Big Sky (and Mountain) Country - Montana

5/20/2016 Friday Start: Butte, Montana   End: Malstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana

Today started out overcast and cold and while it warmed up it rained off and on all day.  

We headed out to Helena, the capital of Montana and visited the Historical Museum where we saw the art work of Charles Russell and Stan Lyndsey

 and toured the St Helena Cathedral. 

We drove through some ethereal mountain ranges in the fog and rain

to Great Falls where we squeezed in a visit to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

before splitting an **elk** burger at Fuddruckers.  Tomorrow we’re on to Glacier National Park!

Northward On!

5/19/2016 Thursday   Start: Stoddard Creek Campground, Idaho   End: Butte, Montana

We continued heading north today, ending up in Butte, Montana.  We backtracked a little bit so that Mike could dig for some opals at Spencer Opal Mine, Idaho where he found a small opal.

Mike digging for opals

As we headed north we ran into some rain and strong winds, slowing to 45 mph at one point approaching Dillon, MT.  We picked up some visitor info and ended up in Butte for the night at a not-so-great KOA.  We visited the Mineral Museum and a used bookstore then headed home for dinner and relaxing.  It’s cold, 40’s, but with full hookups we’ll be toasty warm tonight.

Sightseeing in Idaho

5/18/2016  Wednesday – Start: Hill AFB, Roy, UT  End: Stoddard Creek Campground, Targhee Natl Forest, ID

We had several stops through Idaho for today.  We started out the day relaxing at Lava Hot Springs. We soaked in the 102 to 120 degree water till our fingertips puckered!  

We then headed through the rolling hills and miles of green fields to Pocatello where we were going to spend a few minutes at the Museum of Clean – and ended up being there almost two hours with a private tour from the owner, Don Anstell.  The museum occupies an entire city block celebrating cleanliness of home, mind and heart.  It’s also environmentally green, with its own water collection system. 

Aunt Louise - this is a quilt made of vaccuum bags!

Mike and the Clean Knight

From there it was onto the Potato Museum, which was under renovation and consequently free.  We walked through it and then were museum-ed out for the day. 

We were headed for a campground in Montana when we spotted the Stoddard Creek National Forest campground about 10 miles from the border.  We have the place practically to ourselves.  Tomorrow Montana!

Bonnie