June 12, 2011---Summary of last week.

We have been very busy this last week. We traveled from St. Regis, Montana to our present location of Wapiti, Wyoming (near Cody, Wyoming).

Last Tuesday morning the RV repairman came to our house at about 7:15 am and installed the new motor for our slide. By 9:15 am we were on our way to Grand Falls, Montana. The trip went well and we set up in good time. We contacted some friends who Walt had worked with for a dinner date. They picked us up at our house and went out to dinner. Then they took us back to their ranch for a tour. The Missouri River was wild just as every stream we have seen in the area. Here are a few pictures.

The ragging Missouri River

On Wednesday morning, June 8, we went to the grocery store and to Barnes and Noble. I had been having some trouble with my Nook Color and since we found a store close to the park we had it checked out. They are going to send me a new Nook and I have to return my Nook. I guess I will have to read real books for the rest of the trip.
By 11 am we were back on the road. Our destination was Denton, MT., at a ranch of one of Walt's classmates in high school. We came to the little town of Denton without any trouble so we went in a local establishment for lunch and to meet our friend so he could escort us back to his ranch. He came in with his 8 year old grandson and had something to drink while we finished our lunch. They had been having so much rain that we had to watch out for water crossing the road on our way to the ranch. Since we were going to park at their ranch his guidance on the dirt roads was appreciated.

We spent Wednesday evening and Thursday with them in their beautiful Log house talking and remembering our lives in Ohio. Walt and J can really come up with some interesting memories. Wednesday evening we went to Lewistown to watch one of the grandsons play baseball. It was windy and cold and we sat with blankets and 2 jackets to stay warm.

On Thursday it rained all day so we stayed indoors. On Friday the day was sunny and beautiful so we could tour the ranch and Walt and J went into Denton to see all the flood damage. Since it had rained another inch on Thursday many basements were flooded. While they were in town they helped a few people with the water in their homes. The Denton area has had 10 inches of rain since April and they usually get only 15  inches  of precipitation (with snow) in a year. This is the first time they have seen such a large amount of water since they moved to the area 35 years ago. They have a wonderful family-2 daughters and one son- who live close to the ranch so we were glad we had a chance to meet them. They lost two sons in the last 20 years and they are with them every day.

Here are a few pictures I took while J gave us a tour of the 5000 acre ranch. He has crops and cattle on the land. The crops are spring and fall winter, alfalfa and hay. The alfalfa and hay is baled and sold to other ranchers in the area and surrounding states. The ranch has hills, a river and very scenic views.

The boiling water of the Judith River which flows through the farm.

Walt and J checking a motor on the irrigation system.

Some of the pasture lands



                             

                                                       A wall of the wind break for the cattle during the winter.

What a wonderful tour at the end of the day and our stay at the ranch.

June 11, 2011---Saturday

Saturday we started our trip from the ranch near Denton to Wapiti, Wyoming. We had to drive through two

construction areas which were soggy but we made it without any trouble. Then we had to drive through water

near Roundup, Montana. The devastation we saw in the town was terrible. Apparently some of the people

had to get things out of their houses a few weeks ago. They had them on the fences or cloths lines to dry and 

then they had more rain and more water in their houses. It was a terrible site with a lot of concern for the families. 

Here are a few pictures---

We arrived in Coty at about 3 pm. On Sunday we had to drive back to Coty, about 25 miles, to go to Mass at 8 am.
We left at 7:15 and got at the church in 30 minutes. There were only a few cars in the parking lot so we wondered 
when the parishioners would arrive for Mass. When mass started it was full. Just like everywere else.
      
Scenery from our RV window.,

The next 6 days will be very crowded with activities. Walt has a very heavy schedule planned. We plan to leave the park at 8 am., so I need to close. Watch for my next publication ---it may be a few days because of the heavy schedule and long days which we have planned for ourselves. Goodnight.