Billings, MT

After we left Deer Lodge we traveled to Billings, MT. We were going to stop along the way but the rainy weather was not inviting so we drove to Billings where the weather was in the high 60's and clear. We did stop at Three Forks (sorry I refered to it as Three Rivers earlier) it is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail where three rivers come together at the Missouri Headwaters.
We stayed a very diversed campground - there were four different kinds of campsites -
tent - rv space with electric and water - rv space with full hook-ups, wooden swing and fire pit, and an rv space with full hook-ups, cement and grass area for entertaining, wooden swing and flower bed - That was a first for us - we had a great spot with a view of the Yellowstone River.
We have been very lucky everywhere we have stayed we have been next to a river. Too bad the rivers are too low to do any fishing and float trips.

We drove to Little Bighorn Battleground - you can walk on the trials, drive and walk so you get the whole picture of how the battle was fought. Can't believe that Custer would try to take on thousands of indians with only 250 soliders. The Fall colors added to the demension of the battlegrounds.

We drove to Pomprey Point where Clark wrote his name on a rock that the indians had put drawings on - they are doing there best to perserve this but it is sad that others felt the need to write their name - some even over the indian drawings.

We drove to Red Lodge which was about an hour away - a whole different terrian on this drive. The town has some unique buildings and alot of shopping.

Dick spent a few minutes taking pictures of a big 4 x 4 buck and his family. Just standing in a field by the freeway.

We continue to see herds of antelope, beautiful birds, and deer very close to the road.

Montana has been a beautiful state full of history and wildlife.

We are now on our way to North Dakota -

Deer Lodge, Mt

We have been in Deer Lodge for two days due to poor weather conditions. It has been rainy and windy since we got here. It didn't keep us from sightseeing- they have the first territorial prison here that was used up until 1970's. It is an interesting place to visit but it makes you wonder why anyone would committ crime and have to go there. They were one of the first prisons to use the prisoners to do structural work on additions to the prison. It is located on main street and looks like a fort - a well-guarded fort. They also had a very extensive display of carriages, old model cars along with pictures of Yellowstone and how they opened the park up to the first automobiles to tour - they even showed how the tourist camped. In another room they had all the 50's-70's cars restored.

Today we went to see a historical ranch and that proved to be very interesting - the state has perserved it after the grandson donated it them. His Grandfather had the ranch which he bought from the original owner it was then sold off and the Grandson purchased it to keep it the family. The ranger who gave the tour of the house and blacksmith shop actually worked with the grandson and had been in the house when the family owned it. They have the actual bunkhouse, chuckwagon, barns, carriage barn,with actual carriages and wagons, equipment that was used in the 1800's to ranch and a very interesting hay stacker - that we had seen along the road to Bannack Ghost Town - they have a small model so you can see how it works. This is still an active ranch but instead of 30,000 acres and is now only 1,600 acres with a few herd of cattle and some horses.

The state parks department in Montana is unbelieveable in preserving history. They have very friendly and knowledge park personnel.

Since it was raining we have no pictures of Deer Lodge and no golf - bummer. Tomorrow we will move onto Butte and Bozeman - hoping to have good weather so we can stop at three rivers.

Big Hole Battleground

wildlife and fall colors

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