The day started out cool, which wasn't much of a problem while we were still in the motel room having their complimentary breakfast. But the road called and Jack was leaving us to return home "to save a marriage". We'll catch up with him in a few weeks.
After goodbyes, we threw the last few things in the trailer and off we went - across the street to a shop for some glue. The VCR is too heavy for double-side tape. That done, we set out on some super highway for a short time. A very short time as it turned out because as soon as we turned on to the superslab we had to stop to don the wets. Today's rain came early. But in the distance we could see a small blue patch.
The speed limit in Montana is 75mph (120kph) and there was very little traffic so the few miles to our turnoff went by very quickly. Then it was turn on to a much narrower highway to head west and south down through the mountains to Boise, Idaho.
Highway 43 follows the Wise River - to a town called Wisdom - lamost literally. The road is never more than a few feet and so has lots of corners. Wonderful. We refuelled at Wisdom and then turned away across wide open country, of which Montana has aplenty, and headed towards some huge mountains covered in snow - and rain. Our old friend. We still had the wets on so in we plunged.
The road wound up to over 7000ft and a sign told us it was the Continental Divide and also we were back in Idaho. Down the other side we ran and then joined another river, the Salmon. The rain was falling away, but the river continually led us back in to it. Some corners had to be taken quite gingerly. Finally the river turned more to the west while the rain went west and we happily left it behind. We'd found the blue patch. Limit here was 65mph so we could make the most of the dry roads and river bends.
We made a couple of stops for scenery including some hot springs. Someone had made a rock bath in the river wher the hot springs joined so one could have a warm-ish tub. The river water is icy. We declined. Seems the river paddlers were happy to make use of it though.
Shortly afterwards, we and the river came to a little town called Stanley and it was exceedingly pretty, with the river, green grasslands, backed by the snow-topped and aptly named Sawtooth Range. We decided we had had enough for the day and a pull up early to camp in the dry was too much to resist. The lady in the Info office directed us to Elk Mountain RV park just out of town that she thought had camping and internet and was sure had a great cafe. She was right. They had very few campsites but as we were the only ones camping, no problems. Internet is here, but not near the tent. And the cafe was excellent. We are now stuffed full. I had a half size BBQ pork ribs abd Charleen a cow-girl sized steak. Both were cooked to perfection by the nice old bloke who runs the place. he has checked in on us several times. This country American Hospitality is wonderful.
It is after nine and the sun is just leaving the hilltops and the cool is setting in. Time to get this online and hit the sack.
Photos:
Small Patch of Blue
This is a toasted sandwich with chips
Hot springs
Birds at the RV park
The wildlife cute as a button.
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