We are in Montana. This was the one state we really wanted to make it to on this trip, because of Glacier National Park. But first we passed through an area that Gary had worked in when he was younger.
Missoula is a city on our way to Flathead Lake. We spent the night at Costco so we could be the first in line to get new tires on the truck.
This was the scene at Costco the next morning, if you look close you see Gary at the door first in line, with about 45 minutes before they open and already eight people in line.
We got our tires. Then headed out for a good coffee shop. Black Coffee was the name of the cafe. This place was a build out in a Quonset hut. And it was fantastic!
So we decided that we would stay an extra day in Missoula to catch up with work and the blog. We spent our first night in a Walmart parking lot. It was surprisingly a lot better than we thought it would be. First, we didn’t have to spend time searching around for an inconspicuous place to park for the night, the cell reception was great, the bathrooms in Walmart are fairly nice, and sometimes there are items we might need, even in Walmart. Anyway, it was really easy, and we slept well.
Flathead Lake
This lake freezes over in the winter and the locals drive their vehicle out on it, build a fire, cut a hole in the ice and ice fish for big Mackinaw trout.
On the southern shore of this lake is a town called Polson.
There were military monuments everywhere in this area,
As we drove up the west side of the lake this was some of the scenery, poppies and cherry trees. We stopped at a smokehouse Gary recalled from his earlier days, M&S meats & sausage,
He looks pretty happy there after buying some smoked sausages.
From there we drove back through Polson and up the east side of the lake to a peninsula called Finley Point. This is where Gary was part of a crew who did a bunch of work for a man who has lakefront property.
It was a good reunion for Gary and George after many years. He accepted us graciously, though we came there without notice.
During Gary’s earlier time there working over two spring times, the crew built a concrete dock into the lake, a sunken boathouse, a two story game-room with car garage below, a two to three story water slide into the lake, and many other projects where Gary learned a lot about the trades and how to work with his hands. He was very appreciative to have connected with this man again after many years.
On to Kalispell, a town on the northern tip of Flathead Lake. We spent another wonderful night at a Walmart parking lot, and in the morning took our bikes out to check out Kalispell. We ran into a closed street in the downtown area where there was a sort of local bar-b-que and raffle. We had free brisket that was the absolute best ever, (even Nancy loved it and she does not usually eat hunks of beef), homemade salads, lemonade,(or you could have free beer or wine). And Nancy got a free fireman’s hat for our grandson Harlan.
And what was this community event held for you ask?
The opening of a chiropractic office! And the firemen were just there to also hold a raffle to support the firehouse. What were they raffling off?
Read it correctly. Firearms. You are not going to see this anywhere in California. And one of the firearms was an AR-15! Whoa! We do live in a bubble in California.
Overall, Kalispell was great to us. Even at the bar-b-que. We are both struck by the real sense of community here, and how the people were really sincere and kind.
Join us next for our adventure into Glacier National Park!
See you soon!
Travel Adventures - Gary and Nancy 