Montana, Idaho and Washington are on fire. This next leg of our trip should have been beautiful. The smoke was relentless. We had to change plans based on the wind. The smoke would clear out of a valley one day and settle back in the next. We only had to run for our lives once….
My normally beautiful photos are seriously impaired by the smoke. I’ve found that I can’t focus out of a moving vehicle in the haze….
We were still able to stay on the back roads for the most part and see the small towns and open country that we love.
This guys collection went on for about a quarter mile. Where do you find this much stuff??
There’s so much history along Highway 93. With mostly good cell service, we did some minor research along the way. The point of interest boards kept our interest.
Stop! What was that?A few of the crude structures remain.
With colorful names like Buckskin Bill and Hank the Hermit, these men (and a few women) eked out lonely existences, many along the Salmon River. Dugout Dick built multiple dugout caves during his time on the Salmon and eventually died here at age 94. By the 1980s, Dick’s dugouts had become a local landmark, easily visible across the Salmon River. After Dicks death, the BLM reclaimed the dugouts, citing safety concerns. A cabin built by Dick remains on the site.
Fort Bonneville was a fortified winter camp and fur trading post near present-day Pinedale, Wyoming established in 1832 by Captain Benjamin Bonneville. Bonneville’s party was engaged in the exploration of Wyoming, crossing the South Pass with 110 men and about 20 wagons. Heavy fall snows caused Bonneville to reconsider the site, and the party abandoned it, leading the place to become known as Bonneville’s Folly or Fort Nonsense.
There’s nothing left of the fort….. just this “egg” marker. Slow history day……
Osprey family in the nest. They’re probably hating the smoke as much as we do.We are also on the Lewis and Clark Trail. OMG. We see so many of these that we don’t stop anymore and read them. I didn’t realize they were this trivial.The bluff
Big Hole National Battlefield
The Big Hole National Battlefield is the location of the battle that took place on August 9th and 10th during Nez Pierce flight of 1877. By early August, over 800 nımí·pu· (Nez Perce)and over 2,000 horses were passing peacefully through the Bitterroot Valley after crossing Lolo Pass into Montana. Their leaders believed the military would not pursue them even though many had premonitions warning otherwise. When the nımí·pu· arrived at ?ıckumcılé.lıkpe (known today as Big Hole National Battlefield) on August 7th, they did not know the military was close behind them. On the morning of August 9, 1877, U.S. troops surprised the sleeping nımí·pu· with a dawn attack on the encampent.
The museum is beautiful with very informative views and explanations of the battlefield.
Sad….We didn’t stop….. Lewis might have blown his nose hereNever look directly at the sun….. except todayCough, cough….. camping in the smoke
Montana Territorial Prison in Deere Lodge
The prison and car museum seemed to be very popular. We weren’t sure what the special event was, but even with the smoke the town was packed and we couldn’t find a parking space. It was very unusual to see a large prison right in a downtown site.
During its tenure, visitors entered the compound from Main Street, passing through arched doorways cut in the solid, high walls, into a small inner room. Here, a hole cut in the ceiling could open and the guard would pass down a key on a long rope. The key could open only the second door into the grounds of the prison. Surrounded by chain link, steel mesh, brick, concrete and barbed wire, it is a relief to conclude the tour and step into the grassy center yard. Scratched into the bricks in one sheltered corner are names, dates and prison numbers, a reminder of men serving out their time
Grant Kohl’s Ranch National Historic Site
Worth the stop. This is a carefully preserved working cattle ranch. It was a nice walking tour for me. No dogs allowed, they scare the baby calves.
Back on the Smokey road….
Best RV Park Ever! Jim and Mary’s!
This entire space was ours!
Polson, Montana
We’ve been to Polson and Flathead Lake a couple of times on our trecks to Alaska. No world famous cherries this time though. The crop froze this winter. Oh well. We stayed three nights at the KOA on the hill overlooking the lake. Relaxed, enjoyed the town, did some laundry, had some good BBQ……..
Best of all, our good friend Joan and her husband Roger have a beautiful summer “cabin’” here on the golf course on the lake. We had a nice visit.
