Wednesday - June 24

It was a hot one in northern Montana today......hitting 91.   We took off before 8 (to beat the heat) and first stop was the Loaded Toad downtown for coffees and muffins (raspberry cherry and mango peach pecan) - all delicious!     Drove 21 miles to Fort Peck where we saw the 2nd largest (in the world) hydraulic dam (largest is in Pakistan).    Fort Peck (just over 200 folks) sits atop a high hill with a Veterans Memorial, hotel, theater, and a few other buildings.    The town overlooks Fort Peck Lake (huge).    We drove to the dam, and then the interpretive center (museum is closed cause of virus - had not planned on touring that anyway).    We are very much in the boonies.     Found the path off parking lot and away we went - nicely paved, past 2 campgrounds and a LOT of cottonwood trees.    All of that cotton was swirling to the ground along with some nasty gnats.   So, walking in certain areas was not all that pleasant, but most of the hike was really good.

Cotton along our path

One of the campgrounds had this outdoor theater....not sure it gets much use?   Mark is taking a break!

There were some RV's and campers but only 3 other people on the trail.    

Back to town and Mark went into Albertson's for a few groceries.    This was his 1st time to be inside grocery store since we left Florida.    Wore mask and followed arrows on floor - employees wore masks - not the customers.

When we entered Montana yesterday, we had 685 miles to the other side of the state!    Lots of area to cover and so much wide-open space in Big Sky Country.

Did Zoom with 2 of Mark's sisters this afternoon - Karen (Auntie) and Nancy who continues to hurt so much from severe osteoporosis.    Prayers ongoing....

Just gotta love Zoom....another session with Claire and Kathy late afternoon - From IL to TX to MT. there we were just chatting away!

We picked up supper from Eugene's......this place (known for pizza) but big menu originated in 1962 and is #1 in town according to Trip Advisor.    We were very happy with our choices (fried chicken for Mark and pizza - "Eugene's Special" for me).

So we know our IL grandsons will be going back to the classroom this fall - all details yet to be worked out?    Waiting to hear about the NC kiddos......so many things to think about keeping these kids and their environment safe!

2 gorgeous views of the sunset at Lake James tonight!

Thank you Michael!