Blanchard is a super small little area near the resort.  A little further down the road is Spirit Lake which is quite charming.  Very small, rural, home town, America.  There was a GREAT pizza place for our Tuesday night fix and ice cream shop a couple of doors down. We ate there 3 times in two weeks.  At the end of the main street (Maine St.) in town was Sondahl Pottery www.sondahl.com.  Brad Sondahl and his wife have had the shop since 1975 and I am assuming they also lived there that long too.  The couple were beyond humble and lived very simply.  They honored us with the tour of Brad's studio.  Thank you.  A memorable experience and lesson I will not forget. You can visit his web site to learn more of his work and music. Or come to our home and see his beautiful pots :)    

While visiting Don and Alan took us on ATVs up in the mountains.  Did not see any animal life but saw the mountain lion tracks.  

Alan and Diane's lot was not done yet but Woody was standing at watch for it to happen! We can not wait to see pictures of your progress.

Don and Linda's lot was spectacular to say the least.  A thank you to the Grimes and the Neff's for all your efforts to entertain us well.    

Whats a vacation without a project ......good job men! Nice stairs.

The state line was very close. Spokane was 1hour drive.

On our way to Yellowstone Nat'l Park...good-bye to Mike and Bernadette...Hope your freezer fills with elk from your hunting trip.

On our red bus trip there was a woman that said she saw numerous bears and moose on the hike to Many Glacier...so Bernadette, Mike, Bob and Trish decided to hike the mountain Friday....it was a beautiful day and a wonderful experience basically speaking....10 miles total up and down the mountain we missed 5 moose that others told us about and saw one Grizzly....it was a cold rain for the last two miles and it was at this time we knew Bob should have had different boots, Bernadette was like horse going back to the barn, Trish wondered how she would would walk the next day and Mike wasn't sure he should have offered to carry the camera with the 400mm lens.  

One day this week we drove around Flathead Lake near Big Fork, MT and stopped at a cherry farm and bought cherries.  They had a strainer on the fence and water to wash your fruit before eating.  Wow Super Good Cherries that were on the tree only a few hours before.   

Flathead Lake is known for having many heart shaped rocks....

In the early 1900's Glacier purchased a number of Red Buses to take people up the sides of the mountains for tours.  A total of 500 were produced in 1933-1939 in the US. Many of the reds no longer exist but, I our guide said there were 33 of the 3rd series left in the park as of today.  There were 34 but one was rolled by 3 employees who took the bus out for a joy ride at midnight.  These vehicles were totally rebuilt by Ford Motor Co. at their expense including new engines.  The body frames are all wood.  What great fun to ride up the tiny roads in one of these with Mike, Bernadette, Cammie, Bruce, Bob and myself...something we wanted to do since our last visit. We could see much more because they sit higher than the normal SUV or car.  The animals are a mountain goat and big horn sheep. On the dinner menu this evening, after the ride were nachos with smoked pork and moose drool cheese sauce. (cheese with beer) ....on to the next adventure....

Across the upper US we managed to have a few campfires and gooey smores but otherwise boring country on the main road.  Cut Bank Montana just East of Glacier National Park we started seeing a greener and less dusty environment.  Still very hot.  Above average for the upper 50.  We have see 90-98 degrees for days.  We stayed here in Cut Bank for 3 days, as divine intervention would have it, Bruce had a flat tire on his trailer 3 miles from camp. Drove in each day and  toured East Glacier and St. Mary's.  From the coach we could see the sun rise, set, and the horses on the hill every day.  Riverside RV in Cut Bank was very clean and groomed also.  We could walk down rock hill on old US 2 to river...he owned a mile stretch.  

August 11 we traveled to North American RV, Yurt Village and will Park here until Saturday when we need to travel to Idaho by the evening of the 17th...Happy Birthday to Me...At West Glacier we meet up with Mike and Bernadette . 

Ahaaa yes.....and a few moments like this where we all said...who's idea was this and what were we thinking...... 

Thank you Lord for this day and giving us the health and strength to enjoy it.  Amen  ..fun and great company with friends

So we were off August 1, like a terd of hurtles...or is that a herd of turtles.  Traveling companions, Bruce and Cammie Hunt, alias our squatters.  We are anxious for our much needed break after the condo frenzy in July. It took a good number of days to unwind from all of lives blessings.  Traveling north first stopping at my favorite candy and carmel corn store, Alice's in Mackinaw City.  Parking for the first two days in St. Ignace just off West US 2 at Lakeshore RV Park...way too much fudge already!!!!  72 temp.    

Traveling West on US 2 there is a lot of nothing pretty much.  Jan's RV Park was an experience and not necessarily recommended.  It was a cross between a RV parking lot and a cop show on TV.   To be friendly as the men paid the fee I stuck my head out our door and greeted a gentleman with, "I know someone who could be your brother"  Setting his lunch pail down and walking towards me he told me a very detail story of how, "no he was not the murder on Face Book that others think he is"......that night we were happy that we traveled with Chase the dog.