Montana Visit

 8 May 2021

Departed Moses Lakes,WA for St.Regis,MT and St Regis RV Campground IH 90 exit 33. We will be here 3 nights before heading up to Helena and visits with friends Rocky & Loretta. Pat and Darwin will also be meeting up with us for lunch one day. They live in Great Falls.

Our drive took us over Lookout Pass and encountered some snow flurries, but road dry.

The campground is set among some big pine and other varieties of trees. Very will maintained with FHU sites in the middle row, long pull thru sites with W/E. We are in #39 FHU with satellite access.

Nice laundry room and gift shop. Very nice couple have owned it for 4 yrs having moved from Seattle.Would definitely stay here again.There are many bear carvings in the park.

After getting settled, we drove into the town for dinner at Jasper's and browse the mercantile. Small town with basic needs. Golf course close by.

10 May 2021

We decided to have dinner at Huck's Cafe in the shopping area of St Regis. Good choice. In my 80 years had never tasted Huckleberry shakes and food items so ordered a shake and hamburger with the Huckleberry Barbeque sauce..delicious..what have I been missing all these years. Bought 2 bottles of the sauce in the mercantile. 

11 May 2021

Mid-morning departure for short drive to Helena via McDonald Pass and our stay for 9 nights at Fort Harrison NGB. Our last visit here was in 2016. By the way this is our 9th visit in Montana since 2010.

It is on our favorite states list along with South Dakota and Oregon. We are in #6,pull-thru and FHU for $23/day..a real bargain. A small base and very quiet. Of course, I enjoy the mule deer that pass thru the campground. There are only 12 sites..7 on the first row and 5 on second row. Nice concrete picnic tables,good satellite access. Laundry is in training and lodging office and free. Definitely go in the North Gate with rig. Shopping is 5 miles away..Safeway,Costco,Walmart etc.

15 May 2021

Rocky and Loretta came by for visit. They are such an interesting and fun couple with so many tales of their 54 years together. We met them at Nellis several years ago. This is our 4th visit with them traveling in MT.Unfortunately they no longer RV.

Earlier in the day enroute from Costco, stopped in Walgreen's to see if they were giving the Pfizer vaccine. Was able to get my 1st shot. In 21 days will get my 2nd in Spearfish SD. John has been asking me to get vaccinated. MT is more mask free than other states we have been in..so nice to be maskless when shopping.

17 May 2021

This afternoon we met Loretta and Rocky at the Montana Cafe and Grill off IH 15 south for dinner.

We last had dinner here on our 2016 visit. Prices are steep, but the food is delicious. We split orders of huckleberry ribs with baked potato. For appetizers I got the stuffed portobello mushrooms (4) which I shared and John and Rocky got the Calamari appetizer to share. We  had a wonderful and friendly waitress who gave Loretta and me a complimentary huckleberry ice cream.Another enjoyable evening.

19 May 2021

Our friends Pat and Darwin from Great Falls drove in today for lunch  gathering at Rocky and Loretta's.

Pat brought her to die for potato salad, Loretta and Rocky had a Montana Ham from Bob's that was the most delicious ham we have ever tasted. Loretta made a yummy pasta salad with peas and parmesan and I took a green salad with veggies and rolls.She also introduced us to an easy to make dessert Website for the Montana Ham..Montana Valley Hams.com. On the way home we stopped at Bob's and got some slices for sandwiches. You can mail order the hams. Another enjoyable visit exchanging stories of life's adventures. 

Waffle blueberry Sundae

20 May 2021

We were supposed to depart today for Livingston,MT;however, weather dictates departure so we extended until 22nd when  we will hopefully depart for Garryowen,MT. This was not expected as the weather on Tuesday was 84. 

22 May 2021

After a snowfall into the night and looking at road conditions decided today was best day to depart for our next stop.

Staying Warm

 We delayed our departure until 1130AM after another road check. Our route takes us east on 12 to 287 with lunch stop at Montana Wheat in Three Forks and continuing on IH 90 east to exit 514 and 7th Ranch RV. If stopping here donot follow GPS, but signage at exit.

East  of Helena on 12 the RV and car got trashed on a construction detour and not until we arrived at Montana Wheat did we realize that the both were literally covered in mud and dirt. Never have they been this dirty..even the steps had slimy mud. So I found thanks to our 2010 exit book there was a truck and rv wash in Billings at exit 455 so called them to make sure they were open. Must say FLYIN Wash crew did a great job and price was most reasonable..$80 for both vehicles. Gae them a bag of Dot's pretzels and John tipped the well. Thanks guys for sending us on way with  clean vehicles.

When we arrived at campground and opened the bins..another surprise..the mud and debris had found its way there as well. A huge project while we are in campground until 27th. Not sure how this issue is going to be tackled. Anyway, the campground is nice and adjacent to Little Big Horn. Nearest shopping is 15 miles north in Hardin.

Our stay in Montana, our 9th, has been very pleasant, afforded us the opportunity to visit with friends, relax and see a snowfall.