Steve and Jackie Duerden have been wanting us to take a trip with them now that we have our new fifth wheel trailer. I have mentioned several months ago that I would like to go to Glacier National Park and Cour'd aliene, Idaho. Steve is so good at listening and he had a week and a half off to take this trip. (July 17 - 27)
We loaded up the truck and drove the first day to Dillion, Montana. After getting all set up, we decided to go another 40 minutes to Bannack Ghost Town, a State Park. The four of us were the only tourists in the park and we were strolling down the wood boardwalks and taking our time looking in the old buildings. It started to rain a little as we arrived at the church building. Our thought was to wait out a little rain storm. Well as it turned out, it not only rained, but then it hailed and hailed with some hail the size of a quarter.
The rain started to let up a little and Theron opened the Church door and was met by a flash flood coming down main street - it was carrying with it boulders, dirt, the boardwalk sidewalk sections that were about 20 feet long and whatever else was in its path.
We stood on the steps of the church for about two hours and watched as the flood did its damage. We even saw the majority of one of the buildings go down one wall at a time.
When the State Park people finally could drive a pickup truck up the road to retrieve us, we were glad to be "going home". The fellow told us that in Bannack had stood all kinds of disasters but this one was the worst and they would probably have to close the park for some time. We got back to our truck and found several small dents in the hood from the hail. As we drove back to Dillon, we noted that all the roads were dry and that no other area had received this type of storm -- isolated -- yes!
Day 2 - When you start out your vacation with a flash flood, it can only get really good, or get ho-hum. The rest of the trip was just ho-hum. It had some good moments and we saw some very wonderful scenery. The second day we traveled to Virginia City, Montana where we walked around a bit and took in a vaudeville show.
Day 3 - We traveled from Dillon to Hungry Horse, Montana, which is about nine miles from the west gate of Glacier Park. We set the trailer up and noticed that both TVs would not work, they wouldn't turn on. The electrical plugs are good. So, no TV. Theron began diagnosing the problem. The campground was great.
From Hungry Horse, we traveled the next day to see an old mansion in Kalispell, Montana. Jackie took in a quilt store which was great fun, for Theron. He enjoyed going to look. For me, I did a lot of sitting in the truck. My back and legs were killing me. I have scheduled back surgery for August 15; I'm just tired of living like this. It took me several hours in the morning to get going. Lots of ibuprofen and anything else I could find.
The next day was Sunday and I so wanted to go to Church. However, my hip is hurting so bad and I was crying and trying to get some relieve. We didn't make it to Church. That afternoon, we drove to Logan Pass in Glacier Park. Theron, Jackie and Steve did a little hike. I sat on a picnic table bench and read a book.
On Monday, we again drove to Logan Pass and they took a hike to the glacier. Tuesday found us on the road to Cour 'd aliene, Idaho, where we took a lake boat trip and had dinner on the lake. We had lunch at the golf course that has a green on the water - you boat out to it after you hit your shot.
The entire time we were there, Theron worked with an RV place to get the TVs replaced. What had happened is that a piece in the antenna box had come lose and sent 15 volts into the TV rather than to the antenna. It took three days and we finally got the TVs.
I couldn't take it any more and we headed home. If I knew I had to live like this the rest of my life, I would never travel again. The pain was getting more intense every day. Home was sweet and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel within two weeks to get this back surgery. We'll see how the recovery and success are.
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