The fairgrounds campsite had its obligatory train that tooted past, waking us (late) at 7. It didn’t take long to get ready to leave as we were already hooked up.
It’s cold! Well, not really cold, but certainly different from the 90+ degrees we had last night! but the sun is out, so it will warm up quickly.
So we’re on the road again! Today we hope maybe to get to West Yellowstone in Montana to get an early start the following morning.....
Today’s trip is through magnificent country! We usually try to avoid traveling on Interstates except when we’re in a hurry to get somewhere, but the last few days have been excellent. Roads good and scenery breathtaking. And it is hot again - over 90 degrees F.
It is a fine sunny day, and then boom! out of nowhere huge drops of rain making mud on the dusty hood of the truck. And it went from over 90 degrees down to 63! In just a couple of minutes. We saw dust devils in the fields sending spirals of dust way up in the sky. Then as soon as it started, it stopped, and the temperature went right back up again. Weather in Montana.
Our route is east right along the I-90 into Montana where we crossed the Great Divide (6393 feet elevation with a 6% grade hill going down the other side for 6 miles) and then turned south on highway 191. We considered stopping at Butte, but figured we had enough time left to get to West Yellowstone before dark.
Ooops, took a wrong road. How could we miss it? Only way is to backtrack about 5 miles. The 191 is a small road, two lane, with twists and turns and construction. Now we’re concerned we may not make it before dark! Along the way we see kayakers and fisher-people enjoying a fast flowing stream. Then, like before, heavy rain, almost hail, and rapidly dropping temperature. The areas of water are sending up fog spots everywhere - the water is still warm and the air is now cold. We’re still climbing, have been for hours, but the chill is more than elevation.
We barely made it to Bakers Hole, a campground run by the Forest Service, very rustic, but large sites with power (which I’ll want not for air conditioning this time but for the electric blanket!! - OK, I’m a wuss) before dark.
We had to put jackets on to set up, again not unhooking, thanks to a nice level site, and changed into our jeans to walk around the park before supper as it would be too dark afterwards. The park is almost full, and we got the last electric site. There are signs warning of the presence of grizzlies, and advising us not to leave any food where they can reach it. I’m hoping they won’t be attracted by cooking smells - we haven’t eaten yet. But although Mike saw evidence that they were around, we never saw them.
No trains here!
Guess who won at cribbage tonight???
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