29 July 08 - 23:12
Two for One Days
As we drive alongside rivers I find myself picking canoe routes through the rapids. This is interesting to me because my fear of water was increased by a fatal canoe accident that happened just downstream of us many years ago. So my sense of fun and my sense of panic are competing with one another here. I alternate between “Whee!” and “Ack!” Unfortunately, “Ack!” still wins.Dave noted that we'd been traveling upstream for 140 miles. Mostly gentle but very LONG hills. The kind that makes me remember walking bicycles. Yet, we see bicyclists all over the place. Some carrying day packs, some with all their gear loaded on the back of their bikes, and one pulling a small trailer. It makes my legs hurt just to think of them but I wish them well in their travels.
My mind took a scenic loop. I never know what connections it's going to make. This one started with a sign that said, “watch for rock.” I immediately pictured Rock Hudson, which made me think of him making movies with Doris Day, which made me think of her singing “The Glass Bottom Boat” in which she was accompanied by Art Godfrey, which made me think of Art Linkletter and his “Kid's say the Darndest Things”, which made me think of how oddly we sometimes interpret things, which led me back to, “watch for rock.” Useless but entertaining. At least for me.
Dave didn't like how closely a Class A
motorhome was following us so he pulled over in a small gravel area
to let it go by. While waiting we looked toward the river and saw
this contraption. 
It is anchored by cables that allow it to move but
not very far. The cone was turning much like that of a cement mixer.
I thought it might be generating electricity but there were no wires
other than the anchoring cables. We have no idea why it was there.
Our best guess is that it was measuring water flow. If you know
more, please, tell us. When we moved on we passed the motorhome
which had pulled into the next gravel area. Apparently, it was only
on the road to get us to stop and see the contraption.
The speed limit signs make me wonder if anyone paid any attention to what they were doing here. In quick order the signs said: 70 mph for cars, 60 mph for trucks, warning 4 miles of sharp curves recommend 25 mph for trucks, and curve 35 mph. What speed is anyone supposed to be driving? Do they think a car can go from 70 to 35 in a very short distance? What speed do they think the truck drivers are going? Is there any wonder there is a memorial wreath at that 35 mph curve?
Next stop: Super WalMart in Missoula, Montana. Groceries are needed. We wanted electrical hookups so we didn't stay there. We wanted to camp at Jim & Mary's RV Park but they were full so we stopped at Jellystone Park instead. Dave pulled into the spot, looked at our circular level which was perfectly centered, and asked me if I'd like him to try to do better. :)
Today's notes aren't so many and I'll never get caught up if I don't keep writing so you get two days for one in this posting.
Our first challenge today was buying diesel fuel. We missed the driveway of the first station—don't they always have two? We couldn't find the diesel pumps at the second station, so we drove back to the first station but there was no diesel at the car pumps. Finally, we drove up to the truckers' pumps and found the one on the end had a nozzle that would fit our tank and not pour fuel all over the ground because the truck ones pump a lot faster that car pumps.
Our next stop was a jerky one. No, that's not a comment on Dave's driving. I'm talking meat. I like turkey bacon for breakfast but when we aren't hooked up to electricity we can't run the microwave. So, I've started eating jerky with my cereal on those days. I was out of jerky. There was a truck by the road advertising exotic ones so we stopped. I bought bison and elk jerky. I already know I like bison but the elk will be new to me.
Today we are driving through the
Flathead Indian Reservation and the signs are bilingual. This is one of the easy ones Go ahead,
try to pronounce it.
In Polson, Montana, we stopped at the
Polson-Flathead Historical Society's Main Street Museum. I highly
recommend this place. It was fun to see a real stagecoach and
chuckwagon along with lots of other neat things. I dare you to visit
this place without triggering some sort of memory. They have
something for everyone whether your interests are printing or fire
fighting or doll collecting or household items or one of many other
things.
We had lunch at the Driftwood Family Restaurant where I finally gave into the advertising of huckleberries. We've been seeing signs for pie and ice cream and everything else huckleberry for a couple days now. I can now testify that huckleberry pie is good!
We only drove as far as Columbia Falls after lunch where we are now in a tiny RV park that has everything we need including Internet. Their laundry closes early, though, so we may stay here tomorrow, too, unless we get up early enough to do laundry before checkout time.
TTYL,
Linda
one comment
Peter thinks the contraption is for getting gold.
Peggy B () - 24 08 08
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