Montana Camping 2014 Day Three

Whaoo!  I got some real sleep last night and I feel great this morning.  

Today's plan is to revisit the Libby Dam. And then....just when I thought the zombie shopping virus had run its course...

Mariah: "Mom can I go to the store?"

Me: "Not again Mariah, this isn't a shopping vacation."

Mariah: "But I want to get something for you."

Me: "I don't want anything."

Mariah: "I will get you a huckleberry chocolate."

Me: "No thanks, kiddo."

Mariah: "Well I will get one for Kaley."

*Kaley says she doesn't want one*

Mariah: "Pleeeaasssee Mom?"

Me: "Mariah knock it off, I told you NO."

Mariah: "But Mom, I have to get some for the store people. They will starve."

O.o

I handed her a buck and sent her on her way.  I'm so weak.

The biggest one-really pretty.  She set it on a flower right after this was taken.

There were hundreds of these little guys flying around.

Mariah has been vigilant about butterfly hunting with varied results.  She handled each one carefully and released them afterwards.  We started packing the car for the days adventure and then Josie showed up to play with her.

Turns out Mariah made friends with yet another critter in camp. Josie is a sweet yellow lab and her owner had promised that Mariah could play with her this morning unbeknownst to me, of course. A good time was had by all.

Josie

Almost as soon as we turned on to the highway was a portable traffic light-turned red.   The sign said 'wait here for pilot car.' Okay. Cool. It will  be like the other road construction we ran into-no big deal.

Famous last words.

We endured a four mile long section of completely scraped down graveled pavement. Dust. Rocks. Dust.  It was AWFUL! Breathing dust has never been a favorite pastime. Visibility was reduced at some points where you could barely see in front of you.  And of course, the big trucks coming the opposite direction threw the bigger rocks onto my windshield; fortunately there was no damage there.

We survived the journey more or less unscathed and made it to my favorite coffee stand. I asked how the winters were and explained I was considering the possibility of moving to Libby one day because I love it so much there.

I asked about the economy and told her that I would probably be interesting in taking on some daycare if I did and she told me I'd make a killing.  It's something to consider.

Then of course, we stopped in at the store to partake of the deli and bakery. Cravings satiated, we were off to the dam.  

We showed Mariah the new places we discovered on our May trip and she was able to get down and touch some water, which was totally out of the question the last few trips due to high, swift water. The water was low enough that side pools were exposed and totally safe.

Lower side of the dam

The spillway parking lot. (Spillway wasn't flowing)

We hit up the gift shop (big surprise that we ended up there) and I found out that I can schedule a special tour of the dam if I call the day before. I will keep that in mind next year. There was a lot of info on things to do around the area and I stocked up.  I guess gold panning is a big deal here-I had no idea, and would love to give it a try.  I even have my own pan.

Back side of the dam-Lake Koocanusa

Got back to camp and Mariah was off visiting within the first 30 seconds. I noticed that  there were balloons displayed at nearly every campsite. Mariah is like her own force of nature-once you've met her and spent any time with her, you will never forget her, or so I'm told.

Saw some deer poo and I pointed it out to Mariah to prove that deer do come through camp and she told me it was gross and stupid. *shrugs*  What can you do?

Beautiful.

She came so close.

As we started to get dinner things out, here came the deer.  She came close and seemed to be completely unfazed by all the commotion going on. Obviously direct human contact wasn't a possibility but she hung out for quite a while. It was pretty cool!

And that's a wrap for day three!

Until next time,

Robyn :)