Davenport, Iowa

We arrived here after a long day of travel, 400 miles. We are staying at the campground that Pat and Elmon and us stayed at last year. Set up camp and went to John Deer which John just loved.  He got to see all the new equipment and sit on it all. I found a computer that told me all about corn, soybeans, wheat, eggs, cotton, cattle, pigs, apples. Told how they were planted, where,harvesting and such.  Really interesting.  We went to an outside patio downtown and had lunch and then on to John Deer store and another facility where they restore old equipment.  Our next stop was the Mississippi Visitor Center and Locks.  We arrived just in time to see 9 barges pass through the lock and tie off at the end.  Then the next 6 barges came through pushed by the tug.  It is amazing to watch the cars go by and all by the level of water in the locks.  These cars came from Minnesota and were headed west.  Then they tie all the cars together and push it on the river.  The bridge turns side ways to let the boat pass and the cars all have to wait awhile as it is not a fast operation.  

Traveling & Relatives

Well we traveled 3 hard days of over 300 miles a day. Started in Montana, Wyoming and in to Nebraska to visit with my  Uncle & Aunt.  Both in 90's and going downhill physically but still sharp in mind.  They are happy in their little apartment and are busy doing things there.  We got there when it was birthday month celebration but had dinner delivered to their apartment and had a nice meatloaf dinner.  Next day took my Aunt to bank and a short shopping trip to Wal-Mart.  We brought Kentucky Chicken for dinner and looked at family pictures.  That night we enjoyed a Mid-West thunder storm with rain and lightening.  Tonight Thur Aug 14th finds us in Davenport, Iowa.  We did another long day of driving so will rest tomorrow-acutually sight see.  Went to eat at a local rest. called Iowa Machine Shed.  Good food and enjoyed the corn on the cob,ribs and steak.  Did laundry and walked around camp.  We saw fire flies(they are little bugs that light up at night).

Helena, Montana

Here we are on Sunday.  John's gofer hunt was successful and guys had a lot of fun.  Mary & I went downtown to Farmer's Market.  About a block long and only a few veggie places.  We went to Wal-Mart and got a few things we needed and then showed me around airport area.  Guys met us and we took a tour of the city.  This is us on the tour train.  The courthouse was just beautiful.  A thunderstorm was brewing and John got it on film for you.  It rained a few drops on us while we were on train and that was it.  We saw this fire tower (they used it in olden days to see fires in downtown).  The town burned to the ground many times.  Nice walking area downtown and we had the best prime rib dinner.   Saw lots of deer in rural lawns eating trees and flowers.  We saw some beautiful old homes (actually mansions).  Here are Jim, Mary & us at their house.  We learned to play some new card games and enjoyed hanging out at their house and watching the view and the storms roll through.  Unfortunately we only had a little rain. JVP 

Helena, Montana

We arrived here in Helena on Wed and went to our trailer park and got set up.  Went into town and met with our Navy friends at their printing shop.  After work we went up to their house which is outside of town up on the hills.  What a gorgeous view they have and was fun to watch the sunset and storms roll through.  Friday, John & I went on a boat tour called Gate of the Mountain.  We went down the Missouri River and saw the high limestone cliffs and heard about the history of this area.  Lewis & Clark traveled extensively in this area.  We saw a young bald eagle, pelicans, hawks and other birds (don't remember all the names).  What a great trip and only cost $10 for 2 hour ride.  When we got back we moved the motor home to Jim's shop as it is closer to them.  We had wine time in our home and showed it to them.  Also drove into town and saw their new home (4300 ft).  Nice home too (they want to be closer to their kids in town and stuff going on in here).  Today is Sat. and Mary & I are going to Farmers Market and guys went gofer shooting on a farmers property.  Farmers don't like them digging holes as their animals fall into them and get hurt so they let us hunt them.  

