2018 MONTANA ROAD TRIP #1

We actually started planning this trip after last year’s jaunt to visit our daughter in Lincoln, MT, where it was extremely smoky due to a number of forest fires in the state. So this year we planned for the end of June and/or early July.

We learned that the Montana Native Plant Society was having it’s annual meeting in Lincoln so that sealed the dates of arriving before the start and then continuing for another few days.

It is a long drive but we really enjoyed seeing the countryside from desert to alpine. We left San Diego on Tuesday, the 26^thof June, and got home on Sunday, the 8^thof July.

TUESDAY, June 26:

We made our usual early morning departure of about 0500. This keeps us a little ahead of the major morning commute bottlenecks as we head North. It was a hot drive but thankfully the air conditioning in the car worked smoothly. Las Vegas was once again having highway work done, but we navigated that well.

St. George, UT was our destination today, and it too was very hot. Once there we holed up in our motel room until about 1800 before adventuring out to the market for dinner and some exercise.

We have known the owner/manager of this Super 8 Motel since 2003 when we first stopped here while traveling to the North Rim, Grand Canyon. He brought us up to date on the large increase in visitors to all of the nearby National Parks. Zion N. P. has really been impacted.    

WEDNESDAY, June 27:

Today the terrain changed from desert to farm country and mountains. We continued on I-15, North to Idaho Falls. Along the way we enjoyed the vast farm country and the small and familiar named Utah towns. In Lehi we stopped at the very large Cabelas store. We visited this store for the first time in 2005/6 while on a Christmas trip to visit our daughter, Klara in Ashton, Idaho. The store sits up on a hill overlooking I-15 and the city of Lehi. At that time there was absolutely nothing around it. Today I had to ask another car if I was making the correct approach due to all of the development of businesses in the area, and lack of good signage. Then it was again confusing on how to get back to I-15. It was worth the stop though as we both got a couple of items: shorts for George, and lightweight pants for me.

We enjoyed our stay in Idaho Falls. After checking into our motel we headed for a grocery store and gas station to refuel the body and the car. For exercise we found the River Walk which runs along both sides of the Snake River in the area of the Falls. The first time we experienced it was in December a few years ago, and the Falls would completely freeze overnight. It was also treacherous walking as the walkways were covered with snow covered ice! We really enjoyed the walk this time with the many trees and flowers now lining the walk.

IDAHO FALLS W/TEMPLE IN BACKGROUND

FALLS DETAIL

PISCES BENCH

105˚F?

IDAHO FALLS 2

THURSDAY, June 28:

Although this was the shortest leg of the drive to Lincoln, we were off early once again as we had a couple of planned stops along the way. 

SUNRISE

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Our first stop was in Ennis, Montana. This small town is in the heart of the fishing country around the Madison River. There are several tackle shops and outdoor gear stores as well as some art stores. One of the stores displayed a couple of small metal sculptures made from forks and spoons. 

BEAR IN THE PARK

ALONG THE ROAD

 My downfall was a gift store that had a good selection of turquoise jewelry.😁

We were then off to Three Forks, the headquarters for Wheat Montana Flour. I have been using this flour for the last five years after I discovered it while baking at the North Rim, Grand Canyon. Here you can buy their various wheat products, cereal products, pastries, and sandwiches.  After stocking up on breads, flour, and pastries for Klara, we enjoyed a very good BLT while “watching the world go by”. Helena was the next stop for fresh produce. From here, it was a beautiful drive over the Continental Divide down into the valley formed by the Blackfoot River.

We relaxed and enjoyed a short walk along the Sucker Creek Road before dinner. It was noticably cooler here than in San Diego. The overnight low was in the low 40˚'s. It was good to know that we would not be doing much driving for the next week.

2018 MULE DAYS (49TH Annual) - Vol 3

SATURDAY, 26 May:

This is parade day in downtown Bishop. We have gone occasionally, but usually we get out of town at least for the morning, by going up into the Eastern Sierras,  or visiting another neighboring attraction. This year we opted to visit the Laws Railroad Museum which is located just East of Bishop. 

We first had breakfast at The Village, which is located North of the Fairgrounds, in a cottage at the corner of See Vee Ln. and  U.S. Rte. 395. We all enjoyed  our choices which were very tasty and large portions.

We spent about two hours roaming the grounds of the Laws Railroad Museum. 

