Montana July 20 - 27, 2017

Thursday - July 20th

Linda had reserved for us to go up the North Fork from July 22nd to July 29th, but as the time got closer, things kept coming up for everybody and it was starting to look like nobody was going to make it up there this year.  Roger couldn't get that whole week off, so we decided that we'd go up early and just stay with grandma until it was our time up the North Fork.  Kari had to go home early also, so she decided to do the same thing.  When Kari called grandma about us staying at her house, grandma said yes, but she was worried that some of Don and Chris' kids would be there too, so it would be crowded.  Since it didn't sound like all of staying at grandma's would work, we decided to stop and do some camping along our way.  Our first night, we spent in Bannack State Park.  I love Bannack!  I think it is so cool!  We all headed up together, but at one point we separated, so Kari got there before us.  She had her tent set up and everything by the time we got there.  We set up camp and debated about if we wanted to eat dinner, then walk through the ghost town or if we wanted to walk through the ghost town, then eat dinner.

We decided to walk through the town, then eat dinner.  Looking back, I wish we would have chosen the other.  I think it would have been more fun to walk through the town right before they close it all up for the night.  You have to get special permission to stay in the town during the night.  It sounded like a big hassle and not something that they like to allow.  Anyway, we had fun wandering around and seeing all the buildings.

video 1, video 2

video

After looking around at the prison, we decided to start heading back, because most of the group had already gone back to camp.  Alissa, Parker, me, Kiara, Damen, and Missy were all together.  It was windy so every once in a while a door would swing open and slam shut.  It made things feel fun and a little spooky.  We walked by a house and we were thinking about walking through it before we walked back.  We were getting closer to it, when the door slowly crept open.  It was creepy how it opened slowly, but we weren't too concerned because of the wind.  We were all looking inside the house as we walked toward it.  There were stairs and a hallway next to it.  At the end of the hallway there was a door.  All of the sudden the door at the end of the hallway slammed shut.  That was enough for us.  We decided that house was too creepy, we would check it out tomorrow.  So we kept walking. As we were walking, we noticed that there was a bathroom.  I really had to go potty, so I suggested we stop and use it.  Missy said she wanted to leave, so she decided to keep walking.  The rest of us walked over to the bathrooms.  When we got there, Damen knocked on the side of it.  He knocked that familiar tune, da - da - da, da - da......  Then he left out the last two knocks.  Kiara giggled a little and said, "That would be funny if we heard 2 knocks back."  Right after she said that, we heard 2 knocks back.  All of us were watching.  None of us had touched the bathroom to make the knocking sound.  It was really crazy.  We checked both the stalls and nobody was there.  We were a little creeped out, but I had to pee really bad so I made everybody wait for me while I used the haunted bathroom.  We ended up stopping to look at the old school house on our way back.  We didn't go in, we just played on the merry-go-round.  We didn't want to risk being haunted again, so we stayed out.

Merry-go-round

When we got back to camp, we made dinner.  We ate some food and relaxed until it was time for bed.  When we told Missy about our haunting at the bathroom, she told us she had a creepy experience too.  She had decided to go ahead without us and kept walking.  she said she heard footsteps behind her.  She figured one of us had decided to walk back with her.  Eventually she decided to turn around and see who was walking back with her.  She was pretty freaked out when she turned around and nobody was there.  She heard the footsteps walking with her and she could feel that somebody was there.

Friday - July 21st

In the morning, before we packed up and headed to our next camping destination, we went back into town to walk through the abandoned houses.  Forest went for a little swim on the way.  He loves water and swimming.
I took some video of us as we walked into Bannack.  You can watch the videos by clicking these links: Video 1,video 2.

I took more videos this time when we went.  I wanted us to reenact some of the funny ghost hunting videos I have seen.  Brinley was feeling a little scared, so she decided to wait outside.  Roger, Brinley, and Forest decided to head back before we even started our little investigation.  Roger was feeling really tired and wanted to take a nap.  Here are all the videos I took: video 1, video 2, video 3, video 4, video 5, video 6, video 7, video 8, video 9, video 10.

video 1, video 2, video 3

We decided to hike up and see the cemetery.  I hadn't done that before.  We were going to hike up to it yesterday, but some hikers were coming down from there and warned us about a rattlesnake on the trail.  So we decided not to go.

