Tuesday, August 19, 2014

August 19 - Still at Buffalo Bill State Park - Hosting

Our Hosting here is going well.  On duty about 3 hrs/day, four days/week. This is the truck we drive around campground greeting campers, answering questions, and generally helping with whatever they need. We also clean campsites where needed and the bathhouse. 
This is Bill Hankee, Asst. Park Superintendant and all around great guy, operating the back hoe to get down to the pipe that broke during the night.  The campground was without fresh water for two days, but we were fine as we had water in our RV tank.


Every Thursday evening in the Downtown city park, free entertainment by some really good musicians.  On this night, it rained for about 20 minutes during the two hour performance, but it didn't deter the audience or performer.  Look close and you can see the rainbow.


June and Vickie, one of our new friends and host at an adjacent campground, at the park under umbrellas during the brief rain.

The performer on this Thursday was Jalan Crossland. He played Banjo, Guitar, and Harmonica and his performance was one of the best of the season.

Some Florida friends, Omar and Marie Stymeist stopped by our place one day and paid a visit. They were in the area and called - we were soo happy to see them again.

Our youngest son, Kane and his fiancee Dani were here for a week. This pic is in downtown Red Lodge, Montanna on the Beartooth Highway.  We had a great day as well as a great week doing the Beartooth, the Cody Rodeo, finding the Wild Horses, some great restaurants, and an overall great visit. 


Some views on the Beartooth highway


Kane with Mom

This pic was taken in July when June & I drove the Beartooth highway. This snow machine was parked on the snow that was still there mid July.  The pic below was from a few days ago after most of the snow has melted.


Kane & Dani enjoying the view near the summit


On their last day here, Monday 8/18, we drove 20 miles East of Cody to find the wild horse heard that live here on public land.  Supposedly, some of these animals are descendants of the horses used in the Buffalo Bill Cody Wild West Shows.


And, just last night while we were sleeping (I just found out today 8/19)  A camper who had been drinking too much was driving very fast in his pickup truck through the campground about 11:00 P.M. and struck another campers ATV, then proceeded through the campground loop and took out a 4 inch site marker, then hit a parked car.  The owner of the ATV got in his car to follow the drunk while calling 911. The truck exited the campground onto the 65 MPH highway towards Cody, about 15 miles.  Meantime, the sheriff's car caught up with him in town and took the driver to jail.  Today, the driver bailed out of jail and stopped at our host site to ask me what I know of the incident. I knew nothing about it until he was telling me, and claiming he didn't recall any part of it.  He said he remembered putting a log on his campfire and the next thing he knew he was in jail ..???? .... He said he was trying to understand how this could happen when he didn't recall a thing. I suggested I call the Park Police who may know more and he agreed. I called Sam, the park law officer who stops by for coffee regularly.  Sam knew all about it and had already been to the courthouse discussing with the prosecutor.  Here is Sam and the camper discussing at our Host site, the six citations Sam is writing for various violations last night. 1) reckless operation 2) damage to State Property 3) leaving an unattended camp fire 3) Driving under the influence 4) leaving the scene of an accident 5) speeding 6) I don't recall.... He has a court date Sept 2nd... He may not be driving for a while.
Just another day in the life of a host...................

We're here until September 9th... 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Chief Joseph Hwy and the Bear Tooth Pass - July 15, 2014

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday are our days off from Hosting at Buffalo Bill State Park so we venture out some of those days.  This is a view on our drive on the Chief Joseph Highway from Cody.  Our drive today was just under 200 miles on a loop that took us into Montana where some of the best scenery in the West was seen.  We thought the views today were better than what we saw in Yellowstone.

These iron plates/art depict the Nez Perce Indians crossing the Bear Tooth mountain pass where they successfully avoided General Howards troops who were after them.  Score one for the Nez Perce.


Some of the winding mountain roads shown on our GPS.

50 Miles North of Chief Joseph Hwy is the Bear Tooth Pass in Montanna.  The pass is just under 11,000 ft. and here in mid July, still snow on the ground and today, 46 degrees and rainy.  We drove thru a hail storm which lasted just a couple minutes, but slowed us down until we were through.


 





I've said it before, but we just can't get enough of scenes like this in the mountains of our great Western USA States.  This view here in Southwest Montana on the Beartooth Hwy.