Great Falls, Montana

First day here at Dick's RV Park we got set up and went to Visitor Center.  Drove down to closest falls but most of the water is being deverted to make electricity.  Went to Super Wal Mart to get groceries, got my nails done and just hung out.  We barbecued that evening and went to show to see Wall E.  Weather has been great=great big blue skies and temp is in 80's.  Today we clipped Max's nails which was quite a job.  We drove to Charlie Russell Museum and looked at all his art work, sculptors and guns.  We've been here before but it was fun doing it again.  Than we rode down to Ryan Falls.  It was a beautiful park to have a picnic and water going over dam was spectacular.  We had to walk across the swinging bridge=felt like Indian Jones!  This was the first waterfall that Lewis & Clark came to which they had to carry their boats along shore and than found another falls.  John had the motor home washed today=2 cute teen age girls did it and didn't cost that much.  The picture of the elk was painted by Charlie Russell and was to be sold and go out of state but lot's of people bought an inch of the painting and raised enough money to keep it here in Montana.  

Glacier Nat. Park

  Sun, Aug 3rd we spent the day in Glacier Nat. Park.  We decided to drive the park by ourselves rather than take a tour.  Their is only one main highway called Going to the Sun, which is 50 miles across.  What a beautiful park!  It is a huge park and the water is that beautiful blue/green color and so many waterfalls and Huge mountains.  It is not made from the ice age but small glaciers from about 10,000 years ago.  The mountains are covered with trees, glaciers and tower above you.  It is a hikers Paradise since their are thousands of trails and really the only way to see anything.  We walked down to see a few of the waterfalls, had lunch at a restaurant at the end of the park and then drove home along the edge of the park.  It was a beautiful day with a lot of clouds around and even had a few sprinkles.  They are working on the road once you get to the top-only one lane so we had to wait at the light for awhile.  Luckily it wasn't too long=guess it can be an hour wait at times.  We drove by THE WEEPING WALL=where it is sheer rock with water running the length of it and a waterfall far up the mountain.  On the way home we saw some mountain goats along the side of the road climbing the mountain.  Did some laundry,made spaghetti for dinner and got beat a game of cribbage.  This has been a nice RV park close to the Nat. Park.  Weather has been in the 70's at camp and in the Nat. Park 60's.

Onward and across country

We have been in Idaho for a few days.  We camped at Blue Lake Campground where we have camped for years.  It has been closed for a few years and are glad to see it open again.  Not many people there but since we parked on the top of the hill and could be seen from the highway a few more people came in.  We should have gotten a break in our stay since we brought them more business but is was an inexpensive place anyway and we need to keep them going.  We went to our friends Bob & Laurel's place and found all kids gone to summer school so had a nice quiet visit.  They have a Pomeranian dog named Minny and a puppy named Max.  They just love those 2 dogs and they are so cute.  Max and Buddy got out of car and were met by wild cats-Buddy just missed getting his eye taken out so they stayed in car after that.  Buddy got Max's virus so we been up all night taking him out to potty.  Today after their medicine they are both fine and we have had a couple good nights sleep (other than the trains that go by at night close to our motor home).  We went out for Chinese dinner and picked kids up from friends houses in town.  Next day was real cloudy and did spit a few drops of rain.  Met Bob & Laurel in town for breakfast as Laurel had massage appt. for pinched nerve in neck from holding phone while working.  Saw all their families homes being built on the property and apartments they have built in bottom of hill.  Laurel got a call, they needed her at work for a short time so I went with her.  We picked up their 18 year old boarder, dropped her off at work and than I drove her car 40 miles to the border of Canada to this boys' adoptive parents house in the country to get his things.  Unfortunately everything had been thrown outside and gotten wet.  I felt so sorry for him but he took it really well, sorted through it and took what was still usable.  I just wanted to get home before anybody came.  It was quite an experience for me since I don't even like to drive my own car when I'm not familiar with the area.  John & Kenny got to work on a small wood project they both enjoyed.  Nice seeing everybody here and keeping up with their lives.  Left late this morning after we had coffee at motor home and drove to a park here at edge of Glacier Nat. Park here in Montana.  Diesel was $4.59 today.  Tomorrow we go explore the park.  It is beautiful here with mountains all around, big blue sky with puffy white clouds and temp in 70's. JVP