D&D Explorations

July 3, 2023

We have an entrance pass to Many Glaciers today. We left West Glacier RV park around 10:15 am. We decided to take Route 2 to Browning and pick up Montana Route 464 to Route 89 to Babb. The entrance is about 9 miles in and most of this part of the drive was on gravel roads. Once we got to the entrance the road was paved again.

We couldn’t park at the end of the road where the “motor inn” is located. Again we had to barely find parking at the picnic area. We then got outfitted for our hike to Fishercap Lake where people in our park told us of moose sightings in the area.

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We enjoyed the hike and arrived at the lake. Upon our arrival we saw a bull moose in the water eating. He was probably 200 yards from us. Our new binoculars (gift from Joshua, Theresa and Naomi) came in handy. We will really enjoy having them on this epic trip. There were other people also taking pictures.

We drove back to Browning via route 89 and bought diesel for $4.19 per gallon. We got back by 5:30 and Dolores cooked Filet Mignon for dinner.

July 2, 2023

We left our campsite around 10:30 am to go to Two Medicine area. We have a pass to get entrance into the area. The drive was via route 2 that followed the southern border of the par, The ride was gorgeous. In East Glacier we turned north on route 49 . We arrived around 12:30 pm. We couldn’t get parking by the lake so we had to park by the picnic area. We then walked down to the lake which was very clear and pretty. We went back by our truck and had lunch sitting at a picnic table.

We left Two Medicines around 2:30 pm and headed north to St. Mary’s where the East entrance to the Road to the Sun. This portion of route 49 was very curvy and narrow.

We stopped in St Mary’s to get diesel. St Mary’s is an intersection with two service stations. That is all. The diesel prices were $1.00 higher $5.19 than we were paying back by West Glacier in Columbia Falls. I talked with the owner. They are completely closed down in the winter.

We entered the entrance to the Road to the Sun about 3:30 pm. The drive was beautiful and took two hours for the 50 miles. The last nine miles was under construction and dirt only. We traveled in a cloud of dust for the entire nine miles. Water trucks would come by going the other way to soak down the dust but it would only keep the dust down for 1 minute. We stopped at the visitor center on the west side.

Another great day.

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Dave woke up early and booked the three day auto pass for Going-to-the-Sun Road and one day admission to Two Medicine Lake. We went to St Charles Borromeo Church in Whitefish MT

After church we tried to find a restaurant in Whitefish but couldn’t find parking it was so busy. On driving back to West Glacier we stopped in Columbia falls to buy food. We decided to get pizza in town. For a second time we couldn’t find parking. So we decided to eat in West Glacier. We ate at West Glacier Cafe We ate homemade pizza AND Huckleberry Cream Pie in West Glacier. Both were Delicious. Their were many different homemade pies for desert. Huckleberry is the big thing in this area. Huckleberries are like blueberries but more tart. They are limited to growing at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,500 feet elevation and they can’t be cultivated/farmed

This picture was snapped before we completely finished devouring the pie.

We are now ready to start exploring the park.

Friday June 30, 2023

Flathead Lake is 125,000 acres and three times the size of Lake Winnipesaukee 44,000 acres. It is mostly located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. There is not much development until you are north of tribal land. Then the summer activity of boating and swimming flourishes like Lake Winnipesaukee.

9:13 PM MT Moon rising over West Glacier mountain top before the sun set .

June 29, 2023

Trip to Clinton, Montana

This was an overnight stop on our way to Glacier National Park.

June 27, 2023

We started the day without any confirmation of our expected two day stay at a National Forest Campground in Idaho. We boon-docked the last 3 nights and were anticipating two nights of full hook-ups (long warm showers, running water and electricity). We were going to dump and fill our water tanks once we got there. We found out we didn’t make reservation back in March because the campground was first come first serve. We hitched up ready to fill our fresh water tank and dump but were told we could only get fresh water and needed to get on the list for the dump! (This national park only allowed 43 dumps a day and blocks off the dump at night). Oh Boy!

We made Lemonade out of Lemons.

We were able to get on the list, dump out and fill our water tank. Finally, we are on our way to Idaho. If that park is full, we would travel down the road (like pre-Covid full timers) and find another site.

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Day: Sunday June 11, 2023

Location: Badlands, South Dakota

We started our Sunday with Mass at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help in Rapid City, SD. Lunch was salads; Taco (Dave) and Asian (Dolores) They were So Big we packed the rest in the cooler for dinner. The weather was sunny and cool much better than yesterday’s washout. We learned that there is the upper and lower prairie and getting between them is difficult. Also there is the rock formation called the wall that runs for many, many miles.

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The Badlands were impressive. Lots or rock formations surrounded by green prairie grass. The Badlands were different than Dave expected. Seeing images on YouTube gives a wrong impression. The Badlands area in size is much larger and longer than I thought.

We enjoyed our day.

Day: Saturday 6/10/23

Park: Rushmore Shadows RV Resort, site 6

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota

Weather – High 64° F; Low 52° F Cloudy with 100% rain

Today was a wash out. I worked with Jane on processing the Resort payroll and bills from 9 am mountain time until 11 am. Then Dolores and I decided to go see the Bad Lands. On our way there it was raining very heavy. When we were about 3/4 of the way there we decided to turn around and go back to the Road Runner. We spend a quiet afternoon at home.

Date: Friday June 9, 2023

Went to Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Cathedral) Rapid City SD. Went shopping for food. The south sky is getting dark and storm coming. Did not see any attractions today.

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Date: Thursday June 8, 2023

Location: Trip to Rapid City Wall Drug SD

Park: Rushmore Shadows RV Resort

Still heading West crossing the Missouri River east of Pierre. Stopped at scenic overlook on the way. Now in Mountain Time. Ate lunch at Wall Drug. Did not take any pictures. Arrived at Rushmore Shadows RV Resort for 6 night. A thunderstorm woke us up at 1 AM.

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