6-6-2023 Lolo, MT

The road from Lewiston, ID to Lolo, MT was spectacular if a little heart-stopping at times.  Naturally, we took the small scenic road which was quite snaky with almost no shoulder with drop-offs to the Clearwater River and the Lochsa River.  There was absolutely no room for brain fade.  The aforesaid rivers moved along with us almost the entire way.  When I say it moved along, it’s a bit of an understatement.  It was almost a constant 4 and 5 rapids thundering along, spilling over boulders and logs and taking sudden turns.  There were rafts and kayaks putting in and taking out along the way.  It is one of the most “technically challenging” rivers in the USA.  Rob said, “No way am I running these rivers.”  So I’m looking for other takers.  Anybody?!

 

It was a long adventure.  Our speed most often was somewhere under 40 mph and because we also lost an hour crossing into mountain time, we arrived at the Yellowrock Campground late and exhausted, but exhilarated with the beauty of our day.  The campground itself is situated among hundreds of tall pines and because there is no pool or other playground equipment, our setting was quiet and peaceful with no screaming children.  Always a plus.

Rob at Yellowrock Campground

 

Lindy riding Columbia Belle

We asked our hosts for advice on a must-see or must-do in Missoula, a hop, skip and a jump from our camp.  Go to see the carousel in Caras Park, Jim said.  For a few years from 1991, the carousel was designed, carved one pony at a time and built by Chuck Kaparich, a child at heart who spent his childhood riding the carousel in Butte.  He offered his artisanship only after a promise was made to him that it would never be taken apart.  It is called “A Carousel for Missoula.”  People got involved including wood carvers from as far away as Alberta, Canada.  Children collected 1 million pennies to adopt 4 of the ponies.  Stained glass artists built large beautiful panes.  The project was completed and its first day of operation was May 27, 1995.  For $2, an “adult” such as me can ride the carousel for a few minutes.  It was tricky for this old bag to throw a leg over onto Columbia Belle’s saddle, I needed a step stool to make it happen, but I did it.  We may never pass this way again… don’t skip an opportunity!

Columbia Belle

 

This was followed by a cold draft at the Tamarack Brewery.  We sat on the outdoor deck in the sunshine just steps from the carousel.  Then Rob found a wonderful place for dinner:  The Bayern Brewery (which features the largest fermentation tank I’ve ever seen:  4,000 gallons) and Edelweiss Bistro where Rob got his fix of wienerschnitzel.

 

We are now enroute to Three Fork, MT along the back roads following the Clarks Fork River and the Blackfoot River much of the way.  God was having a five-star day when He created Montana.

If anybody knows what these things
are, tell us!  We encounter them
everywhere on the MT highways.

This is Marty the Mushroom.
He was just barely pushing his head up
through the dirt when we arrived.  Now
he's getting big.  The caretaker promised
he wouldn't mow over him.