby which is about 3 stories high!  The station is right across from the hotel and one could imagine the vacationers arriving, and having their trunks and bags brought to the hotel by the bell boys!

Because it was early, we decided to venture in the opposite direction to the Many Glacier area.  The drive was beautiful and we stopped for numerous photo ops.  The Lodge at Many Glacier was under renovation, so we headed back to our camp site.  I was happy to see these 3 areas of the Eastern park.  After all, 1 million acres – whew -  I don’t think Lewis and Clark even saw the whole park!!!

Dinner that night was right outside the campground in the town of St Mary’s.  We ate at the Snow Goose where the food was yummy and the atmosphere cozy.  It reminded me of Woodloch Pines!  Service was great and we wondered why when we asked for restaurant suggestions, no one told us of this place!  The wind continued to whoop, so we never even got to have a camp fire or star gaze in this great open space!  Actually, we were probably asleep by the time the stars came out, since dusk was at 10!

 

Sunday, June 11^th, 2017

Still windy, (the tenters were blowing away) we made our departure by 10 and headed for Helena, the state capital.  To get there, we had to pass the Gates of the Mountains, north of Helena, where the Missouri River flows through a narrow passage flanked by what Meriwether Lewis described as “the most remarkable cliffs that we have yet seen”.  We AGREE!  We arrived at downtown Helena where we made a stop at the Cathedral of St Helena… a magnificent neo-Gothic structure that looks like something out of old Europe. 

 

 

We stopped to shop, and then made our way to the campground…Black Sandy State Park.  We were right on the banks of Hauser Lake, where fishing, boating and hiking are popular.  By the time we arrived, it was hot.  Marie and I basked in the sun like 2 geckos on a rock while Ed and Lenny parked and set up the camper.  We bar-b-queued and finally had our well-deserved camp fire.  However, we didn’t make it to see the stars!!!

 

 

 

Monday, June 12^th, 2017

 

We were up early (as daily seems to be the case) and it began to rain.  The decision was made to leave early, as soon as we were readied.  By the time we left, the sun had come out and it appeared to be a good traveling day.  Yellowstone Park, here we come!

We stopped along the way at a bakery/deli called Wheat Montana.  They grow, and mill the wheat by hand right at this plant.  The store itself was comprised of silo parts (of which we had seen many during our travels). 

 

The baked products were phenomenal, as well as different flavored breads, pancake mixes and cereals.  I’ve never seen this product back home – wonder if it’s going to Russia…. (joke?!?)  I decided to splurge and have a scone, Lenny and Ed had turnovers.  The buns were as big as your head!

Anyway – onward to West Yellowstone, with a brief detour at Ennis, to the old mining towns of Virginia City and Nevada City.  Virginia City is a restored ghost town, to recreate the booming mining days.    Virginia City served as the Montana Territorial Capital for 10 years until the gold ran out. Again, these cities were lawless… not just shoot outs and six guns.  Occasionally there was a hanging.  A group composed largely of Masons, Republicans and Northerners formed a secret society of Vigilantes.  They “hung” mostly non-Masonic Democrats with Southern sympathies.  The town is a traditional old west site with the Vigilante victims buried in town. We went into the library, where the librarian was very gracious and proud to give us a tour of the building.  It was, up until 2012, in an old original building.  They have since added on an entire wing, bringing it into the 21^st century.  She told us the population of Virginia City is about 200!!

 

 

Nevada City is a weathered but fully restored ghost town created from a collection of buildings from other ghost towns.  Despite the lack of paint, the buildings are all in good shape.  We browsed through both, liking Nevada City better. Virginia was very touristy, as many of the buildings were shop emporiums.

 

 

The sky was darkening, so we left, hoping to get to our camp site before the heavens opened up… no such luck!

The drive was spectacular -  we drove from a higher elevation, to the valley between the Tobacco Root Mountains, the Madison Range and the Gravelly Range. 

 

At one point we drove alongside the Madison River through Cameron.  As the sky darkened and the heavens opened (you could see the wall of rain we were heading straight for), we arrived at the Earthquake Area – where in 1959 a massive earthquake and rockslide devastated this area.  If it weren’t for the rain and hail, we might have stopped!

We arrived safely to our destination, Grizzly RV Park, just as snowflakes mixed in with the rain. Who would’ve thought?  We got settled in, the rain stopped, we did laundry, were able to bar-b-q, and the sun came out.  We are close enough to town, so we thought we’d take a walk after dinner – and then – rain!  Hope the weather holds for our guided trail hike and exploration of Yellowstone tomorrow!