Land of the Huckleberries

News Flash! Roger has found his huckleberry ice cream!

We found the first of it in Whitefish. Having scheduled two days at this park - thinking we would take time to drive in to Glacier Natl. Park, we had a 'day off'. But the more we talked about it, the more we decided we were just too tired to spend our day off 'driving' again. We checked out the tour bus schedule, but found that the one we wanted (the evening one when all the animals are out & about) had ended on July 31; we were one day too late. So - we'll add that to the list of things to do next year.

After heading south to Kalispell to get a prescription filled, we headed back north to the town of Whitefish. Spent some time strolling the sidewalks - and snooping in the shops. Roger continues to 'search' for that perfect wall 'something' for our living room. No luck, but we did spot "Mrs. Spoonfulls", a small ice cream parlor on one of the side streets. Stopped in for our first taste of huckleberry ice cream. It was 'ok' - but not as good as I remembered it. But Roger was happy.

Got back to our rig, talked about just driving in to the park ourselves, but then talked ourselves out of it. Decided to just take advantage of not moving for the rest of the day.

From there, our route took us to West Glacier - a beautiful park just at the entrance to the park. Must be the cooler weather up here, for the flowers are just beautiful! I swear I don't know how they get them to grow like that! Must be Miracle Grow twice a week - or something!

Since we couldn't go 'over' to St. Mary (on the east side of Glacier Ntl. Park), we had to go 'down & around'. Driving along, when what should appear - but our second 'bear' of the season -.just lopping across the road. Thinking to cut some miles off our route, we took a turn on to Hwy 49 north to St. Mary. Only to discover after about 5 miles, a very small sign that says "No vehicle over 21 foot in length allowed on this road". BUT, also, no turn around spot! So onward & upward! It was one of those times when, after it is all said & done, you would never do it again - but we made it, only getting 'honked at' by an approaching vehicle one time. Thankfully - not much traffic - and it was easy to see why! Roger keeps saying "It wasn't so bad" - but he'll not take that route again - with me anyways!

Another big park to walk, and Roger found his second bowl of huckleberry ice cream. Better than the first, but still not what I remembered.

South to Choteau (I have to keep a calendar in front of me to remember just where we have been!), then Great Falls. Got an offer from the owner there to fly to Billings for dinner for the evening - (yep, that is fly like in an airplane) but since we only have one night - and I'm no fan of flying in airplanes, let alone small ones, I declined - for both of us. We did find a Sam's Club (the only one in Montana, I'm told) and got caught up on some computer work. Had a nice evening with the managers there - over dinner - and then lunch with Loren & Jane (the owners) the next day.

August 7 found us in the big town of Townsend, and just as we finished our walk-about the wind started blowing and we had a downpour. We had forgotten it could rain! Then up a bit & over to Deer Lodge, where we received a royal Hawaiian welcome from the owners there. Mo is a 'transplanted islander', but he hasn't lost his warm, friendly island spirit. We had hardly got parked, before he came over and told us not to eat lunch - he had just ordered a pizza. So we got acquainted over pizza and I decided this was as good a place as any to do my laundry, especially since they had all new front-loader machines. My timing was good, for I had just got it going, when the wind whipped up and we had another afternoon down pour for 45 minutes or so. My tired was catching up with me by the time I finished 5 loads, so Roger gave me a break and did the walk- about here. It was a small park, so don't feel too bad for him!

Started thinking about fixing supper and then realized it was Friday - and they do a hamburger cook-out on Friday nights. (I could get spoiled not having to cook!) So our Friday evening fare was a delicious grilled burger & Hawaiian-style baked beans . . . topped off with a piece of Cass' homemade carrot cake. We finished our evening watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.

Life is good!

Just down the interstate a bit to Butte. In the middle of doing the walk-about, when it turned dark, the wind started blowing, the pool cleared, and everyone made a dash to their trailers. Our third afternoon rain storm in as many days! Are we in Florida? We're beginning to think so!

Had to finish up our walk-about after the rain, but we're getting our schedule adjusted so we have evenings off to watch some of our favorite events - swimming & gymnastics. Enjoying the beach volleyball, too, but can't understand why the girls have to wear skimpy swimsuits . . . and the guys wear baggy shirts & shorts! Does anyone else out there wonder why?

Next stop - south to Dillon, where I added yet another 'stuffed moose' to my collection. He was just too cute to resist! Then over to Alder (near historic 'sister' gold mining towns of Virginia City & Nevada City). These towns are old - for real old - not some 'built for tourists' towns. Pretty little park here and the hollyhocks were in bloom everywhere!

A 'dip' into Idaho, enroute to West Yellowstone. Tourist traffic is way down this season, but it is still a busy park. Had to go back the way we came (south & west) before we could go north to Bozeman, due to major construction on Route 191. Still a very nice drive. Stopped in the town of Ennis (one of those towns where all the roads merge) and Roger needed gas. Not much to choose from, so we had pulled over in a parking lot to wait till the congestion at the only station cleared out. Just as Roger saw his chance, a big truck pulled off the road and right up to the pump! Here we had been sitting for 15 minutes or so, for our rig can't just go to any pump! We did finally get our chance - and the truck driver apologized profusely - for he didn't realize he had cut us off - until he saw Roger pull in behind him, barely off the road. That town definitely needs another station or two!

What a delight to pull into Bozeman, to find a beautiful pool & splash park has been added since our visit in 2002! Stood and watched a little one (about Hayden's caliber) have a ball at the splash park. Sure makes us homesick! Over supper I told Roger we were going to have to create our own homemade splash park at 10900 while the weather is still warm enough.

We can see the 'light at the end', with only 6 more parks left to go! If all goes well, we will land in Billings next Tuesday (8/19), do our last review, and then 'sit' for 6 whole days! That will be our longest 'stay' anywhere, since we were home in May. Friends to catch up with - meetings at the Home Office - and our plans are to head south the morning of the 26th. We plan to take three days enroute to home, stopping in Rapid City to visit more friends, over to Grand Island, NE and then straight south to OKC from there! We can't wait! Home before Labor Day!

Oh, & I almost forgot! We finally found the REAL DEAL - and it is Wilcoxson's Huckleberry ice cream! Out of this world!