|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
July 22
Woke up this morning to a dark sky. The clouds had covered this big sky. MUCH cooler today. We were warned by a workkamper to not leave the campground with our awning out as gusty winds were expected with the storm approaching us. Following his advice, Gary put the awning away & we left for the Missoula International Airport to greet John & Ellis (hereafter referred to as J & E). Their plane arrived on time in drizzling rain and our Ellis is a good flyer! She likes flying, she told us. Oh, my gosh, it was sooo good to hug my little one again! After the normal ‘pick up the luggage’ & ‘get the rental car’ stuff was done, we drove to Jellystone where John checked-in. Our hungry travelers needed lunch, so we ate in the coach because the clouds were getting heavier and might dump their load if we tried to eat outside. Nap time for Ellis & she couldn’t wait to try out her bed in the cabin. They settled in & we went back to the coach just in time for the heavens to open up and try to drown us in about 3 minutes. Whew, what a gully-washer! We had a bit more of sprinkle-time & then it stopped. Still threatening clouds as dusk crept up on us. We took J & E on a quick tour of downtown & the University of Montana. After a quick dinner, we are all tucked in our ‘homes’.
|
|
|
|
|
|
John & Ellis arrive at Missoula International Airport. (Incidentally, 2 days later, John saw Ted Turner’s 737 taxiing at the airport.)
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis discusses her flight with grandpa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trapped in the coach by the rain, which let up a bit so I could take this pic. If this were snow, it would have been a blizzard.
|
|
|
|
|
The picture to the right and the one below are the aftermath of the rain. It is about 8:00 pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis meets Yogi Bear! What a moment. She just loved the whole experience. She chattered away to the silent Yogi and gave him a ‘high 5’. And daddy is there to record the whole thing. And grandparents are recording, too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The artwork seen on the right stands at the edge of a parking lot & the sidewalk leading to the football stadium in the sports complex at the University of Missoula. This very complex statue is beautiful with its creation born of the auto junk found on the reservation by the Native American artist. We thought the words on the plaque placed on the statue (pictured below) are very poignant and true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
That’s Ellis enjoying the sights of Missoula! She’s in her comfy car seat in the back seat of grandpa’s truck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 23
Today was a day of exploration & fun stuff for Ellis. The day started out sunny & warm. In downtown Missoula, there is a river running through the south end of downtown. They have taken a piece of land by the river and created Caras Park. This is the site of many activities such as their weekly Lunch in the Park, where local eateries have prepared food for purchase and free entertainment. A grass knoll provides elevated ‘seating’ where you can munch your lunch & watch the entertainment happening on a permanent, artistically-shaped tent covered stage. A short walk away is the Missoula Carousel, a community project that involved local carvers, artists, grunt workers, all working for free to put together this amazing carousel. Next to it is a New York playground designer’s ‘Dragon Hollow’, the most wonderful playground for kids of all young ages. From toddlers to 12 yr.olds, they were having soooo much fun! And, there is plenty of space for parents to watch over their little ones. This is a magical place & Ellis loved it all. We then drove to the Elk Country Visitor Center. It includes a habitat diorama. It includes not only the elk, but also the 60 other animals found in the elk’s territory. There are hands-on displays where one can stroke the pelt of a skunk or decide what the trunk of a certain pine tree smells like. After exhausting her with the fun & the elks, we returned to the coach for dinner. Clouds came up and the wind blew as we headed, once more, for town. We had read about a Missoula Municipal Band. They play at Bonner Park. We didn’t know if the performance would be rained out or not. We drove through several ‘gully-washers’ and arrived at a very wet park where the band was warming up their instruments on the band shell stage. We set up our lawn chairs & prepared for a treat. I’m afraid this volunteer band isn’t very good, but they are enthusiastic. About 200 people sitting in their lawn chairs with jackets, blankets, hats to protect from the cold, clapped with vigor after each number. Some families brought their dinners, others-desserts, and just enjoyed the whole outdoor experience. The rain did not reappear, but the clouds made for a beautiful sunset. We slept well this night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posed by a tree in front of their cabin, John & Ellis are ready for the day.
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis on her first ride on the Carousel for Missoula. This carousel is just so pretty & interesting. It is also the fastest carousel in the West. Grandpa rode behind Ellis on her fine steed as they whizzed around & around. She loved it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next to the carousel is Dragon Hollow, a magical playground. Ellis really liked the tire swing & wore out daddy with her requests for ‘more, please’.
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis & daddy play the xylophone at Dragon Hollow. It is one of a few interactive playthings in the park. The rest is mainly climbing, swings, ladders & slides. Just done a bit differently than most of us have seen. It is a nightmare trying to photograph it with all its twists & turns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to the carousel. This time Ellis chose a horse on the outside edge so the picture is a bit better. Once again, grandpa straps himself & Ellis to the very fast moving horse and off they go to try to grab the golden ring. Grandpa did manage to grab two rings, but they were blue.
|
|
|
|
|
This interesting place seems very new & very informative. They tell the elk story in different ways. From the diorama showing the elk & other animals who live around the elk territory to the various ways the elk & its habitat are threatened and what people, including hunters, are doing to save the habitat. Great story!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis is getting a ‘feel’ for elk tails.
|
|
|
|
|
The threatening clouds as we head for the concert.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellis, in her very own lawn chair, watches as we set up the rest of our chairs on the wet lawn. The band will play in a few minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
There are many interesting people in Missoula. Along with the normal working folks & the college students, there are the goths, the old hippies, the homeless types and the mentally ill. These two danced on the lawn throughout the band’s performance, including one number, ‘Send in the Clowns’. These two were very energetic & kept dancing, not with each other, just near each other. They both appeared to be in their 40’s and they both epitomized Meth brain burnout. They were very entertaining, but you didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Anyway, they had fun.
|
|
