September 16 - 21, 2023 Leaving Our Summer Place, Heading South and East

Sept 16-Saturday-When we got outside we noticed 15 pickups with boat trailers here. They must have been having a friendly tournament. We did all our usual things. Of course the RV wouldn't start - so Steve had to clean the battery posts and jump it. But he got it going! We hung out and watched football. We also went to town and picked up some groceries. 

Batteries below the step

Sept 17-Sunday-Today Sydney was here and she helped us lock up the picnic table the trash can and the fire pit. We started packing our outside stuff. Steve worked hard on cleaning the windows. So we stayed busy most of the day. 

Chained and Locked!

Sept 18-Monday-Ok we got up and ate our breakfast dressed and made the bed. Tony P called at 8:30 and said he was coming down to see us off. We started packing things inside and I took the dogs for a short walk. We grabbed the trail camera. Steve unhooked the water and electric. We did more last minute packing. Then Tony got here about 9:30 or so. We visited with him for a bit and continued packing. I made sure to ask him if mid May is early enough for us to return next year and he said it would be fine. We attached the pickup and left about 10:30 or 10:45 AM. We had a little trouble with the GPS because the battery disconnect was off. Then everything worked. We headed down Swan Valley to Lincoln MT over Rogers Pass on MT 200. We arrived at Great Falls and checked into the Famcamp at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Shed is packed up


Electric Post is locked



Yes, we even lock up the sewer connection!

Echo Lake - Moody

Eagle in tree on MT 200

Eagle

Echo Lake

Echo Lake

Seeley Lake

Seeley Lake

Seeley Lake

Eagle in flight

Flag Hill in Great Falls, MT 

Tribute to Lewis & Clark Expedition at Gateway Famcamp - Great Falls, MT

Sept 19-Tuesday-We were up at 8:30 and did our routine things. First on the list was to do some laundry. Then we made a trip over to the commissary on base. While we were there we also check out the BX.  We finished the evening by going out to La Cocina for Mexican food. This restaurant received pretty good reviews on Yelp. Well I would not recommend it. Of course, Mexican in Montana is not as good as it is in Oklahoma or probably any Southwestern state. My opinion. 

Sept 20 - Wednesday-We were up at 8:15. Then we put some water in our fresh water tank and unhooked the utilities. Next we hooked up the pickup. On our way out of town we stopped for gas. I talked to my sister, Marsha. Then we drove to Neihart to Many Pines campground (forest) After we arrived we walked around the campground and decided on site # 20. It had some firewood left and we took advantage of it. We set up the RV and then took a drive to the other forest Campground, King’s Hill and Forest Road 267, where Steve used to camp when he was stationed at Malmstrom. Then it was back our campsite where Steve made us a nice fire. We sat outside for about an hour and a half. Since it was rainy and chilly we went in the RV to rest and relax. Supper was Chili and the weather was great for that.  I just love this place, Belt Creek runs through the campground and the setting is lovely.

Sluice Boxes State Park

Belt Creek

Barn near Belt, MT

Lewis & Clark National Forest

On the way to Neihart, MT

Belt Creek - looking north from CG entrance

A lovely yellow tree

Nice little homestead near Neihart, MT

Some rock formation- Poopsie is checking it out!

Dispersed Campsite

Dispersed Camp site on FR 267

Another Creek (Jefferson Creek)

Many Pines Campground Site # 20

View from Campsite

Campfire! Poopsie is always nearby

View near campsite

Sept 21 - Thursday-We got up and had our breakfast along with some hot cocoa. We used the generator to run the heater and warm up the RV. Then we made our bed and put away things to get ready to roll. We decided to drive separately since we had to go over King's Hill Pass, where we would stop at the top of the pass and hook up the pickup to the RV. That way it would not be too hard to get up the mountain. As we left Many Pines Campground we entered a winter wonderland. The higher we climbed the more snow we saw.  It was so pretty! But, it was also a little bit chilly hooking up the pickup. Then we drove to Livingston, MT and joined I-90. We stopped at the rest stop in Greycliff and then arrived at Billings KOA about 3:30. We got the RV set up and walked the dogs before the rain started. We ate nachos for supper and hung out. 

At the Top of King's Hill Pass

Near White Sulphur Springs