After we finished exploring, we went back to camp, packed up all our stuff, and headed to our next destination.  We debated for a while about whether or not we should go there.  Because we realized that the road into the ghost town of Garnett would be too hard to drive on with the trailer we were pulling.  There is another way in, but it is far out of our way.  I tried to find a camp ground closer to that spot, but it was too far out of our way and I couldn't justify it.  We ended up going to the campground we planned on, but we decided not to go in to Garnett.  I was pretty bummed about that, since I had wanted to go to Garnett last year and we ended up deciding not to go at the last minute, also.  So, two years in a row, I tried to go, but didn't make it.  Next year, I will make it there for sure!  I'm determined.  

Anyway, we really liked our campground.  It was nice.  There was a river close by.  The kids had fun playing in the water.  The best part about this campground was that it had a shower.

video of campground near Garnett, MT

Before Roger and I walked over to the water, Roger rolled his ankle.  I was so worried that it was going to be really bad and would interfere with him being able to do anything on this trip.  It swelled up a little, but it wasn't too bad.  I am glad about that.  It would have been horrible to have him be hurt.

We spent a lot of time relaxing at camp.  The hammocks they brought were a nice addition.  Alissa brought her color guard stuff, so she could practice.  Kaylie is also on her color guard team this year.  This is the first year for both of them.  They spent some time showing each other the things they had learned.

Our Goofy Dog

Saturday - July 22nd

We woke up, packed up our stuff, and headed out.  I think we were all excited to get up there.  I felt so bad for not remembering that it was my dad's birthday.  I talked to him for a little bit before I grabbed the last of my stuff and he mentioned that he had just got off the phone with someone that had called him to wish him a happy birthday.  I told him happy birthday.  As soon as I said something, Missy and Kari hurried over to wish him a happy birthday also.  They felt bad they hadn't said something sooner.  They both had remembered yesterday and had planned to remember to tell him happy birthday first thing today, but of course, we all woke up and forgot.
We all stopped at grandma's house to use the bathroom and say hi, then we headed up the North Fork.  We wasted no time getting everything set up.  It was hard trying to decide where to sleep.  We are so used to staying in the other house.  This year was really different.  Dayson and his family decided that they want to live in the house up there.  I really don't like that idea and I'm scared that they are trying to take the property from us all.  There is a sneaky little squatter's law in Montana, that allows somebody to take over your property.  They just have to openly live there for 5 years, make a few improvements, and then it is theirs.  I'm not cool with that.  Linda doesn't think they are trying to do that.  I'm not sure what to think.  They seem like nice people, but I have a hard time trusting that their intentions are good.  This trip to Montana was very different and a lot less comfortable because of them.  It was really awkward to have them there.  They stayed in the house the whole time, with the curtains closed.  After a day or 2 another brother came up with his family and they brought blinds with them.  So, then they covered all the windows with blinds and hunkered down.  They only came out when we were gone.  It was weird.  Kari said she invited them to come and join us, but they said no.  I just didn't like it at all.

Sunday - July 23rd

We ended up sleeping like this:  Roger and I slept in the back of the truck.  Brinley and Parker slept in the front of the truck.  Alissa, Missy, Kiara, Damen, Kaylie, James, and the dogs slept upstairs in the old house.  Kari slept downstairs.  Linda, Dave, Mathew, and my dad slept in their RV.  Alissa said that they slept horribly.  It was way too hot upstairs in the old house.  Forest was so hot, he couldn't sleep.  He stayed awake most of the night, panting really hard and whining.  They all were hot and uncomfortable.  So, this morning after everyone got up, we went in and moved their beds downstairs so they could sleep better and hopefully not be so hot.

Linda pulled out a fun game and we all sat around and played it.  I can't remember what the game is called, but one person is the guesser.  Everybody gets to see what is written on a card, except the guesser.  Then the guesser asks each person, "What is yours like?"  Everybody answers the question and the guesser has to figure out what they are talking about.  It was pretty fun.  I was pretty proud of myself for my funny little burn on Dave.  I'm not a quick witted person, so I rarely think of the funny things like this.  That's why I was so proud of myself.  Dave is always teasing people like this.  Anyway, it was my turn to guess.  Everybody was answering by describing an animal or just saying an animal.  Dave said that his says mooo... (or something like that.  I can't remember exactly what he said, but I know he was describing a cow), so I quickly said, animals that are the most like you.  Lol.  We all had a good laugh at that one.  I can't remember what the actual answer was.

