I did not get any photos while we were with them, but Susan had a great time fly fishing with Ray floating around in their float tubes at a local lake, and I had a fine time being chauffeured by Vickie for a visit to the old western town of Phillipsburg, famous for gems, especially sapphire.
After breakfast out, we said our farewells and see ya soons and Susan and I headed for our next destination: Big Timber MT, but first we would do a drive through Livingston.
We enjoyed a walk around town and a stop for Smoothies to have for today’s lunch. Old buildings and old ads on buildings interest me.
Susan found a fish she could not pass by.
Pleasure Way (the manufacturer of our RV) is holding a rally here at Spring Creek Campground at Big Timber.
It has taken me two days to think about posting here because I really did not want this to be full of negativity. Why post that?? Now that I have had even a short bike ride today, I am better ;’-).
We will get over with the negatives first: campsite is on gravel with not a blade of grass close by; sites are small and we can almost reach out to shake hands with our neighbor (ok, this is a little exaggeration but not much); there very few trees around us so no shade and no privacy; all roads — in, out and around — are gravel which make for not fun riding for me; there are at least some flying insects that bite and we must use OFF. See these photos…
Negatives done (unless I think of something else)
Our site is directly on the Boulder River. Sitting and watching the river roll swiftly past is my only activity for an entire day. I read a lot. Susan prepares to do at least some fly fishing.
There are two stocked fish ponds wher campers can fish — and can keep the fish they catch if they so choose. At least Susan did some of her preferred activity. And she caught a good size trout. Of course, she released rather than kept.
That brings us to this day. I told Susan last evening that I was thinking of walking my bike up the gravel road to the paved road and riding into and around the town of Big Timber. Much to my surprise, this morning she geared up to join me! I do think she was feeling a little bad for me in the environs we were in and in my boredom mode.
Surprisingly, I made it up to almost the top of the little hill on the gravel road and it was not really all that bad. Goes to show what worry does — nothing. Of course Susan made it all the way up and through the looser gravel at the top.
A little view at the top to show some of Montana’s usual landscape.
Looping through town was a nice bimble for the mid morning with a few interesting things to take a photo of.
Susan hitched up her wagon and says “wagons this way”…
…or maybe that way…
Disappointedly this tea shop was closed, but I took the photo to send to my friend Cindy…
This next photo needs a little explanation: I, and all of us who know of Susan’s propensity to “be prepared” (for everything) laugh, make fun of her and joke about her preparedness and all that she always carries with her. However, if and when (and it often happens) someone, anyone, needs ANY thing — Susan has it and we have all benefitted from her preparedness and the things she carries in those huge panniers and/or buckets. Well, she did it again. I/we needed a restroom stop and found one in a nearby park. Susan went first and fortunately had her stash of Kleenex in her pocket (prepared) as there was no TP! I did not have any tissue with me, but was saved by Susan’s preparedness: she gave me her backpacking “poop bag” fully equipped with shovel (you need that to dig the ‘cat hole’ when backpacking), hand sanitizer, extra baggies (to carry out your tp when backpacking), AND TP!!
I was chuckling as I was in the restroom peeing and pulling the TP out of this well prepared bag ;’-).
Before heading back to camp we needed lunch. THIS place was the highlight of my day.
We learned the owner is Nancy and possibly the kindest, friendliest, most welcoming person we have met. We asked if we bought a drink from her could we buy lunch elsewhere and sit in her garden to eat. She responded with a loud smile and freindly voice that we did not need to buy anything from her, just come and sit and have our lunch. “You’re in Big Timber, you can do anything you want” she told us. Of course we did buy drinks and a slice of pie for after lunch, but she did NOT allow us to tip.
This was a short ride but so necessary for me! And Susan will say how true that is. It has lifted my mood and spirits, and made all else just fine. I know that is mostly due do having a bike ride, but it is also helped by doing something outside of camp ;’-). And tomorrow — I get to do it again ;’-)
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