My Man's Sportin' Wood
Capricorn
HDF Supporter
Hallett Hottie
 
Flathead Lake Montana/Lake Havasu City
Posts: 3,500
APPD 0.47
Post Rank: 20
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Posted: July 10 2007,10:00 pm |
Post # 1 |
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Man, this is such a beautful country. Â There is so much wildlife and open area we had to wonder, why are we all cramped up here in So Cal? Â
We had an incredible time, in spite of the initial problems with the wheel bearings on the trailer (pics to follow  ).  We pulled into Bear Lake straddling Utah and Idaho about midnight on Monday night without sleep on Sunday night.  We woke up in a nice little KOA with showers (badly needed) and a laundry mat and a little general store  
We left there around 10am and went to a cool little living museum on the Oregon Trail in Montpelier, Idaho. Â In it, we visited a mercantile to find out what we would need to take on our trip to "Oregon" and where everything would go on the wagon. Â Then we hopped on a wagon and the lights went dim as it jostled around with us in it. Â We exited the other side due to a broken axle and arrived in a camp where people there told us how they made rugs, butter and did washing out on the prairie. Â It was really a cool exhibit to share with the kids.
We drove into Wyoming and headed up through Jackson to stay the night in the Grand Tetons next to Jackson Lake. Â While we were there, a mama moose and her calf walked right through our campsite! Â I wish I had the pics sized to show you all, maybe tomorrow.
Tuesday, we went back into Jackson had breakfast then turned the kids loose with $100 and told them to have fun. Â They went to Ripley's Believe it or Not and the bookstore and candy shop. Â LOL We went to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Dillagaf recommended. This bar buys Jack Daniels by the barrel and bottles it there in commemorative bottles (yes, I got one ). Â They actually bottle more Jack outside of Tennessee than anywhere else. Â We also went to the microbrewery they have there and had an ale or two. Â  Â
On the way back to Teton, we went on a hike, then hung out at camp.
The next day we headed to Yellowstone and were the first to arrive at a campground at Yellowstone Lake that had just opened that day.  It had been previously closed due to bear activity in the area due to the spawning of the trout    By the next morning, the place was packed.  I'm glad we had reservations. Â
Thursday we checked out the geothermal activity around Old Faithful and went on a hike to Mystic Falls. Â Then we proceeded to the Old Faithful Inn for the night.
There I had Idaho trout and Elk Medallions for dinner   Oh, and I discovered a new drink called a "mudpot."  It's pretty much a white russian except rum instead of the vodka.  I had several  
The rooms there were pretty reasonable, I thought.  I think it was around $110 a night, so we got two  
Then, the next morning, all refreshed, we headed out of Yellowstone (saw a bear on the way out in addition to all of the elk, moose and bison) and into Montana. Â We made it to our friends house near Whitefish that evening. Â
BTW, it stays light until 11:00 pm in Montana in the summer!!!!!!
Their log cabin is very cozy, at least it will be when it is finished. Â They are paying for it all cash and just doing a couple of things every summer until they retire in 4 years. They've been at it 4 or 5 already. Â They have 20 acres. Â It's 15 miles out of town on the highway, then 6 miles down a paved forest service road, then 7 miles down a dirt road. Â To get out and make a cell phone call, we literally had to hop on the quad and drive 5 miles down the road to make a call.
They use propane and batteries for everything, but they will have some solar also when it is finished. Â Propane lights, generator, refridgerator, you name it. Â The well pump runs off the generator. Â
It took Jeff 6 days to plumb the little apartment they have in the shop and the house. Â Then we got to go on a quad ride for one day and took the pistols up to the shooting range (abandoned rock quarry). Â The last day we were there, we got to go fishing. Â Cody and I had gone a couple of times before in the creek and lake, but this time, we floated down the Flathead River. Â A friend of ours taught Jeff how to fly-fish and all of us caught something. Â Some cuthroat trout, some rainbow. Â The next day we packed up and headed home.
However, that wasn't too easy.  We left north Montana and drove for about 3 hours before we pulled over to sleep at a rest stop near Missoula.  The next day we headed out and got as far as Salt Lake City when we saw the Cabela's sign.  We had dinner there  and shopped for about 2 hours.  Jeff was looking for a fly rod but decided to wait.  They have guns there from the 1800s that you can buy! Â
After leaving Cabela's, we again headed south, though reluctantly. Â Then we saw a sign that they were diverting traffic from the 15 to the 89 due to a wildfire. Â So 6 lanes of Interstate were now travelling on a two-lane highway for over 100 miles. Â It was a nightmare. Â People were driving like idiots and there were many occassions that I seriously thought we were going to die in an accident. Â Dude! Â There are miles of red lights in front of you! Â What good is it to get two cars further? Â 
By the time we got back on the interstaate near Cedar City, I begged Jeff to just find a hotel as I wanted a shower and a real bed.  The first two we went to were full so he drove about 3 miles through town to a no-tel motel.  But hey, it was a bed and a shower.  They only had smoking rooms   but I got over it.  The place was the biggest dump I think I have ever stayed at. Â
Then, finally, we made it to Vegas just in time for check-out time from the 7-7-07 weekend, so traffic all the way home was a nightmare. Â But the trip was great and we all had a good time and are home safe and sound. Â Hope you all had a good 3-4 weeks. Â
Seriously, if the middle schooler hadn't have had to get back to school, we would have stayed at least another week. Â I hope we can swing a trip back there this winter over Christmas break.
I'll work on the pics tomorrow, I promise!
Oh, I almost forgot, the kids and I did make it into Canada one day.  But I didn't see Kim Hanson    I even scoped out some Labatt's in the liquor store, but he wasn't anywhere nearby, guess he already had some at home.  
Edited by My Man's Sportin' Wood on July 10 2007,10:03 pm
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5-05-2024 Brrrr (Rep.#14,841) from: BigDog
 
 
 
 BTW, dogs are not allowed more than 50 feet off the road. No dogs on the trails  
