On the Road from Stevensville to Yellowstone

We bid our friends Dan & Amy good-by and headed out on our own.   It's been some time since we had only each other to depend on (and talk to) but all is going well and we are happy together.  (yes, there is a song there)

Forest fire outside of Stevensville

We drove by this in Missoula. The colors

were so wonderful, I had to snap a pictues

as we drove past.  It was painted on the side of a building.

views as we drove east towards Butte

We arrived at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

after driving about 200 miles.  We do like that rule of 2's.

We got all set up and sat outside for a while enjoying a glass of wine, the views and the Mountain Bluebirds.

It was very peaceful.  Not many other campers around.

All is well in our world.

Monday

Yesterday we noticed a forest fire on the East in the Sapphire Mts.  It' still going tonight, but there isn't as much smoke.




We also noticed a fire on St. Mary's in the Bitter Root Mts.  We watched as a helicopter picked up water from a pond and few it up the mountain and dumped it on the fire.  They are still were still at it today as well.  


The forecast is for the temperatures to drop to 34 tonight.   Brrrrr.   It's a good thing we are heading south on Wed.


I got a new Sony Vaio computer today.  It has Windows 7 Pro.  There is a lot to learn on it.   I can't post any pictures on it yet, because they are still on the old computer.  Maybe tomorrow.

Stuff

These are some of the projects Scotty helped Dan with while we have been here.

New Kitchen lighting

Outside hose bib

50 amp service hook-up for visiting  RV's

Replaced the dining room light with this antique light

Aspray

Today

 Today we went to Daley Mansion with Dan & Amy.  It was a beautiful place. We were not allowed to take photo inside most of it but it was permitted on 3rd floor & the grounds.

Stevensville, Montana

We have had a wonderful time here in Montana with Amy & Dan. 

I got a new camera last week.  My old one was never the same after getting wet in Bridal Vale Falls in Yosemite.  

I am enjoying my new Sony Cyber-Shot H-55.


These flowers and the grasshopper are in Amy & Dan's  yard. 
 They have a great yard with flowers,  shrubs, and a pond. 









 The deer love the apples.  Dan doesn't like the deer in the yard, but we have enjoyed watching them.





 Missoula has a Carousel.  It is the only hand carved carousel built in the United States since the 1940's

We went to lunch and rode the carousel.
Amy (who had never ridden one) got the brass ring!

This was in the workshop









Scotty tried to get dizzy                                                                     

Back in Montana

The girls dropped us off at the airport at 5:30AM where we spent about 45 mins. in lines going through security.  It was a very busy with lots of people flying out of Portland, Maine to Chicago and their connecting flights.

O'Hare was as insane as always, but we found the right gate and made our connecting flight to Missula.  
Dan & Amy picked us up and when we got home I spent the afternoon putting things away and getting back to normal. Scotty took a nap.  By 9PM  I was sound asleep.   

On Sunday we drove (with Amy & Dan) about 70 miles south into the mountains to their friend Linda & Mike's cabin.  We saw a herd of Rocky Mountain Sheep who were very happy to stand around letting us take pictures.

Today (Sunday) Amy & I went to Church where they were having a special outdoors service and pet blessing.  It was great.  Mostly dogs, but also a lizard and 1 stuffed well loved kitten,  carried by a frail elderly lady being pushed in a wheelchair by her husband which almost brought us to tears. 

A Day at the Beach

Today was a beach day. 

The kids did some clam digging.  They found some big ones.  I'm not sure if they will be dinner tomorrow or bait.

 






   The guys went fishing in the kayaks and the girls, grand-mom's and little guys spent the day on the beach.  I know, it's a rough life I lead......

  Jana & Kathy walked a couple of blocks and got a bakers dozen live lobsters to steam for dinner.  Mike grilled some NY strip steaks.  We went to a farm stand for corn on the cob.  It was $5 per dozen & boy was it good!  So fresh and sweet.  M M MM M!  Dinner was a great success.

 So, day 2, and my second lobsta dinner.  

 Sun set on Saco Bay

 

Montana to Maine

  Today we were up early in order to be ready to leave for the airport at 9:30 am.  
  Jim & Linda picked us up and after a short visit with Dan & Amy we were off to catch our flight to Maine.
  Both planes were small but comfortable.  The first one was cold and I was glad I had an extra jacket.  Of course as I was leaving the plane I was pealing it off because it was in the 80's in Chicago.  
  We had a short delay between flights, but not too bad.  It gave us time to find something to eat.
  We landed here in Portland, Maine at 10:20 PM.  After we got our bag we took the hotel shuttle and dropped our luggage in our room and took off on foot to find more food.   We ended up walking up to the drive up window of McDonald's where I got a salad and Scotty got a big Mac. I have to admit the salad was good.  If you know me, you know I don't eat McDonald's, so you know how really hungry I was.
  I'll post some pictures next time. The interior of the airports wasn't very picturesque.

Stevensville, Montana

We left Kalispell on Monday and drove south to Stevensville to our friends Amy & Dan's home.  We are parked on their property.  Linda & Jim are about 30 miles south of us in Hamilton at a campground.  It seems odd to not have them next door.  But we will be back beside each other for the winter if not sooner.  
Jim & Linda came up for dinner last night and then tonight Dan, Amy, Scotty & I went to Hamilton to have dinner at a local restaurant with them.   Both dinners were great (both the food and the company).

We had some rain today.  These are a few of the pictures I took here tonight. 

This Amy & Dan's is the pond

                                                 Scotty  saying hello to the neighbors

                                                Then the storm moved in from the west

                                                        The rainbow was amazing

                                                                 Then it doubled!

                                                   Then the mountains turned to gold!

Glacier National Park

  Today Jim, Linda, Boo, Scotty & I went to Glacier National Park.   It started out a bit foggy with some low clouds, but turned into a beautiful sunny day.

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.