July-2024

 JULY 2024

01 JULY

Departed Deer Park for 4hr drive to River's Edge RV in Alberton,MT, our stop for 7 nts. The park is small with around 12 sites FHU and Cafe. Located at exit 75 of 90 between rail across Clark Fork and IH 90.

We found a better route to IH 90 from Deer Park..Crawford to Hwy 2 to Hwy 206 to Argonne exit 287.

Started raining 30 miles from Alberton.

03 JULY

We decided to depart early today instead of staying the 7 nights, for our next campground,Riverfront,  in Garrison,MT.

So called campground and they were able to accommodate us early adding 5 nights to our stay with departure on 15 July. Thank you Sharon (owner) for your help.It is only a 100 mile drive on IH90.

Stopped at Love's in Missoula for gas..$3.44 with 10 cents off. We were going to get RV and car washed at truck stop, but looking at impending rain opted to pass. Good decision because we had rain on way.

Upon arrival we were shown to site #1,backin..FHU and privacy. Did laundry, went to Safeway in Deer Lodge..10 miles..rain off and on most of day.

Riverfront RV is 20 acres  with 50 sites. The park was purchased in 1991 by Bernie and Sharon. Bernie passed in 2015. Sharon has wonderful camp hosts who help her with operating the park.

When they purchased the park,it was rundown trailer park full of 1950's mobile homes,weeds,garbage.The park has security cameras and motion detectors 24 hrs/day. They have Sunday morning worship and all are invited to attend.

4 JULY

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

"MAY WE THINK OF FREEDOM NOT AS THE RIGHT TO DO AS WE PLEASE,BUT AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT"-PETER MARSHALL

The campground is having a BBQ this afternoon. We just have to bring our appetites and meet at the Chapel Fellowship Hall in the campground.

Delish food provided and met several couples. Enjoyed the afternoon.

13 JULY

Drove up to Helena (50 miles) to visit with good friends Loretta and Rocky whom we met at Nellis several years ago. We always make it a point to visit when in  Montana. They no longer RV and still travel via other means of transportation. Rocky prepared Australian hamburgers and baked sweet potatoes. The hamburger was a first..topped with beets,tomatoes,fried egg, cheese onion and lettuce. Different and very good. We always get involved in conversation and forget to take photo so went into my photo archives and found photo when we camped at Fort Harrison in Helena in 2021.

Rocky and Loretta are planning their 60th Anniversary celebration in Hawaii. Sounds like a very romantic re affirmation of their vows. Know it will be perfect and look forward to photos.

Thank you dear friends for our continued friendship. Love you.

15 JULY

On the road again to our next stop at Countryside RV in Dillon,MT. Short 100 mile drive via IH90 and IH15.Nice small  park with FHU and angled sites overlooking ranch and farm land. We will be here until  the 22nd.

17 JULY

Enroute to Fortunate Camp they stopped at Beaverhead Rock near Dillon. It was here that Sacagawea recognized they were in the area of her relatives. They followed the river south where they met the Shoshone and she recognized her brother,Chief Cameahwait. 

Today we drove IH15 south to the Clark Canyon Reservoir to view site and signage of Lewis & Clark
expedition in 1805. The Camp is now under the Reservoir, but there is good signage.It was named for the fortunate events that took place.Clark took a party to the Salmon River to determine if it was passable for trip west. Due to continuous rapids determined this was not possible and purchased horses from the local Native Americans. 

18 JULY

Today we drove a short drive on Hwy 278 to Bannack SP. This was the site of the first major gold discovery in Montana in 1862. This was also Montana's first territorial capital. The town has been preserved and considered a ghost town. This weekend the town comes alive taking visitors back to life in the Old West with reenactments and special events.Many of the old buildings are open to the public.

19 JULY

An hour's drive via IH15 to Hwy 41 Thru Twin Bridges to Hwy 287 arriving in Virginia City,MT.

A well preserved mining ghost town..today several shops, museums.historical buildings and cafes are in presence for touring. We had a nice lunch at The Virginia City Cafe.

Placer diggings were discovered in Alder Gulch in 1863 and the stampede began and the best known of the gold towns, It became the Capitol of the Territory in 1865-1875. It is frozen in time representing the whole Victoria era.

Since we started our journey in 2009, we have visited many of the Lewis and Clark expedition sitesincluding Harper's Ferry where they secured supplies and Camp Dubois near the mouth of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers where Clark and 41 men set out on their journey in May of 1804.We continued to follow many of their camp sites to Fort Clatsop in Oregon and Cape Disappointment in WA  on the Columbia.

I highly recommend the book of their journey "Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark"by Barbara Fifer...a very detailed and personal account with maps.

22 JULY

Departed today for Cowboy RV in  Pocatello,ID for 3 nights.Enroute on IH15 we encountered a 2 hr standstill south of Spencer,ID due to tragic motorcycle accident. The park is small and next to Mobile Home Park. We got good site #22. Seems to be well maintained and very clean laundry room with new machines. Weather is hot and expected to reach 100. We just plan to relax.

24 JULY

We revisited Fort Hall Replica and Bannock County Museum. Our last visit was 17 July 2017. If interested you can go to my blog entry of same date.

25 JULY

Short drive today down IH 15 to Hill AFB campground..our 4th visit.Campground is small,but well maintained. We are in #33..a pullthru with FHU and facing the Oval and Fitness Center.When we stayed here in 2009, the rate was $14/day. Now $35 and still a bargain.Smoke from all the wild fires is prevalent. What a disaster. Weather is in high 90's. Had several thunderstorms with hail.

31 JULY

Today we went to the Hill AFB Aerospace Museum..our last visit was in October 2009. It  is open Tuesday-Saturday 9AM til 4PM and admission is free. The Museum has over 70 aircraft on display and artifacts. A definite must if in the area. arerospaceutah.org. John in front of CH-21C helicopter he took back and forth to Texas Tower off Martha's Vineyard in Atlantic in the 60's.

We depart on the 8 August for Green River, WY for 2 nights at park of same name then on to Cheyenne for a week.