Parker playing in the Barn

A couple of people wanted to float the river.  We went to pick them up at Ford Ranger Station.  We had fun skipping rocks and sliding down the boat thing.  When the boaters showed up, they told us they had wanted to be picked up at a different spot.  So, we headed back to the cabin to wait some more until it was time to pick them up.
Video of the Boaters

After we picked them up, we just relaxed and hung out.  Nate Sterner, his girlfriend, and some of her kids came.  Nate brought an RV.  It was nice to meet his girlfriend and her kids.  She is really nice.  It was fun to have them there with us.

Kari pulled out some fun glow in the dark bouncy balls as it was getting dark.  The kids played a game, throwing the balls over the tent.  After that, when it was really dark, they all decided to play Ghost in the Graveyard.  They had a lot of fun.  It was really dark and they kept running into things.  It was funny though.  Nobody got seriously injured.

Playing a fun game

Monday - July 24th

Everybody slept a lot better last night, so that was good.  After Roger and I woke up, we decided to head in to town to take a shower and buy a little more food.  I took these pictures in the morning, before we left.  I just love it here.  It is so beautiful.  I really like this old house.  I want to fix it up sooo bad!  I keep thinking, I need to take an extra trip, just to clean it, fix it up, and make it feel comfortable and homely again.

We were gone for a really long time.  A trip in to town is never fast.  It was nice to shower and really nice to visit with grandma.  Don and Chris were cleaning up and about to leave when we got there.  Don told me about a really cool place to go hiking to some lakes for the dog to play in.  I really want to go check it out.  I wrote down all of the info he told me.  I hoped to go and see it on this trip, but I bet we'll end up doing it next year.
Grandma was feeling really sick when we saw her.  I could tell that she was really miserable.  I felt like she didn't want to scare me, so she was doing her best to down play it and act like it wasn't a big deal.  I felt really bad for her.  I really wanted to go and spend more time with her, but I kept worrying that my being there would be too much of a strain on her.  I love that she loves me enough to act tough and try not too scare me, and I feel really bad that I couldn't be more helpful to her.  I hate seeing her feeling so miserable.  It hurts my heart knowing that she is suffering.  I love her so much and I wish so badly that I could take the pain away somehow.

After we got back, Kari and Linda went to pick up the people who had gone boating.  They went a little early, so they could play in the river while they waited.  I really don't like playing in rivers.  I've just had too many scary experiences, that make me want to stay away.  So, we decided not to go with them.  We stayed here and blocked up the creek so we could play in that instead.  It was fun to see how full it got, but we didn't really play too much.  We were tired, so we spent most of our time sitting around and relaxing.

Alissa had gone on the float with everybody.  When they met up with Kari and Linda, they all stayed and played for a while.  They said it was a lot of fun.  Alissa really loved playing in the river.  She really wanted me to come and try it out next time.

The sunset was really pretty. I had to take pictures of it.

The kids stayed up late playing ghost in the graveyard again, and we had a lot of fun sitting around the fire and talking.  I love the evenings here, except for one thing.  The mosquitoes are horrible.  They are worse than ever!  They were finally able to get rid of the bats in the cabin, but by doing that, the mosquito population has more than doubled on our property.  Those bats were creepy to have in the house, but outside they made a world of difference.  I didn't realize how much good they had been doing for us.  It's horrible having the mosquitoes be so bad.

Tuesday - July 25th

Linda and Dad went in to town today.  I'm not sure what my dad needed to do, but I know Linda had plans to go out to eat with my cousin, Tanya.  Kari, Kaylie, Damon, and Zander (Ithink that's his name), left to go home this morning.  Kiara and James were able to get Linda and Dave to give them a ride home so they could stay longer.  We were all bummed that Kari left early.  We tried really hard to get her to stay.  She wanted to get home though.  She is making a big change in her life.  She has worked for Pizza hut since she was 16 years old.  She quit pizza hut and is going to run an I hop.  She's excited and nervous about it.

Of the rest of us, half of us went boating on a big float from the Canadian border and the other half went to Glacier.  We went to enjoy some yummy huckleberry ice cream and play in Lake McDonald.

