Back to the lower 48

9/15/25:  Back to the lower 48.  We were on the road before 0900.  The small grass lot campground (Chinook Park) had provided a quiet night sleep.  We set up a tele-health meeting for Katy and were told to call back when we crossed the border.  The NP was very nice.  

We picked up some Timmy Hortons for breakfast, a bit of fuel and then pointed south.  Google tried to lead us astray by bringing us across the wrong border crossing.  It only cost us 15 minutes or so to get back on track.  

The Sweetgrass Crossing went extremely smoothly and we were told “Welcome Back” by the border officer.  Katy had a productive Tele-health meeting and we continued south.  Our next stop was Great Falls.  I went to Mitchell’s and picked up my item, we did laundry and grocery shopped at the IGA.  We found Pasties from Florence, WI.  Walmart was our next stop for a script, fuel and a “short” drive to Holter Lake Campground for a few nights.  We got settled in by 6:30, made dinner and hung out for the rest of the night.  The lake is created by a dam on the Missouri River.  It’s a pretty area with lots of Mule Deer around.  It’ll be nice to park for a few days.  

9/16/25:  19 Years!  Today is our anniversary!  Those kids had no idea they’d be homeless and jobless in Montana, 19 years later.  We had some mimosas, a late breakfast and hung out at the campsite all day.  We hoped to get the paddle boards out, but it was too windy.  The temps were in the mid 70’s and it really cleared up by the end of the day. 

We played about 5 games of Yahtzee and had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  We watched a few movies after sundown and enjoyed our relaxed day.  

9/17/25:  We started the day slow again and hoped to get the boards out.  No dice, too windy again.  We took a little drive to Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, based on the camp host’s recommendation.  The last few miles were really rough to the point that I drug our hitch and the best past is…it didn’t even get back to the river.  There was a not so great turn around area, more fit for a sxs.  

We rolled back along the lake and river into the town of Craig, which mostly shuts down at the end of October.  This is when fishing season shuts down.  We snagged a few items at the general store which is in a fly shop and had a late lunch at Izaaks.  

The Walleye fish and chips were really good, 8.5-9/10.  One nibble, everyone knows the laws.  Katy liked her French onion soup and the drinks were good.  Not sure if it was $95 good, but it was up there.  

Back at the rig, the wind died down, the flies came out and they started biting.  Outdoor activities for the evening were then canceled.  Moving tomorrow.