Aug. 3 - Ennis to Conrad, MT

Well, I am going to learn to check the state DOT's for construction sites because Hwy. 287 was mostly under construction, and we took it for over 100 miles to get to I-15 at Helena. There were miles and miles of just dirt with a little gravel on it. The worst part was a long, long, long section of tar with loose gravel (called chip and seal). It sounded like we were in an awful hail storm. There are tar covered pebbles all over the truck and camper. Phil said he would probably never get it all off. He was just a little irritated by it (gross understatement). So we left Ennis around 10:00 and got to Conrad around 4:30. I am so glad I had some homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer for tonight! Tomorrow we go to St. Mary, which is no more than 150 miles from here. We will stay three nights before going to Canada. I have already started praying that we have a quick, successful crossing at the border because this pantry and frig are full to the brim!
I took some photos today as we traveled. It was fun to go through Townsend, MT. I enjoyed the Missouri River and saw a good many float boats and even two people tubing.

Dirt with a little gravel on and on and on....

I LOVE this sign!!! Wish we could get one for our Townsend!

I have yet to get out my jeans. Last summer, we probably were in jeans all but about 10 days. This summer is much hotter. The only place we had a problem with mosquitos was St. Mary last year. This year I hear they are awful in Yellowstone, Tetons, AND St. Mary/Glacier. I hope they are not bad in Banff. The weather report for Banff has it raining our first five out of six days. I also hope we can get to Lake Louise this time without all the smoke from fires in BC.

Aug. 1 - Ennis (side trip to Bozeman)

I am going to post a couple of photos I took yesterday evening. The mixture of storm clouds, sunshine, and finally a rainbow made for some great evening photos. We went to Bozeman today to get the oil changed in the truck and do some heavy duty grocery shopping for the trip to St. Mary and then three weeks in Canada. Young adults were panhandling at both entrances to Walmart. One even had a sign that said, "Why lie? I need a joint bad." Can you believe that???? If we had had to stop, I'd have told him he needed Jesus bad, not a joint!

We do laundry tomorrow and start getting things situated to go to Conrad for Wed. night. Then we go to St. Mary's Campground, a national park campground, with no hookups for three days. I am spoiled. I really like to use all my toys! I miss my toaster oven and microwave when we dry camp, but with the generator, we can at least use the coffee maker in the morning and keep the cell phones charged.

I also have scheduled my phone to cover us in Canada. I will not be able to use my Internet, nor e-mail services, though. Son Brice is having oral surgery to start the implant process for three bottom teeth this Thursday, and I want to be able to check on his recovery. While we are in Banff, we will go to a coffee shop every day or two to check our e-mail. I hope I can resist their fabulous maple nut muffins!!!

When we came back to the campground today, Phil was unloading stuff while I put groceries away. He said he saw a motorhome on fire. The fire department showed up  and extinguished it. Phil said it looked like it was in the kitchen area. I guess that ruined their trip! It would mine!

This is the view looking northeast. dark storm clouds in the distance and sun shining on the meadow

I took this one through a window on one of the slides looking west. (sorry for the glare)

This is the view southeast.

When I looked out the view from the slide window, this is what I saw. I took it through the window but did not get a glare this time.

We had a scare with Phil's back. He was bringing in a 24 pack of bottled water and felt something in his back move. He dropped the water and then went for a walk. He said it feels real tight. He is going to take some muscle relaxers and see how it goes. All prayers are welcome! Thank you in advance!

July 28 - Downtown Ennis and Beyond

We had a lovely day exploring Ennis. We went downtown and walked up and down both sides of the streets. The sign says the population is 890, so it is a small town with a lot of character. Flyfishing is the name of the game here. Everyone we have spoken to who flyfishes says now is the greatest time to fish. Poor Phil is afraid to get in the water because of his back. One slip, and he could be right back where he started. He does not want that! We rode around looking at the public places where one can put in a float boat or wade in to fish, but the water is running really fast. I wish he would try just fishing from the bank..... I'd sure like to try my hand at pan-frying some trout! This one couple from California said just about every time they cast, they caught at least an 18 incher. Not bad!

Don't you love the artwork on the building?

On top of a flyshop

mesh art

A view from our drive about 15 miles out of town

We will go to Bozeman next Monday to get the oil changed in the truck and grocery shop. We will stuff as much as we can before we head into Canada Aug. 7. This will be the last chance to shop at a large grocery store and Walmart before going into Canada. Groceries and gas are really expensive in Canada! We did find out that it will not cost any more to have phone coverage there. Only my phone will work, though. Phil will have to take his battery out while we are there. I will not be able to use our e-mail or Internet without buying data coverage, though. We will just turn that off while we are there, but it will be good to be able to be reached by the children and to be able to reach them on the phone.

Ennis - July 25 nd 26

We had big wind yesterday that rocked us pretty good, but it finally died down. A couple in a motorhome from Knoxville parked next to us for the last two nights. Their names are Don and Kay Chase. I think he is a retired oral surgeon. We enjoyed chatting with them and another couple from California.

