Big Sky

Sunday May 17, 2009

Day 20 Townsend MT to West Glacier MT 324 Miles

Northern Montana is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with temps in the 80’s. We so like that!
We drove up I15 through Helena and Great Falls, then turned on a state road, US89, which was a joy. The highway traveled through huge cattle ranches, wheat fields and some of the quaintest towns and also through part of the Blackfoot Indian Nation.

Along the way, Norman found an interesting friend, a wood carving in a teeny, tiny town named Choteau.

We chose the West Glacier KOA, mostly because of the reliable WIFI. For the past two years, it has been the best. Until now, I could NOT get connected, even though I have a good signal. Other than that it’s a wonderful looking place, tall pines, an open field (that we’re in) quiet and clean.

It’s so early in the season up here that some places aren’t open yet. Including the ‘Going to the Sun Road, the highlight of Glacier NP. We can only go 15 miles of the 48 before we will have to turn back. I’m starting to see a pattern here….

Jim was freaking over the Jeep being filthy from being towed, so we drove 15 miles to the nearest car wash. On a small strip of land beside the car wash was a tulip garden, all in bloom. There must have been over a hundred feet of tulips of every color type. I wondered who planted it and noticed across the street there was a tiny single-wide trailer home on a postage stamp size lot with a beautiful flower garden loaded with tulips. The kitchen window faced across the small street to the car wash and the tulips. I guessed the gardner who loved there had planted them to for all to enjoy. How nice! Turning a narrow swath of uncared for land into something beautiful.

On the way back to the campground we drove up to see Hungry Horse Dam. It’s down a winding road on the side of a mountain….steep drops, but hidden with trees, which is good! Hungry Horse Dam


Tomorrow we will drive as far as we are allowed in Glacier NP