Had to be up early today in order to take my truck in to the dealer again. Yes.... while in Montana the passenger side window decided to stop working just like the drivers side window did last month. So here I sit in the local McD's waiting for it to be done so I can pay lots of money to them again. Of course they also found a 'leaky' seal in the rear transfer case, so it will be even more than I thought. On the other hand, it hasn't been too bad over the last 8 years. Since I travel and tow a trailer, not getting things fixed is not an option, besides which, I just think of it as my contribution towards keeping the economy growing.

    I'll be posting pictures from the river trip over the next several days as I get them sorted and dressed up. I'll be sure to let everyone know what the day is and about where we are on the river at certain times that are shown in the photo's.

This first set of pictures will start on the day before we get on the road, July 30th, the day we drive to Montana, July 31st and then the actual first day on the river, August 1st. Enjoy!

The start of the trip, or actually the day before we started the drive to Montana, July 30th, Tom and I decided it would be good to see if all our junk was going to fit into the canoe along with the two of us and the dog. It looks like, and is, a lot of stuff, but we aren't backpacking so we plan on being comfortable. The canoe is an 18'-6" long Old Town Penobscot, one of the best touring boats ever made. To bad they stopped making it a couple of years ago.

July 31st and we are on the road to Montana and our take out point at Robinson's Bridge near James Kipp Wildlife Area. We will leave my truck there so we have it when we finish the river trip and then we will continue on to Fort Benton, Montana where we will start the trip tomorrow.

A short stop for some road work that is going on gives Tom a chance to tighten up the boat tie downs. 

Headed for Fort Benton you pass through miles of wheat fields that are starting to be harvested. The haze in the sky is evidently from a forest fire burning somewhere to the SW of Fort Benton.

Another thing you pass by up in this country are missile silos  for the USA's ICBM's. I guess they are still aimed at someone, but not sure who anymore.

Your first view of the river is here in Fort Benton where this old railroad bridge is now used as part of a hiking trail. The water level is right around 6,000 cfs, just about right for doing this river. Of course we have done it when levels have been much higher and camp spots hard to find as well as much lower when you might run aground a dozen times during the day trying to find the right channel.

The Union Hotel in Fort Benton. Once the best hotel in all of Montana, it is still a wonderful place to stay at. We didn't stay here this time, but the rooms are reasonable and the food in the dining room is pretty good stuff. Plus, it's a great looking building.

Another view of the Union Hotel.

Fort Benton was once the gateway to most of the far north west. It was the farthest point up the river that steamboats could reach and from there multiple trails branched out in all directions.

It only lasted for a very short period in time, but what a crazy time it must of been in history when river boats plied the waters of the upper Missouri River. The load of gold mentioned was a total of two and a half tons just for that one shipment.

The third member of our river trip. This is Rhodie, Tom's two and a half year old chocolate lab. Not only cute, she is so smart it is almost scary.

Several of my friends have had bricks made and laid in the river front park here in Fort Benton. I'm putting these pictures in because I think it's neat to see their names here in perpetuity.

My good friends George and Marge. After Tom they are the two people I've canoed more miles with than anyone else. I miss having them on the river with us.

One of my favorite people ever, and maybe the person most responsible for Tom and I being the boating fanatics we are. Ellen was my good friend and a wonderful canoeing partner for many years.

We spent the first night out camped, like usual, in the Fort Benton city park, right across the street from the put-in boat ramp.

A statue of Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea and son Pomp in the river park at Fort Benton. We have all read a lot about their amazing journey up and down the Missouri River and all of us wish we could of been along. 

August 1st and we are loading up the boat in preparation for our take off down the river.

Ready to go and it all fits, though we are certainly loaded down.

Looking down river you are immediately transported back in time. It is so good to be back on the river again.

A short stop to allow the dog a run and potty break.

Rhodie, like most labs, loves the water.

Heading into the Black Bluffs area of the river and getting close to our first camping spot nearly 19 miles down the river.

Unlike the first times we did the river, there are now specific camping areas that you can now use. We have camped here several times now and I like this one.

Our first night on the river. The tents are up and we are about ready for cold beer and snacks before making dinner.

I like the light at this time of day. 

A view back up river from our first camping area. 

Looking downstream  from our first campsite. 

Nearly a full moon at the start of our river trip. After 19 miles my muscles are a bit sore but I'm feeling pretty good. 

Thursday, August 2nd, the 2nd day of our river trip on the Upper Missouri River in Montana. 

Packing up for our second day on the river. In the background are the Black Cliffs that this region is known for.

One of the hazards you have to stay awake for.

The scenery for the first two days looks pretty much like this. Along the bottoms there are often ranch's and homestead as well as fields of various kinds.

We had a bit of a down river wind late in the morning so I got the sail out and set up. It is mostly used directly down wind like a spinnaker, but if careful, you can use it as an un-stayed jib. It will even supply a bit of 'lift' to the boat, which really surprized me. I thought we would be making a lot more leeway than we were.

Must be lunch time. Usually we can find some shade from trees along the shore, but we are prepared just in case we don't.

The Virgelle Ferry, one of two that are still left along this section of the river.

Our campsite for day two on the river. At about 40 miles it was time to pull in for the night even though we were here by 2:30 in the afternoon.

Coal Banks Landing is a public accessible site run by the BLM. It has now become the most popular put in spot for people doing the river. It is also the last place along the river where you can find good water so you need to fill up so you aren't caught short.

It has been as hot and dry in the area as it has been in most of the west so skeeters were not a big problem. Biting flies, on the other hand, were very annoying. Tom shows one way to deal with some of them.

Looking down river where the wind is kicking up some white caps. I'm glad we were off the river by then.

Dinner for the 2nd evening, greek salad, rice, coleslaw and potato salad, beer, wine and pudding for dessert. Note the sign over Tom's shoulder telling people to keep an eye out for rattle snakes.

 We took a short walk after dinner down to the store at Virgelle. I like this home made crossing sign.

The Virgelle store, still pretty much as it was a hundred years ago. We went down for ice cream and a cold pop. Well worth a 3 mile walk  in 95+ degree weather. Of real interest to me is the siding on the building. While it looks like cut stone that has been laid up one piece at a time it is actually a stamped steel product that I have never seen before. I'm amazed that in all the years I've been here I never noticed it before.

    Just got back from the local Denver contra dance tonight. Very good turnout considering how hot it was this evening. They had a band, two people, in from Portland Oregon to provide the music. It always amazes me to hear how much music only two people can make. They were very fun to dance to tonight. The good news is that I get to do it all over again at the 'Zesty' contra dance tomorrow night. For now though I'm pretty much done for the day. Up way to early this morning, up way to late this evening... and no afternoon nap! I should of been in bed hours ago.