We are still at the same camp site named Carbella Campground on BLM land. We have come to really like it here. The camp sites are well spaced out and it buffered from the highway, Rt. 89, by a plateau just high enough that you can not see the campground from the road and it blocks the traffic noise completely. We will most likely stay here until next Tuesday when we head to reservations in Kalispell, Montana which is near the Road to the Sun. A bucket list motorcycle road I can't wait to ride.
So it is windy in Montana. Like all the time it seems like. We have a combo grill and griddle that I'm learning to cook on. I really like it so far but having trouble keeping the griddle at a constant desired temperature. The wind did not help at all.
It worked fine for breakfast but by dinner time the wind was blowing so hard the grill could not heat up enough to cook. There is a quick disconnect feed from the RV's propane supply and a short 6 foot hose. I think I need a longer hose. Using all the hose length I had I was able to reposition it so the camper blocked enough of the wind that I could cook. It can reach on the side as you see in the picture and it can be moved around to the back of the camper depending on the wind direction. But a longer hose would allow me move down the side of the camper enough to get it under the awning if its raining.
But breakfast this morning went well. First time cooking pancakes. Nancy's had chocolate chips of course. Since we did not have any blueberries mine were plain. Note to self: stock up on blueberries and next trip bring more NH or Vermont Maple Syrup. Not sure our supply will last the entire trip. 😁
So the griddle is very dependent on a supply of paper towels for clean-up and cooks mistakes. They kept trying to blow away but hey we are campers right? Improvise. That's what we do! The wind was so strong at one point it unwound the roll but overall it worked fine. I just had to keep an eye on it.
As we said we are starting to like it here. The sunsets the last two nights have been spectacular. Nancy took the short walk down to the river the first night and took some amazing shots. Hard to pick out just a few.
Took a short ride yesterday to the local Harley Dealership and snagged another tee-shirt. As Bill says when riding the HD dealerships act like a magnet and draws us in. It can't be helped.
We then came back to do Rt. 540 which is known as Paradise Highway. This parallels Rt. 89 and runs almost all the way North to Livingston and Interstate 90. The scenery was gorgeous and Nancy got some of the local flowers at one stop along Mill Creek.
We were closer to the mountains to the East than you are when you are on Rt. 89. I kept looking for a way to get closer. I saw a paved road running straight East named Mill Creek Road. It did bring us closer to the mountains.
It eventually turned to dirt but was passable so we kept going. The stream was winding up into the foot hills and occasional camps and wide open and expansive ranches. We joked about being owners of one particular horse ranch. It had very large fields with many horses. We eventually saw a beautiful house set back way away from the road. Someone: "Were do you live?" Us: "Oh just a little horse ranch in Montana." Someone: "Where in Montana?" Us: "On a little road named Mill Creek. Paradise."
Some pics of the stream.
We stopped to get these pictures and the bugs found us in seconds. Horse flies big enough to pick you and carry you away. As we turned around came back out to civilization they followed us for a while. It's true I'm not kidding. 😞
Back to Rt. 540 and the Yellowstone River we saw many places to maybe have a picknick and soak your feet. Some of the river inlets looked like the water had slowed enough you could swim if you wanted to. I would not advise swimming in the main river. It has a very fast and swift current. But it is very popular with the fishermen.
The road bordered many farms and ranches with horses and cattle.
The unique fences of some of the farms impressed us both.
At one location we saw, what looked like to both of us, to be a deliberate sculpture arrangement using a dead tree. Just the way it stood out in a field with not much else around it made it looked planned.
Many of the fields had sprinkler systems that crawl very slowly and water the fields. Some are circular in motion and some are long straight lines and they both move on wheels. As we got far to the North end of the road one was very close to the road and we got wet. It actually felt great and when we turned around to head back South towards camp we looked forward to getting wet again.
In general, as a motorcycle rider, the roads were not very twisty or hilly. But what it lacked in curves it more than made up for in scenery. A good motorcycle ride if your in the area.
TTFN
Doug and Nancy
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