2010 August and September Montana to Oregon
Did the summer go really fast this year, or was I not paying attention. The weather has begun to dictate where we go. Our original plan was to from Montana to Seattle. Then down the Oregon coast. However we began to check the weather on line. Cold temperatures and constant rain changed our minds. So we followed another path.
We left the Red Tail Campground in Medora ND on Sunday August 29th. It was getting cooler. We arrived in Glasco MT and the park lady told us that they had not had summer this year. Korkie had to wear a sweater to keep warm. Next day we were on our way to Havre MT. Havre was a very interesting town! We went to “Havre beneath the Streets.” In 1904 a huge fire destroyed downtown. Many of the businesses moved their operations underground. The basement spaces are lit by glass blocks on the sidewalk above. Some are still there. It was a fun tour.
We then went on to Helena MT. My Sister-In-Law Diane lives on top of a mountain in Clancy. Clancy is south of Helena. Beautiful scenery. Some heavy rain storms had washed out the turn off to her house, Bob filled in what he could but another rain storm washed it out again. They still have the Bark Beatle problem which is attacking the fir trees in the area... To get rid of the Beatles they need some -20 degrees (that is minus) weather to kill them off. So that area must get really cold this winter. Helena has a nice down town. Lots of fun shops, restaurants and a nice park. We also visited Tizer Botanic Gardens. A wonderful place to stroll. The Gardens are all prenenails. We spent a week visiting Diane and doing fun things. Then one morning it looked like cold and rain. Time to get off the mountain.
Our next stop was Arco Idaho. Quite a place! This was the first city in the US to have complete Nuclear power. We also enjoyed looking at the paint wall. North end of town is a high rocky hill. Each High School graduating class may paint their year on a rock. This has been going on for many years. We also visited the Crater of the Moon.
And on to Ketchum ID. I had been there quite a few years ago and remember how nice it was. Found a nice park to stay in and took in the sights! Beautiful. We toured the shops. The park manager told us, “don’t bother with your bank card, just bring your bank.” I did find a pretty cotton jacket on clearance reduced from $700 to $350. No, I did not buy it. We toured the Lodge and looked at all the old pictures of famous people and Olympian’s who had skied and Ice skated at Sun Valley Id. We had gone over one afternoon and watched some Ice Skaters. So the next day we decided to have lunch at the rink. Well the skating didn’t start until after 2:30. So we had a nice lunch in a beautiful place.
We then went to Vale Oregon, We only planned on staying 1 night however we ended up staying 4 nights. The weather was warm with beautiful evenings. It is a small farming town. The farm equipment went by us several times a day. We just liked it. We did not disconnect the car until the day before we left. Vale is famous for their murals painted on the side of buildings depicting the history of the town and the different groups of settlers who came. The people in the office told us about the Owyhee Reservoir. So we took a ride and went off to see it. We crossed the Oregon Trail and walked on it for a while. Tough people those settlers!
On our way back to Pleasanton for a while.
Did the summer go really fast this year, or was I not paying attention. The weather has begun to dictate where we go. Our original plan was to from Montana to Seattle. Then down the Oregon coast. However we began to check the weather on line. Cold temperatures and constant rain changed our minds. So we followed another path.
We left the Red Tail Campground in Medora ND on Sunday August 29th. It was getting cooler. We arrived in Glasco MT and the park lady told us that they had not had summer this year. Korkie had to wear a sweater to keep warm. Next day we were on our way to Havre MT. Havre was a very interesting town! We went to “Havre beneath the Streets.” In 1904 a huge fire destroyed downtown. Many of the businesses moved their operations underground. The basement spaces are lit by glass blocks on the sidewalk above. Some are still there. It was a fun tour.
We then went on to Helena MT. My Sister-In-Law Diane lives on top of a mountain in Clancy. Clancy is south of Helena. Beautiful scenery. Some heavy rain storms had washed out the turn off to her house, Bob filled in what he could but another rain storm washed it out again. They still have the Bark Beatle problem which is attacking the fir trees in the area... To get rid of the Beatles they need some -20 degrees (that is minus) weather to kill them off. So that area must get really cold this winter. Helena has a nice down town. Lots of fun shops, restaurants and a nice park. We also visited Tizer Botanic Gardens. A wonderful place to stroll. The Gardens are all prenenails. We spent a week visiting Diane and doing fun things. Then one morning it looked like cold and rain. Time to get off the mountain.
Our next stop was Arco Idaho. Quite a place! This was the first city in the US to have complete Nuclear power. We also enjoyed looking at the paint wall. North end of town is a high rocky hill. Each High School graduating class may paint their year on a rock. This has been going on for many years. We also visited the Crater of the Moon.
And on to Ketchum ID. I had been there quite a few years ago and remember how nice it was. Found a nice park to stay in and took in the sights! Beautiful. We toured the shops. The park manager told us, “don’t bother with your bank card, just bring your bank.” I did find a pretty cotton jacket on clearance reduced from $700 to $350. No, I did not buy it. We toured the Lodge and looked at all the old pictures of famous people and Olympian’s who had skied and Ice skated at Sun Valley Id. We had gone over one afternoon and watched some Ice Skaters. So the next day we decided to have lunch at the rink. Well the skating didn’t start until after 2:30. So we had a nice lunch in a beautiful place.
We then went to Vale Oregon, We only planned on staying 1 night however we ended up staying 4 nights. The weather was warm with beautiful evenings. It is a small farming town. The farm equipment went by us several times a day. We just liked it. We did not disconnect the car until the day before we left. Vale is famous for their murals painted on the side of buildings depicting the history of the town and the different groups of settlers who came. The people in the office told us about the Owyhee Reservoir. So we took a ride and went off to see it. We crossed the Oregon Trail and walked on it for a while. Tough people those settlers!
On our way back to Pleasanton for a while.
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