Day 56 – On the road to Great Falls MT – 225 miles

It was an interesting day. Our RV park neighbors were getting ready to leave, too, but their pickup truck that pulls their 5^th wheel wouldn’t start. We left them calling people to see if they could get it fixed. I hated leaving the mountains. We are now in the great plains. Bill encountered more wind than we have had so far. At a rest area north of Great Falls, there was a sign posted “Rattlesnakes observed in the area. Stay on sidewalks.” That was creepy.

We got to the campground at Malmstrom AFB here at Great Falls at 2:30. They don’t take reservations, but luckily there were 2 slots left. It is a fairly new campground in a field outside the base with all the hookups and only $17 a night. Bill immediately wanted to head to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center on the Missouri River. The parking lot was jammed, as was the Center. The Lewis and Clark Association was having a meeting there. We decided to come back tomorrow.

So we headed down the road a half mile to Giant Springs St Park. Here there is a huge spring, rising from the limestone underneath. Lewis had written about it in his journal. It pours water into the Missouri River and also into the smallest river in the world, 201’ Roe River. It is a really pretty park with a fish hatchery.

We came back to the RV and finished setting up and had dinner. At 7:15 we drove on base, only to find they roll the sidewalks up at 7. The commissary is closed on Mondays. The BX closed at 7 and the shoppette closes at 6. We drove down the main street of Great Falls, and most things were closed there, also. Rather depressing.

I have started a new set of photos called Great Falls and set the link on the left.