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August 2023 – Hawaii Adventure – Part 1 – Giant Springs, Montana

August 2023 – Hawaii Adventure – Part 1 – Giant Springs, Montana

Monday August 7, 2023

Today Clifford and I move from Quartz Flat near Superior, Montana, where we have been camped, to Ed’s Creek west of Missoula. The temperature is 73 degrees, very comfortable for August. The spot where we park is slightly on a hillside, so it is a major and rather unusual job of leveling. Other than looking a bit sketchy, it is temporary and works for now.

Cougar is Level
A Pretty Place to Camp

Wednesday August 9 – After breakfast I finish organizing my stuff to take with me to Hawaii, and then Clifford drives me to Lincoln to meet up with daughter Becka and son Matt. It is a beautiful drive, especially along the Blackfoot River on the western side of the mountains before going over the continental divide at Roger’s Pass on Highway 200.

Blackfoot River along Highway 200 in Scenic Western Montana
Blackfoot River along Highway 200 Near Lincoln, Montana

After the pass, the landscape changes to prairie with it is own kind of beauty. Then on to Great Falls where Kyle has made dinner for us. I will be staying here for a couple of days before Becka and I leave for Hawaii – my Hawaii Adventure!

East Slope of the Rocky Mountains – 55 million year-old Birdtail Rock

On Thursday August 10, I wake up early and do some tai chi before coffee and journal with Becka on the back patio. Becka and I have brunch with my son Matt and his friend Joe. The egg benedict is good but the hasbrowns cold, as is the dining room, so it is a relief to finish the meal and go stand in the sunshine to warm up.

Coffee and Journaling on the Patio with Becka

In the afternoon, Kyle’s mother Karen, came to visit. She is an attractive lady, much more stylish than me, and spunky. I like her.

Friday August 11 starts with coffee and journal with Becka on the patio again. What a nice way to start the day. Becka and I go out for lunch before driving to Giant Springs, which is located along the Missouri River on what used to be the outskirts of Great Falls.

Tasty Lunch at Tracy’s in Downtown Missoula

Matt and Kyle meet us there to hang out, admiring the springs flowing 156 million gallons of water into the Missouri River daily, and the Roe River, considered to be the shortest river in the world at 201 feet, as it flows out of Giant Springs and into the Missouri River.

Giant Springs State Park, Great Falls, Montana
Beautiful Underwater Vegetation at Giant Springs
Looking From Giant Springs Toward Roe River (upper right corner of photo)
Matt, Kyle, and Becka on Bridge over Roe River
Roe River at Giant Springs State Park
On the Walking Path Where Giant Springs Flows Into Missouri River
Matt, Becka, and Carol Sit Beside the Missouri River
Missouri River Seen from Giant Springs State Park

This beautiful park is now a state park and is a great place for photos, especially of the spring, which has well earned the title of Giant Springs!

Giant Springs

In the evening, I repack my travel backpack one more time before heading to bed.

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Visit to Giant Springs – October 2021

Travel to Great Falls and Sun River – Blackfoot River

The morning after my daughters and I arrive in Great Falls, Katie gives Becka a ride to Centerville, a small town out in the prairie about 20 miles from Great Falls where Becka went to high school. Becka has timed picking up her truck and visiting family to coincide with her class reunion. While she is at her reunion and Katie is on her way back to family and job in Wallace, Ang and my grandson, Oden, and I entertain ourselves by walking to nearby Gibson park to see the ducks and geese before we find a nice restaurant and treat ourselves to a good lunch. Later, back at the B&B, Matt joins us for a homemade dinner.

A swan glides by at Gibson Park

Sunday morning is centered around getting new tires on Becka’s truck, and then we go out to Giant Springs State Park, well known as one of the largest fresh water springs in the country and famous for the Roe River, once listed as the shortest river in the world. It is a beautiful park and we enjoy wandering about, glad that the weather is pleasant enough to do so, despite being a bit on the chilly breezy side.

Chilly walk along the Missouri River at Giant Springs
Becka at Giant Springs
Water tumbles down from the springs and into the Roe River before…
…rushing under the walkway and out into the Missouri River beyond
Becka enjoys the sunshine and the view at Giant Springs
Creek crossing at Giant Springs
Walking through the woods at Giant Springs
Good-bye to Oden before we travel on

Leaving Giant Springs, Becka, Ang, and I stop again at Sun River to see Matt and his kids. It is too late to go fishing, but we walk through the woods to the Sun River and hang out awhile, enjoying the time together.

Matt and his kids, Aurora and Orion
Matt, Ang, Becka, and Carol down by the Sun River

Since it is a long drive back to Alberton, Becka, Ang, and I stop in Lincoln for dinner on the way, a nice break from driving/riding. It is very late and quite chilly by time we arrive back at Ang’s place.

Long drive back to Alberton

The next day, Becka heads back to Wallace where she will have a warm and comfortable bed, but I spend another night in Terry and find out later that the temperature dropped to 15 degrees that night. Brrrr!