Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Canyon RV in Hungry Horse, MT

Hungry Horse is a tiny town less than 10 miles away from Glacier National Park.hh1  

How did the town earn the name "Hungry Horse?  The story goes like this:

  "Two husky freight horses, Tex and Jerry, working in the rugged wilderness of the Flathead River's South Fork area, wandered away from their sleigh during the severe winter of 1900-1901.  After struggling for a month in the belly-deep snow, they were found almost starved and so weak that considerable care and feeding were required before they were  strong enough to be led back to civilization.  The name "Hungry Horse" was given to a mountain, a lake and a creek  in the vicinity of where the incident occurred and later to the dam that is located a short distance downstream."

hh2 While there, we stayed at the Canyon RV, where our friends, Steve and Patty Porter camp host. hh3

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a very pretty park, with lots of trees and flowers.  There’s even a trail from the park down to the Flathead River’s edge.hh4 hh5  We had planned to arrive on the same day as friends, Bernice and Hoyt, but they encountered problems with their motorhome and were delayed 4 days.

Steve and Patty spent the day with us on Wednesday, showing us some of the local sights. 

We drove to Big Mountain, a nearby ski resort, where we rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain.  hh6

One of the best chair lift rides we’ve encountered, the Big Mountain Express climbs over 2000 vertical feet, and takes more than 7 minutes to ride each way.  The chairs are large, enabling all four of us to ride together.  hh7 The views going up were great….  

hh8 hh9 …and we enjoyed our time on the mountain…. hh1 hh2

…but coming back down was spectacular!

hh3

After lunch in a nearby cafe, we drove to the Hungry Horse Dam.  Almost 172 feet tall, it was the fourth highest dam in the world at the time of its construction in 1953. 

hh4 hh5

hh6

Steve is a square dance caller for us in Yuma during the winter, and Patty is a round dance cuer.  While we were at the park, a lady named Joyce staying there expressed an interest in learning to square dance, so Steve put together a “mini introductory” dance on Thursday night in the park pavilion.  The couple parked next to us, Anne and Ron Roy, had danced years ago.  We didn’t have enough for a square, so after demonstrating a round dance to Joyce, Steve called to two couples.hh7hh8hh8 hh9 hh1   

Patty danced in a tip or two, also.hh2 She also cued a round dance for Ron and I.  Steve found a partner, although she was a little stiff.  :)hh3 hh4

Flathead Lake, just south of Hungry Horse is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.  It extends almost 30 miles in length, and 16 miles wide.  On Friday, Ron and I drove around the lake looking for those delicious Flathead cherries.  It is at the end of the cherry season, but we finally found one last stand still open.  The drive was nice, although the lake boundaries are so populated now, it’s hard to find an open spot for pictures.hh5 hh6  

Bernice and Hoyt arrived on Saturday, and another square dance couple did as well.  We had another “mini dance”, this time with a full square.

 hh7 It was almost too dark for photos, but the fun shines through:

hh8 hh9 hh10 hh1 hh2 Many thanks to Steve and Patty for helping to make a great week in Hungry Horse.hh3

On Sunday, the Odoms and we visited Glacier National Park, covered in the next posting.  We left Hungry Horse on Monday morning.       

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