Week ending Apr 17, 2014 Idaho Falls, Milk River

Friday morning after a Skype visit with John's parents we went shopping. We have been looking for a replacement for our Satellite tripod. We finally found a dish dealer who had the platform we wanted.  Although we are not Dish customers he was able to sell us the hardware we wanted. After a quick stop for wine we went back to the trailer to see if the hardware we bought would work. It seems to work well and we are hoping that the next time we are in a windy environment the satellite will not fall over.

Saturday we did the Idaho Greenbelt walk along the Snake River. It was a nice walk on a paved foot path past the falls and allowing us views of the lava rocks that are prevalent in this area as well as a really nice view of the Mormon temple, the first Mormon church built in Idaho.

 In the late afternoon we received a call from Bow RiversEdge Campground in Cochrane checking on our reservation and checking to see if we wanted a spot over Stampede. How is that for customer service?!.

Sunday we moved further North, targeting Helena, Montana. There had been warnings about ice and blowing snow on Boulder Hill just south of Helena. Not a wonderful  thought pulling the trailer. The weather network showed that the Boulder Hill area would have a sunny afternoon so off we went. We stayed on the interstate until Dillon Montana at which point we took state highway 41 to 55 into Whitehall where we fueled up and had a bit of lunch.  Then we headed north on 69 to Boulder. This route was much lower in elevation so we assumed would have less snow and ice. A good decision. The roads where great. The weather was sunny and the interstate clear. We arrived at Lincoln Road RV Park in Helena close to 3:00 P.M.  This is the first RV park we have stayed at where there is self check-in in mid-afternoon. It is not unusual to have self check-in after hours but 3 in the afternoon is not usually considered 'after hours'. But we paid our money, chose a site and got set up. On our travels on I-15 from Mesquite Nevada we have observed that if it wasn't for people from B.C., Alberta, Sask, Manitoba, and semi's the interstate would be almost vehicle free. About 4:00 P.M. the rv parks start filling up, mostly with Alberta snowbirds.

Monday we headed for Milk River. The drive through northern Montana was great, bright blue sky, antelope in the fields and an interstate that was almost devoid of traffic. When we finally arrived at the border we found the traffic. We had to wait a bit more than 1/2 an hour in line, a new experience for us at this crossing. After a few questions we were sent on our way. We arrived at "Under 8 Flags" campground mid-afternoon. It appeared the campground operator was away. While we were looking for the "perfect" site the fellow who looks after the golf course next door came to talk to us. We found out that we could golf for free and pay for our camping when we left, or when his buddy, who operates the campground comes by. What a deal - free golf. We figure it falls into our 10.00 or under a round for golf this summer.

Tuesday morning, although warm was far too windy to even attempt golfing. As we had never been to Milk River before (except to stop in the campground overnight) we decided to walk into town. We wandered down main street and finally stopped at a little store that had a 50 % off sign. A very friendly lady, Lorna Lang, chatted with us and after some discussion we found out that she knew John's parents as she was the sister-in-law of the operator of the provincial park where they had hosted for many years.  It really is a small world.

Wednesday we awoke to a winter wonderland; snow for the first time since Amarillo Texas in early November.  By early afternoon most of the snow was gone and after the campground operator stopped by to collect our fees, we went for a walk around the campground. Not a long walk, mind you, as this is a small campground. We read the explanation of why the Milk River area is the only place in Canada that has flown 8 different 'national' flags.

1. From 1682 when French explorer La Salle claimed all of the area drained by the Mississippi River system  for France under the name of Louisiana. The Milk River flows into the Missouri River in Montana downstream from Great Falls.
2. In a treaty with France in 1762, the area was ceded to Spain. 
3. The territory was returned to France under Napolean's rule, with the flag of the Republic.
4. The United States purchased Lousiana from France in 1803.
5. In 1818, an agreement between the United States and England placed the border on the 49th parallel, just south of Milk River. The prairies at the time were being administered by the Hudson's Bay Company, which had its own flag.
6. In 1869, the area was transferred to the new Dominion of Canada, with the British Union Jack as its flag. 
7. In 1945, the Canadian Red Ensign flag became the official flag of Canada.
8. In 1965, Canada adopted the new Maple Leaf flag. 

On Friday, we head to Cochrane, where we will be until after the May long weekend while we do the spring round of taxes, dentists, doctors etc.  We won't post another blog entry until we hit the road again, toward the end of May.