It consists of authentic buildings, relocated here from their original sites throughout the Owens Valley, are filled with objects of antiquity. 

I got a kick out of the display of a lady getting a perm.

A DATE FOR A HAIRDO

There is also quite a display of the rock crushing equipment in the late 1800. I had a good time wandering around and investigating and photographing some of this equipment.

The bottle collection was interesting also. There was a collection of CocaCola bottles which had stamped in the glass the location of where the CocaCola was produced. 

SALOON

A GAS STATION IN THE EARLY 1900s

DECAYING WHEEL

 I found this colorful lizard as well.

Finally it was time to return to the Mule Days activities. 

The wind had been blowing all day, and there were some rain clouds in the area. We ate once again at the Fairgrounds food court. Most of us enjoyed another Indian Taco. We went to the opening of the evening show, but after about 30 minutes it started to rain. Rather than get cold and wet we returned to the tack stall and called it a day. After rounding up all our gear we bid all farewell and safe travels home, we headed back to Big Pine and prepared for our departure on Sunday for home.

SUNDAY, 27 May:

We were off about 0700 for home. The drive down US 395 was smooth and pleasant. The traffic picked up once we merged with I-15, but all went well. We were home a little after 1300.

Once again we enjoyed our trip to Mule Days. The morning hikes in the foothills outside of Big Pine were a nice treat. As always it is wonderful getting together with Tina and Justin, and all of our Mule Days acquaintances.  This trip was made nicer due to the cool weather that we encountered. We are planning to return next year as it will be the 50^th!! (My first was the 25th)

2018 MULE DAYS (49TH Annual) vol. 2

THURSDAY, 24 May:

 We had a pleasant walk West of downtown Big Pine before breakfast. We walked up to where the road crosses the creek.

Big Pine Creek 1

Big Pine Creek 2

Indian Paintbrush

Lupine
Some of the events I enjoy are the driving classes. This morning the wagons and teams needed to maneuver around a course which also involved backing to a loading area, and loading and off loading a barrel. First there were the adult classes and then followed by the junior classes. 

Team Driving

Team Driving 2

As you can imagine, this little guy stole the show though he only placed third, I think. 

Junior Team Driving - Here you can see an obstacle (they have to stay between the poles.)

Junior Team Driving 2

Later DawnMarie competed with one of her donkeys, in the Donkey Driving Class and placed.

 

DawnMarie Driving 1

Mr. Earistable and DM

Another fun event to watch is steer stopping. It is a timed event, and you have to be quite accurate and quick with a lasso. It takes lots of  practice. This series shows a bit of the intracacies and athleticism of both the rider and the mule.  

Went with Tina to visit Barbara Couture, a vendor who usually has some nice Indian jewelry to show and sell.  I purchased a nice bracelet with turquoise stones. A real selling point was also that it was the right size for my small wrist. I was also interested in a pendant but she had none with her this year. 

The temperatures today were quite comfortable. This was due in  part to it being windy all day. Tonight we enjoyed Indian Fry bread Tacos which are made right in front of your eyes at the fairgrounds. I always look forward to this meal, as it is quite the treat, and delicious.

FRIDAY, 25 May:

This morning we supported the local economy by having breakfast at Country Kitchen, located in the center of Big Pine after our morning walk. It was good and enjoyable.

We took in most of the morning events in the Main Arena at Mule days: Donkey Barrel Racing, 

Long Ears and Long Legs

and Mule Barrel Racing:

Then there were the next rounds of the Steer Stopping, 

 and Team Roping.

Another interesting class is the Farm Equipment Class. Old equipment that was driven by mule(s). are displayed, and they then have to demonstrate how they work. It is a great way to learn how things used to be done in farming in the early 1900's and late 1800's.

 And a Junior entry in the Farm Equipment class. Children were often working the farm equipment.

In the afternoon George and I went to the City Park to browse the various booths set up there. Got some garlic from the Gilroy Garlic guys, some of the nice soap I like, and that was about it. I found my desired handbag back at the Fairgrounds. It is tooled leather and large, but not too large.

Justin and Tina cooked up dinner as we sat around and watched in the late afternoon.  We had beef and shrimp fajitas right off their grill. They were delicious. It is obvious that Justin loves to cook, and Tina does a great job as the first class assistant or maybe sous chef. J Again it was a very windy day, but that kept things cool once again and comfortable.