We also had two inches of rain in 30 minutes, thoroughly testing Maxine for roof leaks. Only one leak around the side vent. We carry silicone just in case so problem solved!
Frisbee on the lake. Beautiful KOA on the hillPremium spots for the fancy big rigs…… not usAfter the rain, the smoke rolled back in to Polson. We can’t escape it.
Back on the road
Spokane!
Oops! Accidentally on purpose ran through the heart of downtown Spokane at noon. This isn’t what we try to do, but it wasn’t so bad. It’s definitely a college town.
Washington! Wheat!! Who knew?
We loved the rolling wheat fields (grain?). It went on for miles in every direction. We were surprised. It’s difficult to capture the beauty of it.
Lake Roosevelt Recreaction Area and The Grand Coulee Dam
So far so good. The fire is close, but the smoke isn’t too bad. You can read the sign anyway. We’re here for two nights so fingers crossed.
Not too bad…
These were the most bizarre campsites we’ve ever stayed in. Camping under metal cabanas is a first. Who knew the temperature here would rise to 108? And the sun doesn’t go down till ten o’clock. We were very thankful for the cabana!
We were enjoying the convenience of being close to the nice bathrooms. Flush toilets! But they NEVER turn the lights off!Baby quail in the Smokey haze. We had lots of deer roaming through camp. And kids! Lots of happy children on skateboards and bicycles. This was more kid friendly than the busiest KOA. We actually love campgrounds with little kids. Call us crazy…Chillin at 108 degrees. Actually, we’re wilting. Matches the same day temperature in Arizona….
This is why you don’t camp next to an active forrest fire. The smoke rolled in heavy the next morning and we had to pack up and leave.
Same lakeIndeed….
Grand Coulee Dam
This is what we came to see. We should have come over here from camp yesterday. Darn, we can barely see it today and it is obviously magnificent.
Dogs aren’t normally allowed in the visitor centers but they made an exception. She was sneezing….
More beautiful wheat!
Moving a day ahead of schedule and with no reservations we always look for a KOA. They have always been dependable choices for us and this one had one available spot.
Nice! Typical KOA campground on a river. It was packed. But they had ice cream.
We took up a friend’s recommendation to go see Leavenworth, Washington while we were in the area. It’s a beautiful tourist spot with a Bavarian theme. We’re not sure of the history, but even the McDonalds was Bavarian!
Another day, another dam on the river. There are so many rivers I’m losing track, but they all seem to have something to do with the Columbia.
We made it through the haze to darling little Winthrop for two nights. This was such a cute little town and we were looking forward to walking from the RV park to take in the history and good food for a couple of days.
Our new favorite RV Park. This one is perfect!We’re not embarrassed to park with the big guys…. Plenty of frisbee room
Two nights here will be great!
No such luck….. fire! Run for your lives!
No, actually we were advised that first evening that the 20 West was going to close the next morning due to yet another fire. So if we wanted to keep all of our reservations with ferries and Island hopping in the next few days we had to leave or backtrack the long way around.
We were up at 4:15 am and back on the road making it in time to follow the pilot car to the other side of the fire. It was pretty anticlimactic, but we made it. Sigh….
The Northern Cascades National Park and Ross Lake Recreation Area
What we saw…Images off the web with no smoke….We did see how beautifully green the lakes are.We crossed over this cool little dam with unusual spillways.Smoke, smoke and more smoke
North Cascades Visitor Center
Cutest bear ever
And here we are today, Monday August 5th at the Glacier Peak Resort and Winery. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since we left home. A lot has happened and we’ve seen some amazing sights even through the smoke and haze.
Ripening blackberries all over campOur dog doesn’t like deep water (over 6 inches) but she really wants that stick!Old logged giant redwood trees on the river walk
We should be on “ the right side of the mountains” now and west of the fires. The sea breezes are now our friends and we should be to the Pacific and boarding the ferry to San Juan Island the day after tomorrow.
My next post should be fire free and beautiful island camping. Yes!
finallyfree2roam 
Great update!! Hopefully the fire areas get better! We are thinking of you guys ❤️ Thank you for all the great pictures
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thanks for continuing to share your trip adventures (including fire and smoke….). Calvin
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