Aug 5, 1999…..Rollins, MT Big Sky RV Park
Moving day. This campground is terraced on a pine covered hillside and overlooks Flathead Lake. There are little dark squirrels everywhere. And dozens of domestic bunnies hopping about…there’s a ‘bunny crossing’ sign on the drive.
Himself took off scouting for possible fishing spots and I tucked in with a book. While I was reading and ‘dreaming’ I leaned back and gazed up into the tree tops and they were filled with white butterflies. They never seem to come down the last 30 feet or so…I wonder if they live their whole lives up there?
Aug 6, 1999…..Rollins, MT Big Sky RV
The campground has a ‘get acquainted’ bar-b-Que. every Friday evening. Everyone brings a side dish or desert and they provide the meat. Tonight was deep pit chicken…delicious! And what a table of food…We may just have to stick around for next Friday!
We sat with two sets of full timers…One set had been on the faculty of the University of Montana. We’ve met a lot of teachers that are doing this. They were telling us about campground hosting and places to see and stay.
The mail came today. We had a phone bill for $170 !! Calls that were ‘night rate’ for 3 minutes…$17 each! Little town seems to have their own phone company and a phone booth. We’re going to have to rethink the phone business.
That’s the bad news…the good news is we got a letter from Gabriel…with drawings (translated by mama) He and mama make a great letter writing team!
Aug 7, 1999…..Rollins, Mt. Big Sky RV
The sunrise turned the whole lake blood red…what a sight! ‘Red in the Morning…sailors warning! ‘ It’s almost time to fix dinner and a gentle rain is starting. I can hear thunder in the distance…so it may not be gentle long. Guess those ‘sailors’ knew what they were talking about. (Grin)
We saw a piece of the ‘real’ Montana today. We were snooping around on a drive this afternoon and saw dust rising a bit off the road…and went to check it out. The local ranchers were holding a calf roping contest. We parked and snaked our way through horse trailers and horses and horse manure…to tiny little stands overlooking an arena. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE but us had on cowboy boots. Not a show for the tourists! The riders were really skilled…blew us away…their ropes and horses just seemed like an extension of their bodies. It was such a treat to watch them. Another peek into different lives.
Aug 8, 1999…..Rollins, MT. Big Sky RV
Took a drive into town…I checked out the antique stores while Rick picked up gear to take with him tomorrow. He’s going fishing at a Lake about 85 miles from here with some fellows from the park.
We ate at the tiny cafe here at the park…the hamburgers tasted like the ones mom used to make. Funny how often these little places are so good. Things are cooked on the spot. Not 50 burgers…waiting in their little wrappers!
The bunnies are so tame here…they eat from our hand. Gabriel would have a ball feeding them. Now the squirrels have noticed and they are coming around also.