After our ice cream, Roger, Brinley, the dogs, and I walked over to the lake to play.  The others went gift shopping, then came and met us to play in the lake.
Playing in Lake McDonald
Forest loves swimming.  But both of the dogs had a hard time warming up after they swam.

I had to hold and snuggle with Macy in a blanket to warm her up.  Forest curled up in a ball in the sun to warm up.

We were sitting by the water just talking and being silly when Alissa showed us the super sharp and pointy rock that she found.  She had almost stepped on it.  We started joking about how dangerous and horrible it is that a National Park would allow something so dangerous.  Lol.  We're just goofy like that.  Then I made a funny video about how we need to sue the park for allowing something so dangerous in a place where children visit regularly.  I don't know why my brain works the way it does.  I always think of the weirdest things.  Lately, I find that because of all the crazy and irrational parenting things I've seen online or I've witnessed in person, my brain thinks up these funny reactions to everything.  I've seen too many parents over react to silly things like this.  It makes me laugh, so I tend to mock them often.  Like when the kids do something that is not a big deal, I think it is funny to pretend to over react and throw a little fit, in the way I have seen a few crazy parents do.  My kids are used to it and they think it is funny too.  We always have a good laugh afterward.
We will Sue the Park

Roger noticed that I was taking pictures so he decided to pose.  Missy also decided to join in on the posing.

I was taking pictures of everybody when I had the idea to go stand behind the bushes, to have some greenery in my photos.  I thought it would look all artsy and cool.  So, I went behind the bushes and started taking pictures.  When they noticed me, they were all like, "What the heck are you doing?  That's weird.  Why are you being a creeper and hiding behind the bushes to take pictures of us?"  We all had a good laugh about it.  I hadn't even thought about how taking pictures behind the bushes would be weird or creepy.  They kept making jokes about how I was being a creeper, crouched behind the bushes taking pictures of them.

We finally tired of being at the lake, so we headed back.  We stopped when we saw a car pulled off the side of the road and a guy standing out of his vehicle taking pictures of something in the trees.  We asked him what it was and he told us it was a little black bear.  Kiara had really wanted to see a bear, so we decided to get out and see it also.  Roger tried to take a video of it with the phone but it isn't the best video.  We had a really good view of it, but by the time he started recording, it had moved farther away.  It was not a little black bear.  It was really big and brown.  It was knocking down trees as it walked.  It think bears are scary.
We saw a bear on the way back.

Here we are back at camp, chillaxing and playing games.

The kids stayed up to play night games, but they thought they saw an animal.  It made me nervous.  I didn't want the kids to be out running around in the dark anymore after that.  They were also nervous, so they quit.

Wednesday - July 26th

Forest and Macy were funny this morning.

Macy and Forest Playing Tug of War

Our only plan for the day was to float the river.

The Boaters leaving on their float

Forest was super funny swimming in the river.  It was like he was on a treadmill.  But he loved it.  He'd get out for a little bit, then get right back in.

While we were sitting around playing games, we had the funny idea to do a newborn photo shoot with Missy and her little puppy, Macy.  We were in a goofy mood.  It was a lot of fun.

When we finished our photo shoot, we came back to the table to finish our game and this is what we found.  2 bears had taken over our game.  Lol.

We played in the river while we waited to pick up the boaters.

Thursday - July 27th

We woke up early, packed up our stuff, and headed home today.  We were just about ready to leave, when Missy started yelling "No!" to the dogs.  We went to find out what was happening.  Last night, Nate and Dave had an issue while they were emptying the pooper from Nate's RV.  They ended up spilling a bunch of it near the out house.  Forest and Macy found it.  Macy started eating it and Forest started rolling around in it.  It was disgusting!  They were sooooo stinky!  We did our best to clean Forest off and then we left.  We had to give him a bath as soon as we got home.

Our drive was really nice.  The GPS showed me a really cool short cut.  I convinced Roger to take it.  It ended up being a dirt road.  It was faster, but when we got back onto regular road, we noticed the tire pressure dropping in one of our tires.  Roger took the next exit and went straight to a tire place.  They found a hole and said they could fix it for us.  We left the truck and went to eat at the restaurant next to it, while our tire was being fixed.  It didn't take long at all.  The tire was ready when we finished eating.  They didn't charge us.  That was really nice.  Here are a few pictures from our little stop on the way home.