Today we went to Virginia City and Nevada City, 14-15 miles from Ennis. They are a tourist attraction because of the gold rush. Both look like cowboy ghost towns. We wanted to find Boot Hill in Virginia City, but the Visitors' Center was closed. I took some photos. When we got back, we rode a few miles from town to Lake Ennis. I got some photos there, too.

The amazing thing about being here are the views. This camper has lots of windows, and no matter where one looks, there are gorgeous views.

stagecoach tour in Virginia City

or a firetruck tour

view from an overlook between Ennis and Virginia City

huge flyfisherman art at junction in Ennis

Lake Ennis

White pelicans in Lake Ennis

Lake Ennis looking down toward Ennis

Lake Ennis looking North

We heard on the news that a skier's body was found. He had been missing since March.

Phil's back was much better today, and he is relieved (both of us, actually). We are so thankful!
P.S. I uploaded a lot more photos, but only nine show. I'll have to post more on FaceBook.

Ennis - July 23 and 24

Flyfisherman and Airstream, car art in front of campground office

Trout art at the entrance to the campground

campground office - We are parked in the row to the left.

There we are!

Just a spectacular mountain view - mountain views everywhere you look!

Sandhill cranes - We see them every morning in the field.

We have not done a lot these last two days. I have almost finished my second book in two days. We have walked more because Phil's back has been bothering him. Today we had to stop one time because of cramping (hasn't happened in a long, long time). We are praying for healing. It got warm enough for us to turn on the air conditioner today. The weather report on tv said Ennis broke a record low last night and got down to 40. It will be upper 40's tonight. Tomorrow will be quite warm, too, and then it is supposed to cool off again. We are enjoying this campground. It has really nice bathrooms, a clubhouse with books to trade and jigsaw puzzles on tables to sit down and work. The laundry is reasonable, too. We will be doing that before we move on!

Ennis - July 22

back of 5th wheel - bikes hanging off ladder rack outside

right across from chairs is kitchen area

stove has 3 burners, an oven, and microwave above

nice sound system, CD/DVD player - table used to be turned so it jutted out (Phil turned it)

sorry for sheet on sofa, but I like to put my feet up there...

love all the storage - including this large pantry

bedroom with good size shower, queen bed

huge closet, 3 large drawers and tv shelf on side

I keep my linens in the cabinet - also tons of storage under bed

porcelain toilet in its own little room - excuse the mop (gets stored there)

I love the shower! Adjustable height for shower head and lots of room.

closeup of the entertainment center

Cool day today! I had to close a few windows as this cool front approaches and passes through. We have also had a couple of showers with more expected. Sunday and Monday are supposed to be quite warm (89 and 90). I guess we might have to turn on the air conditioner for those two days! It will still get down to the upper 40's at night, though.

We went to the town's grocery store, and it was a nice one with reasonable prices. We took a longer walk this morning because Phil's back was sore from doing things yesterday that were more taxing than usual. He turned our table around and also lifted the generator out of the belly and put it back in after the guy fixed the jack. I made cornbread since it was so cool and will use it in a casserole tomorrow. Lazy day, good day!

 I took some photos of the inside of the camper. I forgot to put in the caption of the sofa that there is a air mattress in the sofa. One thing we like about the camper is the remote control that comes with it. It controls the automatic jacks in front and the rear, the awning, and the slides. Gotta love it! A couple of people have asked for the photos, so here they are!

Ennis - July 21

Great sleeping here! We woke up around 8:00, and it was 49degrees. I love it! When I woke up, I looked out my little side window, and there were mountains. I looked directly in front of me out that window, and there were more mountains. Views everywhere you look!

We took our walk around the campground. There is a creek that flows along the back down an embankment that has a hot spring. We saw Sandhill Cranes, Canadian geese, and deer out in the pasture land beyond the creek at the base of the mountains. I had to go back and get the binoculars and my camera to see what the birds were. The bad thing was my card was still in the computer and not in my camera, so I did not get any photos. I'll look again tomorrow.

The man came and fixed the front stabilizer jack. It cost us $100, but it was well worth it. I e-mailed Keystone about it and suggested they put an applique telling a person when to stop trying to retract the jack. I told them the Wildcat fifth wheel beside us had one on it - cheap and would have saved us $100. Letting it contract all the way until it stopped was what caused the problem. It is marked now! Lesson learned!

When the man left, we repositioned the camper to get it more level. We had to leave it hooked to the truck last night. Then Phil turned our table around so it is horizontal along the window. We like that better. He also spent part of the day doing a little organizing. I spent the day getting my nest ready for our extended stay.

Last night's sunset

We are talking about staying two weeks here. We took a ride through town, and it is the cutest little town! We also want to go to Nevada City and Virginia City. Also, I am hoping he will do some flyfishing and actually catch some adult fish we can eat! This place is famous for the rainbow and brown trout populations. There is a section upstream that is all catch and released. The lower part and lots of lakes and streams around here are keepable! Phil likes catch and release because he does not like gutting and fileting fish. I told him to catch them, and I will get them ready for the pan and cook them! So....we will see how that goes....

A front is coming through tomorrow and will bring a chance of storms and rain. This weekend will be very warm, approaching 90 on Sunday or Monday before it cools off again. The nice thing is that every night gets down into the 40's.

We did not think we could get any tv stations here, but we can get two.